Downtown Vancouver Updates

[jlousa]

Project: Mixed-Use Building
Location: 2211 CAMBIE ST
Zoning: C-3A
Project Type: Construction / Development Department: Planning Department
Application Date: 2011/08/04 No: DE415022
Description: Proposal to construct a 6-storey mixed-use (residential/commercial) building with two levels of underground parking.

Looks like Toyo Sushi is a goner; being at the bottom of the hill I wouldn't have minded seeing this try to get an extra floor or two in height, but not worth the rezoning hassle.

[officedweller]

Would have been nice to have seen the whole block (with Robinson Lighting) redeveloped rather than piecemeal.
My guess is that it'll be cascading steps like that one across Cambie Street.

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Looks like Toyo Sushi is a goner; being at the bottom of the hill I wouldn't have minded seeing this try to get an extra floor or two in height, but not worth the rezoning hassle.

It's a shame that the city's policies have made applying for extra density (in certain areas) a deterrence. Seems counter to the whole smart growth/eco-density/greenest city/blah blah blah they always harp on about. Regardless, it will be nice to see 6 storeys go up there. Great location (if a little bit noisy).

[hollywoodnorth]

good to see the old garage go at Keefer & Columbia! photo as of today!



pic by me hosted on pucket

[osirisboy]

Finally, whats planned there? or is it just going to be surface parking for now.

[djh]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

good to see the old garage go at Keefer & Columbia! photo as of today!


pic by me hosted on pucket

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Finally, whats planned there? or is it just going to be surface parking for now.

I'm amazed that for so many years an abandoned lot sat in that location, with no development sign on the site.

So, yeah, what IS planned for there, since the lot has just been levelled, apparently out of the blue?

[SFUVancouver]

The low-rise office building at Hornby and Drake, once home to Ticket Master's corporate presence in the city, is being gutted in anticipation of it being razed to allow excavation for Concert Properties' Salt tower.

[SpongeG]

I always liked that old garage - would have made a funky restaurant

[Architype]

Oxford's downtown tower kicks off new round of construction

The slender 35-storey office tower Oxford Properties is building in the space between the iconic Marine Building and Guinness Tower in downtown Vancouver is a breakthrough.

When Oxford breaks ground, which is planned for this fall, the project will be the first purpose-built office building to start construction in the downtown core in almost a decade.

And it will kick off an expected significant new round of office development, followed closely by a new 25-storey Bentall Kennedy building at 745 Thurlow, and the 22-storey Telus Garden project at Robson and Seymour, after a decade in which some feared condominium development would push the purpose-built office tower out of Vancouver's core.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainmen...ruction/5216444/story.html#ixzz1UKaTos1C

[SFUVancouver]

Demolition is now under way of the former Ticketmaster office building at Hornby and Drake to make room for Salt.

[SpongeG]

Downtown Vancouver sinkhole a mystery to city staff

The City of Vancouver says it has no explanation for a large hole which developed early Friday at the busy intersection of Seymour and Robson Streets.

“We don’t know what caused it,” said city spokeswoman Wendy Stewart. “The ground was dry. There was no water and no suggestion it was from a broken pipe.”

She said dry, summer weather is not the type of conditions in which sinkholes usually form.

“Sometimes dirt will erode and a pothole will be created,” she said. “Sinkholes are more common when winter turns to spring and water comes down from the hills.”

A gap in the pavement appeared overnight and grew to the size of a trench about one metre wide, four metres long and up to a metre deep.

“There was no danger to the public,” said Stewart.

...

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/downtown-vancouver-sinkhole-mystery-city-staff-010443631.html

[WBC]

Originally Posted by Architype

Oxford's downtown tower kicks off new round of construction



Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainmen...ruction/5216444/story.html#ixzz1UKaTos1C

Good to finally see some office construction downtown. After 10 years wow!

[delboy]

I was walking past the centre, opposite the library, today and had shock. Out front are about 10 or so square blocks at street level, which I learned are perfect height to be used by homeless types to take a dump!

I noticed tons of human feces and garbage...total disgrace. I was very embarrassed as some tourists were in front of me.

[jlousa]

A true shame the state of the centre, as it really is such a great venue. Hoepfully it gets better usage in the future.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

Downtown Vancouver sinkhole a mystery to city staff

The City of Vancouver says it has no explanation for a large hole which developed early Friday at the busy intersection of Seymour and Robson Streets.

“We don’t know what caused it,” said city spokeswoman Wendy Stewart. “The ground was dry. There was no water and no suggestion it was from a broken pipe.”

She said dry, summer weather is not the type of conditions in which sinkholes usually form.

“Sometimes dirt will erode and a pothole will be created,” she said. “Sinkholes are more common when winter turns to spring and water comes down from the hills.”

A gap in the pavement appeared overnight and grew to the size of a trench about one metre wide, four metres long and up to a metre deep.

“There was no danger to the public,” said Stewart.

...

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/downtown-vancouver-sinkhole-mystery-city-staff-010443631.html

I walked past that last week when it was about 2 inches by 4 inches - a gap in the pavement near the crosswalk that just went down to blackness.
I thought about e-mailing the city but forgot to.

[jlousa]

some interesting news, at least to me.

Civic Theatres Projects Update
 concrete on the Plaza is complete;
 upcoming events on the Plaza;
 rental rate of the Plaza;
 Christmas Market will be occupying the Plaza, starting November 24, 2011;
 liquor licensing process when renting the Plaza.
Mr. Ackerman also advised he is currently involved in three projects:
 City-owned York Theatre renovation process;
 Playhouse Production Centre; and
 Outdoor performing space – permanent roofed outdoor stage - beside BC Place Stadium.

Looks like the X-mas market will be back sans fire hopefully.
Interesting about the outdoor venue at BC Place, think it's the first I've heard about it, unless they really mean the replacement for the Expo lands venue.

[officedweller]

The permanent roof sounds like it's only over the stage.
Maybe the roof overhangs at BC Place on the plaza will sheltr a stage (maybe near the steam plant where the plaza concourse is wide)

[hollywoodnorth]

Video: Shards of glass rain down in downtown Toronto

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/vide...down-in-downtown-toronto/article2132654/

[Locked In]

^ That's nuts. It actually happened to me a couple of years ago when I lived in Toronto. I had just rented a condo on the 24th floor of a new building, and came home for a couple of weeks at Christmas - when I got back to TO, the glass panels in the balcony had fallen out onto the street (way) below. No one was hurt thankfully. Never found out what caused it...

[jlousa]

Looks like Concords 58 W Hasting is being converted into an tax haven, I mean community park.
Also saw the 30km/hr signage printed onto the street on Hastings at Abbott for my first time, doesn't seem like it's made any difference though.