Downtown Vancouver Updates

[officedweller]

City to go ahead with self-cleaning toilets
Wednesday, March 26 - 07:00:00 AM

Reaon Ford/Province
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The City of Vancouver says it will proceed with plans to install a series of high-priced, self-cleaning toilets around town, despite the failure of a similar program in Seattle.

Staff in the Emerald City say their $5 million street toilets were a magnet for drug use and prostitution.

Those in charge of Vancouver's program report no similar problems.

[Hed Kandi]

Originally Posted by officedweller

City to go ahead with self-cleaning toilets
Wednesday, March 26 - 07:00:00 AM

Reaon Ford/Province
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The City of Vancouver says it will proceed with plans to install a series of high-priced, self-cleaning toilets around town, despite the failure of a similar program in Seattle.

Staff in the Emerald City say their $5 million street toilets were a magnet for drug use and prostitution.

Those in charge of Vancouver's program report no similar problems.

Self cleaning toilets eh?

Do they come with bidets to self clean my 🞵🞵🞵?

[raggedy13]

I saw one of these for the first time on Friday at Richards and Davie beside Emery Barnes Park. I didn't have to use it at the time so I didn't bother checking out the inside though now I wish I had. From the outside they look quite small and unassuming (almost as if they wouldn't be large enough to fit both a person and toilet in them at the same time). It was a dark grey rectangular box with two big ad posters on the north and south sides (the wider sides) and a small door on the park-facing (west) side. The door had a round window-like thing in it as well, though obviously not clear. It looked like white plastic so perhaps it was sort of like a frosted window to let some light in.

I'm not sure how long it has been there for. I can't recall if anybody on here has mentioned this one before. They looked pretty good anyways - clean and simple but not in an ugly utilitarian way, if that makes sense. They're bound to come in handy for me one of these days.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Staff in the Emerald City say their $5 million street toilets were a magnet for drug use and prostitution.

Those in charge of Vancouver's program report no similar problems.

I used the one at the corner of Main and Terminal the other day. The interior was strewn with garbage, including newspapers, dirty clothing, cigarette butts and a couple of used condoms. The water/soap dispenser no longer works and in general the facility smells and looks about 10-15 years old inside even though it is relatively new. It was a highly unpleasant experience. Had the urge not been so strong I would have waited and gone elsewhere.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by raggedy13

I saw one of these for the first time on Friday at Richards and Davie beside Emery Barnes Park. .

I need to get out more - didn't notice that one either.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

I used the one at the corner of Main and Terminal the other day. The interior was strewn with garbage, including newspapers, dirty clothing, cigarette butts and a couple of used condoms. The water/soap dispenser no longer works and in general the facility smells and looks about 10-15 years old inside even though it is relatively new. It was a highly unpleasant experience. Had the urge not been so strong I would have waited and gone elsewhere.

So much for that automatic cleaning system....obviously, some individuals have no respect for anything.

[SpongeG]

how come they can do it in europe?

are canadians just neanderthals?

[Hed Kandi]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

how come they can do it in europe?

are canadians just neanderthals?

Neanderthals? Yes


I direct you no further than the National Hockey League for evidence.

[nikw]

what vancouver needs is one of these,although i dont think that i'd be completely comfortable using one of them:


image from google


they are in place in switzerland i believe - correct me if im wrong

[deasine]

I always wanted to see what they looked like inside. Evidently they are not very attractive... the one at Homer & Davie never seems to be working.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by deasine

the one at Homer & Davie never seems to be working.

the one at Main is often out of order as well. perhaps a fee, such as in Paris, would reduce some of the problems? Did the people who planned these really think that a free washroom at Main and Terminal would not become a sty?

[David]

The one at Davie and Richards has been there for at least 6 months but it is always out of order (they mentioned that in the article I read in the province). The one at Main and Terminal has been there for at least 3 months.

[SFUVancouver]

I saw the model of the Pacific Centre expansion building that will be built where the glass rotunda currently sits.

It is fairly plain, about two storeys in height, but it looks like this is due to high ceilings instead of a second floor of retail. The interesting thing about it is that the conventional retail box of the ground plain meets a more angular, geometric upper section that is vaguely reminiscent of the ROM in Toronto, if all of the angles were muted, the edges less pronounced, and built on a mall budget. Don't get your hopes up too high for this one but it will be more than just a box plopped down on the corner.

I also saw the model of the Metro-Living tower at Nelson and Seymour. It looks pretty cool, very much like the western elevation of the new BC Cancer Agency tower beside VGH.

[jlousa]

More positive activity on the DTES, it's only an aplication for a liquor license but the details of the theatre are pretty impressive, I'd never heard about it. Anyone have any insight on it?

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/20080403/documents/pe2.pdf

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by jlousa

More positive activity on the DTES, it's only an aplication for a liquor license but the details of the theatre are pretty impressive, I'd never heard about it. Anyone have any insight on it?

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/20080403/documents/pe2.pdf

I think there has been discussion a few months ago on another thread, and I believe the Courier had a story on this, maybe in December.

[officedweller]

Yeah, I read that too - it's a big spot for film industry wrap parties.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

how come they can do it in europe?

are canadians just neanderthals?

to be honest, it seems so.


i recall using these in paris in 1995...hell 1988....but the same in many cities here would be out of order in no time.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by nikw

what vancouver needs is one of these,although i dont think that i'd be completely comfortable using one of them:


image from google


they are in place in switzerland i believe - correct me if im wrong

great way to rush somebody out of there!.....i'd personally love to pull a prank using that. "Accidentally" drop laxatives into one of my friends food, show them the way to the bathroom, then get a thousand people to stand around the toilet.

[flight_from_kamakura]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, I read that too - it's a big spot for film industry wrap parties.

I went to one of the 3-4 best parties of my life here on new year's eve 2003, back when it was all still pretty rough. sort of sad really, the way the cool spots are getting gentrified. another of those parties was a halloween dance party at mysanthropy back in 2004. ah, those were good times, those random places along east hastings, mysanthropy and seamrippers parties, the sugar refinery, the blinding light, the starfish room, the secret alley jazz spot between helmcken and nelson, those random galleries that used to be around richards... it's just all gone!

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

I saw the model of the Pacific Centre expansion building that will be built where the glass rotunda currently sits.

It is fairly plain, about two storeys in height, but it looks like this is due to high ceilings instead of a second floor of retail. The interesting thing about it is that the conventional retail box of the ground plain meets a more angular, geometric upper section that is vaguely reminiscent of the ROM in Toronto, if all of the angles were muted, the edges less pronounced, and built on a mall budget. Don't get your hopes up too high for this one but it will be more than just a box plopped down on the corner.

I also saw the model of the Metro-Living tower at Nelson and Seymour. It looks pretty cool, very much like the western elevation of the new BC Cancer Agency tower beside VGH.

where was your camera?