Downtown Vancouver Updates

[urbancanadian]

Originally Posted by 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.

If they decided to demolish the tower (as opposed to upgrading/building above), would they be required to replace the office space? Or a certain FSR worth of office space? I get nervous seeing residential creeping back into the CBD.

[urbancanadian]

Info on the Bay Parkade site, including the heritage building at 500 Dunsmuir. No way they're breaking ground in 2018 though...

Son of one of Malaysia's wealthiest tycoons planning Vancouver developments

The son of one of Malaysia’s wealthiest tycoons has finished selling the $360-million Trump Tower and is now preparing rezoning applications for the rest of his family’s Vancouver landholdings.

...

Joo Kim said he plans next to develop the $300-million, 15-acre Little Mountain site his family bought from the B.C. government in 2007, with hopes to market the first residential units in spring 2017. After receiving initial city approval in 2013 for his plans to build up to 10 mid-rise towers with 234 social-housing units among about 1,400 new homes at Little Mountain, Joo Kim applied for increased height and density last fall. A public hearing is due this summer.

Simultaneously, Joo Kim is working on plans for a major rezoning at Vancouver’s prime downtown redevelopment site, the block bounded by West Georgia, Seymour, Dunsmuir and Richards streets, on lots mostly owned by his family. He hopes to break ground in 2018 for a large mixed-use development that will include retail, office, hotel and residential units.

He will have to decide how to proceed with 500 Dunsmuir, a large plot that houses a heritage-designated and social-housing-encumbered building. The Dunsmuir Hotel has been vacant since 2013 when impoverished residents were moved to other sites. The developer would have to obtain a permit from the city to demolish or repurpose the building for market housing.

“We are exploring all options with regards to what is the best use of 500 Dunsmuir building,” Joo Kim said.

...

Sam Cooper
May 1, 2016
The Vancouver Sun

http://vancouversun.com/business/local-b...-tycoons-planning-vancouver-developments

[csbvan]

I would love to see a hotel Georgia type remodel of the heritage building to act as a hotel again.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by officedweller

WRT 1166 West Pender:


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

Why does this perfectly fine office building need to get redeveloped while there are so many other worse-off run-down low density structures still standing in the downtown peninsula alone? Sometimes I wonder if we are really a green city. For the demolition of a useable concrete building and getting rid of the fixtures/debris would render our green initiatives become somewhat pointless.

There is nothing green and logical about selective high density lot allocations.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Vin

Why does this perfectly fine office building need to get redeveloped while there are so many other worse-off run-down low density structures still standing in the downtown peninsula alone? Sometimes I wonder if we are really a green city. For the demolition of a useable concrete building and getting rid of the fixtures/debris would render our green initiatives become somewhat pointless.

The dirty little secret that the green industry loves to pretend doesn't exist.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by s211

The dirty little secret that the green industry loves to pretend doesn't exist.

I thought their dirty little secret was that LEED certification is basically a pointless racket and all it does is drive up the price of "green" buildings?

[s211]

Originally Posted by Jebby

I thought their dirty little secret was that LEED certification is basically a pointless racket and all it does is drive up the price of "green" buildings?

Heretic!

[mcminsen]

This sign just appeared outside the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library.



May 5 '16, my pics

[Jebby]

Is that space that is currently office?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Is that space that is current office?

Yeah, I guess the provincial government are relocating? EDIT: It was a 20 year lease.

Vancouver Public Library is showcasing its plans to expand the central library with new community event and meeting spaces, exhibit spaces, a theatre, a reading room and a ‘garden in the sky’ public garden, among other enhancements.

Now on display in the Level 7 foyer of the central library are new floor plans, architectural renderings and models of the iconic downtown building and the upcoming renovations.

Design and planning work is expected to be finished this year. Construction is expected to start in the first half of 2017, with the new space completed by March 2018.

VPL’s central library opened on May 26, 1995 – and at the time, the Library Square project was the City of Vancouver’s largest-ever capital project. Site development partners included the federal and provincial governments.

Levels 8 and 9 of the building were planned to be leased office space for a period of 20 years, after which time they would become part of the library for community use.

Expanding the central library will create a new place for Vancouverites to get together, read, reflect and experience the outdoors in the heart of the city.

http://www.vpl.ca/news/details/central_library_expansion_showcase_-_may_2016

[Jebby]

Any idea how many square feet the space is?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Any idea how many square feet the space is?

43,000 square feet on Level 8/9

During the planning phase of the Central Library it was recommended that an appropriate size of the building should be 440,000 square feet. Due to capital budget constraints at the time, it was decided to construct a building of approximately 390,000 square feet, with approximately 347,000 square feet being immediately occupied by the library. An additional 43,000 square feet of library expansion space would be leased for 20 years.

http://council.vancouver.ca/20101005/documents/a2.pdf

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

43,000 square feet on Level 8/9

http://council.vancouver.ca/20101005/documents/a2.pdf

Thanks!

So it's not that big a loss of office space, and at least it's being put to good use.

The other bright side apart from an expanded library is that the province will likely seek space in AAA space so that should help absorb some of the huge amount of new office space coming online over the next few years.

[Vin]

Hopefully after that the public can access the roof-top garden.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Vin

Hopefully after that the public can access the roof-top garden.

Agreed.

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by Vin

Hopefully after that the public can access the roof-top garden.

I think that's the point. I previously read there are plans for a Cafe on the roof for the public.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Graham_Yvr

I think that's the point. I previously read there are plans for a Cafe on the roof for the public.

They better..

It would be pretty cool to host events on the newly renovated rooftop.

[mcminsen]

At QE Theatre plaza today.


May 10 '16, my pics

[the_prof]

[QUOTE=mcminsen;7437572]At QE Theatre plaza today.


Probably because of this?
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-co...h-theatre-plaza-due-to-lawsuit-1.3570057

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

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

A couple of pics from the back lane behind the Ormidale.


May 10 '16, my pics