Vancouver Lighting

[officedweller]

I've always thought the angled wall on Vancouver Centre's podium above London Drugs would be a great location for a massive video screen - right at the entrance to Granville's entertainment district. But good luck trying to get that past City Hall...

[raggedy13]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it's right next to the seymour street off ramp when you cross the granville street bridge - north end to the east

a few weeks ago it was two colours - i think it was blue and purple - last time i crossed it was just purple

hard to miss - its not a tall building - no taller than the bridge

Ah, I see. I know exactly which one you're talking about. I like the addition of that rooftop lighting. It is definitely nice and visible from the bridge.

[raggedy13]

Here's some new lighting outside the recently restored Pennsylvania Hotel:


by FearlessCity at flickr.com

[LotusLand]

Originally Posted by raggedy13

Here's some new lighting outside the recently restored Pennsylvania Hotel:


by FearlessCity at flickr.com

As cool as those look, I wonder how much they cost us taxpayers? and why put those there, why not on the Granville strip. And as many have alluded to here I hope the city doesn't replant the trees on Granville it looks way better without them. Sometimes we take this tree hugging thing to seriously. Really if you want I'll go plant some trees in my back yard to replace the ones lost on Granville Strip.

[teriyaki]

Originally Posted by LotusLand

As cool as those look, I wonder how much they cost us taxpayers? and why put those there, why not on the Granville strip. And as many have alluded to here I hope the city doesn't replant the trees on Granville it looks way better without them. Sometimes we take this tree hugging thing to seriously. Really if you want I'll go plant some trees in my back yard to replace the ones lost on Granville Strip.

The developer had an allowance of "$$$$$", they don't have anything better to spend it on so they spend it on stupid useless things like this in an area where they will hardly be appreciated. There are much better places to place things like this, Granville strip is one of those places. Robson street, Davie Street, Stanley Park, even Cambie Street/No.3 road would be great places for this kind of stuff to encourage street patrons.

Government inefficiency boggles the mind sometimes.

[agrant]

That sidewalk has heritage value..., as does the neon sign they recently restored on the hotel. Cheer up boys.

[EdinVan]

It pleases me to no end that people take this issue seriously. In a city with perpetually dreary, depressing weather, we need to take advantage of whatever lighting opportunities we can, day and night.

Property owners can do a lot to contribute if they wish, but they are afraid of upsetting anal condo owners who are bothered by the bright lights. (Go move to the suburbs if you want darkness.)

And amen to all the criticisms about the ugly (and filthy!) Sears building. How can a building in such a prominent location be so bare?

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I guess only a bizarre city council would rather have the world's largest blank white wall that looks like a giant toilet in the middle of the regions largest commercial district instead of some interesting projected displays/videos.

In fairness, it does seem that there are a few council members who share the sentiments in this thread. I don't know if this is usual for her or not, but Susan Anton has mentioned on more than a few occasions how certain prominent areas of the city look dull and drab.

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I've always thought the angled wall on Vancouver Centre's podium above London Drugs would be a great location for a massive video screen - right at the entrance to Granville's entertainment district. But good luck trying to get that past City Hall...

We do have a younger city council now... They might not be as closed to these ideas as we think...

[sono65]

I'm interested in why Vancouver's city council has taken such a harsh stance against anything with visual interest other than our natural surroundings? Jlousa you seem to be more in the know than a lot of people on this board. You mentioned before they've been fighting ads/billboards for years....why??? If done in a pleasing way, advertising/billboards really do add a lot of color and vibrancy to a city. Apparently we have liberals running our city council, but this attitude seems pretty conservative to me. We've had a constant barrage of seafoam, mediocrity, and concrete to go along with our concrete colored skies. A little bit of color/interesting public art/billboards/video screens/neon would probably benefit this city's image......no?

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by EdinVan

We do have a younger city council now... They might not be as closed to these ideas as we think...

One can only hope that they're not closed to these ideas. It would help Vancouver "move forward" a little

[agrant]

Originally Posted by sono65

I'm interested in why Vancouver's city council has taken such a harsh stance against anything with visual interest other than our natural surroundings? Jlousa you seem to be more in the know than a lot of people on this board. You mentioned before they've been fighting ads/billboards for years....why??? If done in a pleasing way, advertising/billboards really do add a lot of color and vibrancy to a city. Apparently we have liberals running our city council, but this attitude seems pretty conservative to me. We've had a constant barrage of seafoam, mediocrity, and concrete to go along with our concrete colored skies. A little bit of color/interesting public art/billboards/video screens/neon would probably benefit this city's image......no?

I like everything except billboards and ads. Perhaps strategically placed they'd work for me, but usually not. The public art is around, but I think it's weak - I'd like to see larger, more prominant pieces. And you know, if the Gastown steam clock is so popular, why don't we make more of the same type of thing?

