Downtown Vancouver Updates

[SpongeG]

the new stairs look good at the square - should be more obvious to robson strollers that there is something down there

the way the stairs are now really don't make one want to look down there

[phesto]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Does anybody know what the lease rates in Downtown Vancouver are like? For example, a streetfront store on a busy street . How much $$ per square foot are they looking at?

Robson (ie. Burrard to Bute) you're looking at about $175-250 psf.
Yaletown rates are anywhere from $35-80. Denman is about the same.

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by phesto

Yaletown rates are anywhere from $35-80. Denman is about the same.

Lot's of "For Lease" signs in the windows in Yaletown lately. Probably could use a price adjustment to stimulate some new tenants, it's not Denman afterall.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

Lot's of "For Lease" signs in the windows in Yaletown lately. Probably could use a price adjustment to stimulate some new tenants.

I worked and lived in Yaletown for 5 years around 2000-2005. There is a constant turnover of businesses (mixed in with some long term). They never seem to have too much of a problem getting new tenants, but few last.

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

There is a constant turnover of businesses (mixed in with some long term). They never seem to have too much of a problem getting new tenants, but few last.

You have to pursue your dream.
I'm not sure which has the higher mortality rate,
Hair Studios or Restaurants ?.

[subdude]

Originally Posted by Spring2008

Pardon my ignorance, but when did they get rid of Blunt brothers. I remember venturing into there the first time I visited Vancouver in 04. Quite the experience.

The building burned down: http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/3414.html

[Spring2008]

Originally Posted by phesto

Robson (ie. Burrard to Bute) you're looking at about $175-250 psf.
Yaletown rates are anywhere from $35-80. Denman is about the same.

175-250psf that'd be a hard pill to swallow.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

You have to pursue your dream.
I'm not sure which has the higher mortality rate,
Hair Studios or Restaurants ?.

My friends recently bought a restaurant. My hopes are with them but I have my doubts.

Experience is key for any small business. Experience running one, and your specific industry.

[dreambrother808]

Restaurants have a low profit margin (on average around 5%) and a very high rate of failure. Basically one should only enter into that kind of business if it is truly a calling or a love.

[subdude]

Oh I dunno about that 5% profit margin stat ... Who the hell would start a restaurant for that kind of return? My friends with restaurants would be shooting themselves if they got that kind of return. They don't tell me, but I think it's more on the order of 30-50 per cent return for a half-way decent place.

[punkster1982]

30-50% profit margin?! If that was the case a lot more restaurants would last longer than their first year! I managed a restaurant for years and if you can get over 10% profit margin, you're doing damn good. It depends, of course, on the type of establishment as well tho. A fine dining restaurant is going to have a higher profit margin than a fast food restaurant, but the stakes are also much higher so the profit margin must be higher to compensate for the risk. Low profit margins are why many restaurants tend to nickle and dime for any extras you might want

[dreambrother808]

5% is the average. Obviously there are those that do better or worse. At least this is the information I was given while in culinary school. I no longer work in the field but I can't imagine that this has changed in the past 8 years.

As for why people would go into this line of business, like I said it's either naivete or love for the most part.

[Delirium]

here's a rendering of 3 harbour green

[Denscity]

Looks pretty good. I'd imagine the "front" looks even better with perhaps some rounded corners. How tall is this again, 35 floors?

[Jacques]

Awesome I truly like all of the Harbour green Buildings, each one very unique but blends well with each other.
TY

[androo3]

I like it!, very simple but nice. I agree the other side probably looks even better.

[Delirium]

according to the development permit report, 3HG will be 32 stories and 380ft.
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs...77%20Thurlow%20Street%20-%20DE411944.pdf

even though the harbour green towers are a little simple, the quality of materials used make them quite exceptional. on 2 harbour green, i noticed what appears to be a huge slab of onyx right above the lobby entrance exterior. looks classy.

on another note, i drove by the new Hilton site on Robson yesterday and the parking lot has been fenced off. looks like they're going to start excavation soon.

they have a website; http://hiltondowntownvancouver.com/

as well, Atelier is already at grade..

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by Delirium

That looks like a rather improved design, thank god.

[Delirium]

yeah i was surprised to see that. i was expecting this;


the one concern i have with the new design is the blank wall running up the lenght of the building above the lobby entrance. something should be done to minimize that.

[fever]

This new design is much less offensive. It still looks pretty bad, though, like something that belongs on Hornby