Downtown Vancouver Updates

[spm2013]

....

[djh]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

The useless rubber bricks around the trees at the Cambie & Broadway 99 BLine stop are finally history. Along with the 'Caution - uneven sidewalk' signs on the trees that were only there to prevent lawsuits.

The sidewalk on Broadway & Cambie that was built as part of the new development a few years ago has been sloooooowly getting replaced with new construction that won't settle & cause the bricks and tiles to shift and pop up.

No they weren't rubber bricks. They were poured concrete tiles and you're right they didn't work. In an ironic way, they didn't work precisely because they weren't rubber bricks, which would have moulded to the shape of the growing trees, and prevented that sidewalk from constantly being uneven and unsafe.

I think the reason the concrete tiles there had to be dug up was because of drainage issues. But yes, those tiles were a bad idea.

[Prometheus]

A proposal for the southwest corner of West Hastings Street and Hamilton Street:

This ‘mystery’ application appeared on the Development Permit Board schedule a few weeks ago. 308 West Hastings today is a single storey former bank, alongside Victory Square. Here’s the render of the projects, intended to be “a new 6-storey mixed-use building containing commercial uses (ground floor), institutional uses (second floor), and residential rental units (third to sixth floors) under the Rental 100 Program”. The image shows it’s for Simon Fraser University, and there will be 52 rental units (aimed at post-graduate students) designed by Raymond Letkeman Architects.

Source: http://changingcitybook.com/2014/08/08/308-west-hastings-street/

[LeftCoaster]

That is not great... at all.

That would be fine mid block, but adjacent to the dominion building, Flac block and victory square deserves a little more IMO.

[Prometheus]

It's an unimpressive building in almost any context, but is highly disappointing for a prominent corner facing out on a historic public urban space surrounded by some of the city's architectural classics and seeing a rebirth.

The nature of the site clearly calls for something much more urban, artful and enduring.

[spm2013]

Exactly, how does the design connect to one of the most historical blocks of the city. Stick it on Cambie, Main or wherever but that thing doesn't deserve to be on that corner.

[jlousa]

Nothing the city can do to stop it and since it's not even a rezoning it's a pretty quick process. To be the worst part is that floors 3-6 will be rental. That location should be office/commerical space, imo.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

It's an unimpressive building in almost any context, but is highly disappointing for a prominent corner facing out on a historic public urban space surrounded by some of the city's architectural classics and seeing a rebirth.

The nature of the site clearly calls for something much more urban, artful and enduring.

YES, YES, and YES !!!!

[logan5]

This building looks pretty decent to me. Just wish they would bring the brick right down to street level, or maybe even terracotta, but instead it's the tired old formula of all glass facade for the retail. It's expressionless.

More residents for the area will help the revitalization process for the DTES.

[spm2013]

Good for a laugh:

DESIGN RESPONSE & GOALS
To respond appropriately to the local context and project's goals, it is important for the design to address the following objectives:

1. Be respectful of the seriousness of Victory Square and the heritage character of the surrounding buildings.
2. Be vibrant and energetic, to reflect the youthful nature of the user group.
3. Be considerate of the local community, so that it integrates with and builds on the existing surrounding community.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Given the desired responses to the local context, the following design principles have been established:

1. Have a clean, simple and contemporary architectural expression.
2. Express an understanding of the neighbouring buildings without trying to mimic them.
3. Convey the project's social objectives and the ideas of optimism, entrepreneurial energy and innovation.
4. Create the café and office/work space with visual permeability to demonstrate to the outside world the activities occurring inside and to be welcoming to all.

http://former.vancouver.ca/devapps/308whastings/index.htm

[djh]

So there's no attempt to retain the old bank building's facade? Isn't that part of city policy for buildings of architectural merit?

[rsxstock]

i wish sfu would take over the canada post building and renovate it a bit. would really help stretch the pedestrian traffic down that side of georgia st

[Jimbo604]

The city is allowing more residential in the CBD?

[PaperTiger]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

The city is allowing more residential in the CBD?

This isn't CBD. It is in the Hastings/Victory Square portion of the DTES LAP.

The building is a bit meh, but I think a bit of residential in this location is not a bad thing at all. So far the only residential in the surrounding blocks are SRO's or Provincial non-market (eg Pacific Apartments). A little market residential adds to the mix.

[Pinion]

Why does SFU need another campus? Does that make five downtown now?

[Delirium]

Giant mural coming to Vancouver's Granville Island
Brazilian twins choose concrete plant silos for massive work
By Gerry Bellett, Vancouver Sun

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainmen...Island/10102531/story.html#ixzz39u2tYz8M

VANCOUVER -- The six massive silos that dominate the Ocean Concrete plant on Granville Island have now shed 50 years of grime and muck.

And later this month two world-famous Brazilian street artists known as Osgemeos — who painted the FIFA World Cup Boeing 747 — will get to work transforming the silos into a monster-mural covering more than 23,500 square feet.

“The mural is destined to become one of the most recognizable and iconic worlds of public art anywhere in the world and, if all goes as envisioned, will become a legacy of the 2014-2016 Biennale exhibition,” said Barrie Mowatt, president and founder the Vancouver Biennale.

They’ll be coming in after next week to apply a graffiti-type spray paint for the characters that will make up the mural,” he said.

More pics in the link above showing the base coat but no hint on what the final product will look like.


www.vancouversun.com

they do a lot of cool stuff actually. looking forward to seeing this

http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2013-06...osaryzgaleriaurbanformslodzpolandweb.jpg

[osirisboy]

Is it just going to be on the side facing Granville island Or both sides? Would be cool to see it from the sea wall

[Henbo]

Originally Posted by Pinion

Why does SFU need another campus? Does that make five downtown now?

I hope SFU keep's adding facilities, so eventually downtown will just be seen as 1 major campus with buildings stretching along Hastings from Granville to Abbott.

If SFU does move into this development, at least it will fill the gap between Harbour Center and Woodwards

[spm2013]

23,500 square feet mural

70-foot high silos

6 silos

[Millennium2002]

I wonder if it's meant to be a complement of the building across the alley... aka the old furniture warehouse/store that currently sits vacant.

The building could use some work... retaining the bank facade while having the other floors float on top of it is one option... but if they want to match with the other building, just adding a foot of a different facade material from the roofline down can make all the difference.

EDIT: The meeting for this building is scheduled for October 6, 2014, so there's lots of time for them to revise the application if necessary. Knowing SFU's budget crunch, however, it'll probably take a little more pushing/persuasion than usual to get them to adjust the proposal.