[jlousa]

Those lights are in the sidewalk because they were there traditionaly. The city used to allow property owners to build underneath the sidewalks, they would install glass blocks in the sidewalk to allow light to penerate down into that space. If you walk along the old parts of downtown, gastown/crosstown/chinatown you'll find many examples of this, most of them have been damaged and just covered up. The reason you won't find this along Granville st as the city no longer allows property owner to build underneath public sidewalks.

The previous councils of both stripes have all agreed that billboards are unsightly and should be removed/heavily regulated. The vast majority of citizens agree, and you can see the support for their decision as there is a public outcry everytime the native bands (can't remember which ones) have proposed installing giant billboards by the Molson brewery on the south side of the Burrard st bridge.

[Metro-One]

To me there is a big difference between plain billboards posted around highways and fun vibrant LCD screens placed in commercial areas. I wish the city council would start to see this difference. It seems to me that the vast majority of opinion on this forum leans more towards creating more neon signs and video billboards than not. Usually the people who are against such things are a lot more vocal in their opinion, while people who enjoy such things do not express their opinion. So it may seem that Vancouver hates such initiatives but i suspect it is just the loud nimbys that make it seem so. I still do not see how it is wrong to have at least one or two small districts in a city that embrace such vibrant atmospheres. Again you no longer have to go to cities that are bigger than Vancouver to see such districts, they are even in smaller cities now such as Winnipeg and Calgary. hehe, Reno is only 300 000! Also the tree hugging thing is going a little far when you can barely trim trees in QE Park. I think that the conversion of playland to a nature park is another step in the wrong direction, unless they have plans to build an even bigger/better theme park in an area that is better connected to transit (which i highly doubt). Almost every city over a million has some form of theme parks, i love the PNE and rides, i go every year, and i will be angry to see that form of variety disappear for a form of park we already have an abundance of. It is creating a mono city. No wonder the youth in this city turn to gangs and vandalism, when you take so any forms of entertainment away that appeal to the young they become very board, which increases their chances of being involved in bad activities. Don't get me wrong, it is great that we have such a green city, but not every last single inch has to be the same. Also environmentalist should maybe get their priorities straight and should be fighting to preserve what is left of our untouched old growth rainforest instead of wasting their time on protecting garden variety trees in city parks. Ugh, sorry about the rant, Vancouver to me is the best city in the world, but that is not to say that we are perfect. What i just wrote in my opinion are the two areas we really need to improve on (Adding some vibrancy through lights/LCD screens and other initiatives in our commercial districts and the preservation of variety in entertainment)

[jlousa]

Do you think Reno or Winnipegs downtown are more vibrant then Vancouvers?
The lcds and bright lights aren't what attracts people or makes an area more vibrant. It's things to do that does. The city should concentrate on more festivals, more events and leave the gimmicks for other places.

As you probably know Times Square is the busiest intersection in NY, that is why it's vibrant, not because of the signs. The signs came in to take advantage of the large number of people not the other way around. If you take away New Years Eve there are actually very few occasions when New Yorkers gather at times square.

[Metro-One]

Yes i agree we need more festivals and events as well, but i think many are on my side who agree that more color and light would be a very welcome site in the downtown commercial districts, especially during the gray dim months, and yes i personally do feel they add a vibe. I am actually very curious to go to Winnipeg and seeing new pictures of their ever increasing light/LED displays has enticed me more to go. Because Winnipeg seems to be using a good variety of new technology and old heritage (in buildings) in their core. Also Reno downtown is very vibrant, it is amazing for a city of only 300 000. Also the most vibrant square in Canada is lit to the max with LED screens and lights in Toronto. And yes, in New York and in Japan and even in European cities the big sounds and light displays are an attraction, and yes many people will go just for that atmosphere. I loved just walking through the commercial districts of Osaka for that very reason. They add a lot of light and color to festival events as well. And don't give me this "you don't live in downtown bullshit" people who move to city cores should expect such, and if you are unwilling to even buy blinds (or use them) while living downtown then yes you are incredibly selfish person who wants it both ways. I live in downtown Metrotown and i look straight at the mall and offices, and every day i think to myself, "this place needs festivals, lights and LED screens." Because choosing to live in a denser core area i want to actually feel the city. At night when i want to go to bed, guess what, i close my blinds! If one wants peace and quiet, then move to the suburbs or at the very least don't buy a condo overlooking the busiest commercial/entertainment streets in the metro-area! Someone here earlier was saying how a bunch of condo owners squashed a new bar that was going to open up on Robson street, well i think that is complete crap. If you buy a place on robson street it has historically been a commercial and entertainment hub for decades, so guess what, new bars opening there are just part of life! Areas like Yaletown or Coal Harbor should stay more quiet and sleepy, but areas like Granville, Gastown, Robson, #3 road, Metrotown and even Lougheed town centre i think should be pumped to the max!

