The Ultimate Vancouver Rumour Thread!

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I understand why people want Westbank to fail, as they have been an epitome of marketing projects overseas before locally. At the same time, they are to thank for most of Vancouver's architectural highlights, so losing them would be quite a setback for how our city will look like.

But if the market ever comes back there's always going to be developers that want to target that market with more unique towers. It's not that hard for any developer to go to New York or Europe and pay for a "star architect"

[Klazu]

Maybe but maybe not. Even during the past good times, most other developers were cranking out generic — that nobody can remember. Most of our architecture is very, very mediocre and I feel like that mediocrity will become even more prevalent with their possible exit. We may still get tall, but nothing too exciting.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I understand why people want Westbank to fail, as they have been an epitome of marketing projects overseas before locally. At the same time, they are to thank for most of Vancouver's architectural highlights, so losing them would be quite a setback for how our city will look like.

the biggest problem i have with Westbank, ignoring the whole marketing overseas thing, is that their buildings are all a mess on the inside. this is going to screw over all of the strata's in the future when the costs come due.

thats what bothers me the most. they cut corners at every chance they can, and this just means regular people, living in Vancouver, will be on the hook for it. once again, billionaires getting richer, and average people getting screwed.

Shangri La had Westbank involvement, and all the window issues. Woodwards with the — materials on the inside. Telus Garden with everything on the inside. i assume some of you saw the youtube video about a unit in there with wrong wiring... how about Butterfly? will be a pain in the — to maintain those white panels, and those trees/plants on the higher floors. yet to be seen the quality. Vancouver House. wrongly placed concrete and steel? thats not ideal for a structure. that massive water main failure that flooded the place. all because of — from china.

and who ends up on the hook for these things? generally the strata, the normal people. i would take a boring, well built building over something like what Westbank builds. at least the well built one will last...

[Permanentmagnetman]

Originally Posted by migrant_coconut

all due respect, you're going to need a lot more than three posts here before anybody will take you at your word.

111.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Permanentmagnetman

I creep here a lot. I actually was a project coordinator back in the day for the CM building Kengo Kuma. Now I’m on the sales side. I really can’t say more than that. But I suspect the public will learn more in the coming weeks.

Not saying you don't or weren't, only that we have no reason to believe you right off the bat... yet.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Permanentmagnetman

I creep here a lot. I actually was a project coordinator back in the day for the CM building Kengo Kuma. Now I’m on the sales side. I really can’t say more than that. But I suspect the public will learn more in the coming weeks.

Thanks for sharing your insights. When one looks at how many people are viewing the forums at any one it is clear that many people follow along yet don’t post often. It’s always good to hear from behind the scenes.

What’s interesting is how long they were able to keep it hushed up. As bb5510 outlined there were a whole long list of signs that when put together add up. The other question would be who is following along behind them down this road?

[Permanentmagnetman]

[QUOTE=whatnext;10074087]Thanks for sharing your insights. When one looks at how many people are viewing the forums at any one it is clear that many people follow along yet don’t post often. It’s always good to hear from behind the scenes.

What’s interesting is how long they were able to keep it hushed up. As bb5510 outlined there were a whole long list of signs that when put together add up. The other question would be who is following along behind them down this road?[/QUOTE

111

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Permanentmagnetman

Kengo Kuma has some truly horrible floor plans with massive concrete columns in the middle of the bedrooms.

That's the Westbank Special. Vancouver House has many similarly awful and unlivable units.

[zahav]

I can't see it being any of the other biggies in Vancouver: Polygon, Adera, Concord, Anthem, Concert are all quite stable, and their quality ranges from basic but functional (Polygon) to actually quite nice (Concert, Adera). Westbank should be so much better than it is, the cheaping out on details is unforgivable when you are building iconic towers like VH, Butterfly, and even Telus. The only Vancouver developer that is poorly managed and with questionable design and quality is Onni. They are known to be pretty slimy and are not a great builder. Based on the discussion here it sounds likely to be Westbank. But if no inside information came out about the company, I'd put both Onni and Westbank as possibilities

[hollywoodnorth]

what ever happened to user JLOUSA? >> https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/member.php?u=15410

I thought they worked for WESTBANK? as it was implied by them in a few posts way back and I thought was common knowledge among some of us old schoolers.

they went from an active poster to no posts in 3 weeks .......

maybe they can toss us a bone here?

at the same time radio silence signals .... well something negative IMO.

