Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 665

NewWester · #**13281** Posted **Mar 16, 2016, 8:36 PM**

Haha, I was just about to write that I bet it was just the lights being broken or related to that reno and not like... a grand conspiracy.

Vin · #**13282** Posted **Mar 16, 2016, 9:16 PM**

Glad this is not an "avian problem", but rather a temporary situation for an unlit Hotel Vancouver roof. However, what about the Cathedral Place across the street? Can't remember if the roof had ever been lit up before. Currently it is just as dark. Would be amazing if both the Cathedral Place and Hotel Vancouver green roofs are lit up simultaneously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trofirhen

What is a "green-wash," please?

"Greeen-wash" is a phenomenon whereby "environmentally-friendly measures" introduced only appear to look good on paper but actually have no or minimal benefits.

Jebby · #**13283** Posted **Mar 16, 2016, 10:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

"Greeen-wash" is a phenomenon whereby "environmentally-friendly measures" introduced only appear to look good on paper but actually have no or minimal benefits.

Like electric cars in countries where coal and natural gas are the main sources of electricity.

Prometheus · #**13284** Posted **Mar 16, 2016, 10:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirisboy

So I just emailed them asking about this and here is their response:

Good work and pleasing news. It would also be a perfect opportunity for the hotel to add some well-placed architectural lighting to underscore the more-than-worthy (and now refurbished) heritage façade.

Time (or possibly another simple e-mail) will tell.

trofirhen · #**13285** Posted **Mar 16, 2016, 10:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Good work and pleasing news. It would also be a perfect opportunity for the hotel to add some well-placed architectural lighting to underscore the more-than-worthy (and now refurbished) heritage façade.

Time (or possibly another simple e-mail) will tell.

That might go well if / when the North side of the VAG is finished. If the columns and lions were also lit, they would go handsomely with a freshly lit, elegant, Hotel Vancouver.

BCPhil · #**13286** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 12:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Despite all that, the architects and developers have stated that demolishing the existing building and starting fresh would be easier and more economical:

Source: http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/03/canada-post-redevelopment-vancouver/

...Says the architect.

Of course it would be "easier" to draw a building from scratch than have to figure out and work with what exists. It is just more thinking work than physical work. That doesn't mean it is actually easier and cheaper overall.

The architect might say, "boy would this be easy if I could just draw whatever I wanted", and the developer paying the bills might say, "screw that, I'm not waiting 2 years and paying for 7000 dumptrucks for this thing to come down. Paying you some overtime to think harder is much cheaper."

It's like if you had a serious problem with your laptop. The easiest solution is to just go across the street and buy a new one. It's a lot easier than spending the good part of the day googling and trying dozens of solutions to find the one that fixes your problem. But it's probably not cheaper.

mcminsen · #**13287** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 6:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Previous post here.

Feb.6 '16, my pics

Work continues at 41 East Hastings Street, the old United We Can site. Not much to see from the front but progress is obvious when seen from the back.

The street vendors are back. The other side of Hastings Street was like a recreation of what used to be in front of the United We Can depot (see last pic). I walked through there and there was an off street site for vending booths but it seems like it just spilled over onto the street and there you go. Just like it was before but on the other side of Hastings.

Click on link in post quoted above to see previous pics.

March 16 '16, my pics

mcminsen · #**13288** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 6:43 AM**

A little further to the east are a couple of beautiful restorations happening on a couple of old buildings on East Hastings Street. The first one below is at the NE corner of Hastings and Columbia. I presume it used to be the Irving Hotel as there is now a sign up that probably is a recreation of the original one. The other building that is looking very sharp now is immediately west of the Carnegie Library (last two pics).

March 16 '16, my pics

Prometheus · #**13289** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 7:11 AM**

Thanks for the updates. I have been waiting for some of those blue/green coverings to start coming down. I always love a good heritage restoration, especially when it involves the restoration of a missing cornice, as is the case with the Irving Hotel building.

Spork · #**13290** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 7:26 AM**

Beautiful restorations. Who is paying for all of these? Is there some sort of heritage restoration incentive, company buying them up and restoring them, existing landlords trying to increase rents, or something else at play here?

Prometheus · #**13291** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 7:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork

Beautiful restorations. Who is paying for all of these? Is there some sort of heritage restoration incentive, company buying them up and restoring them, existing landlords trying to increase rents, or something else at play here?

It's some kind of P3 SRO renewal program with the provincial and federal governments.

mcminsen · #**13292** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 9:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

This bull is getting penned in now.

March 10 '16, my pics

Quote:

Originally Posted by city-dweller

Information here

The bull pen at 475 West Georgia Street is getting quite extensive now. Right out to the property lines in all directions it seems. Click on the links in the quotes for more info and previous pics.

March 16 '16, my pics

Jebby · #**13293** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 3:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I'd love to see a vertical extension of the middle building and a restoration of the old facade to close in that gap.

WarrenC12 · #**13294** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 3:44 PM**

So the crowds of binners didn't follow the United We Can relocation to Industrial Ave? Can't say I'm disappointed or surprised with that.

officedweller · #**13295** Posted **Mar 17, 2016, 7:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

The bull pen at 475 West Georgia Street is getting quite extensive now. Right out to the property lines in all directions it seems. Click on the links in the quotes for more info and previous pics.

Yeah, the drawings at the link show removal of the fountains (which they say leak to the underground parkade)
and extension of the restaurant patio (near the alley) out to Georgia St.

The blurb at the link also says the bull will get some greenspace to stand in.

Your shots already show that they've removed the large trees (previously 4(?) but your old pic shows only 2) that were next to the fountains.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

March 10 '16, my pics

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

March 16 '16, my pics

Klazu · #**13296** Posted **Mar 18, 2016, 1:52 AM**

I am not sure if there has been any pictures in here, but they are doing a significant rebuilding of the building where the original Guu restaurant used to be on Thurlow. It was looking really good when I walked by yesterday, and I had not realized that they would be doing such extensive reno there! Anyone know more on that?

entheosfog · #**13297** Posted **Mar 19, 2016, 4:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

So the crowds of binners didn't follow the United We Can relocation to Industrial Ave? Can't say I'm disappointed or surprised with that.

When I used to walk that way home from work I noticed a larger presence of shopping cart pushers after it opened but it wasn't a significant amount. It seems so far out of the way for them to go.

Bankview · #**13298** Posted **Mar 20, 2016, 3:58 AM**

Social Housing Project at Hawkes + Hastings

Project on Hastings near Hawkes

SFU Student Housing @ Victory Square

Strathcona Village

Metro-One · #**13299** Posted **Mar 20, 2016, 4:03 AM**

Wait, are those real palm trees or just some art piece?

If they are real, what an odd / random place to put them!

Those would look so much better near the VCC station entrance along Granville Street.

Bankview · #**13300** Posted **Mar 20, 2016, 4:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Wait, are those real palm trees or just some art piece?

If they are real, what an odd / random place to put them!

Those would look so much better near the VCC station entrance along Granville Street.

Honestly, today was the first time I've ever noticed them. I think they're real?