Olympic Village & Southeast False Creek Updates Discussion

[officedweller]

Probably meant to be wide enough for seating as well.

There are at least a couple others around with the circle opening in a pointy triangle.
Can't recall where though. Maybe one in Mt Pleasant somewhere?

[domusile]

Originally Posted by vancouver604

Anyone know what's going in on the big space underneath Canada Customs? There's a leased sign there now and the windows are taped up.

I have heard that CBSA will occupy a portion of the space and Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub will occupy the corner unit (Main and Central)

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by domusile

I have heard that CBSA will occupy a portion of the space and Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub will occupy the corner unit (Main and Central)

that is handy, after dealing with the CBSA you can get over your woes at the pub. i wouldn't advise going to the pub first. haha.

[nds88]

Originally Posted by domusile

I have heard that CBSA will occupy a portion of the space and Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub will occupy the corner unit (Main and Central)

another pub in the area?!?!?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by nds88

another pub in the area?!?!?

Yup, not much in that neighbourhood except ice cream and beer, at least for now.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Vin

Yup, not much in that neighbourhood except ice cream and beer, at least for now.

^ So it's paradise, is what you're saying?

I'm not surprised that high end pubs are common in the area. Those are destinations in their own right and can successfully draw people from elsewhere in the city who want the experience of going out to a place in the neighbourhood. Plus, they serve two roles: bar and restaurant, so they're catering to a broader spectrum of customers than if they were just restaurants.

It's also easy to overlook London Drugs and Urban Fare; those are major retail anchors, even if they're still pretty quiet compared to how they will be as the neighbourhood continues to build out. It's worth remembering that we're maybe a third of the way through building out SEFC, from the perspective of sites. From a population standpoint I would guess it's likely even less than that.

I have friends that live in Wall Centre False Creek and they just had a baby, so their household population just went up by 50%. They're pretty excited about where they are and look forward to raising their kid there for many years to come. Hopefully the SEFC elementary school is built in time for their kid to start school, or at least that there is space in the Olympic Village elementary school and False Creek elementary is a pretty quick bike ride or even a modest walk away.

[WarrenC12]

We're moving from Yaletown to OV in about a year (Block 100). We love going to the area now and can't wait until we are there. It's growing and improving at an amazing rate, I don't think there's anything close happening elsewhere in BC.

[nds88]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

^ So it's paradise, is what you're saying?

I'm not surprised that high end pubs are common in the area. Those are destinations in their own right and can successfully draw people from elsewhere in the city who want the experience of going out to a place in the neighbourhood. Plus, they serve two roles: bar and restaurant, so they're catering to a broader spectrum of customers than if they were just restaurants.
...
I have friends that live in Wall Centre False Creek and they just had a baby, so their household population just went up by 50%. They're pretty excited about where they are and look forward to raising their kid there for many years to come. Hopefully the SEFC elementary school is built in time for their kid to start school, or at least that there is space in the Olympic Village elementary school and False Creek elementary is a pretty quick bike ride or even a modest walk away.

Nothing wrong with pubs and the area can be known for a concentrated area for this style of dining. It does get tiring for locals though.

I hope your friends are in a two bedroom. Perhaps the kid will be the first one to regularly use the building's playground

Also, the West First Theatre Centre (such a boring name IMO) renovation is at full speed. The renderings look pretty sleek

http://www.proscenium.ca/work/west-first-theatre-centre/

[officedweller]

Strange how they've used "West First" with "First" spelled out.

It causes you to think it's a sponsor name (like a credit union or something), rather than the street name, which would normally be "West 1st".

It reminds me of out-of-towners who put "West" or "East" after the street name, rather than before it (as is customary for Vancouver addresses).

EDIT: i.e. http://www.firstwestcu.ca/

[s211]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Strange how they've used "West First" with "First" spelled out.

It causes you to think it's a sponsor name (like a credit union or something), rather than the street name, which would normally be "West 1st".

It reminds me of out-of-towners who put "West" or "East" after the street name, rather than before it (as is customary for Vancouver addresses).

EDIT: i.e. http://www.firstwestcu.ca/

Actually, the postal standard used for the city is to put east or west at the end.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by s211

Actually, the postal standard used for the city is to put east or west at the end.