[privatejet]

I am not surprised it is Westbank teetering, as more of a pure developer, they dont have the other income streams (rental etc.) that others have.

That being said they have always had financial partners. Excluding HOP, Quadreal, Allied REIT etc. which are formal institutions.

However, there is Peterson, Pattison and the Kwoks who could come in as a white knight. Probably will depend upon how messy are the finances and Ian's massive ego.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

what ever happened to user JLOUSA? >> https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/member.php?u=15410

I thought they worked for WESTBANK? as it was implied by them in a few posts way back and I thought was common knowledge among some of us old schoolers.

they went from an active poster to no posts in 3 weeks .......

maybe they can toss us a bone here?

at the same time radio silence signals .... well something negative IMO.

Not really in a matter of three weeks, they only posted 14 times in the past year. Just one of many regular posters who have left in the past few years.

[Metro-One]

Yeah, I haven't really seen JLousa on here for a long while. Which is too bad.

[bb1510]

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[bb1510]

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[Permanentmagnetman]

111

Originally Posted by vancouverofthefuture

the biggest problem i have with westbank, ignoring the whole marketing overseas thing, is that their buildings are all a mess on the inside. This is going to screw over all of the strata's in the future when the costs come due.

Thats what bothers me the most. They cut corners at every chance they can, and this just means regular people, living in vancouver, will be on the hook for it. Once again, billionaires getting richer, and average people getting screwed.

Shangri la had westbank involvement, and all the window issues. Woodwards with the — materials on the inside. Telus garden with everything on the inside. I assume some of you saw the youtube video about a unit in there with wrong wiring... How about butterfly? Will be a pain in the — to maintain those white panels, and those trees/plants on the higher floors. Yet to be seen the quality. Vancouver house. Wrongly placed concrete and steel? Thats not ideal for a structure. That massive water main failure that flooded the place. All because of — from china.

And who ends up on the hook for these things? Generally the strata, the normal people. I would take a boring, well built building over something like what westbank builds. At least the well built one will last...

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Maybe but maybe not. Even during the past good times, most other developers were cranking out generic — that nobody can remember. Most of our architecture is very, very mediocre and I feel like that mediocrity will become even more prevalent with their possible exit. We may still get tall, but nothing too exciting.

Perhaps but as you, Permanentmagnetman and many others have pointed out the layouts in these buildings are often rubbish. And that's a result of them building for those who aren't looking at these as a home but as international crashpad or investment. Westbank reaps what Westbank helped sow.

[Permanentmagnetman]

111

[Klazu]

How sturdy are the kitchen islands in Kengo Kuma? They look like you could snap them in half with ease.

[cairnstone]

Originally Posted by zahav

I can't see it being any of the other biggies in Vancouver: Polygon, Adera, Concord, Anthem, Concert are all quite stable, and their quality ranges from basic but functional (Polygon) to actually quite nice (Concert, Adera). Westbank should be so much better than it is, the cheaping out on details is unforgivable when you are building iconic towers like VH, Butterfly, and even Telus. The only Vancouver developer that is poorly managed and with questionable design and quality is Onni. They are known to be pretty slimy and are not a great builder. Based on the discussion here it sounds likely to be Westbank. But if no inside information came out about the company, I'd put both Onni and Westbank as possibilities

Onni is out as it is not classified as a residential developer. It has just as much or more going on in Commercial and Industrial. Onni develops business parks alll over Canada and the US. Which are demanding top dollar and dont see the same issues as a residential only developer