Time for Vancouver to Tear Down Its Viaducts? - Page 175

Jamaldenberg · #**3481** Posted **Feb 28, 2014, 12:08 AM**

As I was riding the SkyTrain today and noticed there is a excavator beneath the viaducts removing soil and creating rounded piles.....Anyone else notice this? or maybe have some insight into it? I suspect they are maybe conducting some soil test pits....

Vin · #**3482** Posted **Feb 28, 2014, 7:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamaldenberg

As I was riding the SkyTrain today and noticed there is a excavator beneath the viaducts removing soil and creating rounded piles.....Anyone else notice this? or maybe have some insight into it? I suspect they are maybe conducting some soil test pits....

Did you also see them inserting what looked like cylindrical objects with 'wicks'? Could be the demolition crew at work placing dynamites lol!

Please don't take me seriously....

nefc · #**3483** Posted **Feb 28, 2014, 5:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamaldenberg

As I was riding the SkyTrain today and noticed there is a excavator beneath the viaducts removing soil and creating rounded piles.....Anyone else notice this? or maybe have some insight into it? I suspect they are maybe conducting some soil test pits....

They seem to be just staging soil there and not actually doing any invasive work/excavating under the viaducts. I don't know where the soil is going/coming from though.

Genauso · #**3484** Posted **Feb 28, 2014, 9:08 PM**

The Southwestern corner of Roger's Arena is fenced off, the trees uprooted, and it looks like some excavation is about to begin there. I don't know if it will be for the tower planned in that spot, or if it is for something more temporary.

If it's further east, that gravel lot has been used for tour buses and trailers during concerts. I remember the Aquilini's bought or leased the subsurface rights to build an underground parkade to serve the arenas. That could be going ahead as existing parking lots are being redeveloped (especially if the Edgewater casino and its underground lot are close to being demolished)

trofirhen · #**3485** Posted **Feb 28, 2014, 10:25 PM**

please delete

jsbertram · #**3486** Posted **Feb 28, 2014, 11:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nefc

They seem to be just staging soil there and not actually doing any invasive work/excavating under the viaducts. I don't know where the soil is going/coming from though.

Perhaps the soil is coming from the "One Pacific" or new "Casino Resort" sites on the south side of BC Place?

jsbertram · #**3487** Posted **Feb 28, 2014, 11:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genauso

The Southwestern corner of Roger's Arena is fenced off, the trees uprooted, and it looks like some excavation is about to begin there. I don't know if it will be for the tower planned in that spot, or if it is for something more temporary.

If it's further east, that gravel lot has been used for tour buses and trailers during concerts. I remember the Aquilini's bought or leased the subsurface rights to build an underground parkade to serve the arenas. That could be going ahead as existing parking lots are being redeveloped (especially if the Edgewater casino and its underground lot are close to being demolished)

The S.W. corner is already under construction for the new office / residences attached to The Garage.
The S.E. corner (Canucks Store) will be the second tower.
There will be a 3rd tower on the south side of the Georgia Viaduct.

from: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Van...s+beside+Rogers+Arena/6961948/story.html

Notice the 4th tower (greyed out) over the North Plaza?
It's not approved (yet), but it shows that the viaducts can't stop architects from building over & around them - and the Skytrain tracks.

(we should all be reminding Meggs that the Viaducts aren't hurting construction in the area.)

hollywoodnorth · #**3488** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 12:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by nefc

They seem to be just staging soil there and not actually doing any invasive work/excavating under the viaducts. I don't know where the soil is going/coming from though.

the city has stored top soil and gravel there for years and years. that's what it is.

officedweller · #**3489** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 12:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbertram

Perhaps the soil is coming from the "One Pacific" or new "Casino Resort" sites on the south side of BC Place?

Makes sense it's coming from One Pacific.
I had a brain freeze trying to think of any current Expo Lands Concord Projects.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbertram

The S.W. corner is already under construction for the new office / residences attached to The Garage.
The S.E. corner (Canucks Store) will be the second tower.

Or does he mean the site of the south side one on stilts?

AverageJoe · #**3490** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 12:22 AM**

The Rogers Arena complex across from Costco under the viaducts is already starting to look pretty cool. Could the area under the viaducts not be made to look something like this?

(borrowed from the 1400 Howe thread)

officedweller · #**3491** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 12:27 AM**

Absolutely - YES.

jsbertram · #**3492** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 1:01 AM**

Just needs Meggs to agree.

hollywoodnorth · #**3493** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 3:27 AM**

would be awesome to see something like that happen .... with all the foot traffic around evens in that area it could be a great covered urban/functional plaza type area

aberdeen5698 · #**3494** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 7:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AverageJoe

The Rogers Arena complex across from Costco under the viaducts is already starting to look pretty cool. Could the area under the viaducts not be made to look something like this?

I can just imagine how depressing that area would be during the day...

trofirhen · #**3495** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 5:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

would be awesome to see something like that happen .... with all the foot traffic around evens in that area it could be a great covered urban/functional plaza type area

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Absolutely - YES.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsbertram

Just needs Meggs to agree.

Just how much authority over this does Mr. Meggs have, anyway ???

queetz@home · #**3496** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 7:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Just how much authority over this does Mr. Meggs have, anyway ???

Technically, he is just one vote in the council. Its the influence of Meggs that you should be worried about. He maybe councillor by position, but if his colleagues *follow* everything he says, then we're in trouble.

This happens all the time in politics and business, and in a lot of cases, sometimes those with influence can be more harmful than those that are technically in leadership positions.

trofirhen · #**3497** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by queetz@home

He maybe councillor by position, but if his colleagues *follow* everything he says, then we're in trouble.

.... victims of "groupthink." Such a shame people are either afraid to express, or don't have a will and a vision, individually

dreambrother808 · #**3498** Posted **Mar 1, 2014, 11:05 PM**

Or maybe they just disagree with you and agree with him...

No need to ascribe nefarious, complicated reasoning where a simpler explanation applies.

trofirhen · #**3499** Posted **Mar 2, 2014, 12:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Or maybe they just disagree with you and agree with him...

No need to ascribe nefarious, complicated reasoning where a simpler explanation applies.

OK. Agreed. But I still think there's an element of "groupthink" happening, if you'll permit me.

theKB · #**3500** Posted **Mar 7, 2014, 1:14 AM**

So how long do we think before Meggs and Co start referencing this new video about Pikes Place Market and the alaskan way viaduct coming down (of course leaving out the crucial part that they are creating a tunnel to replace the viaduct!!

)

• Video Link

This project looks great in Seattle and I think they are taking the right approach for upgrading their infrastructure while making downtown a more liveable, friendly place!

(i bet if vision was in charge down there, they would be pushing to have I5 torn down

)