The Ultimate Vancouver Rumour Thread! - Page 26

trofirhen · #**501** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 3:54 AM**

As much as I don't really care for the Banking Hall at the Royal Centre, I think a building like this, looks "Edmontonish or "Winnipegish" (excuse me, neighbours) in that it is small, pokey in scale relative to the surrounding area, will fill in view space with mediocrity, and does not align well with the rest of Georgia. In addition to some nice really tall (600+) towers in that area, I'd like to see some open plaza space.

If RBC could put their banking hall underground, with a geodesic dome roof - rather like the ones at Robson Square - that would let in daylight and sunlight, and provide an area for people to walk around on, that, IMHO would be better than filling up that corner with a mid-size, bland, characterless piece of clutter that does little or nothing for the cityscape.

Either put the banking hall semi-subterranean, OR build a really tall, sleek, flasher that would utterly dramatize that key corner (even if it blocks the sun and the sky, and creates a hemmed-in, claustrophobic feeling)

That's just my opinion on it. Thank you

LeftCoaster · #**502** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 5:21 AM**

^^ You do know that wasn't a rendering of a proposed tower right? It was just a box to assess the impact of a similar sized structure in the area...

Anyway thanks for the info Phesto, I'm quite surprised this is even on Brookfield's radar, however far off. I think it might even be a good thing this tower is a long way down the road. Aside from the obvious infeasibility of building the tower now, being far down the road could result in a taller tower if viewcone revisions go through. Does anyone have the viewcone schematic map to see if this plot is restricted by one of the viewcones under consideration of relaxation?

trofirhen · #**503** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 5:36 AM**

Sorry, got a little confused about the diagram. I would personally prefer open space, But if they DO in fact build something on the banking hall site, PLEASE let it be tall, elegant, striking, sleek, harmonized with the alignment of Georgia and Burrard Streets ........

..... the list goes on ..................

BUT PLEASE .......... not a mediocre, 25-storey bland rectangle ! ! ! ! !

trofirhen · #**504** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 5:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mininari

The skyline needs a couple 500-550ft towers to step up the existing table-top to the 650' Shangri-La. Heres hopin' for the rumours to make it reality!

If they're going to build something on the Banking Hall at the Royal Centre (not a good decision IMHO, but anyway) ........

THAT might be a great place for one of your 500+ foot towers, and NOT a bitty, mediocre, 25 storey thing that just fills up open space yet offers nothing to the public, not even visually.

*Perhaps something along the lines of the Wall Centre would go well there, if they do decide to build. (Although this city has relatively little open space downtown as is, other than Robson Square)

officedweller · #**505** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 7:45 AM**

Remember that the Burrard Building site across the street is the site of a 600ft plus tower - no view cone restrictions over the western half of that site - so that'll provide your tall tower "at" (albeit set back from) the intersection.

trofirhen · #**506** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 10:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Remember that the Burrard Building site across the street is the site of a 600ft plus tower - no view cone restrictions over the western half of that site - so that'll provide your tall tower "at" (albeit set back from) the intersection.

Thank you for that observation. However, my real concern was not that there be a big 600ft building or not; it was that if the banking hall at the Royal Centre is built on, even with a medium sized building, it would block out any remaining sky and sunshine at street level, and create a "cramped," and "hemmed in" feeling at the corner of Georgia and Burrard.

Vancouver is not a city with wide boulevards and frequent public plazas, and although I agree the city has to grow upwards, I'd like to see as much sunshine and blue sky from street level as possible.

Personally, if I had my way (and I don't), I would like to see the banking hall at Royal Centre put underground with a glass-domed roof - a bit like the ones at Robson Square - or relocated entirely, to create a small open corner plaza at Georgia and Burrard to give a feeling of sky and airiness. I realize that this is just a dream, but I also think that there are very GOOD places for tall buildings in the city, and very BAD ones.

This particular instance is an example of a bad one, even if they build a snazzy tall 600ft building in place of the Burrard Building or not.

