Downtown Vancouver Updates

[SFUVancouver]

I bet this forthcoming project from Wall Financial will be where the heritage density lands from the York Theatre on Commercial Drive. If the site is not constrained by a viewcone, there is high profile heritage density to be absorbed, and there is nearby precedent for taller than average buildings; West One and The Mark, then I would suspect this one will go tall.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by phesto

Both view cones affect the mini storage site, but barely impact the sites that Wall has bought. You could get a 400 ft+ tower where the nightclub is....though it would probably make more sense to incorporate the mini storage lot into the development.

Thanks.
So I guess the tower will pretty much be on the corner of Richards & Drake.

[phesto]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks.
So I guess the tower will pretty much be on the corner of Richards & Drake.

It would be right on the nightclub site. There is a tower separation issue across the lane if you put the tower on the corner.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Good riddance to that nightclub. I think it was the stereotypical example for people coming from the suburbs and engaging in violent crime.

it went downhill after the 90's - it was the spot in the 90's than the shootings started

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it went downhill after the 90's - it was the spot in the 90's than the shootings started

Atlantis/Wetbar was a pretty fun place to party in the late 90s. I used to stop in every time in was in Van. Some wicked memories there. No shootings even.

[entheosfog]

Yaletown Roundhouse Turntable Plaza Project:

[SFUVancouver]

Looks interesting so far. I like the big stair seating on the south side of the bridge. Presumably the north side will house the foundation and equipment for the movable weather protection crane thingy.

As an aside, the company that owns the Nissan Cube, Protec, has some of the worst drivers of any corporate fleet in the city. I regularly see them do dangerous and illegal things at Commercial and First like run a red light, make a left turn light at speed onto First at Commercial while pedestrians are in the sidewalk, and turn right at speed onto First from Commercial on a red light without stopping and without regard for pedestrians. Maybe it is just one terrible driver who is on that route or maybe they have impossible schedules that makes them do dangerous things, but whatever the reason I always give them a wide berth on the road.

[agrant]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Looks interesting so far. I like the big stair seating on the south side of the bridge. Presumably the north side will house the foundation and equipment for the movable weather protection crane thingy.

As an aside, the company that owns the Nissan Cube, Protec, has some of the worst drivers of any corporate fleet in the city. I regularly see them do dangerous and illegal things at Commercial and First like run a red light, make a left turn light at speed onto First at Commercial while pedestrians are in the sidewalk, and turn right at speed onto First from Commercial on a red light without stopping and without regard for pedestrians. Maybe it is just one terrible driver who is on that route or maybe they have impossible schedules that makes them do dangerous things, but whatever the reason I always give them a wide berth on the road.

My girlfriend and I just happened to be on Commercial today, and we noticed a couple cars make that turn on a red... would have been struck if we hadn't stopped walking. Let's face it, there are bad drivers city wide. Lot's of people in a hurry to go places with little regard for other people.

[SpongeG]

thats cause there is no time to make left turns there is no choice

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by entheosfog

Yaletown Roundhouse Turntable Plaza Project:

Any renderings/plans of what the final product will be?

[SpongeG]

Architect to realize vision for remand centre

Henriquez says building designed by his father will be transformed into 'something nurturing'

BY DOUG WARD, VANCOUVER SUN APRIL 28, 2011


Architect Gregory Henriquez is designing 95 units of affordable housing in Vancouver's former remand centre, which was designed more than four decades ago by his architect father to hold prisoners awaiting trial.

Henriquez was given the green light this week by the provincial government to proceed on the $13.1-million project, which will create housing for the working poor and people on social assistance.

"The building has all the right bones. It just needs to be revisioned into something more nurturing," Henriquez said Wednesday of the provincially owned building at 211 Gore St., near Main Street and the Provincial Court house.

Henriquez approached B.C. Housing more than two years ago about transforming the closed remand centre, designed by Richard Henriquez, into affordable housing for the homeless and low-income people.

The province eventually embraced the project and has committed $9.5 million. The City of Vancouver is expected to approve next week a staff recommendation to provide a $2-million grant to the facility.

The rest of the cost will be covered by rental income. The building will be managed by a non-profit society.

Housing minister Rich Coleman said the project is "another element in our commitment to revitalize the Downtown Eastside through additional affordable rental housing -and it's an economic development activity, too."

"It's taking a building that wasn't being used for anything and making use of it."

Coleman said the cost of renovating the remand centre is a fraction of what it would cost to build a new housing facility.

The remand centre opened in 1973 to hold people charged with crimes while they were awaiting trial. When it closed in 2002, it was the oldest secure custody facility in the province.

The remand centre has concrete bay windows on the exteriors of the pre-cast concrete modules where prisoners slept.

...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Architect+realize+vision+remand+centre/4687689/story.html#ixzz1KqUCCmAu

[mr.x]

It's not even April Fools Day:


“Downtown Vancouver is quickly becoming one of the most thriving, energetic downtowns in all of the world. It will rival the downtowns of New York and London and Paris,”
- Gregor Robertson

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Dow...n+mayor/4692683/story.html#ixzz1KrmgdMoj

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by mr.x

It's not even April Fools Day:


“Downtown Vancouver is quickly becoming one of the most thriving, energetic downtowns in all of the world. It will rival the downtowns of New York and London and Paris,”
- Gregor Robertson

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Dow...n+mayor/4692683/story.html#ixzz1KrmgdMoj

Yes Vancouver will get bigger, but ... NYC, London and Paris? I think Gregor needs to travel a bit more

(in fact, I detect a whiff of the old Tom Campbell naîve grandiosity, I think)

[SpikePhanta]

But surely if he travels more people will complain, his records are even public now!

[jlousa]

People only complain when he returns from traveling, not when he leaves.
No need to compare him to Tom Campbell though, Tom was something special.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by mr.x

It's not even April Fools Day:


“Downtown Vancouver is quickly becoming one of the most thriving, energetic downtowns in all of the world. It will rival the downtowns of New York and London and Paris,”
- Gregor Robertson

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Dow...n+mayor/4692683/story.html#ixzz1KrmgdMoj

Its just Fools Day when he opens his mouth.

I don't think you could ever compare Gregor to Tom Campbell. As mayor, Tom Terrific seemed to relish being in the hot seat, Gregor just flees to Cortes Island.

[Porfiry]

The actual meat of the article, you know, the stuff that's actually relevant to this forum:

As of last week, more than $460 million in building permits have been taken out in 2011, compared to $220 million in 2009. “We’re back up to pre-recession levels,” he said.

Much of those values are in six stand-alone commercial towers being proposed that will deliver 1.6 million square feet of office space. “That really demonstrates confidence and real hope for business and the economy downtown.”

Good job at derailing another thread, though. Moderators?

[Hed Kandi]

..

[vanman]

Originally Posted by mr.x

It's not even April Fools Day:


“Downtown Vancouver is quickly becoming one of the most thriving, energetic downtowns in all of the world. It will rival the downtowns of New York and London and Paris,”
- Gregor Robertson

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Dow...n+mayor/4692683/story.html#ixzz1KrmgdMoj

Toronto is not even close to rivalling any of these cities, and Vancouver is not even close to rivalling Toronto, pull your head out of your — Gregor.

[jlousa]

Not sure what you feel needs moderating. The mayor made an over the top comment and it's being called out. The comment was re: downtown and is in the appropriate thread. As long as it doesn't get political or ventures to far off topic it's fine. There have been no personal attacks or other forum rules broken at this stage.