Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 441

Darren Tate · #**8801** Posted **May 6, 2012, 11:48 PM**

There are much more phone-in worthy designs than the Wall Centre tower. The City should let bygones be bygones and give the man his dark glass. It will look way better than it does now. And where were the angry callers when Grace was going up? If there ever was a building that shouldn't have been built, it's that one. Talk about your skyline abominations...

Klazu · #**8802** Posted **May 7, 2012, 5:00 AM**

Greetings from a new SSP member.

I happen to live in one of the top floors of One Wall Centre and I really hope they are allowed to go forward with the darker glass. It would make the building look SO much better overall and provide us residents with some privacy. The latter was not an issue earlier, but then Patina got built right next door...

SpongeG · #**8803** Posted **May 7, 2012, 5:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren Tate

There are much more phone-in worthy designs than the Wall Centre tower. The City should let bygones be bygones and give the man his dark glass. It will look way better than it does now. And where were the angry callers when Grace was going up? If there ever was a building that shouldn't have been built, it's that one. Talk about your skyline abominations...

grace is the best building ever - thats the one with all the gargoyles and stuff right? so many people love that building

Darren Tate · #**8804** Posted **May 7, 2012, 6:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

grace is the best building ever - thats the one with all the gargoyles and stuff right? so many people love that building

I really dislike this kind of derivative, heavy-handed, faux-historical-whatever architecture. The building is tacky, it belongs in a theme park.

ryanmaccdn · #**8805** Posted **May 7, 2012, 7:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren Tate

I really dislike this kind of derivative, heavy-handed, faux-historical-whatever architecture. The building is tacky, it belongs in a theme park.

Completely disagree... I think its in the top 10 best buildings in the city.

It's the backdrop to many movies/tv shows.... I think it's by the far the single most recorded residential building for such projects.

Ill agree at certain angles and levels it seems slightly unfinished... but overall the materials and look are top notch.

Glass and steel are dime and dozen in the zelot city.

trofirhen · #**8806** Posted **May 7, 2012, 8:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren Tate

There are much more phone-in worthy designs than the Wall Centre tower. The City should let bygones be bygones and give the man his dark glass. It will look way better than it does now. And where were the angry callers when Grace was going up? If there ever was a building that shouldn't have been built, it's that one. Talk about your skyline abominations...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

grace is the best building ever - thats the one with all the gargoyles and stuff right? so many people love that building

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren Tate

I really dislike this kind of derivative, heavy-handed, faux-historical-whatever architecture. The building is tacky, it belongs in a theme park.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanmaccdn

Completely disagree... I think its in the top 10 best buildings in the city.

It's the backdrop to many movies/tv shows.... I think it's by the far the single most recorded residential building for such projects.

Ill agree at certain angles and levels it seems slightly unfinished... but overall the materials and look are top notch.

Glass and steel are dime and dozen in the zelot city.

Excuse me, maybe it's having been away for so long, but which building is GRACE anyway? I'd love to see some pix!! It seems to generate so much opinion.

HEY, I JUST FOUND IT. I like it; always have, but I would not want to see more than one or two "fausse période" towers like that. It would be too excessive.
We have the Dominion Building, and the Sun Tower (not to mention the venerated Marine Building). Perhaps if the architecture echoed those a little more,
we'd have a more harmonious, interesting effect. Maybe not. Just IMO.

s211 · #**8807** Posted **May 7, 2012, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren Tate

I really dislike this kind of derivative, heavy-handed, faux-historical-whatever architecture. The building is tacky, it belongs in a theme park.

Hey, the low-rise first phase is absolute MONEY, but I agree that the second phase tower is lacking in proportion and grace.

entheosfog · #**8808** Posted **May 8, 2012, 4:45 AM**

Grace:

Either Loved or Hated by entheos_fog, on Flickr

Downtown Condo Building by entheos_fog, on Flickr

Podium:

Condo Podium by entheos_fog, on Flickr

agrant · #**8809** Posted **May 8, 2012, 4:52 AM**

I like Grace, only because it sets itself apart from the standard glassy boxes.

sacrifice333 · #**8810** Posted **May 8, 2012, 4:43 PM**

The Podium is beautiful...

