Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 224

Coldrsx · #**4461** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 3:14 PM**

"Downtown probably isn't the best place to raise kids, anyways. "

why

SFUVancouver · #**4462** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 5:34 PM**

West Pender Place | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Atelier | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

This is a “two-for” of Atelier and The Beasley’s pit.

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Capitol Residences | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Dolce and Vita | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

The Erickson | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Hotel Georgia | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Jameson House | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Patina | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Karis Place social house (Seymour and Drake) | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

johnjimbc · #**4463** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 6:07 PM**

The glass on Vita - or is it Dolce?

- looks ok during the day, but at night it really looks bad in my opinion. The florescent lights of the garage are so visible through them, that it just looks drab. Unless they are going to be lit from above or below (or behind) in some cool fashion, the glass just gets lost in the glimpses of garage lighting you can see behind them. Because it's wavy, you can even see the garage as well.

It something that probably sounded really cool on paper or in sketches. It's neat during the day (though still a bit muted). But at night, it doesn't add anything, and may even draw your eye to one of the weaker points of the structure (the above ground garage).

Hed Kandi · #**4464** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 6:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Karis Place social house (Seymour and Drake) | September 24th ‘09

Taken by SFUVancouver, September 24th, 2009

Is there a render or this?

ckkelley · #**4465** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 7:09 PM**

SFUVancouver, that is a wicked update!

Thanks dude!

radacal · #**4466** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 7:25 PM**

Heard that the twisting tower aka Ritz is back on....

officedweller · #**4467** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 8:36 PM**

Thanks for the pics - quite the tour...

Olympic panels are being erected on the Seymour side of The Bay.

officedweller · #**4468** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 9:39 PM**

Vancouver Sun reported today that the US Olympic Organizing Committee will rent out all 3 floors of the commercial podium at Level (1022 Living) 1022 Seymour for the 2010 games - starting in January.

SFUVancouver · #**4469** Posted **Sep 25, 2009, 9:55 PM**

^ That location should come in handy if some they want to offer some entertainment for their VIP guests.

ckkelley · #**4470** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 5:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Vancouver Sun reported today that the US Olympic Organizing Committee will rent out all 3 floors of the commercial podium at Level (1022 Living) 1022 Seymour for the 2010 games - starting in January.

I noticed last week, they had event tenting erected on top the podium. It looked quite nice actually.

vanman · #**4471** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 8:35 AM**

Thanks SFU for all the hard work lately!

Patina is already looking quite tall, it's very imposing.

biketrouble · #**4472** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 5:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabotp

One thing I think the City of Vancouver need to seriously entertain is the idea of a row house and make the properties smaller. More dwelling units ber hectare. But have them with a front and back yard. not as big as today but something at least.

This. The problem right now is that AIUI, there's no way to have a non-strata rowhouse in Vancouver, because the land title law here does not allow for party walls (i.e a wall whose ownership is shared between two freeholders.) This arrangement is pretty common in many other parts of the world. As a result, we have a pretty poor "middle ground" for home ownership. I live in a strata townhouse right now, and I have to tell you that a rowhouse, in particular without the strata encumbrances, would be very attractive indeed. That said, I am from London originally and grew up in rowhouses.

amac · #**4473** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 7:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

The rich foreigner story is a myth and always has been, foreign ownership is <4%. The truth is it's locals that buy real estate and are the ones paying these prices. Just because the local came from Hong Kong or Iran years ago doesn't make him a foreigner, they are Canadian. Prices are still very reasonable in the region, downtown doesn't need to be affordable to everyone, it's pretty obvious it's affordable to over 120K people.

What rubbish.

vanman · #**4474** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 7:33 PM**

^No it's actually accurate. Like it or not we live in a Capitalist society.

Hed Kandi · #**4475** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by amac

What rubbish.

Agree wholeheartedly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

The rich foreigner story is a myth and always has been, foreign ownership is <4%. The truth is it's locals that buy real estate and are the ones paying these prices. Just because the local came from Hong Kong or Iran years ago doesn't make him a foreigner, they are Canadian. Prices are still very reasonable in the region, downtown doesn't need to be affordable to everyone, it's pretty obvious it's affordable to over 120K people.

The <4% of foreign ownership which you are referring to is the 4% of foreigners who choose not due to apply for a duel citizenship - and make no doubt if they did, the meek Canadian government would be the first to contort and perform fellatio.

The downtown core may be home to 120,000 residents, yet how many of them are renters? How many of them are supported through a government sponsored housing program? How many of them are forced to take a second/third job or share their place with roommates just to be able to afford their monthly rent or mortgage payment?

If a wealthy foreign purchases a property at an extortionate price (which would otherwise not have sold due to the price point being out of reach for the local buyer) and that wealthy foreigner is later handed a Canadian citizenship, is he or she not responsible for driving up market prices?

Is he or she not still a wealthy foreigner, but now with a re-branded classification?

trofirhen · #**4476** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 8:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by amac

What rubbish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

Agree wholeheartedly.

If a wealthy foreign purchases a property at an extortionate price (which would have otherwise not have sold due to the price point being out of reach for the local buyer) and that wealthy foreigner is later handed a Canadian citizenship, is he or she not responsible for driving up market prices?

Is he or she still not a wealthy foreigner, but now with a re-branded classification?

I'd like to add a "third" to your opinions. If the downtown condos were being sold to a local market with local incomes, prices would be half of what they are, probably less. Of course, there would not be the boom in highrises, either, and the concommitant numbers of people living downtown.

You can't have it both ways, but it saddens me to know that I can't ever even contemplate living in downtown Vancouver, or the immediate area unless I win the Loto.

I hate to re-inforce this notion bordering on racism and nationality, but I'm just giving you the straight goods, as I perceive the situation.

trofirhen · #**4477** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 8:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

The current state of the Vancouver real estate market with its exorbitant pricing can be solely attributed to the wealthy foreign real estate investors and second home buyers who have driven the city's prices to an unattainable level for the average local. As of August 2009, the average home price was $732,656 (http://www.chpc.biz/).

One need only look at the night skyline to see the plethora of unoccupied suites in the city's high rises as its temporary residents are elsewhere.

There is no refuting this fact. Vancouver simply does not have the economic base capable of producing such a number of high paying jobs for citizens to be able to afford these homes. The median family income in Vancouver of $62,900 (http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/famil107a-eng.htm) does not correlate with the average house price, hence more and more residents are forced to rent or are being driven to the suburbs where there is greater affordability.

Cheers to you, Hed Kandi, for daring to speak up and say the truth about the situation! Most people won't, for fear of being labelled "racist" or such. But facts are facts, and you put them them on the table for all to read. It's
not a "nice" fact, but it's the truth.

Delirium · #**4478** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 8:47 PM**

can you guys move your rediculous discussion somewhere else. it's super annoying.

SpongeG · #**4479** Posted **Sep 26, 2009, 9:40 PM**

there are some new statues/art at english bay - they look fun

posing opps galore

osirisboy · #**4480** Posted **Sep 27, 2009, 10:11 PM**

the streets in yaletown have been completely repaved in the past few days. whats interesting is that it looks like they might not be putting back as many or any of the dumpsters. the way they have painted the angled parking spots doesnt seem to allow any spaces for the dumpsters. it looks a lot better without them!!