Downtown Vancouver Updates

[connect2source]

it may be a little 'craptastic' but seriously, Denman is at it's lowest ebb, I've never seen the street look shabbier, there are vacant CRU's everywhere and new businesses hardly make it through the winter. ...anything is an improvement but it's really the quality of the tenants that will determine it's success.

[theKB]

That cordova building is quite bland. Would have been nice if they had used a little more inspiration from the surrounding old buildings.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

No comment on the design but how is that underbuilt? it is exactly in line with the rest of the street and the vision of denman as a primarily 1-2 storey streetwall.

Developers aren't in the business of underbuilding sites.

There could easily be 3 story residential above this. Unfortunately this seems to be a trend. Same with the site beside the Tim Hortons at Main & Broadway where someone built the same 1 story plus mezzanine crap, right next to two of the city's busiest transit routes (at the same time Council was spot rezoning for Rize a block away).

[LeftCoaster]

The west end is plenty dense, having a 2 storey retail strip isn't a big deal, in fact, given that its a N/S street having lower street walls makes it a much brighter and more livable street.

I'm a big proponent of high streetwalls, but only where they are necessary/appropriate. I fully agree that a building at Main and Broadway should be larger, but Denman has a great flavour as a 1-2 storey street and I for one wouldn't mind seeing it stay that way. Elsewhere in the greater core I'd be pushing for 5+ storey streetwall throughout but it's nice to have some streets that feel different and unique.

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Cities are not static entities, they change. The scene will not die, it will move elsewhere.

If it dies it wasn't much of a scene in the first place.

So I guess you don't know what happened. The built condos next to this venue, and the people who moved into those condos, knowing full well they were moving next to a live music venue, started complaining about the noise, and the city shut them down. Where are they gonna move if they're being forced out of their own buildings?

Originally Posted by Denscity

Ya dont worry its just gonna move east down Hastings. Lots of cheap places to rent on that street. Block after block between the DTES and Hwy 1.

What are they gonna do, slowly creep down hastings with the condos chasing after them? It's not fair to just tell them to pack it up and go when they were there first. I'm not even sure the city would let them open up new venues.

[spm2013]

....

[SpongeG]

denman street is supposed to be lowrise cause the city and residents want it that way same, reason for keeping robson lowrise

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

My only problem with gentrification is that it takes away cultural establishments, and replaces them with condos. I don't know if any of you are familiar with the Cobalt situation, but that was a very important club for the local heavy metal scene. Gentrification scares me because I think it's only a matter of time until the entire DTES is just an extension of downtown with million dollar condos replacing many of the important venues it has to offer.

meh the cobalt has become an awesome gay venue - well used to host a lot of gay events a couple years back after it reopened i haven't really gone to anything there in a couple years

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

meh the cobalt has become an awesome gay venue - well used to host a lot of gay events a couple years back after it reopened i haven't really gone to anything there in a couple years

I don't know much about the gay scene in Vancouver, but I assume it doesn't struggle as much as metal does. If it does then I'm happy the Cobalt is able to cater to at least another less mainstream market.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I don't know much about the gay scene in Vancouver, but I assume it doesn't struggle as much as metal does. If it does then I'm happy the Cobalt is able to cater to at least another less mainstream market.

Gay entertainment in Vancouver isn't mainstream?

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I don't know much about the gay scene in Vancouver, but I assume it doesn't struggle as much as metal does. If it does then I'm happy the Cobalt is able to cater to at least another less mainstream market.

ummm the Metal and Punk Cobalt more or less moved to FUNKYS on Hastings. same promoter/booking manager and EXACT same scene and bands.

so what are you complaining about? or do you not even know the scene and are just talking out your ass? if so .... now you know.

[red-paladin]

O.o

[GlassCity]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

ummm the Metal and Punk Cobalt more or less moved to FUNKYS on Hastings. same promoter/booking manager and EXACT same scene and bands.

so what are you complaining about? or do you not even know the scene and are just talking out your ass? if so .... now you know.

I know about Funkys, I just worry that if they can take one, who knows what else they can do.

[osirisboy]

Anyways back on topic... The building going up at the end of robson that was going to be a Hilton has installed what looks like precast panels. Looks good. The only other project that I can think of that uses precast is the one going up at ubc

[SFUVancouver]

Having seen their extensive use here in Toronto, I'm sold on pre-cast panels as a building material. They are - by far - preferable to spandrel panels for non-vision glass / wall portions of a building's facade.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Having seen their extensive use here in Toronto, I'm sold on pre-cast panels as a building material. They are - by far - preferable to spandrel panels for non-vision glass / wall portions of a building's facade.

Completely agree. When done right it looks very high quality and a welcomed changed from spandrel glass.

[osirisboy]

Yes I also like the look of them. Why is precast not more common here?

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Yes I also like the look of them. Why is precast not more common here?

Probably because spandrel glass is cheap, easy, and they know the UDP will approve anything covered in it.

[jlousa]

It weighs a lot more then spandrel does.

[SpongeG]

Vancouver’s architecture gets a shot in the arm

Earlier this month, Switzerland’s star architect, Harry Gugger, was in Vancouver visiting the site of the new office tower he’s designing for Credit Suisse and SwissReal developers.

Mr. Gugger, a world-famous architect who designed the Tate Modern in London, told me he’s been here four times and he’s struck by the craftsmanship of many of our old buildings, including the one he’s modifying for Credit Suisse at 475 Howe Street. In 1929, it became Vancouver’s stock exchange for nearly 20 years, and so, it became known as the Old Stock Exchange.

...

They are, however, about to change Vancouver’s downtown skyline. The other European superstar, Denmark’s 37-year-old Bjarke Ingels, whose mixed-use project is slated for the awkward spot at the north end of Granville Street Bridge, was also in Vancouver the same week. Mr. Gugger said they had been texting, and had plans to meet up, but the bleak weather drove Mr. Ingels out of town before that could happen.

The Urban Design Panel recently approved Mr. Ingels’ flashy tower, which twists from a triangular base to a rectangular shape. Reaction all around has been overwhelmingly supportive. Mr. Gugger sounded impressed that Vancouver would be able to support a project as big as the Ingels tower.

...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home...-gets-a-shot-in-the-arm/article10582686/