Downtown Vancouver Updates

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by officedweller

What? No comments about a possible corner apple store?

They're not going to open an Apple Store inside of Pacific Centre, which they will be doing within the next few months, and then open another one a year or so later on the corner of that same mall.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

They're not going to open an Apple Store inside of Pacific Centre, which they will be doing within the next few months, and then open another one a year or so later on the corner of that same mall.

Especially when it's like prime Starbucks territory.

I bet $100. Any takers ?

[officedweller]

Yeah, that's what I meant - speculation that the mall store would relocate once the streetfront additions are built.
But how long did Old Navy last in the mall before Cadillac Fairview bought out their lease to expand Holt Renfrew (was it even a year?)?

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

The logical step is to build a glass roof over Robson Street. Maybe even a retractable one.

Eaton's did have plans to install individual storefronts for boutiques opening onto Robson at one time.
I can't remember if that was before Sears bought it or not. But the plan was axed.
At the time the backroom spaces behind the horizontal display windows were all gutted - that's why none of the horizontal display windows are display windows anymore - just black scars on the building.

[flight_from_kamakura]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

oh yeah, that looks pretty good!

thanks for that!

[deasine]

Originally Posted by mr.x2

If only we could demolish Sears and built a 10-level mall expansion on the site.

Yeah get rid of that ugly thing.

[Yume-sama]

Was in at The Beasley this morning, they are doing very well sales wise, with 65% sold, and the only units remaining are a few 2 bedrooms + den, as nearly all the 1 bedrooms had been taken. Prices aren't too unreasonable, but the building itself isn't my cup of tea. Visited Patina as well, they have 7 units remaining starting at $950,000 up to $1,495,000 - what an absolutely stunning building with great amenities and design it will be.

I also have posted a photo I took of Shangri-La over here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=3451078&postcount=1157

[Jacques]

About the Apple store in the Pacific Centre, that is a lot of investment in having a store like apple to open inside the mall just for one year.
I read in the Vancouver Sun paper that they have delayed their opening until late Summer.
I guess that the construction of the SW corner of PC will be their new Location and like everything in this city it may take longer until its finished ( the extension) due to manpower shortage?

[Jacques]

Originally Posted by deasine

Yeah get rid of that ugly thing.

I agree with you on that one they could Implode that ugly block of ice and built a 72 storey high rise with giant Screen outside showing slide photos of the History of Vancouver.
I am just rambling all in good fun

[deasine]

Originally Posted by Jacques

I agree with you on that one they could Implode that ugly block of ice and built a 72 storey high rise with giant Screen outside showing slide photos of the History of Vancouver.
I am just rambling all in good fun

I wouldn't even say the building is a block of ice - more like a dirty toilet paper.

[officedweller]

The Eaton's/Sears building isn't as bad as people say it is. The terrazzo marble precast panels are far better than any painted concrete you see on condo towers or Electric Avenue/Paramount. The building has been bastardized by the eatons reno when Sears took over the store. The architects essentially big boxified it by adding post-modern elements - they did exactly the same thing to Toronto's Eaton's too.
I remember in the dying days of Eaton's (before Sears took over), the "black" spandrel panels above the entrances (I saw them above the Howe St. entrance) showed their original design - they are backlit - and are imprinted with the words ....EATONSEATONSEATONS... as a border along the bottom edge. If a sympathetic design has been implemented, by replacing the black spandrel panels with blue or a lively colour, and with the backlighting, the building would have come alive.

As I recall, the TD Tower and Eaton's/Sears are the only Vancouver buildings by Cesar Pelli.

[Built Form]

The old Kripp's drug store on Granville and the Nelson Cafe behind it will be torn down in one years time to be replaced be a mixed use development which will contain a new Earl's restaurant on the ground floor with residential above. I believe it will only be 6 stories due to the height limit along Granville. Currently Yaletown sofa has a one year temporary lease until the lease for the Nelson cafe runs out.

[flight_from_kamakura]

^

argh! this has been approved?? earls?? damn, the nelson cafe is a neat little spot, it's one of the few neat little spots remaining in that stretch. and to replace it with something so generic.

what a bummer.

(thanks for the update though)

[osirisboy]

i disagree, the nelson cafe is a gross little 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 🞵🞵 🞵🞵🞵🞵. ive been there a couple of times and the people that work there are dirty, the kitchen is filthy, i cant wait to see this get demolished

[AlexYVR]

Yeah, but to be replaced by an Earls? Really? We've already got a 'Starbucks of restaurants' - and it's Cafe Crepe, which in my opinion beats Earls hands down. Say no to Earls on every friggin corner.

[leftside]

I took a walk along Hastings this morning from Carrall to Abbott. All I've got to say is WOW! Looks like the whole block is being developed! Three building permits up, old vacant buildings being demolished, Paris Block going up.

I say keep going West! Take out the Grand Union, the meth clinic, Abbott Mansion, the pawn shop, Salvation Army, etc.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

i disagree, the nelson cafe is a gross little 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 🞵🞵 🞵🞵🞵🞵. ive been there a couple of times and the people that work there are dirty, the kitchen is filthy, i cant wait to see this get demolished

agreed its dirty in there.

[LeftCoaster]

These aren't quite downtown but they are close enough I figured.

BC Housing, new development: 215 W 2nd Avenue @ Cook St.

This is a new housing building being developed by BC Housing and will consist two midrise towers, one seven storeys and one 12 storeys. The buildings will contain studio style low income residences complete with kitchens, more traditional low income residence style residences and even some one bedroom style residences with detatched living rooms. The mezanine and lower floors of each tower will contain common areas for residents and offices for BC Housing.

The height to the top of the 12th floor on the large building will be 35m and LEED status is being considered.Construction should be commencing some time this summer or fall. More info to come... in the meantime here are some preliminary renderings, looks like they are putting in a bit more effort than one would normally expect for public housing.





And here is the site:

[jlousa]

Looks good. That area will definately have it's own style. Hope to see EFL turn out simaliar.


Onto some news, The GE Ice Plaza (Robson sq ice rink) has hired a architectual firm they will be using Clive Grout Architects Ltd. Arthur Erickson is listed as a consulated on the project. The Budget is set at $1.6Million. It will consist of a 10,000sqft conversion of Robson Sq back into an ice rink. Work will start Jun/08 and finish before the end of the year.

10,000sqft is much bigger then the old rink was, hopefully the rink is that large.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by flight_from_kamakura

^

argh! this has been approved?? earls?? damn, the nelson cafe is a neat little spot, it's one of the few neat little spots remaining in that stretch. and to replace it with something so generic.

what a bummer.

(thanks for the update though)

especially when theres an earls about two blocks away at the paramount er scotiabank theatre building

[agrant]

Originally Posted by flight_from_kamakura

^

argh! this has been approved?? earls?? damn, the nelson cafe is a neat little spot, it's one of the few neat little spots remaining in that stretch. and to replace it with something so generic.

what a bummer.

(thanks for the update though)

So generic, but so many super model waitresses.