Vancouver Infill & Lowrise Updates Discussion

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by BodomReaper

Anyone know what this thing is? I believe its at Commercial and Victoria (right next to the SkyTrain line):



It's good to finally see wood-frame buildings taller than 4 stories!

It's called Porter, and its located on Porter St and Victoria Diversion, which is an anomalous one-block stretch of street where Commercial Drive meanders over to join Victoria Drive.

I think this is the first wood frame building in the City of Vancouver to go up under the new wood frame building rules. Previously a four-storey maximum was in effect and that has now been relaxed to five storeys. To the best of my knowledge the fire endurance and life saving attributes of the building were also increased when the building code changes were made but I am not knowledgeable about the specifics. The five-storey wood frame building called Remy that burned down in Richmond last year bit the dust during the construction phase, before the sprinklers and fire resistant sheet rock, etc., had been fully installed.

[BodomReaper]

Thanks SFU and VanK! I suspected it would either be STIR or subsidized housing given its proximity to the tracks, but you never know given the rabidity of investors these days...

[VanK]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

It's called Porter, and its located on Porter St and Victoria Diversion, which is an anomalous one-block stretch of street where Commercial Drive meanders over to join Victoria Drive.

I think this is the first wood frame building in the City of Vancouver to go up under the new wood frame building rules. Previously a four-storey maximum was in effect and that has now been relaxed to five storeys. To the best of my knowledge the fire endurance and life saving attributes of the building were also increased when the building code changes were made but I am not knowledgeable about the specifics. The five-storey wood frame building called Remy that burned down in Richmond last year bit the dust during the construction phase, before the sprinklers and fire resistant sheet rock, etc., had been fully installed.

Remy was actually 6 storey frame but obviously didnt make it out of the construction phase.. Polygon's Anderson Walk in North Vancouver is the first 5 storey frame building built in METRO Vancouver.. but you are correct Porter will be the first 5 storey in City of Vancouver.

[whatnext]

Some pics I took of smaller scale infill, in interesting locations:

Mackenzie Green, deep in the heart of SFH territory at Mackenzie and 33rd:



Granville Mews, stealth densification in a swanky 'hood:


First Shaughnessy. Old mansion gutted picked up and moved downslope to create 4 luxury townhomes starting at just over $3 million (such a deal!)


5500 block Dunbar, nicely detailed, if a bit severe:


It will soon have a new neighbour:

[dreambrother808]

Thanks for posting.

I rarely get to see that area.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by whatnext

5500 block Dunbar, nicely detailed, if a bit severe:

Thank you for the updates.

However, you do realize the above building has existed for many years?

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Thank you for the updates.

However, you do realize the above building has existed for many years?

Yeah that building has been there for a long time. I used to always get my haircut next door.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Thank you for the updates.

However, you do realize the above building has existed for many years?

Yes, I was really just getting a pic of the site for 5555 Dunbar and it caught my eye. IMHO that should be the minimum standard for arterial development, no one story with mezzanine retail. Require two levels of residential above the storefronts.

[whatnext]

Some nice small scale heritage infill I snapped.

[IMG][/IMG]

Just completed on W11th near City Hall. Remarakable for the area in that a) Its not a faux heritage house replacement for a real heritage house b) they didn't just save the studs on the first floor, collect a heritage bonus and then build something completely different. Now three units with a fourth in the new coach house.

[IMG][/IMG]

Old house at Nicola and Comox being moved forward on the lot and a larger condo infill going in behind.

[whatnext]

Nice to see an infill building design freed from the tyranny of the balcony. This is Blanc Modern on West 2nd, just west of Burrard. Each townhouse has a roof deck, so no need for a balcony, though it gives a strange internal layout with bedrooms etc on floors 1-2 and kitchen+living space on 3!

[IMG][/IMG]

[Built Form]

Radius 1628 W 4th SW corner @ Fir
Currently ABC Photocolour + 4 adjacent buildings
5 floors, 2 underground, 49 suites, 2 CRUs of 9100 and 9300 square feet
Ledingham McAllister Developer
Rositch Hemphill Architects
UDP NON Support 4-5 on Nov. 7th












Pix by Built Form

[Built Form]

2128 W 40th Ave SW corner @ West Blvd.
Currently 1 floor retail containing Subway, Flying Wedge Pizza, etc
4 floors, 48 ft high, 7 CRUs encompassing 10, 337 sq ft, 5 fronting West Blvd
Allan Diamond Architects
UDP Support 7-3 on Nov. 7th






Pix by Built Form

[SFUVancouver]

Thanks for the updates. Radius will turn out well, but I agree with the UDP that it isn't quite there yet.

[Jebby]

Why did UDP turn it down? It looks way better than the one on W40th that passed. Between this and The Ridge it seems the UDP turns down anything that isn't horribly boring and cookie cutter.

[easy as pie]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Why did UDP turn it down?

high crimes against the 4th street frontage?

[officedweller]

The rooftop decks on that bit are a bit odd too. Looks like they belong to the southfacing single storey units on the subpenthouse level (re: spiral staircase). The north facing units look to be two-storeys, but have much smaller decks facing north.

The 4th Ave. retail space looks Whistler-ish rather than "high street".

[dleung]

Both of these are among the most atrocious piles I've ever laid eyes on. Those are some nasty-looking fascias wrapping the roof/parapet edges...

[wrenegade]

I don't mind the massing on the W40th project but the colours are terrible!

[Dylan Leblanc]

love seeing all of the lowrise updates guys!

[Sir Conga]

Today at Hastings and (I think) Templeton.