Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 301

yogiderek · #**6001** Posted **Apr 6, 2010, 10:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by entheosfog

I tend to find the worthy heritage buildings in the West End, mostly apartments from the 1920s-30s and old Victorian houses are in generally good shape but it's the apartments from the 50s to 60s that seem to be in bad shape. I'm sure many of them weren't made to last forever, unlike some of the much older buildings.

I'm wondering if anyone is up for doing a calculation of all the 50's 3 and 4 story walk ups in the west end. So many of them are definitely at their life span end. Say an official count west of denman. South of Davie east of thurlow and then the middle of the west end, robson to davie? Can we look forward to how many future potential tear downs.

entheosfog · #**6002** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 1:09 AM**

I hope there isn't a mass demolition of these units as it's getting harder and harder to find a decent 1 bedroom for under $1000/month in the west end. You can bet new rental towers will not be as cheap as the aging 'boxes'. There's been a number of them that I've seen get fixed up lately so I don't think every one of them needs to be torn down.

ozonemania · #**6003** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 10:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by entheosfog

I hope there isn't a mass demolition of these units as it's getting harder and harder to find a decent 1 bedroom for under $1000/month in the west end. You can bet new rental towers will not be as cheap as the aging 'boxes'. There's been a number of them that I've seen get fixed up lately so I don't think every one of them needs to be torn down.

The West End is filled with an interesting array of architectural experiments from the 50s, 60s, 70s, up to the 80s. Some work, but alot don't. Even the 90s saw some developments. But the West End has been stagnant for quite a while now. (A glimpse of what might become of the glass condos of today?)

Personally, I just don't think most of the housing stock is that great. Alot were not built to last, and some of it take on very dated trends.

I do agree that the West End needs a community urban plan, if it indeed has none. The people that are vocal about this are correct that it needs to be addressed, but I am suspicious of their motives.

PaperTiger · #**6004** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 4:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by entheosfog

I hope there isn't a mass demolition of these units as it's getting harder and harder to find a decent 1 bedroom for under $1000/month in the west end. You can bet new rental towers will not be as cheap as the aging 'boxes'. There's been a number of them that I've seen get fixed up lately so I don't think every one of them needs to be torn down.

I agree. We need to maintain a range of housing options in the city. the west end is already one of the densest in the city. if we are really that keen on providing new rental stock I think we should be focusing on the Broadway corridor (cambie, commercial, main + Kingsway etc.).

I’m not saying that there shouldn’t be any redevelopment in the west end, but I don’t think it’s necessary for every parcel on every street to be 20 plus stories.

officedweller · #**6005** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 5:01 PM**

Just a note that the banners on the Hudson's Bay Company downtown are coming down. Half of the Seymour frontage is already down.

mooks28 · #**6006** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 5:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Just a note that the banners on the Hudson's Bay Company downtown are coming down. Half of the Seymour frontage is already down.

That's kind of sad. Anyone know what's going to happen with the Olympic Superstore inside? Tearing it down or just putting regular merchandise in there?

delboy · #**6007** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by entheosfog

I hope there isn't a mass demolition of these units as it's getting harder and harder to find a decent 1 bedroom for under $1000/month in the west end. You can bet new rental towers will not be as cheap as the aging 'boxes'. There's been a number of them that I've seen get fixed up lately so I don't think every one of them needs to be torn down.

you are right and the older buildings provide cheaper rental options that add to the great mix of people in the west end which i love.

TwoFace · #**6008** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 6:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mooks28

That's kind of sad. Anyone know what's going to happen with the Olympic Superstore inside? Tearing it down or just putting regular merchandise in there?

The Olympic store has everything at 50% off right now. I got a bunch of stuff. No lineups

TwoFace · #**6009** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 6:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by entheosfog

I hope there isn't a mass demolition of these units as it's getting harder and harder to find a decent 1 bedroom for under $1000/month in the west end. You can bet new rental towers will not be as cheap as the aging 'boxes'. There's been a number of them that I've seen get fixed up lately so I don't think every one of them needs to be torn down.

I know what you mean, but $1,000 is not very cheap for a 1960's walk-up with no views, parking, dishwasher or in-suite laundry. And when these folks move, the landlord is not restricted anymore and can max out the rent to whatever the market will bear.

