Telus Garden | 135m, 88m | 46fl res, 22fl office | 928,000sqft | Completed

[darksolusion]

Hey all, another soon to be resident of this project. I always check here on Monday for pictures and random updates, so thank you all for the pictures!

As for the mysterious stair case, the answer I found was

"The stairs are a temporary measure to allow the base building to get an occupancy permit, which in turn allows Tenant Improvement projects to apply for their occupancy permit. Due to the complexity of the lobby, this will be the building “entrance” until the lobby is complete. These stairs are not permanent and will be removed once the actual lobby is complete."

This make sense, but the plants are still a mysterious to me. I guess pedestrians will have walk on the other side of the street or out on the road? This sucks for that little hotel/restaurant in the middle of the office and residential tower.

[s211]

Well, dleung claims to know that the stairs aren't permanent, but he/she has not said on what basis the claim is made. Whatever this is, except in perhaps some bizarre response to building codes, it has all the bad smell of a cozy Westbank/city relaxation of rules. Unfortunately, unless someone directly tied to the situation provides some authoritative comment, then this thread will just spin in circles and make the situation get a much larger life of its own, rightly or wrongly.

[darksolusion]

Originally Posted by s211

Well, dleung claims to know that the stairs aren't permanent, but he/she has not said on what basis the claim is made. Whatever this is, except in perhaps some bizarre response to building codes, it has all the bad smell of a cozy Westbank/city relaxation of rules. Unfortunately, unless someone directly tied to the situation provides some authoritative comment, then this thread will just spin in circles and make the situation get a much larger life of its own, rightly or wrongly.

this is the website someone mentioned and had an update regarding the matter: https://pricetags.wordpress.com/2015/01/30/mystery-steps/

[phesto]

The rezoning application was quite clear that there would be a 5-metre sidewalk so the permanent setup will have a sidewalk right up to the building. From the rezoning report:

"The proposal provides enhanced site frontages all around the development including varied setbacks for the west side of Richards Street building frontages to achieve a 5.0 m to 5.5 m sidewalk (the existing sidewalk on the west side of Richards is currently 2.6 m wide."

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20111018/documents/p3.pdf

[jlousa]

I wasn't going to pipe in on this but seems I have to. The stairs are temporary, that should be pretty obvious but apparently not. They are as mentioned above for building occupancy permit purposes. They will be removed as soon as feasible. Source is me, and for those that know who I am that should be good enough.

[nickbeaulieu]

But what's the use of the garden? I notice there's no curb... you'd think that'd be there before planting...

[officedweller]

Thanks for the info guys -
Agreed that the garden is just a shot in the eye for the Kingston Hotel which as endured construction so long - they should really be opening up a temporary sidewalk to the Kingston.

[dleung]

Originally Posted by s211

Well, dleung claims to know that the stairs aren't permanent, but he/she has not said on what basis the claim is made. Whatever this is, except in perhaps some bizarre response to building codes, it has all the bad smell of a cozy Westbank/city relaxation of rules. Unfortunately, unless someone directly tied to the situation provides some authoritative comment, then this thread will just spin in circles and make the situation get a much larger life of its own, rightly or wrongly.

I just assumed.

Some people here get their panties in a twist when they see a mismatched window on a u/c project... obviously it'll be fixed.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks for the info guys -
Agreed that the garden is just a shot in the eye for the Kingston Hotel which as endured construction so long - they should really be opening up a temporary sidewalk to the Kingston.

+1

Access to the Kingston should have as much priority as access to the new office lobby. I've stayed at the Kingston several times in the past and have referred visiting family to stay there, too. I love that little place. They should get their sidewalk ASAP.

Even after the whole project is done, the Kingston will have busy driveways immediately next to them on both sides.



Jan.31 '15, my pic. The driveway on the south flank of the Kingston between it and the condo tower.


Jan.31 '15, my pic


Jan.31 '15, my pic. The driveway on the north flank of the Kingston between it and the office tower.


Jan.31 '15, my pic


Feb.1 '15, my pic. The view (looking over the green fence) from the sidewalk in front of the Kingston looking north towards the new sidewalk and steps to the office lobby.

[dleung]

Why are there driveways when there's an alley right behind this whole project??

[jlousa]

Here are the details on the signage....

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/rezoning/applications/520wgeorgia/index.htm

[officedweller]

Usually you'd see fewer sidewalk cuts for driveways -
but I guess the alley itself crosses Robson's sidewalk -
which could create more conflicts than crossing the sidewalk of lower pedestrian volume Richards.
(i.e. compare to the traffic on the alley next to Five Guys behind Future Shop)
The alley is also being partially pedestrianized - don't know which came first or was the dominant factor...

[mcminsen]

Feb.3 '15, my pic

[Vanelevatorman]

Thanks for the pictures and updates guys.

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by dleung

Why are there driveways when there's an alley right behind this whole project??

The alley is being closed and animated with shops, lighting etc. It will not be a commercial alley in the traditional sense.

[dleung]

Not worth flanking the Kingston with a NEW alley on one side and a parkade entrance on the other. More than cancels out the gimmicking up of the existing alleyway.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by Graham_Yvr

The alley is being closed and animated with shops, lighting etc. It will not be a commercial alley in the traditional sense.

I wonder how this alley is going to look like with shops, lighting, etc. I can see it thrive in the summer months, but how is this going to look during the winter months, when it's raining, and cold?

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Vancity

I wonder how this alley is going to look like with shops, lighting, etc. I can see it thrive in the summer months, but how is this going to look during the winter months, when it's raining, and cold?

I'm going to say that it will look a lot like the pedestrian areas around the base of Woodwards.

[Vin]

Not sure about this, but would only half block of the alley be used as a pedestrian-friendly lane surrounded by shops? The part from Robson to the north of Kingston Hotel could be used as a service alley for garbage and recycling pick-up. Just guessing.

[officedweller]

Pics by me today:

Glass has been installed on the "end" of the canopy.


The elevator to the underground "lounge?" have been clad in glass,
and a spandrel edge has been installed on the window parts of the podium.