LeftCoaster · #**507** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 3:48 PM**

I dont exactly think the corner of West Georgia and Burrard is the best spot for a plazza either. The intersection of the two busiest roads downtown is not exactly a desirable spot to spend time.

I think this would be a great spot for a tower, given its proximity to transit and its central location in the CBD. Though I agree with your call for openness and blue sky, but there is something about a canyonous feeling cbd that really instills awe. The financial districts of NYC Toronto Chicago etc... have so many tall office towers in a small area it really makes for a magical effect. If just one part of downtown is like that I think it is great, of course I would never advocate this effect for the rest of downtown, or any other area in the metro to be like that however.

This is all mute however as I don't see a 600ft or even 30 ft office tower being built here any time in the near future, barring some drastic changes to the Vancouver business community.

trofirhen · #**508** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 6:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I dont exactly think the corner of West Georgia and Burrard is the best spot for a plazza either. The intersection of the two busiest roads downtown is not exactly a desirable spot to spend time.

I think this would be a great spot for a tower, given its proximity to transit and its central location in the CBD. Though I agree with your call for openness and blue sky, but there is something about a canyonous feeling cbd that really instills awe. The financial districts of NYC Toronto Chicago etc... have so many tall office towers in a small area it really makes for a magical effect. If just one part of downtown is like that I think it is great, of course I would never advocate this effect for the rest of downtown, or any other area in the metro to be like that however.

This is all mute however as I don't see a 600ft or even 30 ft office tower being built here any time in the near future, barring some drastic changes to the Vancouver business community.

^Yes, I know what you mean about the "canyon" effect. I like that, too. And normally, I'd say go for it. Also, I agree with you that Georgia-Granville is busy and noisy, and not the ideal place for a public square. It's just that, at that particular corner, when driving west on Georgia, there is a nice "break" of open sky looking down Burrard Street, which has become rather impressive in its own way.

In fact, on Georgia itself, right near the spot in question, there have been a number of smallish buildings built fairly recently, like the BC Gas Centre, which aren't bad in themselves, but are too small, and therefore create an erratic, hodge-podge feeling to the "Georgia Canyon" (which I love, too)

I just wouldn't want to see the wrong building in the wrong place, messing things up. Even an elegant glass and steel canyon can be overdone, or be handled in the wrong way. That was my real concern.

But thank you for your feedback.

s211 · #**509** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phesto

Thanks for reminding me, had meant to post this a long time ago, but got too busy!

Brookfield had held informal discussions with the City to determine how receptive they would be to allowing rezoning for a new tower circa 2007.

This is not even really a proposal at this point, they probably drew up these plans to see if they could sell it off to a developer. Also RBC isn't going anywhere as they are paying dirt cheap rates from several years ago both in the tower and bank podium.

Sorry guys, but this is another Sears building type situation where we won't likely see anything happen for a really long time..

Thanks. I'm just glad that I wasn't hallucinating.

phesto · #**510** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 6:30 PM**

I think the City would prefer not to have a tower on the corner, but from their perspective they have to at least consider the idea of a rezoning to allow for greater density under the Metro Core policy, given the centrality of the site, and that it is currently under-density.

The existing Royal Centre is built out at about an 8 FSR, whereas the existing downtown zoning with the Metro Core Study is 11 FSR, allowing an additional 300,000 sq ft. Given that the existing tower will be around at least another 40-50 years, this is really the only way to accommodate that density.

Leftcoaster – I think as long as Brookfield is the owner, the site will never be redeveloped. They will either cut a deal with RBC and subdivide off the bank podium for sale to a developer, or sell the whole Royal Centre. I wouldn't expect either to take place within the next 5 years.

officedweller · #**511** Posted **Dec 11, 2009, 8:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

However, my real concern was not that there be a big 600ft building or not; it was that if the banking hall at the Royal Centre is built on, even with a medium sized building, it would block out any remaining sky and sunshine at street level, and create a "cramped," and "hemmed in" feeling at the corner of Georgia and Burrard.

.....

