Downtown Vancouver Updates

[domusile]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I hope this is a real proposal, and not just a vision or time filler. Honestly, what is the status with this project? i love it and would be so disappointing if this proposal just faded away.

Is this part of Burrard gateway?

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by VanK

Actually yes its Amacon. Purchased the Church site for $21,750,000 and the Back Forty pub site for $10,800,000. Plans for redevelopment is imminent.

That's awesome. Good stuff!! Can't wait to see that get all redevolped!

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

I really hope I am wrong (and please someone correct me if I am wrong), but I think it is about to become a homeless shelter or welfare housing project.

I heard the complete opposite: it's been bought by one of the big players and will have a tower built up behind the facade retained and converted to office and retail. I can't verify that with a source, and my info is a couple years out of date, but I haven't heard of a shelter or non-market housing/hard to house project being the planned use.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by logan5

What's James Cheng's best work in Vancouver? Shangri-La? Let's hope this tower is at least its equal, which at this point isn't asking a lot.

What is bringing me hope are all the recent projects that have been revealed along Alberni and Nelson streets. They are on a completely different level than anything we currently have (and James Cheng is famous for), so hopefully this means that they will have to up their game big time to sell any units for big bucks.

Even then it might be a challenging sell, considering how much traffic noise and pollution that lot has. It is a prominent location, but to be honest, I wouldn't want to live there on lower floors (below 30th floor).

But it is James Cheng we are talking about. We don't know if he's capable of reinventing himself.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Re: 150 Robson Street (former Archdiocese offices), there already is a shelter there and it continues to operate on the third floor. It's been there for decades and predates the presence of all the new condos in the area. The entrance is off of Cambie. When I wait at the #17 bus stop across the street (by the Raffles building) I watch the guys hang out waiting for the doors to open in the late afternoon.

There are always going to be homeless street people in this area as it is a prime panhandling zone. They will sleep in the doorways before they hike out to some shelter far away.

I read all this old stuff keeping in mind that there may be changes in the time that has passed since it was posted:

phesto #7421, pg 372, Downtown Vancouver Updates thread:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=5271568#post5271568

vanciti #1030, pg 52, The Ultimate Vancouver Rumour thread:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=6795780#post6795780

officedweller #9507, pg 476, Downtown Vancouver Updates thread:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=5998843#post5998843

Frances Bula:
http://www.francesbula.com/uncategorized...e-for-shelter-currently-operating-there/

Thank you for the information.

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

I heard the complete opposite: it's been bought by one of the big players and will have a tower built up behind the facade retained and converted to office and retail. I can't verify that with a source, and my info is a couple years out of date, but I haven't heard of a shelter or non-market housing/hard to house project being the planned use.

Thank you. With a funky restauranteur as tenant, that extra wide sidewalk (combined with the heritage facade) would make very attractive patio space. It could bring a nice summer vibe to that end of Robson.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Thank you for the information.



Thank you. With a funky restauranteur as tenant, that extra wide sidewalk (combined with the heritage facade) would make very attractive patio space. It could bring a nice summer vibe to that end of Robson.

It would be great to add even more interesting restaurants and bars to that part of Robson, Red Racer downtown has been a good addition, and being near the Stadium even better. As you say, a patio would be great.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Also, isn't the first public presentation of the First Baptist Church proposal happening this week?

It's happening right now at the church, until 8:00 PM. I just got back from it and it was packed as soon as they opened the doors at 5:00. No cameras allowed and they asked that all cell phones and smartphones be checked at the door. So, I took some notes:

-56 storeys
-550 ft. tall (about 50% taller than Patina judging by the model I saw)
-295 market condos
-425 parking
-FSR 10.88
-480 bike stalls
-75 rental units (at below market rates) in separate 8 storey building on the west end of the site
-connected to Creative Energy steam heat
-Bing Thom is architect

The tower design is inspired by the shape of organ pipes. It's like four pipes sort of glommed together with the bottoms scooped out just like an organ pipe would look. I love it because it's rounded and curvy. It looks to be about the same height as the big tower proposed to the west of the site, which was ghosted into the illustrations I saw. I was told to check heartforthecity.ca for more information but I don't see it posted yet.

