Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Locked In]

Thanks for the update, jlousa.
I generally agree that the view cones are far too limiting, but I wonder how much more height we would actually see on commercial sites like these if they were relaxed/removed, given the nature of the office market in town.
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New Jubilee House update - my photo from today:


IMG_4205 by 604 City, on Flickr

[Klazu]

Looks only like two levels of parking. I wonder how much parking they build into these social housing projects on average? Almost none?

[jlousa]

While it doesn't tie into the city's current line of thinking, building a bunch of parking stalls into the social housing units could provide a steady revenue stream for the operator of the units to help subsidize costs.

[spm2013]

....

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by jlousa

While it doesn't tie into the city's current line of thinking, building a bunch of parking stalls into the social housing units could provide a steady revenue stream for the operator of the units to help subsidize costs.

That's an interesting idea. EasyPark would operate and potentially finance the construction of several levels of commercial parking.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by jlousa

While it doesn't tie into the city's current line of thinking, building a bunch of parking stalls into the social housing units could provide a steady revenue stream for the operator of the units to help subsidize costs.

Until peoples' cars get broken into...

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by spm2013

There were three firms listed when they were at the Heritage Committee earlier this year

Matthieu Grady, B+H Architect
Adrian Smith + Gordon Hill Architecture, Laura Jimenez
Robert Lemon, Robert Lemon Architect

Think the last was probably just advising on the heritage aspects of the building.

WRT 601 West Cordova,

James Vasto (misspelled on DPB Agenda) is an architect at B+H Architects
http://www.bharchitects.com/en/people/33

Apparently he is also involved in the 601 West Hastings project (replacement of the former Price Waterhouse Building dome).

The Heritage Commission minutes also reference a 24 storey tower - so it appears to have grown by 2 storeys (?) - perhaps to slim the profile.

(a) Waterfront Tower – 601 W. Cordova St.
Enquiry

The enquiry was received to develop a mixed-use office tower on a site located on W.
Cordova St. immediately east of the CPR Station building. The proposal is to construct a
24-storey, 127.1 m tall tower with 41,205 m2 of commercial / office space.

The subject site is at the edge of the Downtown and Gastown districts and in between two
designated heritage buildings, the CPR Station and The Landing. It is one of the sites
referenced by the Central Waterfront Hub Framework which was adopted by City Council on
June 11, 2009. The Framework has established a number of development principles and
directions for the future development of the study area which also apply to this site. It has
been recognized that the heritage impact analysis of new development on adjacent
municipally designated heritage buildings as well as on the Historic Area of Gastown should
result with a solution that complements existing landmarks, built form and urban character.
The Framework suggested that this particular site could accommodate 11-storey building with
approx. 6,100 m2 floor area which is significantly less than currently proposed.

...

http://vancouver.ca/docs/council/vher20140113ag.pdf

BTW - on the DPB Schedule, it is listed as 555 West Cordova Street (which is the address of the parking lot)
http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/development-permit-board.aspx

[red-paladin]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...dings-reflect-history-memories-1.2836003

B.C.'s best buildings reflect history, memories
Architect Dave Hewitt reveals the results of a contest to find B.C.'s best building.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Where exactly is this 601 cordova tower going to be?

The view cones are stupid! You can view the mountains from countless locations such as looking north on any downtown street. It makes absolutely no sense that we limit growth so some arbitrary point can have some dinky little view of a mountain

this city and it's government, unfortunately, have an unhealthy obsession of viewcones.

HK has beautiful mountains too (Vancouver ain't the only place), Japan as well. I don't see them limiting themselves because of the view. In fact, their development enhances the backdrop and natural beauty of those cities. makes them even more appealing. we have it backwards here

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Looks like Caddillac Fairview will be moving forward with 601 W Cordova

This is going to the Development permit back in Mar of next year, no need for rezoning so that speeds things up. Believe B+H Architects are behind the design.
A
601 West Cordova Street DE418532

To construct a 26-storey office tower with one level of underground loading with vehicular access from the lane.
The off-site parking are situated on 4 separate off-site locations:
200 Granville Street, 250 Howe Street, 200 Burrard Street, and 900 Canada Place

The offsite parking locations are also going to the DPB in order to alter their parking requirements to facilitate the new office tower.

