Downtown Vancouver Updates

[jsbertram]

While I'm thinking of that intersection, I heard last weekend that Commercial Electronics is moving.

No idea when or where to, but I've thought for years that was an under-utilized piece of property.
Perhaps they will move to temporary space, redevelop this parcel & move back in as the prime (or only) retail tenant.

[SpongeG]

pics by me - spice on robson street looking almost done - finally

[SFUVancouver]

^ Thanks for the item about the Pattison Toyota site. I'm confident a significant building will be proposed for that site. My hunch is that it will be something along the scale of Patina or the Residences at the Hotel Georgia with a possibility of attempting to go for a new Vancouver's-tallest if the market warrants.

The photos of Spice are great. Thank you. It's good to see that project finally make it to the finish line.

[djh]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

In the end, the city declared that it would not allow "taller" buildings on those sites. Our architectural overseers are making sure their precious viewcones remain uncontaminated with architecture. It's for our own good.

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver;

^ Thanks for the item about the Pattison Toyota site. I'm confident a significant building will be proposed for that site. My hunch is that it will be something along the scale of Patina or the Residences at the Hotel Georgia with a possibility of attempting to go for a new Vancouver's-tallest if the market warrants.

So these two statements seem to be contradictory. If the city did not allow the Pattison site to hold taller buildings as Prometheus claims, then how can SFU be confident that a tall building - even possibly a new tallest - be built there?

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by djh

So these two statements seem to be contradictory. If the city did not allow the Pattison site to hold taller buildings as Prometheus claims, then how can SFU be confident that a tall building - even possibly a new tallest - be built there?

Two Words:

Jimmy
Pattison

[jlousa]

My understanding is that the proposal isn't imminent, I would also be surprised to see a tallest or even close to the tallest proposed. I do think that there will be very significant density proposed though.

[SpongeG]

what happenned to the one from years ago? i thought it was a done deal

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by djh

...If the city did not allow the Pattison site to hold taller buildings as Prometheus claims, then how can SFU be confident that a tall building - even possibly a new tallest - be built there?

I have absolutely nothing solid to go on, except for the absence of view cones above the Pattison Toyota site and that it was provisionally identified as one of the special sites for significant "gateway" towers. That concept was not supported when it was brought forward by staff in tandem with the politically risky height review of the historic areas but when the market rebounds the idea may well come back on its own to Council. Plus with development in the West End proving to be fight, even for rental, I can see the development industry looking to maximize every available site that has English Bay views. Lastly, when Concert brought their project at Drake and Hornby before the UDP there was a huge tower mass shown on the Pattison Toyota site of the project's context model. It was easily the size of Patina or Residences at the Hotel Georgia and may have even been taller. I'm not saying that anyone has plans for that site but if the project team for a neighbouring development thought it would be worthwhile to show the maximum envelope the Pattison site could handle in order to to see how their project relates to it, well then that's something to think about.

[wrenegade]

I doubt there would be anything higher than 450 ft on the Pattison Toyota site.

[jlousa]

Watching some impression fireworks out my window, they appear to be in front of VCCEC, anyone know why?
They are over now, lasted about 15minutes, after a couple of calls still don't know who set them off. Nice ending to a good weekend.

[Waders]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Watching some impression fireworks out my window, they appear to be in front of VCCEC, anyone know why?
They are over now, lasted about 15minutes, after a couple of calls still don't know who set them off. Nice ending to a good weekend.

International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference is being held in VCCEC from Oct. 3 - 8. The firework display is part of the Welcome party held tonight.
Source: http://www.ibanet.org/

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

^ Thanks for the item about the Pattison Toyota site. I'm confident a significant building will be proposed for that site. My hunch is that it will be something along the scale of Patina or the Residences at the Hotel Georgia with a possibility of attempting to go for a new Vancouver's-tallest if the market warrants.

I saw the plans the Pattison group was bouncing around a couple years ago and there were a few versions, mainly based on land purchase issues which i hear have been worked out, but the tallest option back then was 150m. Clearly a lot can change in a couple years, but I would be very surprised to see a tower larger than Wall on that site. Not only are there viewcone issues, but the site does not promote city hall's vision of a domed skyline.

Also, the plans I saw had 2 towers, one low rise and one high rise, and a 2 floor toyota dealership fronting burrard.

[Locked In]

^ Thanks for the info - any sense of how much commercial space would be included in a potential development?
If I recall correctly, the rejected recommendation out of the height review was to allow 400 tower on that site, so I'd be (pleasantly) surprised to see something really tall there.

[SpongeG]

the plans were on here somewhere weren't they?

I saw them too and I am sure it was here

i thought the commercial was going to be the toyota dealership and only the dealership - sort of like that one on kingsway

[LeftCoaster]

^I may have posted some sketches, but I doubt it... I dont think anything was released to the public.

There was more retail than just the dealership. I cant remember what it was exactly but there was more in the Hornby fronting tower if I remember correctly. It has been a couple years though.

[vanman]

Is there no thread for Cosmo? Either way here's a small update:

[officedweller]

The tunnel looks pretty solid.

[IanS]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The tunnel looks pretty solid.

I saw that the other day, on the way to a Canuck's game.

What's the tunnel for?

[navazan]

secret access to batmans lair i reckon.

[PaperTiger]

I believe it is the tunnel that runs from the post office down to the port. They built it when mail used to be transported by rail rather than by truck. I could be wrong though, I have never seen a map that showed its alignment.