Downtown Vancouver Updates

[jlousa]

Come on now, you know very well that they'll probably flip the property to a another developer for a small profit. I do beleive that we will see Little mountian develped before the Parayso Hotel gets built.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Conrad

Speaking of Dunsmuir, is that sketchy building on the corner at Richards still there? The one with Suzette's Cafe (red awning) and some ESL school on top? I sure hope the wrecking ball pays it a visit soon.

I recall that two storey building was excavated when the Expo Line was built and built on soon after.
I think it may have been used as an access point to the Dunsmuir Tunnel.
There could be some SkyTrain infrastructure located underneath it.

[red-paladin]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I recall that two storey building was excavated when the Expo Line was built and built on soon after.
I think it may have been used as an access point to the Dunsmuir Tunnel.
There could be some SkyTrain infrastructure located underneath it.

Come to think of it, now that Cosmo has been built, how does one access the remaining unused portion of the Dunsmuir tunnel?

[s211]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Come to think of it, now that Cosmo has been built, how does one access the remaining unused portion of the Dunsmuir tunnel?

Via basement of post office building, I'm guessing.

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by LotusLand

Yes it is. Also the scuzzy hostel across the street. Those two sites would make office tower locations.

I'd love to see that hotel restored and retained. Not sure why every old building has to be demolished as opposed to restoration and re-use...

[officedweller]

The hostel site probbaly has the best intact cornice in the downtown.
With it's "E" shaped floorplan, it is also reflective of a time when occupants didn't mind suites/rooms looking directly into another unit. Others that come to mind are the Manhattan Apts (Thurlow & Robson) and that big one at Main and Hastings.

++++

I think Cosmo's parking garage must have some sort of access door to the tunnel.
The pics in the Cosmo thread may show whether it does or not.

[officedweller]

Story in the Courier:

http://www.vancourier.com/Future+Vancouver+seniors+society+hangs+limbo/5788660/story.html

Future of Vancouver seniors society hangs in limbo
Sold building had been granted from the province
By Sandra Thomas and Ellen Woodsworth, Vancouver Courier
November 30, 2011 11:52 AM


The 411 Seniors Centre building on Dunsmuir Street recently sold for $8 million, but what will become of the society that's been operating the popular facility is unknown.

...

Stark confirmed the building sold several months ago to a numbered company she described only as being made up of longtime Vancouverites. The building was granted to the society from the provincial government almost three years ago. A representative from the city did not know who the new owners are.

The centre was to close completely by the end of this year, but the city stepped in with financial planning help for the society due to the important role it plays in the neighbourhood, which is home to many lowincome seniors. The centre will now remain open until March 2012. But the fate of the society after that time is yet to be determined.

[entheosfog]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The hostel site probbaly has the best intact cornice in the downtown.
With it's "E" shaped floorplan, it is also reflective of a time when occupants didn't mind suites/rooms looking directly into another unit. Others that come to mind are the Manhattan Apts (Thurlow & Robson) and that big one at Main and Hastings.

The building does have merit, especially when you think how much has been lost over the decades in the area. Buildings like the one across the street (where Suzette's is) should be the ones considered for demolition before something like this is. Just because it's grubby and somewhat neglected doesn't mean it should just be replaced:

Dunsmuir Hotel - 1920/2010 by entheos_fog, on Flickr

[officedweller]

Yeah, it's really only the at-grade that makes it "grubby", and that can be easily restored (unlike the odd renovation of the St. Regis (which I doubt is historically accurate))

[officedweller]

From the Journal of Commerce:

http://www.joconl.com/article/id47856/--protestors-occupy-vancouver-condo-construction-site

December 1, 2011

Protestors occupy Vancouver condo construction site

Approximately 100 protestors briefly occupied the Paris Annex condominium construction site on West Hastings Street in downtown Vancouver on November 30, denouncing the perceived gentrification of Vancouver's poverty-stricken Downtown Eastside neighbourhood.

Some of the protestors, part of a group called the “Downtown Eastside Against Condos Coalition,” got into the scaffolding and the building itself. Several construction workers were forced to leave as protestors entered the site.

Police warned the protestors told the protestors to leave or get arrested. The protestors left voluntarily, and no arrests were made.

JOC DIGITAL MEDIA

[officedweller]

From CBC News

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/12/01/bc-downtown-daycare-debris.html

Dangerous debris falling on Vancouver daycares
CBC News Posted: Dec 1, 2011 4:12 PM PT
Last Updated: Dec 1, 2011 4:05 PM PT

The City of Vancouver is doing everything it can to minimize the problem of debris falling on downtown daycares from high-rise buildings, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority says.

As CBC News first reported yesterday, the list of falling objects that have landed in the outside play areas includes everything from broken glass and needles to human bodies.

The city proposed putting a roof over the daycares but the health authority would rather allow the children to play outside in the sunshine, VCHA spokeswoman Anna Marie D'Angelo said Thursday.

"One of the other things we've asked them to do is speak to the residents of the building and make them aware there is a childcare area there," D'Angelo said.

