Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 598

Smooth · #**11941** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 6:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by recurrence

I mentioned this a few weeks ago but it looks like closing lions gate to cars and running transit only is gaining momentum if they're bitching about it.

http://www.nsnews.com/news/north-shore-m...ate-bridge-to-cars-idea-absurd-1.1826681

I grew up on the North Shore and remember hearing about this deal back when it was first made. This happened when the NDP was in power, they selected one of the cheapest options to upgrade the bridge and made this deal to expedite the whole process. They knew they would never win any votes on the North Shore so what did they care?

I highly doubt this agreement will ever happen. If the closure of the Lions Gate bridge depends on the construction of a new crossing, and Vancouver has a policy of "no new lanes" into the city, then why on earth would a government spend billions to move the crossing and have no new capacity to show for it?

The main thing that surprised me about the article was actually how antagonistic the North Shore politicians were towards Gregor Robertson.

“I had no idea of this (bridge closure) side-deal, and I think we’re getting the short end of the stick with TransLink,” MacKay-Dunn (North Vancouver Councilor) said. “I don’t want to pay for Gregor’s train to UBC or the Surrey mayor’s train.”

“I think Mayor Robertson hopes there won’t be any cars in 2030, and we’ll just all be riding bikes,” Mayor Smith commented when asked if he knows Robertson’s position on the bridge closure.

officedweller · #**11942** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 7:00 PM**

That just goes to show how clueless politicians are about the history of projects, agreements that are in place, etc.

That was all over the news back then.

BTW - The Province is all over the story with 2 articles -

one, by Jason Bateman, unfairly infers Translink as a proponent of the deal
the other is more balanced in framing it as a deal between the Vancouver Park Board and the Province of BC, with TransLink and ICBC as signatories.

Neither story, despite stating "eliminating of private vehicles" even suggests that there might be transit - buses or LRT - across the bridge.
They simply focus on Seabus.

http://www.theprovince.com/news/Clock+ti...s+trucks+banned+less/10978652/story.html

http://www.theprovince.com/news/vancouver/Lions+Gate+Bridge+closed+2030/10978718/story.html

***********

Quote:

Originally Posted by phesto

Thanks for the renders. Reliance never wound up buying the site and that concept is dead (it was never supported by the City anyway since it created shadowing on the park/community centre).

PortLiving bought "The Views" project last summer. It would surprise me if they redesigned it, but you never know. This is the company that did South Creek Landing at Cambie and 6th.

Thanks for the info.

***********

Article on the restoration of the 100 block of West Hastings St.:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/her...ings+goes+from+scary/10978679/story.html

red-paladin · #**11943** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 7:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Article on the restoration of the 100 block of West Hastings St.:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/her...ings+goes+from+scary/10978679/story.html

Thanks for posting that!
Amazing to compare those photos with even google maps streetview.
There is an additional article that talks about each business: http://www.vancouversun.com/heritage+block+from+other/10978704/story.html
To round things out, a February article on the Ormidale Building (formerly Asia Imports) that is getting facaded that we read about on the forum a while back: http://www.vancouversun.com/facading+Gastown/10794404/story.html
It should be done some time next year. Renders: http://www.collierscanada.com/11665
Only the 8 floor Regal Housing at 144-146 W. Hastings remains to be restored, now the entire rest of the block has been rejuvenated. Very cool!

Vancity · #**11944** Posted **Apr 17, 2015, 9:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

From the NMDA Website - This looks like it was/is proosed for the site of that tower called "The Views" next to Erickson's Evergreen Builiding.
The website says the site is owned by Reliance.

http://projects.denari.co/TOWER-X-2013

More renders at the link.

http://projects.denari.co/TOWER-X-2013

would've been amazing. but it's dead, right? cause the site says 2013...

vanciti · #**11945** Posted **Apr 20, 2015, 2:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vancity

would've been amazing. but it's dead, right? cause the site says 2013...

Site was bought late last year for a record price by Port Capital (Tobi Reyes) of South Creek Landing, InGastown etc) It was previously owned by a group out of Surrey before the latest purchase.

Klazu · #**11946** Posted **Apr 21, 2015, 2:14 AM**

Neon as seen from Rolston.

osirisboy · #**11947** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 3:59 AM**

What's the big fireworks going on downtown right now about?

WarrenC12 · #**11948** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 4:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirisboy

What's the big fireworks going on downtown right now about?

Private package available from the convention centre.

Klazu · #**11949** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 4:22 AM**

Yeah, pretty big fireworks. Managed to snap some nice photos of it.

SKYSTHELIMIT · #**11950** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 6:02 AM**

Interesting timing of them, essentially right at the end of the Canucks game(and playoffs) they made me jump as I thought oh oh we're blowing up downtown again.

Delirium · #**11951** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 1:53 PM**

1335 howe went to the UDP last week and passed. this looks like garbage and of course, it has the mandatory sea foam coloured spandrel. shock!

Photo https://cityhallwatch.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/40-storeys-1335_howe.jpg

Infrequent Poster · #**11952** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 2:21 PM**

It needs more balconies.

osirisboy · #**11953** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 2:32 PM**

Why can't it all just be the dark colour. Why break it up? And is that the picture of its backside? (Judging from how the sidewalk and trees are)

Delirium · #**11954** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 2:52 PM**

^I think so. all black would have been better but it's still a mess. why accentuate all that bland spandrel?

the podium looks awfully familiar to the Mark's podium and their 'screens'. not very original.

Caliplanner1 · #**11955** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 3:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delirium

^I think so. all black would have been better but it's still a mess. why accentuate all that bland spandrel?

the podium looks awfully familiar to the Mark's podium and their 'screens'. not very original.

The developers seem to be focused on cutting design/construction costs by using a worn out but proven (unoriginal/pedestrian) design.

osirisboy · #**11956** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 5:18 PM**

Maybe the front of the building won't have the seafoam spandrel and it'll be just on this corner. Which will be somewhat hidden by future buildings. Lol

logan5 · #**11957** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 5:51 PM**

This city seems to have abandoned it's original formula of humanely scaled podiums. Gone now is the idea of lining the street with 2 story townhouses, which give the street a humane feel. Now we have these insanely sized podiums that make the street feel cold and isolated. This cold and isolated feel gets amplified by the gross amounts of sterile glass. Height restrictions must be partly to blame, with a large amount of density forcing a massive podium. People actually think it's a victory when they force height restrictions on buildings.

osirisboy · #**11958** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 6:04 PM**

What? Wow don't go to any other city you'll have a heart attack!! Sorry these aren't insanely sized podiums! Best thing the city could have done was get rid of 3/4 of a block being lined in 2 floor townhomes!

logan5 · #**11959** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirisboy

What? Wow don't go to any other city you'll have a heart attack!! Sorry these aren't insanely sized podiums! Best thing the city could have done was get rid of 3/4 of a block being lined in 2 floor townhomes!

I would cite Richards Street as a good example of how tower/podium should be done. What's your example from "any other city"? Are you able to provide one?

trofirhen · #**11960** Posted **Apr 26, 2015, 6:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delirium

1335 howe went to the UDP last week and passed. this looks like garbage and of course, it has the mandatory sea foam coloured spandrel. shock!

Photo https://cityhallwatch.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/40-storeys-1335_howe.jpg

From the renders, from way over here in Europe, anyway ...IMO this thing seems uglier than The Mark, which people seem to love hating.