Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 462

phesto · #**9221** Posted **Oct 27, 2012, 5:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, they could keep the Georgia facade and a bit of depth to create a mid-rise slab fronting Georgia - that would allow a lot of room in the back for towers.

I think partial preservation is a non-starter; especially of the Georgia facade since it's set back so far.

The only corner of the site that a tower can go up to about 285 ft in height is right at the corner of Georgia and Homer.

trofirhen · #**9222** Posted **Oct 27, 2012, 7:27 PM**

I know viewcones are sacred, and no doubt a pillar of "Vancouverism," .... yet somehow, I'd love to see that large Post Office site totally redone, with great public amenities, fountains, trees, a big atrium .... and a couple of classically beautiful, head-turning, signature towers.

It'll never happen, but one can dream ...........

SpongeG · #**9223** Posted **Oct 28, 2012, 4:31 AM**

coming into downtown across the granville street bridge the Mark looks huge! wow

officedweller · #**9224** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 8:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phesto

The only corner of the site that a tower can go up to about 285 ft in height is right at the corner of Georgia and Homer.

Thanks. That's a key piece in the puzzle.
The alternative is to go with "referencing" the old building in the new design - like 401 Burrard recalls the angles of the Customs House (also 50s institutional like the Post Office) that used to be on that site.
I could see the grid pattern and the punched windows making an appearance on one of the buildings in a new complex.

Bankview · #**9225** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 1:04 AM**

Really enjoying the how the renovations to the awnings/entrances turned out, plus TOPSHOP/TOPMAN is awesome!
Walking along West Georgia beside the building is like walking past a totally different building compared to before! Night & Day!

Does anyone know if they're planning on doing restorative work to the terracotta facade or upgrading the windows on the store? I hope they are.

officedweller · #**9226** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 1:20 AM**

The terracotta facade was restored before the Olympics, so additional work is unlikely.

Hopefully they will open up some of the clerestory windows when/if the basement is rented to a third pary tenant and new access is required from street level (at the current Coach location).
Ditto for the doors and clerestory panels above the entrances on Georgia and Seymour.

Prometheus · #**9227** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 2:20 AM**

The failure to restore the windows above the awning along Georgia is a glaring shortcoming. Those blank, opaque, dead spaces (which should have been transparent sources of light, colour and visual interest) greatly tarnish this refurbishment. Further, the absence of fresh, new doors and a refurbished entrance interior on the Georgia side is also inexplicable.

Just look at how much better the Granville Street side looks in comparison. It actually approaches the look of a proper grand department store facade.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bankview

officedweller · #**9228** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

The failure to restore the windows above the awning along Georgia is a glaring shortcoming. Those blank, opaque, dead spaces (which should be a transparent source of light, colour and visual interest) greatly tarnish this refurbishment. Further, the absence of fresh, new doors and a refurbished entrance interior on the Georgia side is also inexplicable.

Just look at how much better the Granville Street side looks in comparison. It actually approaches the look of a proper grand department store facade.

Yeah, as someone else suggested, even glass spandrel panels would be better than the tiles/panels there now, since glass spandrels would add some reflectivity.

itinerant · #**9229** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 9:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, as someone else suggested, even glass spandrel panels would be better than the tiles/panels there now, since glass spandrels would add some reflectivity.

Yes, a relatively cheap solution would have been glass (painted behind), or even high gloss anthracite paint over the existing panels to provide the illusion of a high window. I think the reason these windows were not adapted is due to the HVAC system that appears to be clustered along the entire frontage and up the outside of the building (see the vents). My guess is that a relocation would have been very expensive and not deemed worth it.

I am guessing that the doors and a proper terracotta tile restoration would also have been a pricey item. The tiles that were damaged or removed for the awning are similar-colored, but made of some other material (metal directly behind the awning). Earlier work on the building also shows a patchwork of tile repairs, so this isn't the first time that color and material matches were compromised.

New frame-less doors at all entrances should have been done in this reno. That is an unfortunate omission. Similarly, the elevator cab interiors are painted over wood-grain, and look it.

