Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Vin]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

You both realize there's a huge plaza kitty corner to this right?

It's different, you don't see people relaxing there like this one just outside the mall. Mall is the place where people are drawn to. Also, the glass dome is a very unique feature of this corner, almost like a conservatory, and not seen anywhere else downtown.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

I heard back from the city on Eugenia Place tree situation aka "the Tree at the top of the building in English bay"

here is what they tell me >>

Staff investigated and advise that:

The tree was stressed during the heat spell last spring, when the irrigation wasn’t working.
The tree is being actively monitored by the current property manager.
The tree is not yet dead, and is not a hazard (securely fastened in place).
The tree was part of the landscape plan for the approved development permit; if removed, it would have to be replaced with a substantial replacement tree.
Highly unlikely, but if the strata chooses to do nothing, we would send a letter from the Property Use Group requesting that the dead tree be attended to.

In addition, they have put a note on file for this address so that in the future it does not take several months to gather all of the history and status,



so that's good news I guess.

^^^ quoting hollywoodnorth's post from June 10 '16.


Here's a time line of the tree on top of Eugenia Place down at English Bay.



July 23 '15, my pic



April 2 '16, my pic



April 30 '16, my pic



May 25 '16, my pic



June 13 '16, my pic



Aug.16 '16, my pics

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

^^^ quoting hollywoodnorth's post from June 10 '16.


Here's a time line of the tree on top of Eugenia Place down at English Bay.

Thanks! i was wondering how that tree was doing. As i suspected, it won't make a full comeback after being stressed so much. Time to take it out back and shoot it.

[Anorak]

Originally Posted by Vin

It's different, you don't see people relaxing there like this one just outside the mall. Mall is the place where people are drawn to. Also, the glass dome is a very unique feature of this corner, almost like a conservatory, and not seen anywhere else downtown.

How about this one?

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Vin

It's different, you don't see people relaxing there like this one just outside the mall. Mall is the place where people are drawn to. Also, the glass dome is a very unique feature of this corner, almost like a conservatory, and not seen anywhere else downtown.

Hopefully after the renos of robson square are finished more people will be drawn to that area to relax

It's funny. When this proposal was first floated around years ago I remember everyone was so happy to see this 80s dome and under utilized plaza demolished and turned into retail. now so many seem to love it

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Anorak

How about this one?

Isn't that one going to be torn down for a tower?

[officedweller]

Yup.

[urbancanadian]

^^Yes, but with a much nicer, more welcoming (albeit smaller) plaza.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Renovated Westin Grand Robson St. entrance.
It used to have a more traditional look with marble mouldings framing the doorway.
They seem to have added a couple of plinths for the planters flanking the doorway.

Pic by me today.

Aug.16 '16, my pic

[officedweller]

The structural column between the main entrance and the emergency exit overpowers the flush-mounted limestone on the renovated entrance.

The old milled/molded stone cornice around the door carried more visual "weight" than the reno'd version.

It would have been better if the frame around the main entrance projected out a couple of inches.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The structural column between the main entrance and the emergency exit overpowers the flush-mounted limestone on the renovated entrance.

The old milled/molded stone cornice around the door carried more visual "weight" than the reno'd version.

It would have been better if the frame around the main entrance projected out a couple of inches.

Agreed, this looks poorly thought out.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by officedweller

GBL Twitter says the 225 Smithe rezoning has been approved by council:


http://www.gblarchitects.com/225-smithe-street-rezoning-approved-by-council/

From GBL Twitter -
Reworked 225 Smithe project approved by the Urban Design Panel.

Not sure what to think about the new podium.
It interfaces better with the tower, I think, but looks more/too imposing
(esp. since there are heritage building across Cambie and townhouses across the alley to the rear)

Renderings from the GBL website.
Strange how they have reclad the Law Society Building.


http://www.gblarchitects.com/work/225-smithe-street/


http://www.gblarchitects.com/work/225-smithe-street/


http://www.gblarchitects.com/work/225-smithe-street/


http://www.gblarchitects.com/work/225-smithe-street/

[Jebby]

Not bad. Just hope they use high quality materials and keep the color pallet the same as the renders.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Hopefully after the renos of robson square are finished more people will be drawn to that area to relax

It's funny. When this proposal was first floated around years ago I remember everyone was so happy to see this 80s dome and under utilized plaza demolished and turned into retail. now so many seem to love it

Originally Posted by Anorak

How about this one?

Like Jebby said, that one will be demolished too, and sadly, to be replaced with something more generic.

Coincidentally, I came across this article:

https://www.biv.com/article/2016/8/pacific-centre-redevelopment-sparks-calls-save-pub/

[osirisboy]

225 smithe looks great! Much better than the previous design. I really hope it doesn't get watered down like Telus

[Vin]

I only like the podium of 225 Smithe. The rest of the tower somehow reminds me of the ugly Blue Horizon Hotel on Robson Street.... very tired-looking

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

TERRIBLE NEWS: I love this 109-year old heritage building and have been very concerned about it for some time given its ever-worsening condition as a drug addict/social housing ghetto. And it finally happened: A major fire broke out.



Does anyone know whether a fire of this kind is enough to kill any realistic potential for this building to be restored? It was already in such terrible condition after decades of neglect and abuse. Is this fire the proverbial straw? Or is the damage just enough to create a reason to finally move the occupants out but not too much that it won't be rebuilt? I imagine that in addition to the fire damage (which appears to be extensive but confined to the top floor), there must be considerable water damage on multiple floors. It was the only heritage building left on the 100 West Hastings block that had not been restored and it looked like they were starting to do some restoration on the facade, given the scaffolding and netting. But can this building survive this?

^^^ Prometheus' post is from Dec.20 '15. The wraps are starting to come off and we can see the continuing restoration of the old Regal Place Hotel at 144 West Hastings Street.



Aug.17 '16, my pics

[Prometheus]

Thanks, mcminsen. That's so gratifying to see, with a restored cornice and everything. Looks like things are turning out for the better, for now.

[christmas]

So I heard they are planning to develop 500 Dunsmuir.
Anyone know high this can go?

[BobLoblawsLawBlog]

Hope they don't demolish it