Downtown Vancouver Updates

[officedweller]

I think it WILL be done by 2010.
The renderings are only dated 2012 to show how the trees will grow in.

***

Thanks for posting Delirium.

[jlousa]

Update on the eco-fitness gym from the Sun.

VANCOUVER - Vancouver council will decide Thursday whether to pursue a lease with the first of several new tenants for a large city-owned site abandoned by the failed multimedia tourist attraction Storyeum.

An American fitness company is proposing to open a gym in a 31,000-square foot street-level space on Cordova Street. Two large spaces below street level - totalling more than 50,000 sq. feet - remain untenanted, along with 16,000 sq. feet of street-level retail space on the 100-block of Water Street.

The city terminated its lease with Storyeum's parent company, Historical Xperiences, after it sought bankruptcy protection in August 2006 and became insolvent.

The site has been unused ever since, though many of Storyeum's theatre-like sets are still in place, said the city's associate director of real estate services John Breckner, "just in case someone from the film industry or arts community wanted to make use of them."

As part of its proposal, Eco Fitness has said its 24-hour, seven-day-a-week facility will generate 25,000 member visits each month, increasing pedestrian traffic in the area.

The Cordova Street space sought by Eco Fitness is considered less desirable for retail use than the Water Street part of the property.

A second proposal by Xcalibur Bowling & Entertainment Ltd. of Surrey to turn the site into a 48-lane bowling alley could still come to fruition, even if the city decides to pursue a lease with Eco Fitness, Breckner explained.

"They are still interested in the Water Street retail area and the below grade space," Breckner said.

The Downtown Eastside Residents Association proposed turning the entire 100,000+ sq. foot space into a 24-hour shelter and community centre serving the area's homeless population and using the Water Street retail space to sell locally made arts and crafts.

In soliciting proposals, the city asked respondents to explain how their plan would help to revitalize Gastown and provide a financial return to the city.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think it WILL be done by 2010.
The renderings are only dated 2012 to show how the trees will grow in.

Are you assuming that or did you hear/see that somewhere?

[leftside]

Originally Posted by jlousa

A second proposal by Xcalibur Bowling & Entertainment Ltd. of Surrey to turn the site into a 48-lane bowling alley could still come to fruition, even if the city decides to pursue a lease with Eco Fitness, Breckner explained.

"They are still interested in the Water Street retail area and the below grade space," Breckner said.

Cool

[SpongeG]

http://www.ecofitnessgym.com/home.html

some info if anyone wants to check em out

looks like they are from south Carolina?

[officedweller]

A bowling alley makes a lot of sense for the underground space.

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Are you assuming that or did you hear/see that somewhere?

Just in time for the freshly planted [small] trees to be viewed for the Olympics.
The staffer at the open house said the trees would have a 3 inch diameter trunk, so a bit bigger than the typical Downtown South condo sidewalk tree, but still substantially smaller than the existing ones.

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/currentplanning/granvilleredesign/schedule.htm

Steering Committee and Stakeholder consultations
Public open house
January 2008

Report to Council with detailed design finalized April 2008
Contract sent out for tenure
May 2008

Report to Council for approval to start construction
July 2008

Construction August 2008 - November 2009

[vanman]

I thought the city was still considering the retention of all or most trees on Granville.

WRT the plans for Granville I think they are great. There is so much character in the buildings along that street that I don't think it could ever be homogenized to the extent of Robson but it will definitely lose some of it's seediness. It will become more like St Catherines in Montreal minus the strip clubs.

[Hed Kandi]

The Granville Street redesign is a vast improvement over the current street. Hopefully the city will have it completed prior to the Olympics.

[vanman]

That new restaurant looks sweet and the way it is seemlessly incorporated into the CC/Harbour Green Park is genius. It would have been nice however if the patio was at seawall level facing north to enliven the area like the Mill.

[jlousa]

The Granville St redesign will be completed before the Olympics, it will be completed around the time the RAV opens, at least that's the plan.

[Fairbanks]

Hi all:

Does anyone know if the convention centre will have its own Canada Line Station? Will there be underground access from the Fairmont Pac Rim and Convention Ctr to connect with all the other hotels and shopping in that area?

[SpongeG]

it's connected to sinclair centrre and will be connected to waterfront you would have to make a long trek if you walked via waterfront station but it would be quicker through sinclair centre

its pretty far from the convention centre

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by Fairbanks

Hi all:

Does anyone know if the convention centre will have its own Canada Line Station? Will there be underground access from the Fairmont Pac Rim and Convention Ctr to connect with all the other hotels and shopping in that area?

