Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 425

PaperTiger · #**8481** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 1:32 AM**

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/archives/PHOTOS/A74/A74804.JPG

Nope, still awful. almost as awful as this, the Pacific Design Centre in Hollywood from wikipedia:

Pelli did great work, but it came later in his career. He was a better post -modernist than modernist.

PaperTiger · #**8482** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 1:38 AM**

Okay I'm losing it. Can we not post images from wikipedia?

EdinVan · #**8483** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 2:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaperTiger

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/archives/PHOTOS/A74/A74804.JPG

It doesn't look that bad here. It's very crisp and clean -- and would be more so if the edges weren't beveled. The simple, understated Eaton's logo also makes a difference.

officedweller · #**8484** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 2:51 AM**

... the vertical hadn't been moved and the additional entrance wasn't blasted out of the corner yet.

And remember, the horizontal spandrel strips above the alcoves used to light up - they say "EATONS EATONS EATONS EATONS" along the bottom edge. I saw them lit up along Howe St. in the late 90s before Eaton's went bankrupt. It would have been a great "fix" to modernize them with brighter colours and re-light them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaperTiger

Okay I'm losing it. Can we not post images from wikipedia?

Just post the link.

dleung · #**8485** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 5:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

D Leung you made a story on vancitybuzz!

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2012/02/3d-vancouver-model-with-new-developments/

Well, I was in a AA publication already, so this is kinda small potatoes ;P

Darren Tate · #**8486** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 5:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Plans are drawn up for a Post Sears Vancouver, they will remain just plans though while Sears remains. I don't envision Sears getting bought out, but if they continue heading downhill they might jump as some cash in hand.

Eatons/Sears was never overly well received but it was designed by a starchitect of the day. It's not my cup of tea but there are people that love it.

The building has definitely seen better days – not THAT much better, mind you. I'm no businessman, but wouldn't it be advantageous for Sears to unload this downtown location? It's got to be a high-maintenance money-loser, right? Couldn't they sublease the building for a profit and focus their attention on the stores that actually have a chance of surviving? I'm sure it's more complex than that but I really, REALLY want Sears to vacate the building so it can be revamped, it's such a blight on the intersection.

SpongeG · #**8487** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 5:38 AM**

is the robson/granville entrance not part of the original building?

officedweller · #**8488** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 6:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

is the robson/granville entrance not part of the original building?

If you look at the pic quoted by EdinVan you'll see that there's no entrance on the corner - the original entrance is just north a bit on Granville - but there are a few steps down into the store inside the doors. The new entrance at the corner itself is at grade.

On the Howe St. side there was also an entrance from the passage between TD Bank and Eaton's (now closed). You used to be able to walk through TD Bank, across the passage and directly into Eaton's without going outside. Now there's a new entrance cut into the corner (akin to the Robson& Granville one) as well as the one about halfway down the building.

I think the Robson & Howe entrance was always carved out from the corner -but I think the 2 storey height of the carve-out was part of the renovation.

And back in the 1980s, the rotunda entrance did not have doors during business hours - it just had jets of air from the ceiling to the floor to isolate the interior and exterior space. But in the late 1980s, punk rockers started hanging out in the rotunda alcove and they installed doors.

SpongeG · #**8489** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 7:12 AM**

yes thats why i asked - it looks like in the pic they are installing the entrance

i prefer it the old way - that robson entrance is overkill and makes the granville entrance less used

officedweller · #**8490** Posted **Feb 17, 2012, 8:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

yes thats why i asked - it looks like in the pic they are installing the entrance

i prefer it the old way - that robson entrance is overkill and makes the granville entrance less used

I think the scaffold is for construction of the "pod" (7th floor) on the roof.

Agreed on the entrances - it's like The Bay adding an entance on the corner because people can't be bothered to walk 20 feet.

trofirhen · #**8491** Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 12:53 AM**

Interesting photos. As for Sears, I wouldn't mind seeing it repalced with something like the Westlake Center in Seattle. It would be more of a shopping hub, and probably draw more people downtown. As for Sears itself, could another central location be found?

I know none of this is possible, but it's nice to imagine anyway.

Jimbo604 · #**8492** Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 3:33 AM**

photo credit: me

Demolition is progressing quickly.

logan5 · #**8493** Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 4:16 AM**

I don't understand why they didn't continue with the projections on the sears building. It was a really cool way to dress up a terrible building.

• Video Link

SpongeG · #**8494** Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 5:51 AM**

thats cool - is a great use of the space

i don't know why they don't use the big advertising squares othat face robson anymore - they used to always have advertising in them which was better than looking at the empty boxes for years now

Metro-One · #**8495** Posted **Feb 18, 2012, 5:53 AM**

Exactly what I think every time I walk past it.

Prometheus · #**8496** Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 12:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i don't know why they don't use the big advertising squares othat face robson anymore - they used to always have advertising in them which was better than looking at the empty boxes for years now

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Exactly what I think every time I walk past it.

Maybe someone who is better informed can confirm or deny this, but I heard that the city has forbidden the placement of any advertising in those boxes. So, they sit empty, apparently, because Sears is not allowed to do anything with them.

peterprinciple · #**8497** Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 1:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Maybe someone who is better informed can confirm or deny this, but I heard that the city has forbidden the placement of any advertising in those squares. They sit empty, apparently, because Sears is not allowed to do anything with them.

Prior to the Olympics, myself and several others wrote letters asking Sears to clean the exterior of their building. They wrote me back from Toronto and said "that was Cadillac Fairview's responsibility".

I was informed by Cadillac Fairview that Sears lease is up this year sometime and that the building would get a complete facelift once a new tenant is secured.

That having been said, it is still a huge blemish on dwntn Vancouver.

jlousa · #**8498** Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 2:00 AM**

Cadillac Fairview sent you an email stating Sears lease is up this year?
I know there are a couple of forum members and probably a few lawyers that would love to see that email. Care to post it?

peterprinciple · #**8499** Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 2:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Cadillac Fairview sent you an email stating Sears lease is up this year?
I know there are a couple of forum members and probably a few lawyers that would love to see that email. Care to post it?

I wasnt looking for trouble when I posted my last remark and the mere mention of lawyers spells trouble. I am sure if you send an email you may well get the same answer I did. Actually, the email stated that their lease was up in 2011 not 2012. So maybe they have come to a year to year aggreement with CF. I wrote that email more than 2 years ago now mate.

peterprinciple · #**8500** Posted **Feb 19, 2012, 2:43 AM**

I just checked all my sent mail and I no longer have it but I believe I posted it in teh 2010 Olympics thread somewhere.