She said daycare staff now do morning safety sweeps for needles, glass and anything else that might have fallen overnight.

On Saturday, there was a particularly gruesome discovery at Atelier, a city-operated daycare on Homer Street. There was a suicide and the body fell on the playground. It was the second such incident at Atelier in a year.

Earlier this year, the city tendered a request for proposals for consulting services to assess the risks at these daycare centres.

"There has been an increasing occurrence of material and/or debris failing in and around the outside areas of the childcare facilities. This includes glasses, bottles, disposed needles and in some cases objects up to two hundred pounds."

A representative from the city has said that in future, it will pay greater attention to how new daycare locations are chosen.

+++

Affected facilities

City officials are concerned about incidents at the following daycare facilities:

Bayshore, 581 Cardero Street.
Shaw Tower Children’s Centre, 1067 W. Cordova.
Sapphire, 1170 West Pender.
Quayside, 1011 Marinaside Crescent.
International Village, 680 Abbott Street.
Atelier, 825 Homer Street.
Seastar, 1451 Homer Street.

[osirisboy]

Thats sad. I find it annoying that the media doesnt report on suicides. two suicides from jumping in one year in the same building, maybe there could be an article on that at CBC.

[SpongeG]

why annoying though? its a good policy not to report on suicide

but to say there was a death at such and such a building by apparent suicide would be okay imo

anyway weird story but i guess thats what happens when the daycares end up where they end up par for the course really

[entheosfog]

The media is actually not allowed (or it's a huge no-no, can't remember if it's actually a law) to report suicides on the news, unless it's a special circumstance. Ever notice when there's a bridge jumper, on the news they say 'a police incident'? I guess studies have shown that if suicides were reported, there would be copycats.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

why annoying though? its a good policy not to report on suicide

but to say there was a death at such and such a building by apparent suicide would be okay imo

anyway weird story but i guess thats what happens when the daycares end up where they end up par for the course really

its annoying because it is news like it or not and I dont think news should be white washed. As if we should pretend that suicide doesnt exist. how is it good policy to not rport them???

This is just one of my pet peeves

[jlousa]

It's a form of censorship I'm fine with. Not only would it encourage other people in a depressed state of mind to complement doing it themselves, it would also add to the tremendous grief of the family and friends of the victim. They would already be kicking themselves as is and wouldn't need more attention on the situation. It's a terrible situation period.

Anyways the city obligates outdoor playareas for daycares, and there have been numerous issues lately. I'm fairly confident that we will see some changes coming shortly. Rather daycares are no longer located onsite of residential buildings or something else. Perhaps including them into office towers which don't have opening windows above or in stand alone buildings. Personally I think they should be built on city parks, most of them have buildings as is, have an additional floor and include a daycare in city parks across the city. That way there are daycares near where people work/live and you don't have to go as out of your way to one. Transfer the CACs to build the daycare from recoverables by giving the density back to the developer.

[PaperTiger]

There is no law against reporting on suicides. The reason you don't hear about them more often is because it is part of journalists professional ethics. The thought being that reporting on every one would give people more motivation to kill themselves. Often people who contemplate suicide feel disconnected and “Invisible.” If suicides got broad coverage some of these people would feel compelled to “Leave their mark on the World” so to speak.

The other reason is it is all too common and ongoing so to would not really be “news” in the sense that it would sell news papers. For every "police incident" you hear about on the Pattullo or the Port Mann, there are several others that simply jump without the dramatic cry for help. I have a friend that works for the Coast Guard on Sea Island and sadly, he says they are recovering bodies from the Fraser on a weekly basis.

Sorry for the morbid post.

In other news, I agree that the Dunsmuir House is one of the best buildings in that area. It just needs to be cleaned up a bit and it would be a real gem. the Holy Rosery Cathedral is another bright spot in the area.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

its annoying because it is news like it or not and I dont think news should be white washed. As if we should pretend that suicide doesnt exist. how is it good policy to not rport them???

This is just one of my pet peeves

i understand i just didn't understand why it would be annoying

its one of those things I learned in journalism school, just something commonly respected by those in the business - there are a few other unwritten rules or things they don't touch

i don't see the need to report suicides, it happens on a daily basis and its just not something society as a whole talks about let alone report about it - we know it happens however

as for the daycares - i guess when they are placed where they are stuffs going to happen especially in such a downtown highrise location

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i understand i just didn't understand why it would be annoying

i don't see the need to report suicides, it happens on a daily basis and its just not something society as a whole talks about let alone report about it - we know it happens however

There's definitely a need for more public discussion/education about suicide more generally. Our effort to avoid the social transmission of suicidal behaviour has the unintended effect of further alienating and stigmatizing those who feel suicidal. Careless and indiscriminate reporting of suicides does tend to increase the suicide rate, yet so does having no discussion about it at all. We need to find a good middle ground.

[Pinion]

I used to work security downtown and people were throwing themselves off our precious skyscrapers more often than you'd think too. It's all hush hush.

And I think it's more police not telling journalists than journalists having ethics. Police in Vancouver are very secretive.