Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 675

officedweller · #**13481** Posted **Apr 22, 2016, 11:18 PM**

The plan would skirt the CBD, so it wouldn't impact traffic much.
There is already a reserved RoW along West Georgia along the Bayshore frontage.

See thread here:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=129039&page=100

Klazu · #**13482** Posted **Apr 22, 2016, 11:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobLoblawsLawBlog

Ew no the last thing Vancouver needs is more tourists (thankfully there aren't that many to begin with).

I think you are just joking, but it is a major industry and brings in billions of dollars annually. They also contribute to having a busy Downtown experience, which is important for keeping our ghost town what it is known for. Their sheer number also improves our flight connections, so I don't mind them at all.

WarrenC12 · #**13483** Posted **Apr 22, 2016, 11:36 PM**

I love the idea of a streetcar solution that would connect Granville Island all the way to Stanley Park & the West End. But I think it's low on the priority list for the CoV, and not even on Translink's radar. We'll see how much the City pushes after the UBC extension is a done deal (which is still 5-10 years away IMO).

BobLoblawsLawBlog · #**13484** Posted **Apr 23, 2016, 12:12 AM**

Vancouver doesn't have as many tourists compared to Europe. When I was in Split and Dubrovnik, tourists were everywhere and it kinda ruins the atmosphere.

The benefit of tourism is it brings money into the region an places the city on a map. Moderation is key.

WarrenC12 · #**13485** Posted **Apr 23, 2016, 12:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobLoblawsLawBlog

Vancouver doesn't have as many tourists compared to Europe. When I was in Split and Dubrovnik, tourists were everywhere and it kinda ruins the atmosphere.

The benefit of tourism is it brings money into the region an places the city on a map. Moderation is key.

Stay away from the tourist traps and you'll be fine.

mcminsen · #**13486** Posted **Apr 23, 2016, 5:18 AM**

I noticed this sign today at 1311 Howe Street. It seems they want to change the office space in the bottom part to residential.

April 22 '16, my pics

officedweller · #**13487** Posted **Apr 23, 2016, 5:25 AM**

I thought they'd already done that - guess not.
They want to make them ESL student residences.

mcminsen · #**13488** Posted **Apr 23, 2016, 5:44 AM**

Maybe it's phase 2.

CIBT Unveils Fully Furnished Viva Suites for Metro Vancouver’s Education Sector

July 15th, 2015: CIBT Education Group Inc. (TSX: MBA, OTCQX International: MBAIF) (“CIBT”) is pleased to report that it has completed the first phase of renovations to its Viva Tower project which boosted the number of available market rental beds to 90 from the originally designed 35 beds. CIBT is now proceeding to Phase 2 of the renovation which consists of 120 more beds as well as other amenities. Completion of all phases of building renovations will yield approximately 220 beds.

officedweller · #**13489** Posted **Apr 23, 2016, 5:53 AM**

That explains it.

*****

Reliance Properties has purchased 1166 West Pender St:

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/04/21/sold-1166-west-pender-street-vancouver/

which is just across the alley from the proposed 1133 Melville tower by Oxford.

http://www.bing.com/mapspreview?q=1166+West+Pender+Street%2c+&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4

There's half of the site with no view cone restrictions that can go to 550 ft.

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

...

It's a site that can go up to 550 feet under the Higher Buildings Policy
- but looks like it won't b built to the maximum height.

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/guidelines/H005.pdf

mcminsen · #**13490** Posted **Apr 23, 2016, 6:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

More info in this Vancity Buzz article:

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

I think the fence went up around the property some time in the last month or so. I took these pics today:

Jan.1 '16, my pics

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

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 pic

April 22 '16, my pics

retro_orange · #**13491** Posted **Apr 23, 2016, 7:00 AM**

Cool, the render of the new tower looks iffy, I hope the shade of green on the podium will be a warmer and more vibrant tone then the usual...you know. Who owns the Shoppers Drug Mart site on Davie just behind? That site seems like it would work great for a large new development

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcminsen

April 22 '16, my pics

LeftCoaster · #**13492** Posted **Apr 25, 2016, 10:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

That explains it.

