General Vancouver Updates - Page 74

officedweller · #**1461** Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 4:08 AM**

Noticed a big dragon or snake-like sculpture over at Vanier Park - still covered in plastic for the time being.

Chikinlittle · #**1462** Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 4:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Noticed a big dragon or snake-like sculpture over at Vanier Park - still covered in plastic for the time being.

I'm really enjoying all the recent art installation additions around the city.

Anybody know when some of the new lighting features are being installed/turned on? (ie, lighting of Granville/Cambie bridges)

Vancity · #**1463** Posted **Nov 9, 2009, 8:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chikinlittle

I'm really enjoying all the recent art installation additions around the city.

Anybody know when some of the new lighting features are being installed/turned on? (ie, lighting of Granville/Cambie bridges)

I'm actually wondering about this too. They should be installed/turned on fairly soon, considering the Olympics are coming to town fairly soon. If anyone could get some shots of the lighting that'd be fantastic

whatnext · #**1464** Posted **Nov 11, 2009, 4:32 AM**

Part of Little Mountain up in flames tonight:
http://www.news1130.com/more.jsp?content=20091110_213031_10540

whatnext · #**1465** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 3:38 PM**

Wow, a second fire in the Main St. corridor in just a few days

RIP Slickity Jims, Zocallo and Kishu Island. Looks like we may see a development on the SW corner of Main and Broadway sooner rather than later:

http://www.news1130.com/more.jsp?content=20091112_075629_11924

WarrenC12 · #**1466** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 3:45 PM**

Funny they mention Lugz there as well. I don't know what the story is with that place but it was cleaned out a few weeks ago. No sign that it was For Lease or under reno and coming back. Suspicious?

raggedy13 · #**1467** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 5:11 PM**

That's a real shame. The only place I've ever been to out of those that burned down is Kishu Island. While I won't miss their sushi, I will miss their $9 pitchers.

dreambrother808 · #**1468** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 5:29 PM**

Kishu Island had the worst sushi I've ever tasted...

but SLICKITY JIM's!!!! Seriously, that makes me want to 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 cry...

LotusLand · #**1469** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 6:25 PM**

RIP Slickity Jim's

whatnext · #**1470** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 6:34 PM**

I hope the property is combined with the derelict bank right on the corner of Main & Broadway. Being the intersection of two of the busiest bus routes, this corner deserves an important development of some significance.

nova9 · #**1471** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 6:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

I hope the property is combined with the derelict bank right on the corner of Main & Broadway. Being the intersection of two of the busiest bus routes, this corner deserves an important development of some significance.

I completely agree. There should be a building to match the nice brick Lee Building across the intersection. It is far too busy an intersection to allow an empty building remain there. I'm surprised there has been no movement for so many years. Plus, it really would anchor the beginning of the awesome stretch of Main St. that starts from 6th to 33rd.

dreambrother808 · #**1472** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 7:16 PM**

It's a bit fishy that such a prime piece of real estate will now be up for development...
especially considering the previous moneymaking limitations of what was there, the single storey, etc.

Then again, people are always suspicious when it comes to a fire, but with just cause I guess.
In my hometown of Thunder Bay, the only gay bar was bought by some str8 guys who seemed to put up with the clientele for the time being.
Then, all of a sudden, it burned down and they had the opportunity to build their new str8 bar in its place. Surprise, surprise...

Will whatever replaces this have anywhere near as much character or will we just get more McDonald's, Subway, or Starbucks in the retail base?
Not that I am against any of these corporations per se, rather just against having them totally replace other more interesting businesses.

whatnext · #**1473** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 7:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

It's a bit fishy that such a prime piece of real estate will now be up for development...
especially considering the previous moneymaking limitations of what was there, the single storey, etc.

Then again, people are always suspicious when it comes to a fire, but with just cause I guess.
In my hometown of Thunder Bay, the only gay bar was bought by some str8 guys who seemed to put up with the clientele for the time being.
Then, all of a sudden, it burned down and they had the opportunity to build their new str8 bar in its place. Surprise, surprise...