Where there are 20 rental units in a 3 or a 4 story building, a medium high-rise can get 150 rental units.

Now if there is a glut of these "new" units on the market, it's quit foreseeable that a brand new unit with views, in-suite laundry, parking, all appliance etc, can be had for about $1,100 per month.
Currently, you can get a 1 bedroom with parking, in-suite laundry, gym etc in the downtown core for anywhere between $1,100-1,300

officedweller · #**6010** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mooks28

That's kind of sad. Anyone know what's going to happen with the Olympic Superstore inside? Tearing it down or just putting regular merchandise in there?

The display windows have already been changed to regular merchandise...

Locked In · #**6011** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 10:02 PM**

My photos from April 7 of the development at Nelson and Granville. I suspect the rumour that Joeys has made arrangements to go in here was greatly exaggerated - there's a For Lease sign up on the corner.

officedweller · #**6012** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 10:13 PM**

Maybe Joeys is just upstairs and the ground floor is for lease?

Locked In · #**6013** Posted **Apr 7, 2010, 10:48 PM**

Hm, good point - I hadn't thought of that. I was picturing something on the scale of their Bentall location, but it could be smaller. I suppose there could be any number of splits between a restaurant (Joeys?) and another tenant (or tenants).

jlousa · #**6014** Posted **Apr 8, 2010, 1:49 AM**

A lot of the convention centre has been leased out, including the upper plaza restaurant space, no idea if the lower plaza restaurant space has been leased yet though.

entheosfog · #**6015** Posted **Apr 8, 2010, 1:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoFace

I know what you mean, but $1,000 is not very cheap for a 1960's walk-up with no views, parking, dishwasher or in-suite laundry. And when these folks move, the landlord is not restricted anymore and can max out the rent to whatever the market will bear.

Where there are 20 rental units in a 3 or a 4 story building, a medium high-rise can get 150 rental units.

Now if there is a glut of these "new" units on the market, it's quit foreseeable that a brand new unit with views, in-suite laundry, parking, all appliance etc, can be had for about $1,100 per month.
Currently, you can get a 1 bedroom with parking, in-suite laundry, gym etc in the downtown core for anywhere between $1,100-1,300

and most of those suites don't allow cats

but there are some deals left to be had.

entheosfog · #**6016** Posted **Apr 8, 2010, 2:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoFace

I walk the area a bit, and I’m hard pressed to find many "heritage buildings" per say, mostly run down 50’s & 60’s boxes. If they don’t start recycling these old blocks with a higher and better use (high-rises) than the area will start turning into a run down district reminiscent of the DTES.

Hate to criticize, but the West End will NEVER end up like the DTES. It's completely an apples to oranges kind of a comparison, no matter how many crappy 50s-60s apartments are there.

SpikePhanta · #**6017** Posted **Apr 8, 2010, 3:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by entheosfog

Hate to criticize, but the West End will NEVER end up like the DTES. It's completely an apples to oranges kind of a comparison, no matter how many crappy 50s-60s apartments are there.

Yeah, the main reason for the demise of the DTES is because of the shifting of transportation and offices West towards Westend.

Prometheus · #**6018** Posted **Apr 8, 2010, 3:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by entheosfog

Hate to criticize, but the West End will NEVER end up like the DTES. It's completely an apples to oranges kind of a comparison, no matter how many crappy 50s-60s apartments are there.

Actually, there was a period of time when the West End was very sketchy. During the late 70s and early 80s, for example, the West End was where all the street prostitutes plied their trade. They eventually moved to the Seymour-Richards area. I am not sure where they are today.

dleung · #**6019** Posted **Apr 8, 2010, 4:38 AM**

Locked-in, which development is that... the one u posted Apr 7 pics for? What's the status of the project across the lane (999 Seymour)?

Locked In · #**6020** Posted **Apr 8, 2010, 5:36 AM**

^ 999 Seymour is on hold (I think). The site is currently being used for the Rolston sales office (opening soon apparently).

The photos I posted earlier are of a new building going in on the corner of Granville and Nelson - 2 storey, or 1 or 2 plus mezzanine or something like that. There's been speculation that Joeys might go in there, but nothing confirmed yet...