General Vancouver Updates

[squeezied]

Originally Posted by Vin

That's only because developers are never allowed to go really tall in most prime Vancouver lands. For the few sites that do, the towers are, on average, more spectacular - Georgia Residences, Shangri-la, Trump, Wall Centre Sheraton tower, Vancouver House, and the future clusters of taller towers around the First Baptist Church and 1700 West Georgia. The more units developers can sell, the more they can splurge on the design: simple economics.

And on the contrary, I find many interesting looking 30-35 storeys in and around Coal Harbour and Yaletown, but I'm sure they can look even better if allowed to go taller.

You can thank the city who you loath so much for imposing higher architectural standards for taller buildings in the higher building policy.

Profitable developments don't necessarily mean the developer will splurge on design. The market dictates what the developer will splurge on. In a seller's market like now, there's no incentive to splurge on better architecture. Back 10-20 years ago, when the market was more balanced, condos in Coal Harbour and Yaletown needed incentives to attract buyers (larger units, interesting architecture, amenities).

If every condo in downtown will allowed to be 60+ stories, I can guarantee you most won't share similar architectural standards to Shangri-La, Trump, etc...

Obviously you think taller buildings look nicer, nothing wrong with that. You're just incorrect to assume taller buildings will equate to better architecture.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by squeezied

You can thank the city who you loath so much for imposing higher architectural standards for taller buildings in the higher building policy.

Profitable developments don't necessarily mean the developer will splurge on design. The market dictates what the developer will splurge on. In a seller's market like now, there's no incentive to splurge on better architecture. Back 10-20 years ago, when the market was more balanced, condos in Coal Harbour and Yaletown needed incentives to attract buyers (larger units, interesting architecture, amenities).

If every condo in downtown will allowed to be 60+ stories, I can guarantee you most won't share similar architectural standards to Shangri-La, Trump, etc...

Obviously you think taller buildings look nicer, nothing wrong with that. You're just incorrect to assume taller buildings will equate to better architecture.

I don't loath the city. I live in it. Things are changing for the better because people actually push for the changes. If everyone sits back and lets the City decide everything, you won't see the changes happening today.

You're right that profitable projects for higher density/taller structures do not necessarily equate better aesthetics for the buildings, but certainly there is a way higher possibility of that happening than a low-density/low-revenue project. More revenue means the developers can hire better architects. Besides, the reputation of the developer is at stake too, especially for the highly visible and prominent projects.

It is true that many taller buildings look nicer in this city. Not only do they get more attention from the developers and their architectural consultants building them, but also from even the residents and City Council. Same rationale applies to the shorter buildings: less prominent, and thus no one really cares what these "infills" look like. Just look at the ones coming up along Cambie street. In fact, developers don't even bother building anything on very low density areas anymore, thus old crumbly-looking structures remain there forever.

[Vanville]

Gotta love San Fran. Don't know if anybody has posted about this project yet, 1900 Pandora (Pandora @ Victoria). Former site of Terminal City Ironworks, later turned into an interesting film site. Over the last few months most of the movie sets & other buildings have been demolished for a new project by Conwest.


Photograph by: Steve Bosch , Vancouver Sun



Image by me taken last July.




Source: City of Vancouver DE419697

[logan5]

Interesting article about the Mt. Pleasant industrial zone in the Globe. Higher density and less emphasis on "industrial".

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/brit...nges-to-hootsuites-land/article27594862/

[officedweller]

From The Journal of Commerce:


http://journalofcommerce.com/Projects/News/2015/12/PHOTO-Santa-Fe-on-Oak-St-1012032W/

Rental Apartment Building Proposed for Oak Street
Posted on January 22, 2014

The owners of an apartment building on Oak have applied for a development application to redevelop an existing apartment property they own at 2975 Oak Street (at West 14th). The proposal is permitted under the existing RM-3A zoning, but required City approval. The plan includes:
■Heritage designation of the existing structure
■50 market rental units
■A total density of 2.8 FSR

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2014/01/22/rental-apartment-building-proposed-for-oak-street/

[LeftCoaster]

2.8?? That's it?

This is like a 3 minute walk from a future subway station and about 10 minutes from downtown.

[city-dweller]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

2.8?? That's it?

This is like a 3 minute walk from a future subway station and about 10 minutes from downtown.

I live in the area and I w as surprised they didn't go higher. We have a great mix of 3-4 storey buildings strata/rental with towers spaced out among them in the area. This location could have take a bit more height without impacting anyone.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

2.8?? That's it?

This is like a 3 minute walk from a future subway station and about 10 minutes from downtown.

This is Vancouver, after all. So be happy it even rises above 6 floors.

[LeftCoaster]

I could care less how many floors it goes.

I care about properly utilizing land near expensive transit infrastructure, and 2.8 isn't it.

[BodomReaper]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I could care less how many floors it goes.

I care about properly utilizing land near expensive transit infrastructure, and 2.8 isn't it.

Yup, this is the same density (and form) of 1970s Kerrisdale stub towers. We're regressing.

[officedweller]

Another Mt Pleasant project - posted to Changing City Updates:

204 West 6th Ave.


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/12/09/204-west-6th-avenue/

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Another Mt Pleasant project - posted to Changing City Updates:

204 West 6th Ave.


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/12/09/204-west-6th-avenue/

This area is going through a mind boggling change. I get that these aren't huge projects, but there are so many and they are fundamentally changing the area in a way that is almost unparalleled in the region. The crane for Cressey's "Fifth" went up a few weeks ago as well.

On a side note, PC Urban's Lightworks redevelopment (maybe the most interesting in the area with the heritage retrofit aspect) has been getting a whole lot of coverage lately:

https://www.biv.com/article/2015/12/old-industrial-space-retrofitted-modern-tenants/

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/12/mount...l-heritage-reno-become-new-business-hub/

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/com...ment+project+honours/11574494/story.html

[officedweller]

WRT the old MEC site on Broadway.
This is the same architect who designed the micro-loft tower (black with red gaping wounds) for the 7-11 site next to Burrard Gateway.

From July 13, 2015:

NMDA was commissioned by Reliance Properties to design a mixed-use complex in Vancouver, Canada.
-
The 275,000 square feet ground up project entails residential towers and retail spaces. In addition, the project will create a plinth level public park for the city of Vancouver along West Broadway !

http://news.denari.co/07-13-15

http://projects.denari.co/

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

An update on Spot, across from City Hall.

About 6 weeks since the previous update and it is progressing well.



Dec.13 '15, my pics

[csbvan]

Thanks for the pics! I can see the crane from my apartment (and the one at Fifth and Yukon), but haven't walked to check out the progress yet. It is interesting to watch as the two commercial stretches of the Cambie Village begin to converge.

[osirisboy]

What is going on at Yukon and 6th? It's by cressey but all they have on their website is is coming soon.

[mcminsen]

The small old apartment block just to the south of the Spot is going to get some work and have some suites added.



Dec.13 '15, my pics

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

What is going on at Yukon and 6th? It's by cressey but all they have on their website is is coming soon.

http://www.fifthbycressey.com/

A new office building, with, I believe a light industrial ground floor. Yet another redevelopment in the area.

[osirisboy]

Website calls it Yukon and 6th though plus it said its coming soon. Also it's residential

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Website calls it Yukon and 6th though plus it said its coming soon. Also it's residential

Oh interesting. Well, the crane that is up right now is for Fifth. But I guess that they have residential planned a block away. Any of the buildings on the corner of 6th and Yukon look like redevelopment opportunities, but it looks like they are redeveloping the Craftsman collision that is there:

https://www.theredpin.com/new-preconstru...sant-vancouver/vip-presale-registration/