Will whatever replaces this have anywhere near as much character or will we just get more McDonald's, Subway, or Starbucks in the retail base?
Not that I am against any of these corporations per se, rather just against having them totally replace other more interesting businesses.

That's a "Starbucks Corner" for sure!

Some sloppy reporting from the G & M on the fire:
...The affected businesses are next to the former CIBC bank building, a two-storey heritage structure that has been converted to shops and condominiums. It is not burning but the wall of flames consuming the other businesses is not yet under control... (bold mine)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nati...ritage-area-in-vancouver/article1360578/

djh · #**1474** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 7:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

It's a bit fishy that such a prime piece of real estate will now be up for development...
especially considering the previous moneymaking limitations of what was there, the single storey, etc.

Then again, people are always suspicious when it comes to a fire, but with just cause I guess.
In my hometown of Thunder Bay, the only gay bar was bought by some str8 guys who seemed to put up with the clientele for the time being.
Then, all of a sudden, it burned down and they had the opportunity to build their new str8 bar in its place. Surprise, surprise...

Will whatever replaces this have anywhere near as much character or will we just get more McDonald's, Subway, or Starbucks in the retail base?
Not that I am against any of these corporations per se, rather just against having them totally replace other more interesting businesses.

Might also make sense for a Main Street skytrain station when the Millennium Line extends westward.

* * *
On a side note, that block must be cursed. Last year, Habit restaurant (next door to Cascade, on the other side of the road) had a fire and was closed all this year. Before that, the building next door to the old hipster coffee shop Soma (again on the other side of the road) burned to the ground. It has since been replaced with the 6 or 7 storey building that now houses the Waves cafe on the ground floor.

dreambrother808 · #**1475** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 7:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatnext

That's a "Starbucks Corner" for sure!

There is one just across from the Kingsgate Mall parking lot, but I'm sure that Sbux would like another closer to the heat of the action.

I haven't lived in that area for a year or more and didn't realize that Habit had closed down. Great restaurant, btw.

officedweller · #**1476** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 7:56 PM**

WRT fire risk - Could just be that the buildings are really old along that stretch.

BTW - I like the old bank building on the corner. Those 50s moderne style buildings are being torn down faster than any other style in the City these days.

hollywoodnorth · #**1477** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djh

Might also make sense for a Main Street skytrain station when the Millennium Line extends westward.

* * *
On a side note, that block must be cursed. Last year, Habit restaurant (next door to Cascade, on the other side of the road) had a fire and was closed all this year. Before that, the building next door to the old hipster coffee shop Soma (again on the other side of the road) burned to the ground. It has since been replaced with the 6 or 7 storey building that now houses the Waves cafe on the ground floor.

the empty corner on the SE of Main & Bway is slated to be the site of the skytrain station

city owned site even I think?

agrant · #**1478** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 8:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

It's a bit fishy that such a prime piece of real estate will now be up for development...
especially considering the previous moneymaking limitations of what was there, the single storey, etc.

Then again, people are always suspicious when it comes to a fire, but with just cause I guess.
In my hometown of Thunder Bay, the only gay bar was bought by some str8 guys who seemed to put up with the clientele for the time being.
Then, all of a sudden, it burned down and they had the opportunity to build their new str8 bar in its place. Surprise, surprise...
Will whatever replaces this have anywhere near as much character or will we just get more McDonald's, Subway, or Starbucks in the retail base?
Not that I am against any of these corporations per se, rather just against having them totally replace other more interesting businesses.

That just seems wierd to me. How do you build something and make it gay or straight? What's to stop the gay clientele from continuing to use it? No more Madonna music?

SpongeG · #**1479** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 8:34 PM**

Firefighters mop up in the wake of an early morning three alarm fire that destroyed five businesses on the Southwest corner of Main and Broadway Thursday morning.
Photo Credit: Ian Lindsay, Vancouver Sun

Fire at Main and Broadway destroys popular cafe, four other businesses

I find it amazing how the red sidewalk sign and the bicycle remained untouched

Smooth · #**1480** Posted **Nov 12, 2009, 9:08 PM**

^ It's also surprising that the electronic bus stop sign is still working.