At least the entrance awnings are beautiful!

dleung · #**9230** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 3:48 AM**

The georgia side is atrocious. It's strange how they went all out on a few window bays and half-assed everything else, even though the awnings are great all around.

I guess "half-assed" is in line with some of the other The Bay's, which are in eerily-similar buildings

montreal

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3196/2743963541_eaa660df4a_z.jpg

toronto

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/67/188229347_f1d0fedbb2_z.jpg?zz=1

winnipeg

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2508/3801771048_e35143c120_z.jpg

calgary's not bad, by virtue of an existing arcade integral to original structure

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7695721712_731a3ba65b_z.jpg

Graham_Yvr · #**9231** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 5:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dleung

The georgia side is atrocious. It's strange how they went all out on a few window bays and half-assed everything else, even though the awnings are great all around.

IIRC, They are reserving those window bays for tenant signage as shown in the leasing circular that was posted some time back. I think this is only temporary until the tenants are secured and announced, then those window bays will look like the Topshop/Topman windows on Granville. It would also surprise me greatly if they did not ultimately upgrade to frame less doors on Georgia and Seymour as well. My feeling is they rushed the Granville side doors as it was part of the Topshop opening. Just my two bits.

dreambrother808 · #**9232** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 6:26 PM**

Yes, the leasing circular shows use of the the space above the window bays, on the Georgia/Seymour corner at least.

http://www.pbsrealestate.com/ftp/hbcretail.pdf

That's promising.

Smooth · #**9233** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 6:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Yes, the leasing circular shows use of the the space above the window bays, on the Georgia/Seymour corner at least.

http://www.pbsrealestate.com/ftp/hbcretail.pdf

That's promising.

On page 4 of that PDF there's a picture of the Olympic crowds on Granville. The picture is labelled "Crowds of Shoppers". That made me laugh.

officedweller · #**9234** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 7:52 PM**

Yes, I would agree that they are phasing in the windows pending a decision or the ability to lease out the basement.

In theory, an escalator entrance can be installed on Georgia between the MAC corner and the western Georgia entrance (where stairs going down currently exist). If I were a third party basement tenant, I would want my entrance to be close to Granville, rather than Seymour (as proposed in the brochure).

Retail-Insider · #**9235** Posted **Nov 4, 2012, 9:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yes, I would agree that they are phasing in the windows pending a decision or the ability to lease out the basement.

In theory, an escalator entrance can be installed on Georgia between the MAC corner and the western Georgia entrance (where stairs going down currently exist). If I were a third party basement tenant, I would want my entrance to be close to Granville, rather than Seymour (as proposed in the brochure).

The sub-basement space is currently being negotiated for a large international clothing retailer seeking their first Canadian location. We'll name names Wednesday morning. We're excited for this one!

Thursday is the formal grand opening of the sixth-floor men's store. PM me if you'd like invite details...

red-paladin · #**9236** Posted **Nov 4, 2012, 9:55 PM**

I think the plan to revitalize the building, move other retailers into the lower floors, and intensify The Bay itself on the upper floors is a fantastic plan.

Spork · #**9237** Posted **Nov 4, 2012, 10:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

The sub-basement space is currently being negotiated for a large international clothing retailer seeking their first Canadian location. We'll name names Wednesday morning. We're excited for this one!

Uniqlo?!

Coldrsx · #**9238** Posted **Nov 4, 2012, 10:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Yes, the leasing circular shows use of the the space above the window bays, on the Georgia/Seymour corner at least.

http://www.pbsrealestate.com/ftp/hbcretail.pdf

That's promising.

Love that shot of the 'crowds of shoppers'... Apparently very patriotic ones

EdinVan · #**9239** Posted **Nov 5, 2012, 5:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

The sub-basement space is currently being negotiated for a large international clothing retailer seeking their first Canadian location. We'll name names Wednesday morning. We're excited for this one!

Thursday is the formal grand opening of the sixth-floor men's store. PM me if you'd like invite details...

The invite details are that it's from 6-8 Thursday night and is open to everyone, not just the likes of self-important people.

Sir Conga · #**9240** Posted **Nov 5, 2012, 9:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork

Uniqlo?!

That's where my mind went as well. Fingers crossed.