Downtown Vancouver Updates

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i remember gastown in the 80's/90's and it was where people wanted to go and did go, there used to be a pier one store down there, and some good stores and restaurants, it and the area really went down fast when woodwards closed in the early 90's

there were some cool clubs and hang outs in the early 90's

it doesn't look any different - thats why I say it will look the same as when that paris living dude left

... paris living dude ..... / no, you're right, it does look rather the same on the outside, but I can somehow perceive a more "upscale" feeling in some of the photos.
Thanks for those pics.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

go to nice cafe just off main - love that place - its full of hipsters

Yeah, the true hipsters are moving further east. Gastown itself, when it hit the bottom became hipster central, and its revitalization is a result of them making it trendy. But as it became trendy, the real hipsters moved out and into Chinatown and the DTES (I think the Lotus is as far West as Hipsters venture, and even that is probably too trendy now).

The hipsters that hit it big with their shops stayed of course, but I would say the scene in Gastown now is trendy, low key, but trendy. And I think that's what makes it work, is the fact that the area is made up of businesses that took a risk and brought something new to the area for people who want to escape the binge drinkers, douchebags and yuppies found elsewhere in downtown. Yes, it might all be because of hipsters moving into the area 5 years ago, but I think Gastown has a pleasant mix of businesses and eateries for people looking for a more middle of the road kind of scene. And its a great place to send a tourist now, as they will for sure find something they like without looking too long.

It's also helped out by the fact that there are more offices and younger professionals working in Gastown now, making it easier for the businesses, especially smaller eateries, to be busy all year round and during the day. Gastown is no longer dependent upon summer tourists or weekend club goers which it was for years after they renovated many of the buildings. Yes, it is cyclical, but there was no guarantee this would have happened after Sears and Woodwards left. E. Hastings is still a mess decades after being THE street and is still years away from the grandeur it once held. I think it is because of the entrepreneurial spirit that moved in to Gastown and took advantage of the architecture and the pedestrian oriented 100 year old streetscape to make it a viable business community again.

[jlousa]

Concur completely.

[TwoFace]

Back in the day, we used to line up to get into that cowboy bar across from the W.

[SpongeG]

this is across the street from woodwards right? next to the lotus basically?

270 square feet of home sweet home? That’s life in Vancouver

VANCOUVER—There are simple rules for how to live in a space of 270 square feet: live simply.

Vancouver residents understand that better than ever as the cost of homes continues to rise and the size of living space keeps shrinking. A downtown rental building featuring 270-square feet micro-lofts are now under construction. They’re believed to be the smallest units ever built in the city.

The development that is converting a 100-year-old building into tiny units will each have a wall bed with a convertible dining table, a bar-size fridge and a shower but no tub. The units will be rented out from $725 to $750 a month.

Former city councillor Gordon Price lived in a 290-square foot apartment as an experiment in the 1990s and learned it all got down to the basics.

...

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/artic...home-sweet-home-that-s-life-in-vancouver

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

... paris living dude ..... / no, you're right, it does look rather the same on the outside, but I can somehow perceive a more "upscale" feeling in some of the photos.
Thanks for those pics.

sorry i couldn't remember how to spell your name

it looks more upscale but its mostly lots of the buildings have been restored and they look a lot better, some of the ugly facades that covered them up for decades were removed etc. I guess i just mean physically it doesn't look that different, unless you look up close and knew or know the area and the things that have changed

[quobobo]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

this is across the street from woodwards right? next to the lotus basically?

I thought there was a (horribly misguided) Vancouver bylaw stating that new individual housing units had to be 400 square feet or larger - has that finally been done away with?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Bottoms up is this new system that allows you to fill beer quickly from the bottom of the cup upwards, avoids excess head. Doesn't make the beer taste any better but it's fun to watch, I'd imagine Rogers Arena/Telus Centre to upgrade to them shortly as they are more then twice as quick as the tap style.

http://youtu.be/QctXSnGAlPs

They already have these at Empire Field (at least for Lions games), although only on the 24oz cups, not the smaller ones. I imagine the cups are a lot more expensive because of the magnets.

[dreambrother808]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

Yeah, the true hipsters are moving further east. Gastown itself, when it hit the bottom became hipster central, and its revitalization is a result of them making it trendy. But as it became trendy, the real hipsters moved out and into Chinatown and the DTES (I think the Lotus is as far West as Hipsters venture, and even that is probably too trendy now).

True. There is a shift eastward but in my experience these neighbourhoods and the people within them naturally bleed into one another, as do the distinctions between those who are simply trendy and — hipsters.

[jlousa]

The cups are probably slightly more expensive but most of the time the cups are free due to advertising anyways. Also the additional cost in a stadium environment is nothing because it allows you to sell more beers in the same amount of time more then making up the additional cost of a couple of cents per cup.

The project above is not across from Woodward but almost directly across from Army and Navy. The units will be all rental and they look really well though out even though they are small, they are appear very functional and livable. There is a render video somewhere that does a walk thru and it looks pretty impressive, the ground floor will house Bitter which is Sean Heathers new venture which will be like Salt but beer oriented instead.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

this is across the street from woodwards right? next to the lotus basically?

I think units like this would be great for people new to the city. You know, people who move from Ontario (or anywhere) and have nothing but a suitcase of clothes and a laptop and are just starting out in this city.

I have a lot of friends that have moved out here from Ontario, and the hardest thing for them was to find that first place to live while they start a new job and got to know the city. They would also be great for foreigners working in the city on tourist Visas.

This is a great city, but one of the hardest things about it is getting in. Its intimidating signing a one year lease for $1400/month without seeing the unit and having no idea where it is (and not needing all the space for the first 4 months), or finding a roommate over the internet. Micro rentals could really help out the city and people new to it. But what will probably end up happening is that most of the units will end up occupied for 20 years by the same people.

[officedweller]

Pics by me today:

Addition to the SoHo Building in Yaletown and scaffolding up on the Hotel Vancouver (for restoration?):


Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

this is across the street from woodwards right? next to the lotus basically?

Nearly complete, it looks pretty good on the outside:


Burns Block by entheos_fog, on Flickr


Burns Block by entheos_fog, on Flickr

[SpongeG]

okay cool looks good

[officedweller]

The Burns Block borders on the old CPR RoW, right? It looks like it has a triangular floorplate (and would account for the windows on the side wall).

[jlousa]

That is correct it borders the ROW and my understanding is the project is designed to take advantage of the eventual (hopeful sometime soon but unlikely) opening of the ROW to the public.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The Burns Block borders on the old CPR RoW, right? It looks like it has a triangular floorplate (and would account for the windows on the side wall).

yes sir

here she is here >> http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=s6d62j4...&dir=3.198794180671729&sty=o&form=LMLTCC

[Built Form]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Looks like a nice addition planned along Beatty St, that area of Crosstown really feels special already. This would be the first building just north of Stadium Station

Here are some pics of the planned Beatty street office addition.













Quite the interesting art installation on the south facade facing the sky train station.

[officedweller]

Nice that they're opening it up onto the passageway.

[hollywoodnorth]

WOW! that's awesome ... I love the Circuit art!