Downtown Vancouver Updates

[jlousa]

Amendments to the parking requirements to allow for the 555 w cordova application to use some of the parking spaces required for development from those sites.

[Spork]

Originally Posted by Delirium

does anyone know what all these development applications are for? they're slated to go before the Board in march.

March 9, 2015
250 Howe Street
200 Granville Street
200 Burrard Street
900 Canada Place

http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/development-permit-board.aspx

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/committees...pplications-development-permit-board.pdf

250 Howe: To alter and reconfigure the existing parking spaces in this existing office building.
200 Granville: Interior alterations to the existing parking lots to amend the current required parking numbers to present parking standards as prescribed by the City of Vancouver parking Bylaw and to ensure all parking spaces meet current standards.
200 Burrard: To alter and reconfigure the parking spaces in this existing hotel building.
900 Canada Place: To alter and reconfigure the parking spaces in this existing hotel building.

Perhaps the addition of some electric chargers?

[Vanelevatorman]

You need a permit to install electric chargers in a privately owned parkade?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Spork

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/committees...pplications-development-permit-board.pdf

250 Howe: To alter and reconfigure the existing parking spaces in this existing office building.
200 Granville: Interior alterations to the existing parking lots to amend the current required parking numbers to present parking standards as prescribed by the City of Vancouver parking Bylaw and to ensure all parking spaces meet current standards.
200 Burrard: To alter and reconfigure the parking spaces in this existing hotel building.
900 Canada Place: To alter and reconfigure the parking spaces in this existing hotel building.

They are to fulfill the parking requirements for 555 West Cordova St.
Each of these other buildings is also a Cadillac Fairview Building.

[officedweller]

155 Water Street at Changing City updates.

This one raises the question as to whether heritage "mimicky" is desireable or not.
The addition above the existing 2 storey building has been designed to "match" (plus a glass penthouse)
but unlike historical vertical expansions made back in the day that blend the upper additions to the lower part,
the "heritage" preservation has caused the lower part to be retained with cornice and all
while the new upper part seeks to take the building to the height of the neighbouring cornice lines, with a glass penthouse above that.

Looks a bit disjointed - I'd rather see a modern glass addition (maybe with wood column features?) taken to the full height of the addition.

http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/10/155-water-street/


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/10/155-water-street/

[PaperTiger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

155 Water Street at Changing City updates.

This one raises the question as to whether heritage "mimicky" is desireable or not.
The addition above the existing 2 storey building has been designed to "match" (plus a glass penthouse)
but unlike historical vertical expansions made back in the day that blend the upper additions to the lower part,
the "heritage" preservation has caused the lower part to be retained with cornice and all
while the new upper part seeks to take the building to the height of the neighbouring cornice lines, with a glass penthouse above that.

Looks a bit disjointed - I'd rather see a modern glass addition (maybe with wood column features?) taken to the full height of the addition.

http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/10/155-water-street/


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/10/155-water-street/

I hear what you are saying, and normally I would agree with that philosophy. In this case though, the facade being retained is so short that I think it would be totally overwhelmed by the glass addition. In effect would make the facadism quite glaring. In this case the transition of materiality works to mask some of that.

[osirisboy]

I wouldn't call it mimiking the heritage part. The windows don't match the original at all and it looks like concrete with a weird cornice. Can't they build with brick with Windows that match the original? It is actually possible to build brand new that looks like it's always been there. It would be nice to see that

But I just hope it's not a bunch of seafoam spandrel on top. That would be the worse

[Prometheus]

What will be interesting to see is the complete "reconstruction" of the taller building adjacent to the shorter building. It is currently seven floors but with low ceilings. They will be raising the ceiling height of each floor but reducing the total number of floors to six. Does "reconstruction" at least mean that they will be re-using the original bricks and materials from the current façade?

[trofirhen]

I would like to say that on a recent visit back, walking around downtown, many buildings,
including Nordstrom's, have opted for the Vancouver style of rain protection consisting of metal struts protuding from the building wall, with the glass canopy overhang.

I think this is a small, subtle, but very effective step in promoting design continuity throughout downtown.
It helps "synthesize" the look of the city, and mitigates the "hodge-podge" effect, (found in MANY North American cities)

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Can't they build with brick with Windows that match the original? It is actually possible to build brand new that looks like it's always been there. It would be nice to see that

Yeah, that's what would have been done if the building was expanded in the early 1900s. Remove the cornice, add floors, replace the cornice at a higher level. That would make sense.

I suspect that the heritage aspect prevents them from doing that now.

[officedweller]

Changing City updates has renders of the in-fill at Beach Towers.
Somehow, these in-fill building are supposed to be complementary to the existing towers.
I don't see much (if any) effort to reference the existing towers. They look like typical modern condos.
(i.e. no balcony banding, no grooved textured raw concrete, no curves)

This is a case where mimicky may help.

http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/13/beach-towers/


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/13/beach-towers/


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/13/beach-towers/

[Locked In]

New Jubilee House at Richards and Helmcken - my photos from today:


IMG_4840 by 604 City, on Flickr


IMG_4841 by 604 City, on Flickr

[Klazu]

One would think the Beach Towers (like most of West end) is up for exterior renovation soon. I would NOT try to mimic anything on they are today.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Changing City updates has renders of the in-fill at Beach Towers.
Somehow, these in-fill building are supposed to be complementary to the existing towers.
I don't see much (if any) effort to reference the existing towers. They look like typical modern condos.
(i.e. no balcony banding, no grooved textured raw concrete, no curves)

This is a case where mimicky may help.

http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/13/beach-towers/


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/13/beach-towers/


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/01/13/beach-towers/

I think all this is "cluttery," and detracts from Beach Towers, if anything.

[Jimbo604]

Pano of Sequel 138 @ Main and Hastings. Excuse the pano artifacts, there didn't seem to be a time with no cars going by...

Source: me

[Jimbo604]

Demo continues on the city owned building in the east Granville street bridge off-ramp loop.

Source: me

[officedweller]

Thanks for the pics.
Looks like a low retail ceiling at Sequel 138 (on the left side)

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Demo continues on the city owned building in the east Granville street bridge off-ramp loop.

Source: me

You mean building with the Whales mural by Wyland?

https://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Our-...ouver-Neighbourhoods-Downtown/ba-p/13415

news article:
http://globalnews.ca/news/1773269/iconic-vancouver-whaling-wall-torn-down/

Sad to see the whales go, but undecided on losing the vanoc logo.

[NewWester]

Originally Posted by Klazu

One would think the Beach Towers (like most of West end) is up for exterior renovation soon. I would NOT try to mimic anything on they are today.

Aw, I love the Beach Towers. They are SUPER kitschy, but are so of their moment, that I kind of love them for it. I feel like some modern touches and some respectful treatment of their more uncouth, retro elements could make them look really nice and interesting.

[red-paladin]

My main concern with the West End is not the buildings that are there, but that so little change has happened in recent decades. I really hope the new area and street plans enable more development, but am not sure that it's sufficient.