Downtown Vancouver Updates

[SFUVancouver]

Just a couple of shots I took March 31st in Downtown South / Yaletown.

L'Hermitage and its attached 48-room SRO

My photo, taken March 31st, 2008.

Yaletown Brewing Office Addition

My photo, taken March 31st, 2008.

Homer and Helmcken (stalled?)

My photo, taken March 31st, 2008.

Yaletown Station

My photo, taken March 31st, 2008.

MetroLiving Homer Street

My photo, taken March 31st, 2008.

Kindred Place (Richards and Drake) | BC Housing

My photo, taken March 31st, 2008.

Onni's Community Garden and V6A billboard ad

My photo, taken March 31st, 2008.

[SpongeG]

i noticed that they finally changed those screen banner things for the canada line

this new one looks much better

[Delirium]

thanks for the pics SFU! curious to see how kindred place turns out..

a website is up for 999 seymour www.999seymour.com although no renderings. there are some here: http://www.actonostry.ca/ > go to multi-residential

i like it. it's different from all the punched window condos around yaletown but i have to wonder why anyone would want to live at seymour/nelson. it's a terribly 'loud' intersection especially when the bars on granville let out.

i walked past the site yesterday and the parking lot is now closed and they've started removing trees.

[Yume-sama]

I went on a site tour of L'Hermitage yesterday, it's pretty nice inside, a lot nicer than I had expected, really. Still a lot of work to be done in the lobby and cosmetic work all around the building, but I was told that owners will be taking possession in 10 - 14 days and the letters had been sent out on Monday. One thing I found odd is that there is no separation between the Hotel L'Hermitage and the L'Hermitage residences, they share a lobby, and nothing is preventing them from going up the residences elevator. Also, in an effort to keep condo fees low, the residences were only given a whirlpool and a bare fitness facility, while the hotel has Pool, hot tub, sauna, spa, fitness facility, all of which residences can pay a monthly fee to use if they wish. Residences can also pay for housekeeping and room service, which is kind of nice.

Anyways, about 999 Seymour.... I really hope that's a "rough" render

[Delirium]

^ as with most new condos, you need to swipe your card key to gain access to your floor.
so while hotel guests and unit owners may share the same elevator, neither will be able to access any other floor aside from their own.

[deasine]

Hey you went near Ganache XD, go try their cakes next time =)

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by Delirium

^ as with most new condos, you need to swipe your card key to gain access to your floor.
so while hotel guests and unit owners may share the same elevator, neither will be able to access any other floor aside from their own.

Unless they stay on and casually get off on any of the floors And they actually do have different elevators, but what I'm saying is there isn't a door protected by key or code or otherwise, separating the hotel lobby from the residential elevators. Most hotel / residences are quite separated, at least the higher end ones; Ritz Carlton, Shangri-la, Mandarin Oriental, etc.

[officedweller]

Thanks for the pics - I had no idea that Kindred Place was so far along.

As for L'Hermitage - that's sad having two separate rec facilities. The wierd thing is that usually the condos subsidize the cost of maintaining the hotel's facility - so who messed up on the business plan? Also - there' no restaurant or bar assocaited wit the hotel, is there - they've lost a lot of cache by not having that.

[Yume-sama]

There actually is a restaurant, I forget which floor it is on, perhaps the 5th floor where guests are checking in.

[Delirium]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Unless they stay on and casually get off on any of the floors And they actually do have different elevators, but what I'm saying is there isn't a door protected by key or code or otherwise, separating the hotel lobby from the residential elevators. Most hotel / residences are quite separated, at least the higher end ones; Ritz Carlton, Shangri-la, Mandarin Oriental, etc.

ah, gotcha. i imagine that's because the hotel portion only has 60 suites. doesn't really warrant a seperate entrance all the associated costs that would go with it. just a guess.

[officedweller]

Thanks for the info - wonder how you get to it - i.e. open to the public?

[jlousa]

New infill building, 12 storeys mutli-family with 1 level u/g parking at 1237 Howe St. Nothing major, but with 1212 Howe that block has certainly improved.

[Hed Kandi]

Originally Posted by jlousa

New infill building, 12 storeys mutli-family with 1 level u/g parking at 1237 Howe St. Nothing major, but with 1212 Howe that block has certainly improved.

Height?

[jlousa]

Not listed but I'd venture a guess of ~120ft-150ft.

[johnjimbc]

Thanks Yumesama,

Your comments are interesting because the strata docs of L'Hermitage do not reference two fitness facilities. They indicate the fitness facility, including changing rooms and steam/whirlpool area - in addition to lounge and library area - are included with the basic strata fee. They do indicate additional fees would be required to be paid to the hotel for use of the pool, as that is designated a hotel facility.

I am curious how they intend to get around the fact the strata docs defines the facilities in that fashion. I can't help but wonder if the expanded fitness area has actually been built as part of the "pool" area referenced in the strata docs. If so, that seems a bit deceptive. They may have some irate purchasers once they realize that use of the fitness centre didn't mean the "entire" fitness area.

[Yume-sama]

Yeah, but the condo fees are lower at L'Hermitage than I would have expected. Many people may not ever require usage of a pool or expanded fitness area, so it leaves them with the good option of not having to pay for something they won't use. Only about $40,000 is budgeted for the actual residents fitness area, so it won't be too luxurious or great, as I'm guessing the hotel fitness area may be. I'm sure those who do want to use the facilities may not mind an extra $50 - $75 or so on top of their sub-$500 fees (for the majority). It was quite surprising for me to hear about that, too. I had no idea there was even going to be an actual pool

I'm pretty sure both areas will be separated from eachother, anyways, so both may not know the other even exists

[johnjimbc]

I'd rather not pay for amenities I'm not using as well, within reason (everything can be carried to the extreme point) so paying a bit extra ala carte on the amenities can make sense.

I don't the pool is extensive, more of a lap pool is my understanding.

[muzhav84]

is 1237 the Odyssey night club??

[David]

The Odyssey is 1251 and is one of the social housing sites that the city owns... could 1237 be the location of the sales centre for the Howe/Davie condo project whose name escapes me now, or even the old house/patio that adjoins the Odyssey?

[Delirium]

didn't realize Alto was this far along..