[csbvan]

Thank you! Sounds quite exciting. Another 150m+ residential proposal to shake up the skyline. I look forward to the renders

[logan5]

Sounds similar to Jameson House

[csbvan]

Also, I believe the new VAG is unveiled at the end of the month right? This could be one of the best summers ever for proposals.

[osirisboy]

What's with the no pictures. I mean it's a public open house anyone can see it if they want to. Is it just to build hype? Annoying. I would totally sneak in my camera and take pics!!!!

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by csbvan

This could be one of the best summers ever for proposals.

This year is amazing in terms of proposals! I cannot belive what we are current witnessing!!

[mcminsen]

Here's a look at the entrance on Cambie to the men's hostel in the old Archdiocese building.

BTW, if you're ever over by the Back Forty (at Robson and Beatty), take note of the curves that run through the parking lot. It's the old sidewalk and curb that was in use when the old Cambie bridge came down onto Robson Street.




Sept.15 '15, my pics

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

It's happening right now at the church, until 8:00 PM. I just got back from it and it was packed as soon as they opened the doors at 5:00. No cameras allowed and they asked that all cell phones and smartphones be checked at the door. So, I took some notes:

-56 storeys
-550 ft. tall (about 50% taller than Patina judging by the model I saw)
-295 market condos
-425 parking
-FSR 10.88
-480 bike stalls
-75 rental units (at below market rates) in separate 8 storey building on the west end of the site
-connected to Creative Energy steam heat
-Bing Thom is architect

The tower design is inspired by the shape of organ pipes. It's like four pipes sort of glommed together with the bottoms scooped out just like an organ pipe would look. I love it because it's rounded and curvy. It looks to be about the same height as the big tower proposed to the west of the site, which was ghosted into the illustrations I saw. I was told to check heartforthecity.ca for more information but I don't see it posted yet.

Thanks for the report.

It was this tower (or the "birds nest" tower to the west) that wanted to go to 750 feet, since none of the city's viewcones go over the site. But now that all these new towers (i.e., Burrard Gateway, the "birds nest" tower and First Baptist) are being arrested by the city at precisely 550 feet, the city is creating a whole new table top in a different part of the skyline.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Thanks for the report.

It was this tower (or the "birds nest" tower to the west) that wanted to go to 750 feet, since none of the city's viewcones go over the site. But now that all these new towers (i.e., Burrard Gateway, the "birds nest" tower and First Baptist) are being arrested by the city at precisely 550 feet, the city is creating a whole new table top in a different part of the skyline.

Scheiss!!
Oh well, look on the bright side. With the exception of the Trump Twist and Shangri-la, everybody whoops with excitement when a building is allowed past 500 ft.
It could be worse. But that tabletop syndrome is a bit much, and the obsession with viewcones is manic and bizarre.

[ozonemania]

Originally Posted by Klazu

What is bringing me hope are all the recent projects that have been revealed along Alberni and Nelson streets. They are on a completely different level than anything we currently have (and James Cheng is famous for), so hopefully this means that they will have to up their game big time to sell any units for big bucks.

Even then it might be a challenging sell, considering how much traffic noise and pollution that lot has. It is a prominent location, but to be honest, I wouldn't want to live there on lower floors (below 30th floor).

But it is James Cheng we are talking about. We don't know if he's capable of reinventing himself.

The National Post has an article that features a small pic of the James Cheng project on Georgia @ Pender, at least that's what I think it is:



From the National Post

[hollywoodnorth]

WOWZA! .... interesting and potentially very impressive

[Klazu]

That building could benefit from a spire. We need more spires in this city!

[Henbo]

I'm in love with these 4 new proposals in coal harbour, the 2 on Nelson (even though 1 is a description), and the new 160m office building beside trump. I can't wait for the Vancouver diagrams page to be updated or to see a future skyline rendering

[Klazu]

The only shame part of this amazing age is that we are not going to see any new tallest in our city. That would be a crown to remember.