Nothing personal against you jlousa, just that i love my city, and i want to see it continue to grow into a world city, and i feel smaller cities are now starting to leave us in the dust in certain aspects.

PS - The areas around the stadiums would be a good place for a commercial/entertainment hub as well.

[sono65]

I think generally speaking, young people like to be "where the action is." If one has traveled outside of Vancouver to Toronto, Montreal, or even outside North America, ( I know Metro-one you've said this many times before) to cities the likes of Tokyo, Hong Kong, even Shenzen, they all seem to have a vibe going on that Vancouver is missing. Yes the populations of some of those cities are well over Vancouver's, however Vancouver has the third highest population density in North America in the downtown core. I think the people are ready for a light or two.
Is the city suggesting Younge street is ugly?



This is a street scape where people want to come. As you mentioned before Metro-one, it's not as if the entire city must be lit up, but I believe instensifying Granville and Robson, which at this point is not home to any residential buildings with NIMBY's inside to complain, would add some real life to that area. Jlousa you mentioned before that Times Square was a busy destination first and all the screens and what not came after. Could Granville/Robson not be the same? It must be one of the busiest intersections downtown, (at least for pedestrian traffic) and there are tons of people milling about down there all the time. Shibuya is another great example of this but on obviously a much larger scale.



Is Vancouver not ready for any of this? Festivals, we definitely need more of without a doubt. They bring people together for fun and entertainment. As for Lights and LCD screens, gimmicks they may be but they do attract people, are fun to watch and help add a daily vibrancy to an area, (like our entertainment district) that should have it. Granville/Robson should be our little Shibuya, or Dundas sqaure, or what have you. Am I way off base on this?



Also, I love "..areas like Granville, Gastown, Robson, #3 road, Metrotown and even Lougheed town centre i think should be pumped to the max!"

"PUMPED TO THE MAX!!!" Your passion cracks me up Metro-one



Photo credits:

Younge street taken by Matthew Johnson

Shibuya taken by anshirey

[Yume-sama]

One thing you'll notice is that other cities build up AROUND major transportation gateways. Look at Shibuya, for example. Shibuya Station sees 2.5 million people per day (4th busiest in Japan), and the Japanese do an EXCELLENT job of building density around their larger train stations. Granville / Robson would obviously be an ideal place for us to have *something* because of the Canada Line coming in. But I really don't expect anything grand to come about, I don't think there is really a "demand" for it.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by sono65

I think generally speaking, young people like to be "where the action is." If one has traveled outside of Vancouver to Toronto, Montreal, or even outside North America, ( I know Metro-one you've said this many times before) to cities the likes of Tokyo, Hong Kong, even Shenzen, they all seem to have a vibe going on that Vancouver is missing. Yes the populations of some of those cities are well over Vancouver's, however Vancouver has the third highest population density in North America in the downtown core. I think the people are ready for a light or two.
Is the city suggesting Younge street is ugly?

This is a street scape where people want to come. As you mentioned before Metro-one, it's not as if the entire city must be lit up, but I believe instensifying Granville and Robson, which at this point is not home to any residential buildings with NIMBY's inside to complain, would add some real life to that area. Jlousa you mentioned before that Times Square was a busy destination first and all the screens and what not came after. Could Granville/Robson not be the same? It must be one of the busiest intersections downtown, (at least for pedestrian traffic) and there are tons of people milling about down there all the time. Shibuya is another great example of this but on obviously a much larger scale.


Is Vancouver not ready for any of this? Festivals, we definitely need more of without a doubt. They bring people together for fun and entertainment. As for Lights and LCD screens, gimmicks they may be but they do attract people, are fun to watch and help add a daily vibrancy to an area, (like our entertainment district) that should have it. Granville/Robson should be our little Shibuya, or Dundas sqaure, or what have you. Am I way off base on this?



Also, I love "..areas like Granville, Gastown, Robson, #3 road, Metrotown and even Lougheed town centre i think should be pumped to the max!"

"PUMPED TO THE MAX!!!" Your passion cracks me up Metro-one



Photo credits:

Younge street taken by Matthew Johnson

Shibuya taken by anshirey

First step: don't replant the trees on Granville. And I'm sure the improvements being made, with the new lighting and all, will be fantastic.

[agrant]

^^ Agreed.

Copying what other cities do just seems like such a poser thing to do. Besides, I think Picadilly in London has reversed the billboard trend. Billboards and ads are ok if you're covering up uglyness, but most of what we have isn't that bad. Or is it?