Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Vin]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I think it's the worse park we have. It has a terrible interaction with the street. The formally covered area seems to always have binners with all their shopping carts people smoking and littering. I hope the new park on Richards will be different

The covered area should have been turned into a cafe of some sort. Strict city enforcement would ensure that the weed smokers stay away. Fine the litterbugs.

[osirisboy]

Yes I agree. Would be a great place for a cafe with a patio and music playing. It would give reason for people to come and go and actually use the space.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Vin

Strict city enforcement would ensure that the weed smokers stay away.

Vin, this is Vancouver, so expect the opposite of what you'd wish for.

If anything, the City would enforce a public art component that would be a ham-fisted beatification of pot smokers.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

that park used to be nice. i walked by there today. what a crappy-ass park compared to what it was. tagging was over a fair amount of surfaces. there was a group of homeless people sitting with all their carts etc smoking on the steps under what used to be the covered area. tons of trash all over the place. no more plants in the planters. all that's left are the trees. the city really should restore this back to those photos. it was actually one of the better parks in the city i think, back then at least.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

that park used to be nice. i walked by there today. what a crappy-ass park compared to what it was. tagging was over a fair amount of surfaces. there was a group of homeless people sitting with all their carts etc smoking on the steps under what used to be the covered area. tons of trash all over the place. no more plants in the planters. all that's left are the trees. the city really should restore this back to those photos. it was actually one of the better parks in the city i think, back then at least.

The area is still pretty much dead which makes it ideal for it to turn into the current mess. Wouldn't expect much from renovating the park until more people are around during the day to actually use it. (ie. redevelopment of the Bay parkade and the Canada Post site)

[jollyburger]

Article about repurposing Granville Street into a high tech hub but sounds like pure fantasy at this point.

The DVBIA has studied what is necessary to make Granville Street more appealing to this sector. According to Gauthier, the entertainment district needs more indie coffee shops, restaurants, and retailers.

The DVBIA’s research also indicated that tech companies prefer areas with more health-conscious businesses, such as juice bars and yoga studios, as well as grocery and convenience stores. Workers like drinking establishments that offer a chance to mingle, listen to live music, and sample craft beer.

http://www.straight.com/news/639111/gran...-newest-high-tech-hub?platform=hootsuite

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Article about repurposing Granville Street into a high tech hub but sounds like pure fantasy at this point.



http://www.straight.com/news/639111/gran...-newest-high-tech-hub?platform=hootsuite

It almost seems like what they are saying is that with the influx of tech workers in Telus Garden and the Nordstrom building, the evolution will happen naturally and they will help expedite that transition.

[officedweller]

There's actually a lot of Class B space occupied by tech companies -
Near Hastings (which has the fibre optic cable under it) - UK Building, Royal Bank Building, Harbour Centre
Near Georgia - 725 Granville tenants (not Class B) - Microsoft & Sony Imageworks, plus there are some smaller offices in Vancouver Block

[Metro-One]

I like the idea of having more independent shops on Granville, but why does it always have to be more coffee shops and overpriced craft beer lounges?

Not that I don't dislike craft beer I love it actually.

But some more various independently own entertainment values would be nice too along Granville street.

Again, I use to love the vintage clothes / bizzare button shop that was located underground where the Army and Navy is now.

A movie theatre would be good for the strip as well.

As would more independent unique bars and pubs.

And a couple greasy spoons goes a long way too (and a greasy spoon does not have to equate to shit, here in Japan some of the most famous and sought after restaurants are little mom and pop greasy spoons that people travel across the country to go to because of their unique character).

I know this is too much to ask... but I will still ask anyways

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I like the idea of having more independent shops on Granville, but why does it always have to be more coffee shops and overpriced craft beer lounges?

Not that I don't dislike craft beer I love it actually.

But some more various independently own entertainment values would be nice too along Granville street.

Again, I use to love the vintage clothes / bizzare button shop that was located underground where the Army and Navy is now.

A movie theatre would be good for the strip as well.

As would more independent unique bars and pubs.

And a couple greasy spoons goes a long way too (and a greasy spoon does not have to equate to shit, here in Japan some of the most famous and sought after restaurants are little mom and pop greasy spoons that people travel across the country to go to because of their unique character).

I know this is too much to ask... but I will still ask anyways

Not too much to ask. People have to visualize it, want it, work towards it, and it will happen. Me I'd love to see sort of a "europeanization" - courtyards, terraces, the like...
I think that would attract more people and engender more bars, more entertainment .... oh, and bring the Bon Ton back please.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

More info in this Vancity Buzz article:

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2014/01/155-thurlow-street-west-end-church/


Jan.1 '16, my pics

The site of the former Central Presbyterian Church at the corner of Thurlow and Pendrell Streets in the West End has been cleared. For more info on the project click on the link in my quote above.



Feb.19 '16, my pics

[christmas]

^ Has the proposal changed to this one?



http://churchforvancouver.ca/construction-begins-on-central-presbyterians-new-multi-use-facility/

[Vin]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Yes I agree. Would be a great place for a cafe with a patio and music playing. It would give reason for people to come and go and actually use the space.

Yeah, on top of the expenditure on new parks, funds should also be allocated to existing ones to make them more attractive. The only reason why hardly anyone uses it now is because of the rotting state it is in. Otherwise, with new lawn, better landscaping and maintenance, more folks would use it, especially parishioners from the holy Rosary Cathedral, students fom nearby ESL schools and workers from offices such as the BC Hydro building nearby.

Originally Posted by s211

Vin, this is Vancouver, so expect the opposite of what you'd wish for.

If anything, the City would enforce a public art component that would be a ham-fisted beatification of pot smokers.

That, my friend, is not cast in stone, and people can change things. I don't see the merit in pot smoking, so would be silly for the city to promote it just to ape places like Holland.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

2 11-storey rental projects by ONNI on West Pender between Richards and Homer - 2 separate lots - both currently empty it appears.

http://changingcitybook.com/2016/02/03/424-and-454-west-pender-street/


http://changingcitybook.com/2016/02/03/424-and-454-west-pender-street/


http://changingcitybook.com/2016/02/03/424-and-454-west-pender-street/

See also:
http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/02/03/two-downtown-rental-apartment-buildings-proposed/

I got this in my mailbox today.


Feb.23 '16, my pic

[SpongeG]

oh next to where the funky diner is

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by christmas

^ Has the proposal changed to this one?



http://churchforvancouver.ca/construction-begins-on-central-presbyterians-new-multi-use-facility/

Wow, this project has the complete palette of spandrel colors in existence!

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I got this in my mailbox today.


Feb.23 '16, my pic

These are great little infill projects and fsr between 8-8.5


This would be much more appropriate for along broadway compared to the fsr 3 that we see. I have heard from some that because the sites are small on Broadway that you can't expect high fsr. Well these sites on pender are half the size and they have triple fsr. So I don't get it. Why is Broadway so low?

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Why is Broadway so low?

Because this is Downtown and Broadway is not?

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Because this is Downtown and Broadway is not?

Broadway even though not downtown seems better suited to handle higher fsr? Also seems like a number of projects outside dt have higher fsr than 3. So I don't think that's it

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Because this is Downtown and Broadway is not?

West Broadway is downtown though, a very natural progression