*****

Reliance Properties has purchased 1166 West Pender St:

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/04/21/sold-1166-west-pender-street-vancouver/

This one surprised me when I heard it, glad to see it's public now.

Reliance and Stovell have been some of the sharpest critics of the viewcones and height limitations at city hall, leading me to expect any redevelopment of this site to be as tall as possible. However 1166 is not a small building in the Vancouver context and I can't imagine a scenario in the near future where it is economically sensible to knock it down and start over.

Is the purchase then a very long term play, or something akin to to 488 University in Toronto where residential is stacked on top of a renovated office midrise?

retro_orange · #**13493** Posted **Apr 25, 2016, 11:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

This one surprised me when I heard it, glad to see it's public now.

Reliance and Stovell have been some of the sharpest critics of the viewcones and height limitations at city hall, leading me to expect any redevelopment of this site to be as tall as possible. However 1166 is not a small building in the Vancouver context and I can't imagine a scenario in the near future where it is economically sensible to knock it down and start over.

Is the purchase then a very long term play, or something akin to to 488 University in Toronto where residential is stacked on top of a renovated office midrise?

Too bad they removed the formalist 60's facade from 488 university. That would have made it much more appealing even if they punched modern size windows in sections of it to make it more appealing for residential. 1166 W. Pender is a pretty plain and boring 70's tower. A full renovation or demolition Isn't too out of the question. It would not be the first time we have demolished a large fully operational building in Vancouver, thats for sure.

jollyburger · #**13494** Posted **Apr 26, 2016, 12:38 AM**

Would it impact the rent rates for 1133 Melville to have another tower next door? Or do offices not pay that much for water/mountain views?

Vin · #**13495** Posted **Apr 26, 2016, 1:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Reliance and Stovell have been some of the sharpest critics of the viewcones and height limitations at city hall, leading me to expect any redevelopment of this site to be as tall as possible. However 1166 is not a small building in the Vancouver context and I can't imagine a scenario in the near future where it is economically sensible to knock it down and start over.

Aren't we all?

Infrequent Poster · #**13496** Posted **Apr 26, 2016, 1:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

There's half of the site with no view cone restrictions that can go to 550 ft.

Kind of an oxymoron?

officedweller · #**13497** Posted **Apr 26, 2016, 2:56 AM**

Yeah, the half without the view cone restriction still has a limit
- but its the higher buildings limit, not a view cone limit.

They may end up building an office tower or hotel with condos on smaller triangular upper floors.

mcminsen · #**13498** Posted **Apr 26, 2016, 6:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

From the Gair Williamson Architects website - haven't seen this before - narrow lot next to the Scotiabank Dance Centre on Granville.

GW is the same architect as at least one of the narrow Chinatown buildings.

No other info on the website.

Han Tower

https://gwarchitects.squarespace.com/han-tower/

Here are some pics today of the Han Tower site from street level. It looks like the Scotiabank Dance Centre has some windows on the fifth floor that will need to be closed off.

April 25 '16, my pics

mcminsen · #**13499** Posted **Apr 26, 2016, 6:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

https://gwarchitects.squarespace.com/han-tower/

April 25 '16, my pic

LeftCoaster · #**13500** Posted **Apr 26, 2016, 5:21 PM**

^I'm not a huge fan of putting residential on Granville, just seems like a terrible place for it, but I love skinny buildings like this and the flats building in Chinatown.

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Yeah, the half without the view cone restriction still has a limit
- but its the higher buildings limit, not a view cone limit.

They may end up building an office tower or hotel with condos on smaller triangular upper floors.

That's what I was thinking. This could be one of those cool scenarios where the view cones provide us with a more interesting sculpted building.