Downtown Vancouver Updates

[osirisboy]

It's clear the approach we are using now is just not working! It seems we just keep building more and more housing and it doesn't make a dent in the homeless population. I think vin brings up valid points. And btw it's fine to disagree with someone but just calling them a troll isn't really helpful

For sure more focus on mental health and addiction is needed. Allocating money into those programs versus building housing in coal harbour or yaletown at rates higher per sqft than market housing is ridiculous, for example

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

How are garbage removal and 'being green' related?

Ron.

Originally Posted by Vin

Of course it's related. Nobody associates pollution with being green. People associate "3rd world" with pollution/garbage in the city.

Look at it as a big compost pile.. very green!

Ron.

[Prometheus]

Gregor has been in office since 2008. He promised to end homelessness by 2015. How effective have his policies (and hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars) been on ending--or even reducing--homelessness?

2014:

Homeless population largest in Vancouver's history

Mike Howell / Vancouver Courier/ April 23, 2014

Mayor Gregor Robertson’s promise to end “street homelessness” by 2015 appears to be in jeopardy with data released Wednesday showing Vancouver now has the largest homeless population in the city’s history.

A total of 1,798 people identified as homeless, with 538 living on the street, 1,136 in shelters and 124 of no fixed address residing in hospitals, detox facilities or jail, according to preliminary results of the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count conducted across the region March 12.

The total surpassed 1,715 homeless people recorded in 2010. Such a spike reverses a trend over the past three years that saw the homeless population decrease and hover around the 1,600 mark.

Troubling for Robertson is the 538 people found on the street this year, which is almost double the 273 counted by the City of Vancouver in 2013.

See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/news/homeless-...-s-history-1.981891#sthash.rHgKsGRM.dpuf

2015:

Vancouver's homeless population holds steady

Mike Howell / Vancouver Courier / July 7, 2015

The overall homeless population in Vancouver – whether it be on the street or in some form of shelter – has remained fairly steady over the past six years and the latest statistics released Tuesday show 1,746 people are still without a home.

That’s a decrease of 57 people from the 1,803 homeless recorded in a 2014 count. The number of people living on the street dropped from 536 in 2014 to 488 this year, while people residing in a shelter or temporary housing decreased from 1,267 to 1,258.

“We’ve heard some positive news on a 10 per cent drop in street homelessness in our last count in March but the overall level of homelessness remains about the same as in recent years, which is unfortunate given all the investment and housing that’s opened up for people who are vulnerable,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson, whose goal was to end so-called street homelessness by the 2015 count, which was conducted over two days in March.

See more at: http://www.vancourier.com/news/vancouver...ds-steady-1.1992420#sthash.GOHOaPEn.dpuf

Vancouver mayor blames weather, affordability for failure to end homelessness

Emily Jackson, Metro, Published on Tue Mar 24 2015

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has officially conceded defeat in his pledge to end street homelessness by 2015, blaming the city’s warm weather and lack of affordable housing for failing to end the chronic problem.

Robertson ran – and won – three elections campaigns on a promise to end street homelessness by this year, refusing to give up on the ambitious goal even when street homelessness doubled to 538 people in 2014 after years of progress.

But the unprecedented amount of city money spent on the problem wasn’t enough to meet the growing need for affordable housing without additional cash from the provincial and federal governments, Robertson said at a press conference after he participated in the city’s annual homeless count Tuesday morning.

“It’s obviously a greater problem than we’ve been able to solve by 2015,” said Robertson, who counted 10 people sleeping outside near Commercial Drive.

“It’s a real challenge when people drift to the west where it’s warmer and we continue to get new people on our streets, as well as the housing pressure here in Vancouver.”

See more at: http://www.metronews.ca/news/vancouver/2...ity-for-failure-to-end-homelessness.html

[WarrenC12]

It costs about $60k every year in government services for either homeless people or prisoners. Surely that money can be better spent.

[logan5]

We never see stats on where all these homeless are coming from. How many homeless have migrated to Vancouver vs other cities in Canada. I think there's some truth to what Gregor is saying. Back in the day when Ralph Kline gave Calgary's homeless population bus tickets to go home, instead of going home they all came to Vancouver.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by logan5

How many homeless have migrated to Vancouver vs other cities in Canada. I think there's some truth to what Gregor is saying. Back in the day when Ralph Kline gave Calgary's homeless population bus tickets to go home, instead of going home they all came to Vancouver.

Of course there is truth to what Gregor is saying. That's precisely why no matter how many billions of taxpayer dollars he burns or how many social housing projects he builds all over the city, homelessness will never decline for any length of time. On the contrary, it will likely grow, precisely as it has grown since he has taken office and began implementing his policies of free/subsidized housing.

If you build it, they will come. And that's exactly what they have been doing.

[SFUVancouver]

[Voluntarily deleted by SFUVancouver]

[red-paladin]

Everyone please stay on topic.
Further off topic posts will be deleted.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by wrenegade

Not exactly Downtown, but close enough. Molson has sold its Burrard Street Brewery for an undisclosed amount. While the site is zoned industrial, let the redevelopment speculation begin. lol

Heard there was only one bid submitted too. Definitely a lot of hair on this site with the surrounding land claims, rezoning issues etc...

Originally Posted by logan5

No condo's, and I can't see old style factories being built there. Maybe a Renfrew Station type office park?

