Downtown Vancouver Updates

[djh]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

There is no incentive for anyone to properly upkeep the building

That's not the point.
The point is that they DID TRY to clean it, but did a half-assed job. They evidently realised it needed cleaning so spent the money to do it, but then left it badly-done. Which is more embarrassing because it just makes them look mediocre.

[Fairbanks]

Hi all:

I went ahead and emailed the company president about this and also left a voice mail with the store's general manager Rob Evans.

Leftcoaster makes a good point...if they ain't stayin' why clean it up. This is the kind of behaviour you'd expect from a poor renter about their rental apartment. They let the place go to — and the landlord tries to kick them out but they wont go willingly...maybe they are trying to get their damage deposit back...ha ha.

[djh]

Originally Posted by Fairbanks

Hi all:

I went ahead and emailed the company president about this and also left a voice mail with the store's general manager Rob Evans.

Leftcoaster makes a good point...if they ain't stayin' why clean it up. This is the kind of behaviour you'd expect from a poor renter about their rental apartment. They let the place go to — and the landlord tries to kick them out but they wont go willingly...maybe they are trying to get their damage deposit back...ha ha.

In that case, why did they bother trying to clean it at all?

[officedweller]

From the Sun:

Construction in city winding down ahead of Games

By Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun
February 5, 2010

Work on construction sites in downtown Vancouver is slowing down in preparation for the Winter Games as traffic restrictions make it difficult to get around.
Photograph by: Ward Perrin, PNGWith preparations for the Olympics building to a crescendo, construction sites in Vancouver’s core are winding down as contractors struggle to accommodate Games-time traffic plans.

For some, that will mean changing work schedules and deliveries of materials to avoid Olympics-related congestion. For others, it will mean a near-complete hiatus for the duration of the event.

To manage construction work, the City of Vancouver is requiring companies to obtain special street-use permits during the Games, city spokeswoman Leslie Boldt said. The city has been working with firms for more than a year on their plans.

“What we’ve asked builders and developers to do, is if they are planning to have activities on site, contact us and make application for a permit,” Boldt said. “And we would work with individual builders on specifics.”

Paul Storer, an engineer in Vancouver’s projects branch, said businesses have submitted about 120 applications for street-use permits, though not all are related to construction.

For contractors who want to continue building, Storer said the city has tried to work out alternative schedules, although in a couple of cases lane closures will severely restrict what companies can do.

“Where possible, we’ve tried to give companies the street space they need,” Storer said. “There are a few spots that are particularly challenging.”

Bosa Properties Inc.’s Jameson House project on Hastings near Hornby is one of those spots. Storer said the city has managed to give the company loading space in the alley behind the building, but Bosa vice-president Daryl Simpson said it has lost use of the curb lane needed for delivery of concrete and windows.

Simpson said safety reasons dictate that the company can’t use its tower crane for a five-week period that began Jan. 27. “[So] we can’t pour concrete, we can’t install windows, we can’t use that crane,” Simpson said. “[The crane] is a critical-path item.”

Simpson said the company will focus on interior work such as wiring on the floors that have been built, but that’s limited in scope because the structure is still entirely open to the elements.

“The city has been doing the best they can with challenging circumstances,” he said.

Storer said there are no blanket restrictions on crane use, but there are individual cases where street safety is compromised beneath a crane’s path.

He said there is no truth to the long-circulating rumour that Vancouver Olympic organizers and the city have demanded cranes be taken down during the Games.

Jeff Lyth, director of corporate health and safety for ITC Construction Group, said that with the Olympics’ opening ceremony a week away, it is far too late for companies to start taking cranes down anyway.

Lyth said: “Obviously the Olympics are changing the way things are done in a way that hasn’t been done before.”

He said a lot of it has to do with traffic management and reducing the number of people, including construction workers, travelling into downtown during peak periods for Olympic-events traffic.

“They’ve been asking us to do things in off-hours that don’t conflict, and [for an] overall reduction,” Lyth said, adding the requests “go hand in hand.” By changing schedules, companies will reduce the number of workers travelling into the city at peak periods.

Keith Sashaw, president of the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, said many firms have also held off on putting projects out to bid during the Games period and have slowed projects down so employees can take part in the festivities.

He said he expects a flurry of activity after the Olympics to catch up with work. “We had a board meeting a couple of days ago, and it was the first time in a year that we’ve had a sense of optimism [at the table].

“Things seem to be picking up.”

[email protected]

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by djh

That's not the point.
The point is that they DID TRY to clean it, but did a half-assed job. They evidently realised it needed cleaning so spent the money to do it, but then left it badly-done. Which is more embarrassing because it just makes them look mediocre.

That is true, and to be honest I dont quite get the halfassed attempt. Maybe they are not done yet? I know the games are fast approaching but they do still have over a week, maybe something caused a delay but they still plan on going ahead with the entire thing.

