Downtown Vancouver Updates

[logan5]

Re Sinclair Centre -

Quote from Frances Bula (Blog)...

Apparently the idea with the Sinclair Centre would be to put a new tower in the middle of the four designated heritage buildings on that block, where the atrium is now. For the Georgia Street building, some kind of tower on the back end built on top of the existing building.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Vin

Please just leave Sinclair Centre alone. It is the various restrictions of this city that owners want to destroy good old buildings to build something larger. There are so many shacks outside downtown to demolish in order to make way for large and tall buildings. The Class B heritage building at Sinclair Centre would be considered a gem if it exists in Metrotown, Broadway area, or pretty much anywhere outside downtown. Even smaller towns and cities would yearn for a building like that and yet we don't mind destroying such buildings as long as Chinatown or OV or Kitsilano or Cambie or Main are kept low density. Same argument goes for St Paul's hospital: the heritage portion needs to be protected at all costs!

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Vin I totally agree with you on that! Also they are going to want another 700,000 sqft so that's more than one building (since they can't build anything large floor plates) I don't see how they can do that without ruining Sinclair

Please make that 3 in agreement !!!!

[mcminsen]

The gardens on the Concord Pacific land in northeast False Creek are well under way for another season. I noticed a lot of Atco trailers have been parked nearby. Perhaps something to do with FIFA Women's World Cup?



May 9 '15, my pics

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by s211

A bit of a non-story, that article.

I'm hearing a lot of frustration with the city regarding this redevelopment project. But which development project these days doesn't have the development community exasperated, I guess.

Here's the report going to Council on the Post Office Building:


http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20150513/documents/cfsc4.pdf

THAT Council advise Bentall Kennedy that it is willing to consider a CD-1 rezoning application to increase the density at 349 West Georgia Street to accommodate additional commercial and residential floor area, with consideration of the following:

1. A minimum of 7.0 FSR of non-residential (i.e. commercial) floor space must be provided and that additional non-residential density (including office space, a possible hotel, and retail/restaurants) over and above 7.0 FSR, may be supported.

2. Market residential (condominiums) can be considered for the site in consideration of the viability of heritage retention, and additional market (rental and/or condominium) housing beyond the amount needed for heritage retention may be considered, subject to an urban design review (massing, shadowing and other factors) and a consideration of other public benefits offerings.

3. The office component of the development should front on West Georgia Street.

4. The height of the development should not exceed the height of the protected public view corridors crossing the site.

5. Design development of the massing of the upper storeys above the original post office building should consider the shadowing impacts, including on adjacent sidewalks, publicly accessible at-grade open spaces and the proposed interior courtyard, and should complement the existing heritage building.

6. The plaza fronting on West Georgia should be a significant addition to the city’s downtown public spaces.

7. A statement of significance for the Post Office building should be prepared to identify the heritage values and character-defining elements of the building and site. The development should respect the significant heritage values of the Post Office building and its site by retaining, conserving, seismically up-grading and protecting it by heritage designation.

8. Staff should discuss with the applicant provision for public benefits to address the impacts of a rezoning within the context of the City’s financing growth framework, which could include but not be limited to heritage retention, density transfers from the heritage amenity bank, childcare, social housing, secured market rental housing, and other on- and/or off-site community facilities or public space.

9. The proposal should comply with the City’s Green Buildings Policy for Rezonings and the Rezoning Policy for Sustainable Large Developments.

10. Consultation should be undertaken with the general public, heritage groups, business groups and other interested parties, prior to submitting the rezoning application.

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20150513/documents/cfsc4.pdf

[logan5]

Library square across the street is 21 stories, so any tower built at the post office I presume would be about the same height. Given the proposed density, a short massive building similar to Telus is in the works? If the existing post office is going to be retained as has been suggested, that would be one massive podium. I wonder if it would be a space for another major retail tenant in the dt core?

[red-paladin]

logan5: Height limits from the same document http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20150513/documents/cfsc4.pdf

The site is zoned Downtown District Official Development Plan, within Area C1, with a
maximum permitted height of 150 feet, relaxable up to 450 feet by the Development Permit
Board. However, there are two view corridors impacting the site limiting the maximum
building height up to approximately 225 feet, except for the southwest corner where a
building up to approximately 285 feet in height could be considered. The site is zoned for a
density of up to 7.0 FSR for commercial and non-residential development.

[logan5]

OK thanks. I didn't bother reading the whole document. Maybe larger floorplates are in vogue now so it could be a shorter building. Very early speculation, plus I'm no expert on these types of matters.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Here's the report going to Council on the Post Office Building:


http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20150513/documents/cfsc4.pdf


http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20150513/documents/cfsc4.pdf

Thanks! I'm so hoping that they can surprise us with a mixed development project that includes, you know it, a mall! This is the final city centre site that has enough space for a large format mall. Actually would be lovely to see a hotel and an office tower block as well. A minimum 7.0 FSR non-residential or more isn't bad at all.