Homeowner · #**8811** Posted **May 8, 2012, 9:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by agrant

I like Grace, only because it sets itself apart from the standard glassy boxes.

Would be better if it was located in a better downtown location.

ckkelley · #**8812** Posted **May 9, 2012, 2:36 AM**

I like Grace as well because it is so atypical. Although, I would have preferred different shades of brown perhaps with a little forest-green trim, or something.

Klazu · #**8813** Posted **May 9, 2012, 4:21 AM**

I also like the Grace building a lot, since it's so different from the surrounding Yaletown. It also has maybe the most luxurious penthouse in all Vancouver. Or is there any other highrise in this town with its own private indoor swimming pool? Or a jacuzzi in your bedroom?

Yours to have for the modest price of $24995 a month.

jlousa · #**8814** Posted **May 9, 2012, 5:35 AM**

Argyle hotel at Hastings and Abbott is going to get refurbished, it'll end up as womens housing. The 3 small retails stores are all closing down for now so it looks like it'll be a complete refurbishment. It's almost the only building left on that block that hasn't been done. What a change from only 5 years ago, just looking at the 100blk W Hastings via streetview on google to today is pretty astonishing.

Joat · #**8815** Posted **May 9, 2012, 11:48 AM**

I'm curious about the Edgewater Casino. Once the lease is up (in 2013?), what will happen? Aren't they still planning to build the new casino, but with less tables and slot machines?

Also, can someone tell me the reasons for tearing down the plaza of nations?

jlousa · #**8816** Posted **May 9, 2012, 1:30 PM**

The casino was approved for the same amount of tables and slots as they currently have, just less they what they wanted. There is still a wait and see approach taking place with the redevelopment of BC Place. I wouldn't be surprised if the lease is extended slightly as it's unlikely the Plaza of Nations redevelopment will be happening right away and all at once.

s211 · #**8817** Posted **May 9, 2012, 3:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klazu

I also like the Grace building a lot, since it's so different from the surrounding Yaletown. It also has maybe the most luxurious penthouse in all Vancouver. Or is there any other highrise in this town with its own private indoor swimming pool??

Penthouse at 1000 Beach has one too, IIRC. Better location, too.

leftside · #**8818** Posted **May 10, 2012, 2:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Argyle hotel at Hastings and Abbott is going to get refurbished, it'll end up as womens housing. The 3 small retails stores are all closing down for now so it looks like it'll be a complete refurbishment. It's almost the only building left on that block that hasn't been done. What a change from only 5 years ago, just looking at the 100blk W Hastings via streetview on google to today is pretty astonishing.

Interesting! I was walking along there yesterday with a friend and said that 5 years ago this was one of the worst streets in Vancouver. I also pointed out the Argyle building and said it will be great when they finally get that building done!

Will we see the activists celebrating that yet another building has been created/refurbished for social housing? I somehow doubt it.

jlousa · #**8819** Posted **May 10, 2012, 5:24 PM**

The city budget for Arygll hotel seems to only be $235K so I'm not expecting much unless there are more funds coming from other parties, it looks like Atira will be running it.

Looks like Canada Place will be getting a new foot path connector easing access from the cruise terminal to Howe St. It's certainly needed, hopefully the final design is much improved over the rough drawing in the RFP.

http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/down...ID=22104906&blobID=3153242&filetype=Blob

phesto · #**8820** Posted **May 10, 2012, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Looks like Canada Place will be getting a new foot path connector easing access from the cruise terminal to Howe St. It's certainly needed, hopefully the final design is much improved over the rough drawing in the RFP.

http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/down...ID=22104906&blobID=3153242&filetype=Blob

Thanks. One can infer from this that the extension of Canada Place Way as well as the seawall extension that is part of the Central Waterfront Hub plan is still a long way off.