Personally, if I had my way (and I don't), I would like to see the banking hall at Royal Centre put underground with a glass-domed roof - a bit like the ones at Robson Square ...

In that case, Christ Church Cathedral provides open space across Burrard.

WRT a dome - be careful what you wish for - it may end up looking like the former PWC Building on Hasting next to Harbour Centre.

WRT redevelopment of Royal Centre space, could a tower be built in the location of the Hyatt ballroom?
It would have better views (over the SkyTrain station and Bentall plazas) than the corner of Burrard & Georgia (which could be redeveloped with lowrise Hyatt amenity space)

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie...i=manybox&resnum=3&ct=14&ved=0CAMQjQMwAw

Come to think of it - how about a tower on the 1075 West Georgia parking garage site (facing Melville)?

trofirhen · #**512** Posted **Dec 12, 2009, 3:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

In that case, Christ Church Cathedral provides open space across Burrard

Come to think of it - how about a tower on the 1075 West Georgia parking garage site (facing Melville)?

Is that the one sort of overlooking Burrard Station? I'm trying to picture in my mind where exactly it is, but can't, sorry. It might be a good location for a tower, in fact.

wrenegade · #**513** Posted **Dec 12, 2009, 11:00 PM**

NW corner of Melville/Dunsmuir and Thurlow. The garage is covered in ivy.

trofirhen · #**514** Posted **Dec 13, 2009, 7:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by awvan

NW corner of Melville/Dunsmuir and Thurlow. The garage is covered in ivy.

Thank you. I THINK I know where you mean. It overlooks Burrard station, doesn't it?

I think that might be a good place for a sleek high-rise of some sort, as that area, as I remember, had a "choppy" uneven look to it. Also, if it overlooked Burrard Station, the effect would be dramatic, with the Bentall towers facing it.

The only "problem" I can see is that it would block off the view of the former Mac-Blo Building, and myabe the Hyatt and Royal Centre, creating some possible friction.

Other than that, it seems to be a prime downtown space.

Locked In · #**515** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 4:11 AM**

Not sure what to make of the remark in bold below... Business in Vancouver did a profile of Francesco Aquilini this week, which included the following:

Quote:

...
Aquilini used the economic downturn to forge ahead with plans to develop nearly $1 billion worth of real estate.

“Everything is going ahead as planned,” Aquilini told Business in Vancouver January 13. “What we saw in the real estate market in Vancouver was a big V, a big drop and then it came back up again.”
His planned projects include:

•the Richards condominium development on the former Richards on Richards nightclub site;

•the Maynards Block condominium development at 415 West 2nd Avenue, long known as the site for the auctioneer Maynards; and

•four office towers surrounding GM Place.
...

For real?

Source: BIV

jlousa · #**516** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 4:21 AM**

It's in reference to the commercial space that will be developed part of the Pavco deal, we'll have to wait until after the games for the official announcement. 700,000ft sqft of it needs to be commercial, so that's enough for ~3 towers then there would the GM Place tower on top of that.

officedweller · #**517** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 5:39 PM**

That many office towers (even short ones) would provide enough synergy to support retail services in the area.

jsbertram · #**518** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

That many office towers (even short ones) would provide enough synergy to support retail services in the area.

And lets not forget the new towers to be built around BC Place (with the land being sold/leased to pay for the new roof)

officedweller · #**519** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 8:49 PM**

But residential doesn't provide as many customers as offices do - since people leave the area during the day when they go to work. (i.e. the retail in residential complexes isn't usually as intense (name brand) as in office complexes.)

Shibuya · #**520** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 10:26 PM**

Does anyone know about the potential redevelopment of 1025 Robson Street, Robson Galleria?

The link below goes to a leasing brochure for the restaurant space in behind which is available short-term. I have heard that the Honu Group out of Hawaii has a 40yr Land lease on the property and plan to build around the existing Aldo a 2 floor retail building for Forever 21 with additional space available on the ground floor.

Anyone hear anything about this?

http://matrix.cwcanada.com/filecabinet/Property/535637/1025%20Robson%20Street.pdf