Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Klazu]

It could be a nice redevelopment with an added tower, but the first floor needs a total redesign. That cannot be original??

The Smithe project looks 10x better now. What is this devious trend to push more darker color tones? Blasthemy!

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by BobLoblawsLawBlog

Hope they don't demolish it

I would love to see a density transfer for the tower behind it, and a refurbishment of that building into a hotel like the Hotel Georgia.

[christmas]

If they do add a tower on top, I hope it's not a glass box - regardless of how tall it is.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by christmas

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

No idea how high it can go, all I know is it's owned by the same guys who did the Trump Tower (Vancouver's finest modern building).

I think 500 Dunsmuir has heritage protection, but I seem to recall that it's completely uninhabitable as is and that renovating wouldn't make financial sense. I think officedweller posted something to that effect.

[phesto]

500 Dunsmuir (Dunsmuir House) is owned by Holborn Group. It is part of the forthcoming redevelopment of the Bay Parkade property that entails the whole block except for the office building at Seymour and Dunsmuir and the heritage office building on Georgia.

Dunsmuir House itself will be renovated and retained as SRO units and the density will be transferred off to the rest of the site. It will include residential, office and retail, but don't get too excited: view cones limit the height on the site to between 280-300 feet.

I'm hearing that a full rezoning proposal is coming in 2017.

[officedweller]

New wrinkle in this one (or predictable dispute):

Concord sues Vancouver for trying to sell land intended for low-rise housing

Frances Bula
VANCOUVER — Special to The Globe and Mail
Published Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 9:51PM EDT
Last updated Friday, Aug. 19, 2016 8:17AM EDT

One of Vancouver’s biggest developers is suing the city for trying to sell off a piece of land that was originally intended
for a low-rise housing project when Concord Pacific turned it more than 20 years ago.

The land 601 Beach Cres. was one component of millions of dollars’ worth of community benefits Concord provided through
negotiations with the city as part of the company’s massive redevelopment on the north shore of False Creek.

The site, which the city put up for sale in May, is in a formerly derelict part of town, next to the Granville Bridge.
...

As well, the suit says, the sale will cause Concord “irreparable commercial harm.”

“It was an expressed and/or implied undertaking of the city that the Concord Lands would not be used for development of
high-rise market housing, a use that would compete with Concord’s own development plans for its other lands,” says the suit,
filed by Concord’s lawyer, Howard Shapray.

The lawsuit also asks for an immediate injunction to prevent the sale.

Concord has offered to buy back the land at a fair market price.

The city was accepting offers for the land until last week.

City planning documents say that a building as high as 425 feet could be allowed.

City of Vancouver officials declined to comment on Thursday because the issue is now before the courts.
...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/brit...ed-for-low-rise-housing/article31462394/

Link to Notice of Claim from Frances Bula's blog:

http://www.francesbula.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/CONCORDvsCITY.pdf

Originally Posted by mcminsen

There is this site just east of the Seymour off ramp of the Granville Bridge at Seymour Mews and Pacific Street. I thought it may have been a city owned site that was being held for social housing. But, I saw this for sale sign the other day. Anyone know what's going on with that?


May 30 '16, my pics

Originally Posted by officedweller

It is/was a social housing site.
But I guess it's also the twin "Granville Gateway" site to Vancouver House - 425ft (but Vancouver House is taller).


http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/guidelines/H005.pdf


http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/BYLAWS/ODP/FCN.pdf

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by officedweller

New wrinkle in this one (or predictable dispute):


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/brit...ed-for-low-rise-housing/article31462394/

Link to Notice of Claim from Frances Bula's blog:

http://www.francesbula.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/CONCORDvsCITY.pdf

Umm, somebody remind me again how long Concord has been welching on their obligation to build the NE False Creek Park and collecting commercial revenue from land not zoned for commercial purposes? Hypocrites.

If Gregor had a spine he'd call their bluff and cancel that other gift to Concord, the viaduct removal.

[Vin]

Concord pretty much gave the land to the City for social housing. The City is just too poor to build anything on it.

I can also see now that Concord does not have to bend over to please the City anymore. I wonder if they are donating so much to Vision that they can do whatever they want, including making the City tear down the viaducts.

[officedweller]

West End Co-Op Sells in $40.5 Million Deal

Harcrest Apartments, located at 1055 Harwood Street, is a 3-storey 28-unit walkup building built in 1947. The property was listed for sale earlier in the year. The site was designated under the West End Community Plan to allow a new tower up to 300 feet in height, provided that some of the new building is provided as social housing.

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/08/22/west-end-co-op-sells-in-40-5-million-deal/

[LeftCoaster]

Hmm, depending on how much social housing is required (that's a big assumption) it sold for around $250 PSF buildable. Expensive but not crazy given the quality location.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by officedweller

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2016/08/22/west-end-co-op-sells-in-40-5-million-deal/

There's a 12 story building right across the street, so hopefully this lot gets at least 25 stories approved. Ideally it would have some family sized (3+ bedroom) townhouses at grade.

Edit: There's also a 21 story tower and a 22 story tower on the same block. They are closer to Burrard, though.

[LeftCoaster]

Well current zoning allows for roughly 30 storeys so I would assume they would go for the max.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Well current zoning allows for roughly 30 storeys so I would assume they would go for the max.

Yeah, I just saw the 300ft max. That would be pretty much exactly 30 stories if mechanical penthouse is excluded and they don't put in a tall lobby.

Hopefully they can go that high, but there might be opposition since that end of Harwood is a lot lower than the part closest to Burrard.

[LeftCoaster]

I'm sure you're right that there will be opposition (It's the west end after all) but it will be difficult to oppose a new neighbourhood plan that was recently approved with a lot of consultation. The document has a fair amount of legitimacy at this point, both legally and subjectively.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I'm sure you're right that there will be opposition (It's the west end after all) but it will be difficult to oppose a new neighbourhood plan that was recently approved with a lot of consultation. The document has a fair amount of legitimacy at this point, both legally and subjectively.

That's a good point about the neighborhood plan being set. Should be interesting to see what gets proposed for this plot, hopefully it sets a high standard for new builds in the West End.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Steelwork is now going up on the Grosvenor plaza construction on Alberni Street.

Aug.15 '16, my pics

Update from today.



Aug.22 '16, my pics

[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.

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Aug.16 '16, my pic

Now all they need is maybe a couple of potted plants to deter panhandlers from sitting beside the door. I saw one of the regulars doing that yesterday.




Aug.22 '16, my pics

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by Vin

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/

I can't wait until the minutes from the Urban Design Panel meeting are posted so I can see what the justification was for approving this adomination by Cadillac Fairview. At least one member had the sense to vote against it.

[wrenegade]

Form Retail has listed the Chevron Station on West Georgia for sale (in addition to one on Dunbar) so this means that downtown will be down to 1 gas station in couple years.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by EdinVan

I can't wait until the minutes from the Urban Design Panel meeting are posted so I can see what the justification was for approving this adomination by Cadillac Fairview. At least one member had the sense to vote against it.

That ugly, new, proposed box on the Pacific Centre Plaza is an outrage. Although screaming, yelling, and public manifestations are not The Canadian Way,
if ever there was a time for it, now is it. Demonstrate, sign petitions and kick up some real dust, folks. This is A Royal Fuckup