Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 359

officedweller · #**7161** Posted **Feb 28, 2011, 8:15 AM**

I think the main advantage of taking down the Granville Optical Building will be widening the Robson sidewalk.

entheosfog · #**7162** Posted **Mar 1, 2011, 2:57 AM**

I could think of much more worthy buildings that should be demolished, like a certain white building across the street

navazan · #**7163** Posted **Mar 1, 2011, 11:14 AM**

pretty sure we should all gather and devise a plan to demolish the god forsaken se... sear.... gah i cant even say it. that white building. i think that when it is finally destroyed, it will be a joyous day, comparable to the second coming. im so very tempted to just start smashing it with a sledge hammer until im arrested.

flight_from_kamakura · #**7164** Posted **Mar 1, 2011, 5:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think the main advantage of taking down the Granville Optical Building will be widening the Robson sidewalk.

definitely. but really, anything that can be done to increase traffic on that block will be welcome, and in that sense, one hopes this is the right move.

LotusLand · #**7165** Posted **Mar 1, 2011, 5:33 PM**

Is the Granville Optical building the same one as the rumoured Apple Flagship store?? That would be a great location for it! And yes that ugly white building either has to go or should be plastered with advertising to cover it up.

andyh · #**7166** Posted **Mar 1, 2011, 7:45 PM**

The Cecil is coming down right now. Goodbye, I will miss you!

ckkelley · #**7167** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 12:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyh

The Cecil is coming down right now. Goodbye, I will miss you!

Sooooo many memories... Snif. I used to live at 600 Drake, right behind.

officedweller · #**7168** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 8:25 AM**

A red luffing crane is up at about Granville & Helmcken.
Can't recall the name of the project - but its probably the one that was so close to the neighbouring building that people could jump onto the balcony and....

SFUVancouver · #**7169** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 9:14 PM**

^ I don't think the project has a name. The company building it is called Blue Sky Projects and the building is going to be a STIR rental apartment building with retail at grade.

trofirhen · #**7170** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 9:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

^ I don't think the project has a name. The company building it is called Blue Sky Projects and the building is going to be a STIR rental apartment building with retail at grade.

A question please: what does "STIR" rental mean?

wrenegade · #**7171** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 9:24 PM**

Short Term Incentive for Rental

flight_from_kamakura · #**7172** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 9:32 PM**

^ how do you get 2000+ posts on here without reading anything?

that project is good infill, and in a part of that strip that could use it, now if we could just get a good reno on the chateau granville exterior, then we'd be rolling.

Canadian Mind · #**7173** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 10:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flight_from_kamakura

^ how do you get 2000+ posts on here without reading anything?

that project is good infill, and in a part of that strip that could use it, now if we could just get a good reno on the chateau granville exterior, then we'd be rolling.

When was the last time someone defined STIR?

I have to admit, I didn't know what it meant either. I knew about the rental bit, but never Short Term Incentive. What does it mean to be a STIR project then? Units are rented for only a certain amount of time?

SpongeG · #**7174** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 10:08 PM**

it's like affordable rentals that you live in until you can get back into market rentals - in theory there is a time limit - like welfare you are not encouraged to make it your life

logan5 · #**7175** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 10:27 PM**

I thought it was incentives given to the developer to build rental units. I could be wrong though.

officedweller · #**7176** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 11:25 PM**

The Terasen logo has been removed from the top of 1111 West Georgia and will soon be replaced with the FortisBC logo.

wrenegade · #**7177** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 11:29 PM**

The "Short Term" relates to the time period developers can take advantage of the program. The program is designed to offer increases in density, flexibility in LEED building standards and most importantly, reductions in time and complexity of the rezoning process. I believe the units must be designated for rental for 60 years. The units are likely all to be affordable, but market rentals.

City of Vancouver STIR Program

Canadian Mind · #**7178** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 11:33 PM**

Thanks for the overview and link awvan!

SFUVancouver · #**7179** Posted **Mar 2, 2011, 11:48 PM**

STIR units are actually required to be rental for the life of the building. They are market rental units, however most buildings that are incorporating STIR units are going the direction of small one bedrooms or studios, no parking, and few amenities, if any. So because of all those factors they will probably be on the low end of the new construction market rental continuum.

SpongeG · #**7180** Posted **Mar 3, 2011, 1:36 AM**

lol no idea

makes more sense

what is fortisBC?