Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Not to mention shadowing on Blood Alley.

Honestly, I think this city's fear of "shadowing" in what are supposed to be dense urban environments is irrational, especially given the fact that short, squat buildings create more street-side shadowing (and block views) than tall, slender buildings. Furthermore, shadowing is irrelevant at night, an equally important time for urban life and vibrancy, both of which are enhanced by greater density.

[officedweller]

What was proposed was pretty severe in terms of shadowing.
They went short and wide, rather than tall and thin.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by jlousa

My gripe with this proposal is the height I feel Gastown proper should stick to it's 75ft limits. Allow more height outside Gastown proper, but not within it.

So, you think the Woodward's towers (which sit in the heart of the Gastown district) tarnished the neighbourhood? I think they did the very opposite, both aesthetically and socially. Indeed, I think they are the single best change to occur to the neighbourhood in decades. More similarly well-executed tall towers on empty lots in the neighbourhood would have the exact same effect and make Gastown/DTES (and by extension the city) an even greater, more interesting, vibrant and dynamic place.

[jlousa]

Woodward isn't within Gastown, it's on the south side of Cordova just outside or it, and it doesn't infringe on the 75ft limit of the national historic designated area. A catalyst was needed to start the revival and more body heat is still needed. I live at Woodwards so I know it's hypocritical of me, but I'd say that yes the Woodward towers as beautiful as they are too tall for the immediate area. Something like 60 W Cordova is much more to form for the area but I'm flexible and feel breaking character could be tolerated outside of Gastown proper. Would have no issue with a tower at the old concord site at 58 W Hastings.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks

Here's the description and rendering.
There are 2 orphaned sites (one next to each building).



and from Changing City Updates:

https://changingcitybook.com/2016/07/16/530-and-575-drake-street/


http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/rezoning/applications/530and575drake/index.htm


http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/rezoning/applications/530and575drake/index.htm

Here's a look at the sites. The two skinny orphaned sites might be candidates for something by Gair Williamson Architects, like the Han Tower or 245 E. Georgia Street.



July 20 '16, my pics

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Woodward isn't within Gastown, it's on the south side of Cordova...

That's a pedanctic distinction. Whether the building is on the north side or south side of Cordova is a merely formal distinction and has no real meaningful relevance to the substantive issue.

Originally Posted by jlousa

But I'd say that yes the Woodward towers as beautiful as they are too tall for the immediate area.

Then I thank god the final result did not reflect your personal aesthetic sensibilities. The Woodward's tower (especially its height and design from top to bottom) is the greatest thing to happen to the immediate neighbourhood, socially and aesthetically. It is one of the primary catalysts for the neighbourhood's recent renaissance, and the vistas it provides from all over the immediate neighbourhood and city (especially as one looks east on Cordova from Waterfront station) are iconic and magnetic for pedestrian traffic, which would not be the case if it was significantly shorter.

It's a building that single-handedly moved the city forward by an important degree, and more buildings like it would continue the progress.

[csbvan]

I think that the Woodwards development is great. The facade aspect is pretty tacked on though. That being said I don't think Gastown needs more Woodwards. Gastown and Chinatown are both booming right now, and the march is moving heavily east into Railtown and getting closer to Oppenheimer Park. These are becoming interesting neighbourhoods with historic buildings and scale. Vancouver finally has an old core that is being rejuvenated. Smaller developments in these areas like inGastown on Cordova are a good scale that keep the rejuvenation moving while blending in fairly seemlessly. There are a lot of areas where Vancouver could go for more height, I don't think it needs to be there.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Wonder if anyone on here is willing to provide some insight on this on...

UDP on July 27.

If I recall correctly, when this site was first reportedly on the verge of redevelopment about six years ago, it was claimed it could only physically support a two-storey structure. So, it is interesting to see it now proposed at three storeys.

For fun, I am still betting this will be the site of the long-sought Apple flagship location.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

So, you think the Woodward's towers (which sit in the heart of the Gastown district) tarnished the neighbourhood? I think they did the very opposite, both aesthetically and socially. Indeed, I think they are the single best change to occur to the neighbourhood in decades. More similarly well-executed tall towers on empty lots in the neighbourhood would have the exact same effect and make Gastown/DTES (and by extension the city) an even greater, more interesting, vibrant and dynamic place.

Agreed that it's vastly better before Woodward's was built, but it's still a dump.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

If I recall correctly, when this site was first reportedly on the verge of redevelopment about six years ago, it was claimed it could only physically support a two-storey structure. So, it is interesting to see it now proposed at three storeys.

For fun, I am still betting this will be the site of the long-sought Apple flagship location.

Think it was back in 2008 when the first proposal went out. Hopefully it isn't Nordstroms 2.0

[urbancanadian]

Originally Posted by connect2source

What ever happened to this rather ungainly concept from 2008 for the rotunda featuring A&F?

Photo By : mallvibes.com

Here is one of the renders. I'm glad this version didn't happen. I'm guessing it'll be pretty nice so I'm excited to see some renders!

[officedweller]

Hopefully the design will leave the Four Seasons with some visibility from Georgia St.

For the new rotunda space -

My guess is Uniqlo (even though the upper mall is high end).
They're opening a 2 level 28,000 sq ft store at CF Toronto Eaton Centre - so Pacific Centre makes sense.

There's a pic of the Toronto store by Kyle Alexander, here:
http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/threads...7#post-1132879

So expect a modernist box with big warehouse loft-like display windows (?) -
should be right up Busby's alley.

Although MGBA (of Vancouver) was Uniqlo's architect of record for the Toronto stores.
http://mgba.com/wp/uniqlo-opens-help-mgba-toronto/
Maybe that was interior design only.

[Vin]

Hey, leave that glass dome alone! It's a downtown Vancouver landmark!

It actually does help make Pacific Centre look brighter and spacious internally.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Agreed that it's vastly better before Woodward's was built, but it's still a dump.

I'd rather what it is now than before when it was a complete slum district before Woodwards was re-built. And I don't think it's a dump: it's a rejuvenated neighbourhood but unfortunately with people from the dump next block coming a visit.

Without the small Woodwards mall as an anchor, this area would still be a slum.

[LeftCoaster]

Woodwards Mall?

[officedweller]

Retail component (atrium) of the Woodwards redevelopment project.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Vin

Hey, leave that glass dome alone! It's a downtown Vancouver landmark!

It actually does help make Pacific Centre look brighter and spacious internally.

Nah, that dome is a big outdated looking waste of space. They can do something exponentially better with that site, plus the Four Seasons hotel podium needs complete renovation too. Kill 2 ugly birds with one stone IMO.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Retail component (atrium) of the Woodwards redevelopment project.

Isn't that about 3 or 4 stores?

[officedweller]

London Drugs and Nester's Market - not sure what else faces into the atrium.

... edit - it has a Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/woodwardsatrium/

[retro_orange]

I heard through the grapevine today that the peachy building at 1188 Cardero (at davie) has a %91 vote in favor of accepting a $37 million offer on their condo building. With only 33 units, that's around 1.12 million per unit. Sweet deal for a bunch of leaky condos! I'm hoping more deals will be done for these terrible high maintenance buildings from the 80's and 90's.

My question now is if the buyer is the same guy who will be restoring the Rogers mansion as a complete redevelopment. any ideas?


from: http://www.6717000.com/callrealestate/images/2014/03/04/1188-cardero-st-7.jpg