Chinatown Updates Discussion

[red-paladin]

I know some of you think these are kitschy but I would love to live in any of the 3.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I know some of you think these are kitschy but I would love to live in any of the 3.

I agree. I think they look fantastic. I wish we saw more of this scale and design along arterials like Cambia, Main, and Granville.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

I know some of you think these are kitschy but I would love to live in any of the 3.

Maybe a bit of that "kitchiness" is what that neighbourhood needs. Could one say 'funky'? (yesteryear, I know) ... at any rate, I like them

[red-paladin]

Well, they had to build something that would be architecturally compatible. So that was always going to require the 'chinatown-style' balconies, sawtooth faux-multiple building facades, bricks, etc.

I think given that all of those elements were needed, and the density allowed, they are coming together well. 'Real' Chinatown architecture was built by inventive people with not much to work with, building small, packed in buildings with north american massings with a semblance of Chinese tastes to feel like home and to be deliberately exotic to entice people to come in and spend money. So... not much has changed

[urbancanadian]

After almost a year, the proposal for 105 Keefer has been revised. I think this one's by Beedie. Lots to look at:

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...efer/index.htm

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

After almost a year, the proposal for 105 Keefer has been revised. I think this one's by Beedie. Lots to look at:

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...efer/index.htm

From the document:

[CBeats]

Still would be a vacant lot between this building and the Keefer then?

[officedweller]

From Changing City Updates - new rendering of 105 Keefer - at Keefer Plaza across from the Chinatown Parkade:


http://changingcitybook.com/2015/10/...keefer-street/

[AverageJoe]

Went by my decades-favourite Lee Loy Chinese BBQ meat shop a few weeks ago and was told they were on their way out because their building has been bought up for redevelopment.

288 East Hastings Street - DE419659

Endall Elliot Associates has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop this site with a 12-storey mixed-use building. The proposal includes the following:

• 172 units (104 non-market rental/68 market rental);

• 8,779 m2 (94,493 sq. ft.) of floor area;

• 31 off-street parking spaces in 2 levels of underground parking; and

• Building height of 35.5 m (116.5 ft.).

[logan5]

Thanks for posting. Very interesting project to follow.

Corner sites like this are given a density of 7 FSR so the strategy for developers would be to combine as many properties as possible to the corner site. Would still like to see the layouts for the micro units and what the non shelter rate non market rental rates will be (though I already have an idea what they will be).

[logan5]

Maybe we need a Chinatown/DTES thread?

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by logan5

Maybe we need a Chinatown/DTES thread?

You're in it.

[a very long weekend]

Originally Posted by AverageJoe

Went by my decades-favourite Lee Loy Chinese BBQ meat shop a few weeks ago and was told they were on their way out because their building has been bought up for redevelopment.

288 East Hastings Street - DE419659

Endall Elliot Associates has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop this site with a 12-storey mixed-use building. The proposal includes the following:

• 172 units (104 non-market rental/68 market rental);

• 8,779 m2 (94,493 sq. ft.) of floor area;

• 31 off-street parking spaces in 2 levels of underground parking; and

• Building height of 35.5 m (116.5 ft.).

wow, that's a lot of long time chinatown businesses to go down at one time. hopefully they keep the commercial spaces small so that you don't get your typical vancouver retail mix of starbucks, subway, yogurt shop, bank, shoppers drug mart, etc.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Jebby

IMG_4497 by Yellow Fever @ SkyscraperCity, on Flickr

Originally Posted by mcminsen

A couple months later.


Sept.5 '15, my pic

And then another three months. 188 Keefer.



Dec.11 '15, my pics

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Framework site on Pender (no demo yet on old garage)

Framework (231 Pender) is well along now.


Dec.11 '15, my pics

[officedweller]

Thanks!
Lots of progress.

[LeftCoaster]

LOVE the scale, materials and podium massing of these buildings.

Ideal world would see this scale extended all the way along the Hastings corridor to the PNE, complete with Hastings Line skytrain.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

LOVE the scale, materials and podium massing of these buildings.

Ideal world would see this scale extended all the way along the Hastings corridor to the PNE, complete with Hastings Line skytrain.

And down Cambie. And along W. 4th (not going to happen)

[Vancouver_Highrise]

Looks like a local youth coalition doesn't like Beedie's proposal.

“It symbolizes and represents an important piece of history that matters to Chinese Canadians like myself,” said Nicole So, a UBC student who is also part of the Chinatown Youth Coalition, focused on preserving Chinatown’s heritage. She and others are voicing concerns about the proposed development, slated for the corner of Keefer and Columbia.

Preserving a empty parking lot??? I think this would add to the vibrancy of Chinatown..
http://globalnews.ca/news/2431134/va...natown-condos/

[logan5]

There can't be any more than 3 or 4 people in this "Chinatown Youth Coalition". Chinatown has been derelict since before they were born.

Most buildings in Chinatown should be preserved though, but at the same time we need to reach the critical amount of people to reignite Chinatown and the rest of the downtown east side. That means (imo) that densities on the few lots that are appropriate for redevelopment should be significantly higher, which for these smaller lots would mean going higher.

Let's hope that under these current guidelines, we can reach the right critical mass required to re energize the area while at the same time preserving it's architectural character.