Olympic Village & Southeast False Creek Updates Discussion

[nds88]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Oh wow. I walk by this almost daily. I have been wondering for months what it would look like when finished, apparently it was finished this whole time...

Me too. I thought water would come out the top or something. Looks like the pool will just be filled with rainwater??? It will probably be black and moldy in a few months

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if that was the fence they are using. Pinnancle hasn't bothered with the sidewalk on both 1st and 2nd ave, so why would they bother with a proper fence

Yesterday during the heavy rain, I noticed the entrance door to one of the future retail (near those salt piles) had a gutter from the glass cover releasing all the water right beside it (water will go in side when customers open the door, and they will probably get soaked from it splashing on them). So far, I am not impressed by this company.

Does anyone here live in any of these Pinnacle developments? What's your experience inside like?

[nds88]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Someone should be help accountable for such a waste of public money. That looks like 🞵🞵🞵🞵.

Is it actually public money? I thought it was public art, where the developer has to put up the money to pay for something that the general public would enjoy.

[osirisboy]

I walked past it last week and it looked like it's built for water. The fence doesn't look permanent I'd be really surprised if it is.

100k for this is ridiculous. It's a waste of money. I'm sure the city is filled with artists that could do something better for 10k easily

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by nds88

Is it actually public money? I thought it was public art, where the developer has to put up the money to pay for something that the general public would enjoy.

The developer can choose to build art on site or give the cash to the city for public arts. And there looks like there are submerged lights in the "pond" though the cheap fence will probably be kept like the one around Telus Garden's water feature.

[SFUVancouver]

The SEFC ODP notes that retail is permissible in Site 1A (pg 23). I believe that an additional school site is being considered for Site 1A, though this was not included in the SEFC ODP.

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/BYLAWS/odp/SEFC.pdf

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The developer can choose to build art on site or give the cash to the city for public arts. And there looks like there are submerged lights in the "pond" though the cheap fence will probably be kept like the one around Telus Garden's water feature.

Yes it's public money. Instead of making the developer spend it on this art they could pay it to the city instead which can go towards community benifits

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Yes it's public money. Instead of making the developer spend it on this art they could pay it to the city instead which can go towards community benifits

No, as stated above, it must go towards Public Art. It is absolutely the developer's money. There is a minimum amount (1% of construction value for all developments over 100k sq. ft.) which must be spent, but any developer can spend more should they choose (for example Westbank with the LED light at Shaw Tower). The process is facilitated by a Public Art committee, but the art is built by the developer.

Think of Public Art as a requirement not unlike a minimum number of visitor parking stalls (should zoning require them) or a minimum number of bike stalls. Could the building be built without them? Yes. But the city deems that the project as a whole is better by including it. Using the parking requirement analogy again, the developer could parking for parking spots in-lieu should they not be included in the development.

"Public" money would be the DCCs and any CACs that a developer has to pay to the city. If the city thinks it needs more money to pay for public benefits, they could raise those rates (in the case of DCCs, they just did)

[sacrifice333]

I have no doubt that with a little time in our West Coast weather the Salt Piles art will no longer be gleaming white, though I must say I don't have the same contempt for them as many on here.

There's several pictures inside the Vancouver Salt Co. building (aka CRAFT) of salt piles within the building and they look identical to the art piece. I like it. It's very appropriate for the location.

[osirisboy]

My point is that the city ought to have them put that money towards a community benefit. And not spend it on this art.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Yes it's public money. Instead of making the developer spend it on this art they could pay it to the city instead which can go towards community benifits

Many times private firms get things done more effectively and efficiently than if the same funds were to go through the bureacratic City. i.e., instead of 10kg of art work from a private firm, the same fund can probably only procure 6kg worth of the same type of art work through the City, just saying.

In my opinion, good art is community benefit.

In this case regarding the salt piles, I guess the City should not have approved it if it didn't meet aesthetics standards, but then again, what does the City know about art? They should have all public art screened by professional art critiques from institutions like local universities or the Vancouver Art Gallery.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

Many times private firms get things done more effectively and efficiently than if the same funds were to go through the bureacratic City. i.e., instead of 10kg of art work from a private firm, the same fund can probably only procure 6kg worth of the same type of art work through the City, just saying.

