Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Locked In]

The Lauren's crane came down today.

Edit: Just noticed it was coming down in my photo from earlier this week - I think it might be gone now...

[Genauso]

The fine art of micro living - BY FIONA HUGHES, SPECIAL TO THE VANCOUVER SUN MAY 14, 2014

...
Reliance Properties also has an amenity-rich condo project under construction in Victoria called the Janion (starting price $109,000 for 250 sq. ft), which is almost sold out, and is hoping to build a highrise rental unit in downtown Vancouver with “extensive amenities,” such as study halls, dining halls, boardrooms and bike repair shops. He won’t disclose the location, but said it will be 30 storeys if approved. But Stovell said he’s encountering “bureaucratic inertia” at city hall.

“Various members of city council, like Coun. Kerry Jang, are enthusiastic,” said Stovell. It’s the bureaucrats who are resisting for two reasons — the space is less than the minimum 298 sq. ft and the initial plan was a condo project. Because city officials were concerned with land speculation and its unintended consequences, Reliance offered to make it a rental building.

“The city is behind the curve in embracing this new housing demand to trade space for place — it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “They are forgetting and ignoring all the young adults desperate to live in the city.”

Sounds like a location east of downtown if mentioning worries about land prices, any guesses?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Genauso

The fine art of micro living - BY FIONA HUGHES, SPECIAL TO THE VANCOUVER SUN MAY 14, 2014



Sounds like a location east of downtown if mentioning worries about land prices, any guesses?

30 stories east of downtown? If only that is true....

[spm2013]

....

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by spm2013

Maybe the land they bought beside Burrard Gateway where the 7-11 is? Or would that be financial suicide?

That would make sense, as to why it wasn't combined with Burrard Gateway, and as rental, it wouldn't compete with the condo next door.

Otherwise, maybe the NE corner of Abbott & Pender?

[officedweller]

Looks like a new scultpure in that raised planter along Howe at the VAG.

Pic by me today:

[spm2013]

....

[officedweller]

I expect to see a line across it marking where people can reach up to - a bit like a reverse North Shore clear-cut.
Maybe some people will lob gum to the top of his head?

Hopefully it doesn't start a fad - i.e. Terry Fox, George Vancouver, etc.

[axestone]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Hopefully it DOES start a fad - i.e. Terry Fox, George Vancouver, etc.

fixed your post!

[spm2013]

....

[a very long weekend]

wow, it takes some sort of moxie to create as a piece of public art, an enormous lenin-esque sculpture of your own head.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by spm2013

I'm planning to adopt this to all public art. My gum + sculptures = new art.

It could be: your gum + sculptures = jailtime

[giallo]

Originally Posted by a very long weekend

wow, it takes some sort of moxie to create as a piece of public art, an enormous lenin-esque sculpture of your own head.

That's why I love it. Not only that, but the purpose is to throw stuff (gum) at it. I think it's rather awesome.

[SFUVancouver]

The Hotel Blu entrance box appears to be a meeting room. The bare concrete is already streaked and there appears to be bit of rebar, or at least rebar ties, poking through the side of the concrete on the top right side of the box (not visible on my poor quality phone photo).


My photo, taken May 17th 2014.

[spm2013]

....

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

The Hotel Blu entrance box appears to be a meeting room. The bare concrete is already streaked and there appears to be bit of rebar, or at least rebar ties, poking through the side of the concrete on the top right side of the box (not visible on my poor quality phone photo).


My photo, taken May 17th 2014.

I was expecting that concrete to be covered with spandrel glass (like above the frontage on the Cambie side) - to add some colour.
But so far, nothing has been done to it (the staining has been there from the beginning)

[officedweller]

The Hotel Vancouver (and the Royal York Hotel) is up for sale:

Two of Canada’s most famous hotels – Toronto’s Royal York and the Hotel Vancouver – have been put up for sale by Quebec’s giant pension plan, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, which is moving out of the lodging business.
...

The Caisse, which manages nearly $300-billion in total assets, has been unloading a number of high-profile hotels in recent months as it steps away from what is considered the riskier side of the real estate business. Last year the plan sold the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and it has put the Empress in Victoria up for sale. It has also sold more than a dozen properties in Europe and the United States.

The pension plan’s real estate division, Ivanhoe Cambridge, now owns about 10 hotels, down from a peak of 70 a few years ago.
...

The change in ownership could lead to significant alterations at the properties, although they will almost certainly continue to be run as Fairmont hotels. Fairmont’s contract to operate both runs for several decades and the company will play a role in choosing the buyer.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on...el-vancouver-to-be-sold/article18919200/

[officedweller]

Rubbery brick being installed on Richards between Robson & Smithe.

Pic by me today:

[Genauso]

On Cambie bridge, view of: Pacific One site, Crystal Blu, CBC Towers, Telus residential, Paragon Casino site, BC Place.
Also note the white building @ Smithe & Beatty right after the bridge. It's been renovated, almost finished and has announced some college a a tenant.


@ Pacfic & Hornby

source: me/today

A few boarded up properties up to that older building in front of 'Salt', including the old Il Giardino, and a heritage building. The next block east on Pacific, at Hornby has a vacant lot and the newest of many short lived restaurants. I think there was a development proposal, but I'm not sure if it covered all of these properties. A whole new neighbourhood is set to arrive with the tent poles of Burrard Gateway and Vancouver House.

[spm2013]

Any update on when the casino beside BC Place will start construction?