Leftcoaster, you want to weigh in and add anything on this one?

You're quick Jlo!

B+H will be the working architect, however the building is designed by AS+GG so it is a stunner. Renderings will likely be released by the city very soon.

[officedweller]

The lead architect at Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill is Laura Jimenez - this is from her AS+GG webpage:

Waterfront Tower
356,000 sf office tower adjacent to Vancouver’s transit hub, features semi-private courtyard amenity space and open plaza with unobstructed waterfront views. Amenities include conference facilities and fitness rooms. Vancouver, British Columbia

http://smithgill.com/team/senior_team/laura_jimenez/

By comparison, 745 Thurlow (23 storey) has about 400,000 sq ft
http://www.745thurlow.com/building-overview.php

Found this pic too:


Piranha for Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Vancouver building
http://archinect.com/laiswilliams/projec...don-gill-architecture-vancouver-building

The colour looks like it'll match the former Price Waterhouse Building across the street (the one with the dome to be demolished).
Hopefully the UDP doesn't "warm up" the palette to give us a mauve building.

[red-paladin]

Oh Wow!

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The lead architect at Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill is Laura Jimenez - this is from her AS+GG webpage:


http://smithgill.com/team/senior_team/laura_jimenez/

By comparison, 745 Thurlow (23 storey) has about 400,000 sq ft
http://www.745thurlow.com/building-overview.php

Found this pic too:


Piranha for Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Vancouver building
http://archinect.com/laiswilliams/projec...don-gill-architecture-vancouver-building

The colour looks like it'll match the former Price Waterhouse Building across the street (the one with the dome to be demolished).
Hopefully the UDP doesn't "warm up" the palette to give us a mauve building.

I remember seeing the various renderings and was curious how window cleaners might access the low rise portion of the tower next to the Station. I guess that for operations to figure out.

[officedweller]

Gastown Steam Clock temporary replacement?


http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2014/11/18...sed-for-vacant-gastown-steam-clock-site/

[officedweller]

The other "microsuite" building proposed by Reliance Holdings is said to be near "Burrard & Drake":

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/aff...provals+slow+popular/10389296/story.html

Vancouver property developer Jon Stovell is fuming about the city’s reluctance to approve his new plan for 350 relatively affordable microsuites near Burrard and Drake.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Bar...suites/10389296/story.html#ixzz3JSHmTLMM

Given that those 4 corners are occupied (or soon to be occupied when Burrard Gateway is completed -
I suspect that it's actually the 7-Eleven site at Davie & Hornby.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Gastown Steam Clock temporary replacement?


http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2014/11/18...sed-for-vacant-gastown-steam-clock-site/

I told some people the old steam clock rusted away, and this is the replacement.

After some disappointment over missing the old clock, they start to prefer the 'modern clock' and then start trying to figure out how to read the time.

hours of amusement.

With some Vision, these can be placed on the steam vents around downtown.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by jsbertram

I'm telling people the old steam clock rusted away, and this is the replacement.

After some disappointment over missing the old clock, they start to prefer the 'modern clock' and then start trying to figure out how to read the time.

hours of amusement.

With some Vision, these can be placed on the steam vents around downtown.

The original steam clock is, apparently, going to be re-installed after repairs anyway, so I fail to see what the trauma is all about

[Vanelevatorman]

The new glass piece looks good IMO. I don't want it instead of the steam clock though.

[Delirium]

pick a project - you can see most of them in this pic. imo, rogers tower is the worst building to go up in memory. worst than the Loren.

Photo by Dave Roberts https://www.flickr.com/photos/46069415@N00/15825277052/sizes/h/

[WarrenC12]

Great picture! Thanks!