An office park immediately adjacent to downtown? Are you kidding? This isn't Dallas...

Originally Posted by Metro-One

When I returned to Vancouver this summer the amount of garbage on the streets and overflowing garbage bins was the most negative aspect of the city that I noticed. And trust me, tourists are noticing as well.

It's really bad eh? I wrote the city a letter last year after a trip back. Their streetside receptacle program is a complete joke. No where to recycle anything but about 4 cans along the front and the garbage is always full.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by the_prof

Thanks for the Sequel 138 photos, mcminsen! Did you by any chance take a photo of the Atira site (41 east hastings), where the bottle depot used to be? I think these two buildings, when done, will help this block finally look more normal.

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I agree, it will certainly help. I haven't taken any pics of 41 E. Hastings yet. I might be up for the challenge, though.

This stretch of Hastings is not a good place to be seen with a camera taking pictures. It's one thing to walk it but when you stop and start taking pics you risk getting harassed and challenged or worse. I always try to be quick, discrete and respectful and I never point my camera at people. Even still, when I was getting a pic today of Sequel from across the street, some big lout became enraged and started screaming and cussing at me and didn't stop until I left. And then when I was in the alley behind Sequel some guy started pestering me with questions about what I was doing and why and was I from the city and on and on. I just said I don't answer questions and carried on. This area is not for the meek.

Now that the police have cleared out the sidewalk vendors I was able to get some shots of the former site of United We Can bottle depot on East Hastings Street.



Nov.21 '15, my pics

[the_prof]

Thank you! Good to know that excavation seems to have started. In a few years this block may look almost normal

[hollywoodnorth]

thanks for the update ... I did not know demo had happened! great news this is happening.

[mcminsen]

Here's an update on 308 West Hastings by Victory Square Park.



Nov.21 '15, my pics

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Here's an update on 308 West Hastings by Victory Square Park.]

Awesome. What is the building next door with the cool curved facade? There is very little of that particular 50s futuristic Googie architecture left in Vancouver. It should be restored to original and finished with a great big neon sign. The chances of that though...

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

Awesome. What is the building next door with the cool curved facade? There is very little of that particular 50s futuristic Googie architecture left in Vancouver. It should be restored to original and finished with a great big neon sign. The chances of that though...

There was some discussion about that building a few months ago (see post below). It's a bit of a mystery. I think it was probably an old art deco facade before it was mostly covered up with the curved thing.

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Here's a pic from May 1974. I'll bet the curved facade covered up or replaced an art deco facade based on the parts that are left to the side of the curved thing.


Source: Vancouver Archives

[Vanville]

312 West Hastings appears to have replaced one or two smaller buildings in 1948. First tenant was Tip Top Tailers.


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploa...6-f3df-442a-8007-e7c38332e617-A61357.jpg
Source: City of Vancouver Archives 371-1150


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploa...a-fc6d-4a66-8779-8ad7cc01928e-A21872.jpg
Source: City of Vancouver Archives 447-334

Note the large signage inside the curved façade. The original main floor had better integration than the current linear form. Be sure to click on the link below the photo & click again to supersize.

I miss the quirky buildings that are quickly disappearing along Vancouver's streetscapes. Their new standardized replacements might be more functional but tend to be visually stagnant (Some of Granville Street comes to mind). Here's another googie from 1948, 450 West Georgia St:


Source: VPL Special Collections. Accession Number: 80816


Source: VPL Special Collections. Accession Number:27909

Conveniently demolished in 2007 by Austeville Properties during a Vancouver civic strike. I felt it complimented the VPL's elliptical design. Today it's a parking lot. Here are the buildings that were next door & now part of the same parking lot:


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploa...5-3d8f-4b70-b8aa-1ca4bee0206a-A73753.jpg
Source: City of Vancouver Archives 779-E09.35

Speaking of interesting old buildings in trouble, what's happing to Pigeon Park? About 10 years ago it was supposed to be restored to its former glory with almost 3 million in incentives from the city & now its falling apart & back up for sale. Sad.


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploa...b-0eec-4e5f-a0d7-e21f95074344-A21880.jpg
Source: City of Vancouver Archives 447-342

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by Vanville

Speaking of interesting old buildings in trouble, what's happing to Pigeon Park? About 10 years ago it was supposed to be restored to its former glory with almost 3 million in incentives from the city & now its falling apart & back up for sale. Sad.


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploa...b-0eec-4e5f-a0d7-e21f95074344-A21880.jpg
Source: City of Vancouver Archives 447-342

Have they not been restoring the facade for months now? The last time I saw the building (summer) they had netting draped over the facade and what looked to be scaffolding behind. That's usually an indication that a facade is being restored. But I have no clue.

Looking at Google, you can see the netting and scaffolding in this May 2015 street view: https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2815806,...qxLyHB7-AaNDeIQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

[Vanville]

[delete]

[Vanville]

That's what I was hoping they were doing to the old Merchant's Bank Building. When the initial scaffolding went up after chunks of the façade starting falling last year it looked like more of a cover to prevent any lawsuits from falling debris.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

here is the building in an old photo before Pigeon Park existed.


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/canadian-pacific-railway-train-crossing-hastings-street


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/canadian-pacific-railway-train-crossing-hastings-street-2

well this explains where that park is tiny and sad, there was no other use for it once the rail line was removed. no use as a road, no use as a building, barely a use for a park, if one can call it that.