Downtown Vancouver Updates

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

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.

March 16 '16, my pics

May 10 '16, my pics

[whatnext]

Vancitybuzz article on the library rooftop project:
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2016/05/vancouver-public-library-square-rooftop-garden/

[excel]

This library project is awesome.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

April 22 '16, my pics

The former site of the Central Presbyterian Church at the corner of Thurlow and Pendrell Streets in the West End.



May 11 '16, my pics

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Klazu

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?

Caliburger opening soon.



May 11 '16, my pics

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Caliburger opening soon.



May 11 '16, my pics

seems odd they would renovate that building considering the caliber of the original architecture and materials, like something of an 80's office park. would be a great site to redevelop.

[privatejet]

Does anyone know why the Westbank/Safeway proposal on Davie was yanked from the Development Permit Board and not rescheduled?

[the_prof]

Originally Posted by privatejet

Does anyone know why the Westbank/Safeway proposal on Davie was yanked from the Development Permit Board and not rescheduled?

They tried to pull a fast one (the UDP reversal is very weird). Read this website with a pound of salt though
https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/davie-safeway-dpb-cancelled-udp-vote-reversed/

[LeftCoaster]

A pound of salt indeed, an entire ocean may not be enough.

Anyway looks like this one got pulled to go to a public process. Something this big shouldn't be going through without the public's engagement so I would say if that is what happened it was the right move.

[privatejet]

I had a quick look The UDP minutes have been reposted showing full support. And the commentary is clearly favourable.
There is a question of why UDP minutes are not posted in a timely manner. The recording secretary is a paid city hall staff (unlike the UDP themselves)

A few years ago, I asked the then recording secretary, Lorna Harvey about the issue and was simply told basically that:

" Given my work load, sick days and holidays there can be a lag time between the meeting and the UDP minutes being posted"

[officedweller]

Yeah, those paid sick days really eat up a lot of time.

[Vin]

Regarding Westbank's proposed rental tower project in Gastown. Not sure how tall it's going to be:


https://www.biv.com/article/2016/5/bc-government-buy-eastside-buildings-so-westbank-c/

B.C. government plans to buy two buildings on West Cordova Street that include the New Fountain Shelter and the Stanley Hotel for $2.7 million and then allow developer Westbank to integrate the two to build a tower with 214 rental units as well as street-level retail space.

The new structure is expected to cost $52.8 million to build and is slated to include three storeys with 80 units that will be social housing whereas the remaining 134 units will be market rental suites.

Hotel tenants will be moved to renovated single-room-occupancy hotels and to units managed by Portland Hotel Society, which is the current operator of the Stanley Hotel, in Gastown and the Downtown Eastside.

The Province plans to open a replacement shelter on East Hastings Street for existing clients of the New Fountain Shelter, the government announced May 13.

Heritage elements of both buildings will be restored.

In addition to the new social housing units, the project will include multipurpose space, bicycle storage space, roof decks and gardens, an amenity kitchen and common laundry.

Construction is expected to start in fall 2016 with completion possible by late 2018.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

720 East Hastings Street
http://changingcitybook.com/2013/06/07/720-east-hastings-street/

It’s the new full service Vancouver Public Library branch for Strathcona, which will incorporate family housing on the upper floors to be run by the YWCA. In total the building, designed by DIALOG, will have 21 units including two and three storey apartments.

Originally Posted by mcminsen

The nə́c̓aʔmat ct Strathcona library branch and housing for single mothers and their children. nə́c̓aʔmat ct is an aboriginal name that blends the Musqueam word for "we are one" with the neighbourhood name.

April 12 '16, my pics

nə́c̓aʔmat ct on Hastings (near Heatley) is coming along nicely. I had not noticed the big open space on the ground floor before.




May 17 '16, my pics

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

308 West Hastings

April 16 '16, my pics

They put up the SFU signs. The ground floor retail space is still unfinished inside.


May 17 '16, my pics

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Bankview

Social Housing Project at Hawkes + Hastings

Here are some more pics from yesterday.



May 17 '16, my pics

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Bankview

East Cordova & Main

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Thanks for the pics. Looks like 150 E. Cordova. 61 condos, Christopher Bozyk Architects, developer is PortLiving.



source: buzzbuzzhome

An update on 150 East Cordova Street.



May 17 '16, my pics

[urbancanadian]

Thanks for all the updates as usual, mcminsen. Each of those projects seems to be turning out very nicely.

Originally Posted by Vin

Regarding Westbank's proposed rental tower project in Gastown. Not sure how tall it's going to be:

That should be this development:


https://changingcitybook.com/2015/06/12/stanley-new-fountain-west-cordova-street/

It's certainly an interesting project. But they will need to be very careful to respect the existing buildings, especially how they treat the Blood Alley side, which is very unique for Vancouver.

[officedweller]

I think this is the Blood Alley side of that future Westbank project:

Originally Posted by officedweller

Here's a collection of Vancouver Archives pics from the 1970s when Blood Alley and Trounce Alley were revitalized.
I can't say I've ever been there.

Click on the item list on the left margin for individual pics.

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/area-...nce-alley-maple-tree-square-gastown-days


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/blood-alley-square-and-t-rounce-alley-after-reconstruction-7


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/blood-alley-square-and-t-rounce-alley-after-reconstruction-2

[Vin]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

That should be this development:


https://changingcitybook.com/2015/06/12/stanley-new-fountain-west-cordova-street/

It's certainly an interesting project. But they will need to be very careful to respect the existing buildings, especially how they treat the Blood Alley side, which is very unique for Vancouver.

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think this is the Blood Alley side of that future Westbank project:

Thank you urbancanadian. In terms of design, it is quite generic, but I guess they need to make it plain so that the heritage portion can be highlighted. Still think the design can be a lot better though. In terms of height, I guess it's decent considering it's not in the downtown core, and that this is located in the heritage zone.

With its cobblestone and European alley features, that corner of Blood Alley is one of the nicest alleys in the entire Lower Mainland in terms of urban design. Too bad it has gone scruffy over the decades, as its the DTES after all. Unfortunately, this new development will probably destroy it.

[s211]

Yeah, Blood Alley is a good example why we can't have good things.