In my opinion, good art is community benefit.

That's not the way it works though, the developer is responsible for procuring and installing the art. It's just part of the requirements, like sewer or anything else.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

That's not the way it works though, the developer is responsible for procuring and installing the art. It's just part of the requirements, like sewer or anything else.

The status quo can be changed if there is a will to do so.

Yup, sometimes when things are done a little more differently, there could be better end results. Now we are probably stuck with a pile of boring salt piles that would grow moldy green. For a model Vancouver neighbourhood, this is simply not acceptable. Also, the plaza around this "artwork" is just plain concrete instead of interesting paving blocks to enhance the only commercial area of the entire OV. Being the gateway to the commercial heart, again I find that hard to swallow.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

The status quo can be changed if there is a will to do so.

Yup, sometimes when things are done a little more differently, there could be better end results. Now we are probably stuck with a pile of boring salt piles that would grow moldy green. For a model Vancouver neighbourhood, this is simply not acceptable. Also, the plaza around this "artwork" is just plain concrete instead of interesting paving blocks to enhance the only commercial area of the entire OV. Being the gateway to the commercial heart, again I find that hard to swallow.

So we should change the status quo to make it not privately-run and less efficient?

The bold is funny, save the hyperbole please.

[NewWester]

My first reaction to seeing the Salt Piles in person was one of curiosity about what the deal was and discovery when I figured it out. It engaged my attention and was fun for a few seconds. My day was more interesting for having seen it. I dunno what your metric for art quality is, but I feel like I had a nice art-type experience with this. As a one off thing, I can see the value of the installation.

I kind of like living in a place where there is interesting artwork to encounter and figure out, even if not every piece of it is necessarily my favourite.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by NewWester

-snip-

As a one off thing, I can see the value of the installation.

I kind of like living in a place where there is interesting artwork to encounter and figure out, even if not every piece of it is necessarily my favourite.

Sure, but while a one-off thing is good for the tourists and visitors, it's not-so-good for the residents. The Main Street Poodle is at least liked by the neighbourhood.

[bluefox]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Sure, but while a one-off thing is good for the tourists and visitors, it's not-so-good for the residents. The Main Street Poodle is at least liked by the neighbourhood.

I'm an OV resident and, FWIW, I think the salt pile artwork is a great idea. My only concern is the one shared above; how to maintain it and keep it in great condition. Otherwise, I'm on board. It pays homage to the neighbourhood's origins as an industrial area and to what used to be in the building right across the street, it's eye-catching and it makes you think.

I'm with NewWester and I'll add we don't always have to like art for it to be art.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by NewWester

My first reaction to seeing the Salt Piles in person was one of curiosity about what the deal was and discovery when I figured it out. It engaged my attention and was fun for a few seconds. My day was more interesting for having seen it. I dunno what your metric for art quality is, but I feel like I had a nice art-type experience with this. As a one off thing, I can see the value of the installation.

I kind of like living in a place where there is interesting artwork to encounter and figure out, even if not every piece of it is necessarily my favourite.

Are those all retail units at the base of that tower?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Are those all retail units at the base of that tower?

Yeah, but only a couple of units. Definitely not enough IMO.

[nefc]

Originally Posted by sacrifice333

There's also been no additional work in the former Bone & Bowl location that has reportedly been leased to Bella Gelateria.

Looks like Bella Gelateria is actually happening:

Bella Gelateria –1610 Salt Street – Olympic Village –Opening Spring — on twitter @bellagelateria

http://vancouverfoodster.com/blackboard/

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by nefc

Looks like Bella Gelateria is actually happening:

Bella Gelateria –1610 Salt Street – Olympic Village –Opening Spring — on twitter @bellagelateria

http://vancouverfoodster.com/blackboard/

Tractor on Quebec says Spring too, but the site hasn't been touched yet. Spring 2017 maybe.