General Vancouver Updates

[VancouverPM]

The Werks Condo started excavation in Mid-December, its expected to be completed by Mid-February, with structural work starting immediately. Build out of the structure is estimated to be 6 months. Werks for reference is located at 555 W 7th. 20 units, 7 story building. An infill on an OLD parking lot.

[osirisboy]

love the brick on the main and keefer project, although it looks like it will be the typical painted concrete on the tower portion and keefer side. (if only it was social housing the materials would be 100% better).

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by VancouverPM

The Werks Condo started excavation in Mid-December, its expected to be completed by Mid-February, with structural work starting immediately. Build out of the structure is estimated to be 6 months. Werks for reference is located at 555 W 7th. 20 units, 7 story building. An infill on an OLD parking lot.

can someone refresh my memory, is there another project across the street from this?

[VancouverPM]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

can someone refresh my memory, is there another project across the street from this?

yes there is... a 10 Story through WT Leung - Demolition on the existing buildings has just begun as well. Its civic address is 540 W7th.

[osirisboy]

ah thanks! that area sure is changing. the lots i would kill to see developed are the north/west corner of cambie/broadway where wendys and its parking lot are, up to broadway where that ugly 🞵🞵🞵 billboard and "patio" is for that non nondescript restaurant.

[Denscity]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

ah thanks! that area sure is changing. the lots i would kill to see developed are the north/west corner of cambie/broadway where wendys and its parking lot are, up to broadway where that ugly 🞵🞵🞵 billboard and "patio" is for that non nondescript restaurant.

Yes I second that. Such a hugely important corner!

[LeftCoaster]

Really liking the podium on the Keefer. Reminds me of another little Westbank project, Woodwards.

[mr.sandbag]

i agree, the keefer looks much better and better then the submitted docs to the city,

as for the 6th and main, was a little worried about the height as i could have lost of some of my views, also alittle un-inspiring too, hope city recommends some changes. feel for the District owners on the bottom 5 floors

[SpongeG]

i wonder if wendys would want to give that location up - the city doesn't allow drive thrus and that drive thru does great business for them

i thought a cool idea would to see the block across from it next to canada line station demolished and a large nordstrom dept store built there and in the parking lot to the south and than an overpass to a newly constructed retail mall indoor or outdoor

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i wonder if wendys would want to give that location up - the city doesn't allow drive thrus and that drive thru does great business for them

Since when is the city not allowing drive thrus? Starbucks has had a few go in during the Vision Vancouver era IRCC.

[jlousa]

The only Starbucks that I know of with drive thrus is the one on Powell and the one on Terminal, both of them were previously zoned, pretty sure both of them were also opened before Vision either way. Is there anymore?
Also the no drive thru unofficial policy was instated under the NPA and I don't think Vision has a desire to change that. Has there been any new drive thru in recent years? Perhaps the Timmy's on Terminal, not sure it has drive thru.

[AverageJoe]

I am pleased to see such a complex going in the heart of Chinatown. Something like this will do wonders in revitalizing Chinatown and bringing residents back into the area. And it's about time that the old Vikon Foods building gets redeveloped.

Bamboo rather than trees would add a nice Chinatown touch to the podium of this project... but that's small stuff.

[Xerx]

Originally Posted by jlousa

The only Starbucks that I know of with drive thrus is the one on Powell and the one on Terminal, both of them were previously zoned, pretty sure both of them were also opened before Vision either way. Is there anymore?
Also the no drive thru unofficial policy was instated under the NPA and I don't think Vision has a desire to change that. Has there been any new drive thru in recent years? Perhaps the Timmy's on Terminal, not sure it has drive thru.

There's one on Hastings and Kaslo.

[AverageJoe]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Since when is the city not allowing drive thrus? Starbucks has had a few go in during the Vision Vancouver era IRCC.

According to the Georgia Straight (By Pieta Woolley, January 10, 2012):

"Vancouver, Burnaby, and North Vancouver city planners are notoriously anti-window, according to Ian Tostenson, the president of the B.C. Restaurant & Foodservices Association—much more so than in the rest of the province ... Vancouver planners haven’t approved a new drive-through for at least five years, according to the City of Vancouver’s manager of communications, Barb Floden. (The city doesn’t keep track of how many businesses have applied for one, she explained.) "

Source: http://www.straight.com/article-580386/v...throughs-leave-car-captives-wanting-more

[jlousa]

Good call on the Hasting and Kaslo Starbucks, had forgotten about it. That used to be a KFC with a drive thru though so it would've been grandfathered in.

[SpongeG]

yeah they took over that one and it had a drive thru so they were allowed to keep it - probably why they took over that location

the other two new ones with drive thrus - terminal and down in east van were built before the new bylaw came into effect

the time hortons on terminal does not have a drive thru, i think that why mcdonalds is so keen on keeping that location on main street

[Jebby]

Why is the city against drive thrus?

[jlousa]

Drive thrus do not serve the local community and only serve those passing thru the community, at least that's the theory. They also need to include driveways/sidewalk cuts and empty voids between buildings that lower the pedestrian experience.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Drive thrus do not serve the local community and only serve those passing thru the community, at least that's the theory. They also need to include driveways/sidewalk cuts and empty voids between buildings that lower the pedestrian experience.

well thats not necessarily true at all. back in the day I would always use the tims drive thru by my house before i headed downtown, lots of people would therby serving the local community. and they dont need to include cuts through sidewalks. they could be creative and have the cars enter and exit via the laneway.

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by galeforcewinds

Why is the city against drive thrus?

it also ties into the anti car idling bylaw - when you are stopped waiting you are supposed to turn your engine off, there is supposed to be less pollution