Downtown Vancouver Updates

[osirisboy]

I love it! This is why I like when properties are "orphaned" such as that would one on Howe street. Much more interesting than one monolithic continues building

And regarding residential on Granville. That 6 storey building with 105 units just north of davie seems to be fine. Maybe keeping it rental is the key

[a very long weekend]

^ seriously, should be rental. condos = noise complaints, resistance to street festivals, activism against new developments that increase traffic, etc. would be nice without auto space too, and a very deep commercial space instead. vancouver needs every one of those it can get.

[officedweller]

Better rendering from Changing City Updates.
The blade sign on the left of the old Coronet Theatre visually encroaches on the art deco relief.

Add 2 more floors and it really could be an option for Simons.


https://changingcitybook.com/2016/04/27/855-granville-street/

PriceTags has an update too, with a link to floorplans.
Looks like they want high tech office tenants.

https://pricetags.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/855-granville-going-for-tech/


https://pricetags.wordpress.com/2016/04/26/855-granville-going-for-tech/

Originally Posted by officedweller

**********

The former Empire Theatres project has a new (?) website and revised (boring) design.
Looks like they're proposed a level above the old art deco Coronet Theatre?

If it were more like 100,000 sq ft instead of 39,500 sq ft, it could appeal to Simons.

http://www.855granville.com/


http://www.855granville.com/

Existing, from Granville St. Twitter:


https://twitter.com/GranvilleStreet

Previous design, with vertical glass folds:

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

The progress at the Ormidale is steady and very slow. First pic from the front and second pic from the back.


March 2 '16, my pics

Continuing at a snail's pace at the Ormidale on West Hastings just to the east of the Flack Block. I guess you could say it's at grade now.


April 27 '16, my pic

[LeftCoaster]

As always, thanks for the udpates Mcminisen

And thanks for keeping us informed on the Coronet Theatre OD. I don't love the design (don't hate it either, just very blah so far), but anything is better than the dilapidated mess that is there right now.

I doubt Simons would take the space even if the size was right. Midblock anchors rarely do well in North America and I can only imagine with the column layout in that old theatre would be like.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

As always, thanks for the udpates Mcminisen

And thanks for keeping us informed on the Coronet Theatre OD. I don't love the design (don't hate it either, just very blah so far), but anything is better than the dilapidated mess that is there right now.

I doubt Simons would take the space even if the size was right. Midblock anchors rarely do well in North America and I can only imagine with the column layout in that old theatre would be like.

Yeah I agree. They only look suitable for the smaller scale retail shops, cafes or junior-size restaurants. Maybe a scaled-down Uniqlo could be possible, but certainly not large format department stores like Simons. Those ones need to be located in a new shopping mall, like the proposed redevelopment of the general post office.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

July 23 '15, my pic

Originally Posted by mcminsen

April 2 '16, my pic

An update on the tree atop the Eugenia tower down at English Bay. Sprouting some green.



April 30 '16, my pic

[WarrenC12]

Wow, it's alive. Not looking healthy though...

[mcminsen]

The latest issue of the Courier had this notice in it about the Covenant House property downtown.


April 30 '16, my pic

[osirisboy]

Oh wow that's greqt to see those two sites get redone!!!

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

An update on the tree atop the Eugenia tower down at English Bay. Sprouting some green.



April 30 '16, my pic

some of the tree is dead, the Oaks around me are way more green then that now. the tree is half dead, odds are if they bring in an arborist they would say the tree has to be chopped down.

[Infrequent Poster]

I wonder if it being half dead has anything to do with being in a concrete bowl on top of a building? (honest question)

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Infrequent Poster

I wonder if it being half dead has anything to do with being in a concrete bowl on top of a building? (honest question)

I think that it has to do with last summer's drought. A lot of trees this spring don't look so healthy.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Infrequent Poster

I wonder if it being half dead has anything to do with being in a concrete bowl on top of a building? (honest question)

Insufficient nutrients caused by root damage would seem the most likely cause IMO. Perhaps, during the move, the roots were damaged or cut back too much, or there is not enough soil.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Infrequent Poster

I wonder if it being half dead has anything to do with being in a concrete bowl on top of a building? (honest question)

Yes, the main thing about being in a concrete container is that the deepest roots could not reach any moisture when it was allowed to dry out. Mature trees on the street that had deep roots survived last summers drought because they could still tap into some moisture very deep underground.

The Eugenia tree, one of Vancouver's most photographed trees, did just fine all these years until last summer. I think it was simply that somebody forgot to water it. If they replace it we have to wait another 30 odd years to see it get back to this size again.

[osirisboy]

It's ashame the strata allowed the tree to fall into such poor condition.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

It's ashame the strata allowed the tree to fall into such poor condition.

What I'm curious about is if the penthouse unit that has direct access to the tree may be another vacant high end condo which would explain a lack of care. It may have an automatic watering system that stopped working and nobody was there to notice and report it to the strata. Has anyone ever seen lights on in the penthouse?

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

It's ashame the strata allowed the tree to fall into such poor condition.

Doubt it's strata. The tree is only available to the penthouse so I'd imagine that the Griffiths need to maintain it.

[officedweller]

WRT 1166 West Pender:

...

David [Taylor] notes 1166 W Pender's situation is somewhat unique. The 140k SF tower has had the same sole tenant since it opened in the '70s: Canada Revenue Agency, which in 2017 moves to a new HQ at False Creek Flats. Ergo, 1166 W Pender faces total vacancy next March.

The primary motivating factor for Reliance in the deal was the higher density that’s permitted on 1166 W Pender's 18,700 SF site. “You can build a much taller building than what’s there now,” says Dan, noting across the lane at 1133 Melville St, Oxford Properties Group is in the midst of a rezoning application to build a 33-storey tower with 659k SF of office and retail, one of Vancouver’s tallest office buildings (rendered below). “It’s realistic to expect you could get the same height for this site.”

But 1166 W Pender is in fine shape for its age, David stresses, so redevelopment isn’t necessarily imminent. ...

https://www.bisnow.com/vancouver/news/of...mon-02-may-2016-000000-0500_vancouver-re

[LeftCoaster]

That's a bit of a schizophrenic article.

States that 2017 it will be completely vacant but then states that it's in good shape and that re-development is not necessarily immanent.

Sounds to me like it's going to get developed much sooner than I thought. Good news.