That actually proves my point - Canada Post (i.e. Ottawa) does not respond to local custom and imposes a "national" standard.

i.e City of Vancouver street signs - the big green ones - say "W Georgia St." not "Georgia St. W"


http://www.flickr.com/photos/insidevancouver/5479646840/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouver_photobase/377813775/


http://www.canadiandesignresource.ca/symbols/poppy-street-signs/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/12593111@N07/1440407004/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/rllayman/117271613/

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by domusile

I have heard that CBSA will occupy a portion of the space and Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub will occupy the corner unit (Main and Central)

Brew & Bites Coffee shop –1635 Main Street –Opening Spring
Dubh Linn Gate –1601 Main Street –Opening Spring

http://vancouverfoodster.com/blackboard/

And another - Big Rock Urban Eatery - near Maynard's at 310 West 4th Ave. @ Alberta - in connection with Big Rock's Brewery and corporate offices:

http://bigrockurban.com/big-rock-urban-eatery

https://www.facebook.com/BigRockVancouver

[officedweller]

Project for Main & 2nd Ave.

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2015/02/12/12-storey-tower-proposed-for-main-2nd/

I like the terraces (interestingly oriented for the southern sun, rather than northern views),
but the West 2nd and Main St. corner and frontage doesn't stand out as much as it should for such a significant corner.
The "uphill" part of the Main St. frontage also dives into the hill too much.

In the 3rd pic - compare the render with Central in the background.
Central's office block uses reddish brick to create frames filled with glazing, with some protrusions.
This one uses painted concrete for its frames and fills them with brick/terra cotta panels and glazing.

12-Storey Tower Proposed for Main & 2nd

Posted on February 12, 2015

Aquilini Group has applied to rezone a 33,746 SF site at the Southwest corner of West 2nd and Main Street known most commonly as the Maynards building. The plan calls for a rezone from IC-2 District to CD-1 to permit a 12-storey mixed-use building that includes:
◾223 units;
◾30 secured non-market rental units;
◾13,000 SF of ground floor retail
◾artist production space of approximately 3,500 SF
◾a density of 5.50 FSR;
◾297 underground parking spaces.

The design of the project is intended to meet the guidelines of the Mount Pleasant Community Plan.

The site was assembled over several years between 2008 and 2012.

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2015/02/12/12-storey-tower-proposed-for-main-2nd/

[WarrenC12]

Cool, thanks for the info.

I'm a bit surprised at the number of parking spots.

I'm assuming the retail and artist components comprise the entire ground level... retail should do well in the area with so many new customers moving in.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by officedweller

the West 2nd and Main St. corner and frontage doesn't stand out as much as it should for such a significant corner.

That's right. Where the commercial ceiling should be at its highest, it has been dropped down to squeeze in an extra floor of residential units with balconies, putting a damper on the building's urbanity precisely where it should be most urbane.

[logan5]

More residents along the Main Street corridor who will be looking for the DTES to be their downtown experience.

Here's an excerpt from the Mt. Pleasant OCP...

Pedestrian experience should be considered in designing retail frontages. Facade treatments that create a perception of unrelieved, flat and continuous walls are discouraged. Insets and reveals, a pedestrian-scaled pattern of columns, open and individual entrances resulting from smaller commercial retail units (CRUs), and visual variety when viewed from the sidewalk are encouraged.

Why do they only encourage such things when they could easily enforce these rules for more interesting retail? It would be cool to see Main Street of the future with a great urban vibe stretching from Gastown all the way up to 30th Ave. Even if the business were allowed to have its own awning, it would make a difference.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

That's right. Where the commercial ceiling should be at its highest, it has been dropped down to squeeze in an extra floor of residential units with balconies, putting a damper on the building's urbanity precisely where it should be most urbane.

Yes, good point.

[urbancanadian]

Woah, that's not what I was expecting to see there, thanks. I agree the corner could use some work, but I'm most looking forward to the public realm on this one.

Judging from the landscape diagrams, I think it will turn out great. I like the walkway leading from the intersection to the plaza within. Good to see the northern part of the laneway will likely be closed in the future. It really serves no purpose and will act as an entry point to the future pedestrianized lane.

[vancouver604]

Originally Posted by domusile

I have heard that CBSA will occupy a portion of the space and Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub will occupy the corner unit (Main and Central)

Oh no not another pub, that's that last thing this area needs. More markets would be nice! Soon there will be a bunch of drunks walking around because of all the bars/pubs in the hood

[vancouver604]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

We're moving from Yaletown to OV in about a year (Block 100). We love going to the area now and can't wait until we are there. It's growing and improving at an amazing rate, I don't think there's anything close happening elsewhere in BC.

It's a great area, but needs more markets and take out places! Hopefully they will build more retail along main street and east of main up to the new Emily Carr. I can see that area being ripe for development (get rid of all the car shops and open up more housing and retail).