[Klazu]

Now that I live in East Yaletown I walk by the Post Office Building every day. The current building is a huge storage and totally unapproachable. As a result the surrounding streets are completely dead and appalling to walk. They will have to significantly change the building's street presense and I don't know how to achieve that if large parts of the current building would need to be preserved.

The whole building reminds me of buildings around Alexanderplatz in former East Berlin (used to live in the area for five years). There is lots of potential, but lots of the current building will have to go to realize any of that potential.

A large mall would be great, but I am actually hoping that the huge parking lot nearby Stadium Station would see something like that instead. Post Office Building is a bit away from nearby stations.

[NewWester]

How much of the Post Office is really heritage? I mean, other than the two crests on the front and the incorporation of some burnished red spandrel in grids, what else needs to be retaining to capture the spirit of the building?

Given the sheer amount of retail (Granville and Robson, Pacific Centre and Tinseltown) do we really need another mall in the area? I mean, Tinseltown is basically right there and already pretty lacklustre.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Now that I live in East Yaletown I walk by the Post Office Building every day. The current building is a huge storage and totally unapproachable. As a result the surrounding streets are completely dead and appalling to walk. They will have to significantly change the building's street presense and I don't know how to achieve that if large parts of the current building would need to be preserved.

The whole building reminds me of buildings around Alexanderplatz in former East Berlin (used to live in the area for five years). There is lots of potential, but lots of the current building will have to go to realize any of that potential.

A large mall would be great, but I am actually hoping that the huge parking lot nearby Stadium Station would see something like that instead. Post Office Building is a bit away from nearby stations.

The newspapers said they would cut openings into the red granite that rings the building at-grade.

There's precedent for that - they did that with the old Library at Robson & Burrard
- just to the north of the main entrance used to be a solid granite wall.


http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=virg...hid=JN.3F8rWMQAl9w9THqMfJoDJA&ajaxhist=0

[sacrifice333]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

logan5: Height limits from the same document http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20150513/documents/cfsc4.pdf

It's a VERY large site... maybe we'll at least get three towers out of it: Office fronting Georgia, residential tower to 225 and a residential tower of approx. 285...

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Now that I live in East Yaletown I walk by the Post Office Building every day. The current building is a huge storage and totally unapproachable. As a result the surrounding streets are completely dead and appalling to walk. They will have to significantly change the building's street presense and I don't know how to achieve that if large parts of the current building would need to be preserved.

The whole building reminds me of buildings around Alexanderplatz in former East Berlin (used to live in the area for five years). There is lots of potential, but lots of the current building will have to go to realize any of that potential.

A large mall would be great, but I am actually hoping that the huge parking lot nearby Stadium Station would see something like that instead. Post Office Building is a bit away from nearby stations.

Yes, I dread walking by there as well. To me the building holds little heritage value and is just a large warehouse.

It's too bad the parking lot you mentioned is reserved for the proposed art gallery and won't likely be a mall. That would be a great location for it, and can definitely help spruce up the surrounding area and integrate the Spectrum and stadium condos to the rest of downtown.

Originally Posted by officedweller

The newspapers said they would cut openings into the red granite that rings the building at-grade.

There's precedent for that - they did that with the old Library at Robson & Burrard
- just to the north of the main entrance used to be a solid granite wall.


http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=virg...hid=JN.3F8rWMQAl9w9THqMfJoDJA&ajaxhist=0

Would be nice if they can cut up those red granite to use for their development and not necessarily need to preserve the street-fronting walls. Too many restrictions would spoil what can be built there. If it's going to be like the Woodwards development, where only small portions of the original building are preserved, then that would be OK too.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Vin

It's too bad the parking lot you mentioned is reserved for the proposed art gallery and won't likely be a mall. That would be a great location for it, and can definitely help spruce up the surrounding area and integrate the Spectrum and stadium condos to the rest of downtown.

Anything that will drive pedestrian traffic and life to that area will be fantastic. New VAG and maybe a mall at the Post Office Building would help to bridge the area around stadiums to the commercial center of Downtown, expanding the area that is live with people today. I hope it happens!

[city-dweller]

#6 is great to hear:

6. The plaza fronting on West Georgia should be a significant addition to the city’s downtown public spaces.

I would love for the City to expand the amount of public spaces with each development around Georgia between the viaduct and Granville. The post office georgia side is perfect as a plaza that continues the QE plaza across the street. I wish the budget rental and surrounding parcels were redeveloped on the part next to Westside Church with a park/plaza on Georgia.

With all the new office workers nearby, it would enhance the corridor while providing great spots to grab fresh air, lunch, etc.

Eventually, they could even reduce the lanes on Georgia, and widen the crossings. (Depending on the changes to the viaducts and traffic -I will leave that for the viaduct thread.)

Overall, I think the redevelopment of the post office frontage will better connect Granville down to Spectrum including the QE, which feels a bit orphaned from everything.

