I'm almost tempted to design a 1-hour fantasy proposal to embarrass the idiots who conceived the Robson/Granville design. Just like I did with the Telus Gardens project ;P
This building is a total tragedy. Granville and Robson is becoming the defacto "Times Square" of Vancouver. Yet this dark, colourless, bland building utterly fails to acknowledge the growing prominence of this corner. Indeed, the building seems specifically designed to put a stake through the heart of any potential visual excitement and dynamism that this corner was beginning to develop. But worst of all, if you look closely at the base on the Granville side, you will actually see an arcade. This is inexplicable. Despite the newly-widened sidewalk and the consistent, flush street wall directly to the south, this building introduces a recessed alcove with all its concomittant pillars and dark blind spots.
I actually cannot believe this building is being built. This corner had momentum and this building completely throws cold water all over it.
Total agreement. Dumb, tasteless, nearsighted, bitty waste of an otherwise potentially dynamic and maybe even high-profile block potential. This one wins a 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 Award for whomever concocted it.
Meh. It's an improvement. Once the tenants are in, with signage and whatnot hopefully it will have more life.
My biggest concern is that it's rather dark.
Last edited by dreambrother808; Jan 14, 2012 at 7:37 PM.
Here’s a project that has flown under the radar so far, but it’s surprisingly big, and would make a huge difference to the neighbourhood its in if/when it gets built. Right now 900 E Hastings is a set of what look like 1 storey buildings, although as they’re on the edge of the bridge that goes over the railway so actually they’re quite a bit taller on the lane. GBL are proposing 10 to 12 storeys, with over 280 market units, 70 non-market units and light industrial uses both at street level and below. Like Wall Centre False Creek and the recent rezoning for 3 towers at Boundary Road, GBL are designing the scheme for Wall Financial.
I wouldn't say the proposal has flown under the radar so much as neither the city nor the developer have released any info on the project only stating that there was a proposal being worked on. Glad to see some of the info has now leaked out, think it'll bring some positive life to the surrounding area. This project is probably over pushing D/T though.
The Wall project on Boundary has it's own thread for those interesting in learning about it.
I wonder what the asking price for these units could possibly be? It would be located in one of the most desolate areas of the Metro Core (D/T v2.0) and would have light industrial at street level instead of commercial retail. The light ind. space must be just a ruse by the developer as it could easily be converted into a much friendlier commercial space.
I sure hope they move those ports someday (Vanterm and Centerm), because industrial land in the Metro Core is a waste of valuable space. IMO.
I wonder what the asking price for these units could possibly be? It would be located in one of the most desolate areas of the Metro Core (D/T v2.0) and would have light industrial at street level instead of commercial retail.
Ehh, I can see that area getting a lot better in the next 10 years (and more new housing like this is a good start). The Waldorf and Au Petit Chavignol have both proven that there's a market for interesting things in the area.
Yeah, I thought about where to post it. To me, the DTES, or at least the gritty part extending from the DTES seems to end right at that overpass, so.... I put it here...?
Well at least it got discussed I like the concept of using the lower road side as light industrial and the upper part with the higher road access as residential.
I sure hope they move those ports someday (Vanterm and Centerm), because industrial land in the Metro Core is a waste of valuable space. IMO.
Haha yeah, because it's not like the port is critical to the local and national economy or anything. We should build more condos and add a ferris wheel or two.
I wouldn't say the proposal has flown under the radar so much as neither the city nor the developer have released any info on the project only stating that there was a proposal being worked on. Glad to see some of the info has now leaked out, think it'll bring some positive life to the surrounding area. This project is probably over pushing D/T though.
The Wall project on Boundary has it's own thread for those interesting in learning about it.
good to see Wall moving full speed again in Vancouver!
900 East Hastings Street has been on my radar since day 1. The light industrial uses at grade and below are AMAZING and just what we need more of .... I'll be very interested to see how they play out. thx for the render posting!
__________________ Quote of the Decade on SSP: "what happens would it be?" - argon007
Care to expand on that, or are you just going with the flow?
OK. Pretty simple really:
Why would anybody in their right mind want to see a huge economic generator, with billions of $ in existing infrastructure moved out what is one of the best natural harbours on the west coast of North America in favour of condos?
I'm not a fan of the building, but honestly I don't think much was possible here anyways, it's not a large lot, the building next door is heritage protected, there is a strict height limit along Granville. The card were stacked from the beginning. I think it'll be a big improvement over what was there.
Anyone else hear a new rumour for a possible location for an Apple flagship. At the Eastern end of Alberni on Burrard, between Hotel Van and the old Library?
Why would anybody in their right mind want to see a huge economic generator, with billions of $ in existing infrastructure moved out what is one of the best natural harbours on the west coast of North America in favour of condos?
Geoff Meggs has already put forward a motion to have the ports shut down by the end of the year. Local condo residents have been emailing him about the noise keeping them up at night.
Its too bad that all these ideas for improving the buildings downtown weren't aired last year while they were still in the approval process.
Too late to propose something better AFTER the new building has been approved and construction is about to begin.
I look forward to reading all of your constructive critiques and and proposals for improvements to the proposed projects currently making their way through the approval process bureaucracy.
^Well theoretically the port far in the future could be moved further east down the Burrard inlet as there is room east of the Vancterm terminal, or further east. One day when the port will be in line for some major modernization and retooling it could make sense to rebuild it in a new location, likely just the Centerm terminal next to downtown, and sell the land to developers.
I know the port is not in the business of development but a few decades down the road it could make sense, I mean Centerm would be some prime waterfront real estate at that point downtown, and with a possible Expo line station. Its not that difficult to build a new terminal especially when you are modernizing anyways.
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I like the concept of using the lower road side as light industrial and the upper part with the higher road access as residential.
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