To be honest half finishing just makes the unfinished portions look even worse so just leaving it as is makes little sense. I would not be surprised to see them finish it off soon.

[Yume-sama]

Maybe cleaning it in the middle of the night, when you can't see anything, wasn't the best idea ? Easy to miss black spots... when it's pitch black dark outside!

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

There is no incentive for anyone to properly upkeep the building

Sears knows they arent going to stay... they wont put money into it.
Cadillac Fairview is trying to get them to leave... they wont put money into it.
Cadillac Fairview is trying to redevelop the site... they definitely wont put money into it.

Just be patient and wait for the re-development. The new structure wont need cleaning, just a window wash or two.

I wish they'd tear it down and build something akin to the Westlake Center in Seattle

[AlexYVR]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

I wish they'd tear it down and build something akin to the Westlake Center in Seattle

Or a taller version of the Cambie/12th city centre mall. That thing's great.

[vanman]

I don't remember if this is part of the Biennale or not so I'll post it here. Artwork at the Shangrila:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcbusinesshub/4341212581/sizes/o/

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

There is no incentive for anyone to properly upkeep the building

Sears knows they arent going to stay... they wont put money into it.
Cadillac Fairview is trying to get them to leave... they wont put money into it.
Cadillac Fairview is trying to redevelop the site... they definitely wont put money into it.

Just be patient and wait for the re-development. The new structure wont need cleaning, just a window wash or two.

Sears is getting out of downtown?
When did this story break?
I thought Sears took over the lease from Eatons, including the sweet & cheap deal Eatons had with with Cadillac Fairview, and has another 40+ years on their lease. What could possibly make them move now?

Sears is the tenant, so they don't have much control over what Cadillac Fairview does or doesn't do to maintain the outside of the building, unless the building is close to collapse from lack of maintenance. Similarly, as a renter you don't have much control if the building exterior is painted pink & purple by the owner or management company. Live with it or move.

Cadillac Fairview is the landlord and will perform the least amount of maintenance necessary to keep the building functional for Sears while creating enough of a profit to stay in business. They may hate having Sears as tenant who is paying below-market lease rates, but until Sears leaves (or is forced out by legal means) they are stuck with each other. Similarly, as a renter I wouldn't expect to have to paint the outside of my suite every few years, or pay for roto-rooter to come when the laundry room drain plugs up, or pay the neighborhood kid to mow the building's front lawn. That is what I'm paying rent to the landlord to do.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Zassk

The curving top of the building appears to be plated with fiberglass or plastic, unlike the panels on the sides. Perhaps that material is not easily cleaned with just a power washer.

I could live with the back side still being dirty, I.

just wish that something could be done to remove the stains on the curving top

While we're doing some spring cleaning, The Bay & Visa needs to get some of their Visa Olympic panels cleaned already, since one set is capturing the gunk being exhausted by the building's HVAC system. The 2nd panel east of the corner of Granville & Georgia. Pretty scary to actually see what's in the air coming out of that building.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by vanman

I don't remember if this is part of the Biennale or not so I'll post it here. Artwork at the Shangrila:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcbusinesshub/4341212581/sizes/o/

its not the biennale - its the VAG space which they will use as an exhibit space and "art" will change periodically

[Yume-sama]

Yeah, that art is called "From Shangri-la to Shangri-la" if I remember correctly, by Ken Lum.

From rags to riches. Huts to the tallest building in Vancouver

Here is a page about it:
http://www.culturekiosque.com/travel/item16520.htm

[urbandreamer]

^I'd rather live in those huts than the hotel.

[djh]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

^I'd rather live in those huts than the hotel.

Er....WHY?

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

^I'd rather live in those huts than the hotel.

what the? why? Is it because you cant afford staying at hotels like that so you make yourself believe that there horrible places to stay therefore avoiding feeling like your missing out. Sorry Im just trying to understand why someone would rather sleep in huts on the street than in a luxurious hotel.

[Yume-sama]

Well, to be fair, the soaker tub didn't even have JETS! Like oh my God...


http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/3584594296/

[SpongeG]

people thought the TD tower was on fire - a firetruck even showed up - smoke was seen billowing out of the west side half way up and all the people by the olympic clock were watching the smoke

anyone know whats going on?

[vanman]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Yeah, that art is called "From Shangri-la to Shangri-la" if I remember correctly, by Ken Lum.

From rags to riches. Huts to the tallest building in Vancouver

Here is a page about it:
http://www.culturekiosque.com/travel/item16520.htm

Cool, thanks for the info.

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

people thought the TD tower was on fire - a firetruck even showed up - smoke was seen billowing out of the west side half way up and all the people by the olympic clock were watching the smoke

anyone know whats going on?

I was down there when it was going down and I got some pics I'll put them up later. The fire trucks left but there was still smoke coming out.
Not sure what was happening though!