That station would obviously be Waterfront Station, but there is no direct entrance to the convention centre/cruise ship terminal. It was previously planned to have a direct underground connection, but it was canceled to save on costs.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it's connected to sinclair centrre and will be connected to waterfront you would have to make a long trek if you walked via waterfront station but it would be quicker through sinclair centre

Sinclair Centre may be a future connection since the south station house will now be south of Hastings Street. I'm not sure of the status. Otherwise, you would have to exit the station at the Great Hall of the CP Station - in which case you're probably better off walking to the Convention Centre at street level as there would be fewer stairs/escalators that if you walked through the Expo Line station (remember, there's no platform to platform connection).

Originally Posted by vanman

I thought the city was still considering the retention of all or most trees on Granville.

Yes, they are considering retention of "most" of the trees north of Georgia Street. Apparently the road is not as curvey north of Georgia, so they can retain most of the trees while straightening the road.

South of Georgia Street, the 700 block is already cleared and will be a treeless event space. The City currently wants to clear the trees on the 800 block (Commodore block) because that block is quite curvey and straightening the roadway will require the removal of a number of trees anyways - and they have an issue with having the landscape mixed with mature trees and young trees of differing heights (my comment on a comment card was that you can have both big and small trees) because it diverges from the "Council-approved" Jacobs design. The 900 block was planted in the 1990s when it was widened and reopened to general traffic and those will be removed and replanted. The southern blocks will also be removed and replanted. I think those blocks are all flowering cherry trees.

Assuming that public support for retention of the trees north of Georgia sways the City's opinion (and there's no guarantee of that), the only block of big mature trees likely to be removed is the 800 block (Commodore block). It looks like the flowering cherry trees from Smithe southwards will all be gone (and even those are much bigger than a 3" diameter trunk).

[vanman]

^So even with the best case scenario Granville south of Georgia will lose a significant amount of trees? That kind of sucks. They should really consider the mixing of mature and young trees in some areas like you stated, otherwise this redesign could end up looking way too uniform.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Sinclair Centre may be a future connection since the south station house will now be south of Hastings Street. I'm not sure of the status. Otherwise, you would have to exit the station at the Great Hall of the CP Station - in which case you're probably better off walking to the Convention Centre at street level as there would be fewer stairs/escalators that if you walked through the Expo Line station (remember, there's no platform to platform connection).



Yes, they are considering retention of "most" of the trees north of Georgia Street. Apparently the road is not as curvey north of Georgia, so they can retain most of the trees while straightening the road.

South of Georgia Street, the 700 block is already cleared and will be a treeless event space. The City currently wants to clear the trees on the 800 block (Commodore block) because that block is quite curvey and straightening the roadway will require the removal of a number of trees anyways - and they have an issue with having the landscape mixed with mature trees and young trees of differing heights (my comment on a comment card was that you can have both big and small trees) because it diverges from the "Council-approved" Jacobs design. The 900 block was planted in the 1990s when it was widened and reopened to general traffic and those will be removed and replanted. The southern blocks will also be removed and replanted. I think those blocks are all flowering cherry trees.

Assuming that public support for retention of the trees north of Georgia sways the City's opinion (and there's no guarantee of that), the only block of big mature trees likely to be removed is the 800 block (Commodore block). It looks like the flowering cherry trees from Smithe southwards will all be gone (and even those are much bigger than a 3" diameter trunk).

yah i meant that the convention centre is connected to sinclair centre and the new station will be connected to waterfront but it would be quicker to go via sinclair - even quicker is just walkingon the outside - its a long windy mess of walksways underground

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by jlousa

The Downtown Eastside Residents Association proposed turning the entire 100,000+ sq. foot space into a 24-hour shelter and community centre serving the area's homeless population and using the Water Street retail space to sell locally made arts and crafts.

HAHAHA what a fucking retarded idea. Boy I wonder who would pay for this?

[raggedy13]

Thanks for the link to the Granville info jlousa, and thanks for the link/pics for that Harbour Green restaurant delirium. Interesting stuff all around.

I really like the looks of the Granville Street redesign. I like the way they have that ribbon theme going on. It looks clean and modern yet organic and funky. Will have to see how it all turns out in person. Can't wait.

I also can't wait to explore the area around the convention centre expansion once it's finished.

[raggedy13]

I also just remembered that yesterday I saw two pickup trucks on the Ritz-Carlton site. Nothing big but its the most activity I've seen there in quite awhile. Hopefully some real work will get underway soon.

[SpongeG]

HAHAHA what a fucking retarded idea. Boy I wonder who would pay for this?

maybe thay can make some nice arts and crafts from all the used needles and condoms that litter the area