[Tetsuo]

The CBC and VPL also have somewhat of nice open space plaza ^^^^

[trofirhen]

For the old Post Office site, as large as it is, I could imagine a multi-purpose building (not a supertall) akin in size and scope to The Place Bonaventure in Montréal.


http://www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/touri...tion-hall/place-bonaventure_2030862.html

I'm not saying follow the same design precisely, or have the same dimensions, I am just saying this is a great example of a multi-purpose building that could be adapted the the old P.O. site - a "multipurpose part of downtown Vancouver.
This could all be be "twekaked" and something adapted to Vancouver be built, but it is congruous in height with immediate neighbours (VPL, CBC to name two) and has, in and of itself to become a multipurpose magnet, with quiet hotel rooms apartments, offices, restaurants, bars, and as KLAZU mentioned, enhancing the street presence greatly.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by city-dweller

I wish the budget rental and surrounding parcels were redeveloped on the part next to Westside Church with a park/plaza on Georgia.

Speaking of the Budget Car Rental site (kitty-corner from the Post Office), I've always hoped that when it gets redeveloped that they could have an open plaza on the corner to facilitate the view of the library as you come to it along Georgia. Either a triangular shaped building (leaving the corner open) or one with a curved facade filling out that corner.

[Genauso]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Here's the report going to Council on the Post Office Building:


7. A statement of significance for the Post Office building should be prepared to identify the heritage values and character-defining elements of the building and site. The development should respect the significant heritage values of the Post Office building and its site by retaining, conserving, seismically up-grading and protecting it by heritage designation.

8. Staff should discuss with the applicant provision for public benefits to address the impacts of a rezoning within the context of the City’s financing growth framework, which could include but not be limited to heritage retention, density transfers from the heritage amenity bank

Is the building actually relevant? It feels like someone with a job title and nothing better to spend their time on. I've never heard that building praised, mentioned in histories, or seen it photographed. If it will not be missed, it's hard to declare it significant.

The library across the street, with much less history, is a much bigger attraction. If city council wants to require more money be spent for the sake of design, I'd rather they give carte blanche to create something better like that, than a half-hearted attempt to satisfy a singular irrelevant opinion.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by NewWester

Given the sheer amount of retail (Granville and Robson, Pacific Centre and Tinseltown) do we really need another mall in the area? I mean, Tinseltown is basically right there and already pretty lacklustre.

Condo, office and hotel tower planned for old downtown Vancouver post office
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/05/condo...nned-old-downtown-vancouver-post-office/
BY KENNETH CHAN
12:39 PM PDT, FRI MAY 08, 2015

Bentall Kennedy has outlined the preliminary project scope of its plans to transform the old post office building into a mixed-use development complex in downtown Vancouver.

The 686,000 square foot post office building across from Library Square takes up an entire city block, framed by Homer, Dunsmuir, Hamilton and West Georgia streets. It was built in 1958 and was one of the city’s first significant landmark buildings given its scale and use of International Style architecture. There are seven floors underground, capable of fitting large mail trucks, and five floors above ground.

According to a City of Vancouver rezoning report that will be reviewed by City Council on Wednesday, the building owner and developer plans to build residential, office, retail and hotel uses while maintaining the shell and heritage aspects.

An office tower could be built on top of a portion of the sprawling building along West Georgia Street, although the existing parking lot that fronts the street is slated to become a public plaza. This would also serve to preserve the historic elements and art found along the building’s West Georgia facade.

The street-level granite walls of the building would be modified for street retail and the redevelopment will also consist of separate lobbies for its office, hotel and residential components. The incorporation of a large retailer, in addition to smaller retail units, is also a possibility and would help address the high demand of brand looking to open a presence in downtown.

However, the height of the towers permitted on the site will be relatively restrained, even though the site is within the growing business district of the downtown peninsula. Existing zoning permits heights of up to 450 feet, but two view corridors will cut down the potential height to 225 feet across the site except on the southwest corner (West Georgia and Homer streets).

The incorporation of a residential element to the project is subject to further approval. Residential is currently not permitted due to a 2008 change in city policy that prevents residential projects from cannibalizing on job-creating space within the Central Business District.

In order for condominiums to be built on the post office site, the City has mandated that “a minimum of the permitted commercial density in the zoning should be achieved on the site.”

In 2008, the federal government sold the post office city block to B.C. Investment Management Corporation for $130 million as Canada Post was moving plans to relocate its West Coast hub to a new, state-of-the-art facility at Sea Island next to Vancouver International Airport. The new processing facility opened in September 2014 at a cost of $200 million.

The old post office redevelopment will be a major catalyst for downtown Vancouver’s eastward expansion. New major office towers and cultural institutions have been built or proposed for the eastern fringes of the peninsula, including TELUS Garden and the Vancouver Art Gallery’s relocation to a new world-class building at Larwill Park – just two blocks away from the post office.

The Vancouver Art Gallery considered using the post office building for its new home, but the idea of a new purpose-built gallery was favoured.

Canada Post’s original main processing centre could also be redeveloped in the coming years. The federal government is exploring opportunities to add 1.1 million square feet to Sinclair Centre across from Waterfront Station, and such a plan would likely include adding an office tower above the heritage buildings.

Sinclair Centre consists of four buildings built between 1910 and 1936 and is currently mainly occupied by federal government offices.