Downtown Vancouver Updates

[osirisboy]

I don't mind the mall expansion at all. It's way better than that useless dated plaza

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I wonder what's going on at the old Catholic Archdiocese building at 150 Robson Street. There is a demolition notice on the door as well as a stop work order. The interior pic below I got through the glass doors.



Sept.14 '15, my pics

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Here's a look at the entrance on Cambie to the men's hostel in the old Archdiocese building.

BTW, if you're ever over by the Back Forty (at Robson and Beatty), take note of the curves that run through the parking lot. It's the old sidewalk and curb that was in use when the old Cambie bridge came down onto Robson Street.




Sept.15 '15, my pics

I got this in the mail today. Looks like a 30 storey tower will be proposed for the old Catholic Charities building site on Robson with the facade of the old building retained.



Aug.24 '16, my pics

[officedweller]

Thanks.
The site map includes the Back Forty restaurant site - so I guess it's the full Robson Frontage - which would allow them to place the tower on the Back Forty site.

[officedweller]

Here's that zoning height map - Chevron is to the left of the White Spot marked 385':

Originally Posted by officedweller

Marked-up aerial (updated):


http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?wh...UGFuZWxUYXNrJTI0JTI0MSUyMiUzQW51bGwlN0Q=

[SKYSTHELIMIT]

Originally Posted by 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.

As well as their 1st Ave and Clark site. As for the rest of Chevron it is on the market looking for a buyer for its retail side much like the route Esso has gone. 7-11 has acquired the majority of corporate Esso sites in BC with a handover on September 22.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks.
The site map includes the Back Forty restaurant site - so I guess it's the full Robson Frontage - which would allow them to place the tower on the Back Forty site.

Will the old red brick Catholic Charities building be torn down? Excuse me I am unfamiliar with this project.

[officedweller]

Yes

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I got this in the mail today. Looks like a 30 storey tower will be proposed for the old Catholic Charities building site on Robson with the facade of the old building retained.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Will the old red brick Catholic Charities building be torn down? Excuse me I am unfamiliar with this project.

It seems that the proposal is to save the facade. So, I presume that the building behind the facade would be torn down. On the info card that I posted, it's referred to as the "historic Northern Electric Company building".

That would be a big job tearing down that solid old building as you can see the big pillars in one of the interior shots I posted. What I'm wondering is if they will save the mature trees out front. It would be nice if they could also save the rhododendron bushes too but I'm most concerned about the trees. Mature trees in front of a historic facade would work together nicely to preserve a heritage look.

And I'm wondering if there will be a new men's homeless shelter in the development. I think the Archdiocese wanted to keep a shelter at that location because it's been there a long time and there is a need for it. On one hand, some may not like the idea of a homeless shelter in the neighbourhood but it's existence predates all the residential buildings and hotels nearby. If there is one then the homeless might have someplace nearby to go to rather than sleeping in your doorway. From what I've seen and experienced the archdiocese has run a good and orderly operation there.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

It seems that the proposal is to save the facade. So, I presume that the building behind the facade would be torn down. On the info card that I posted, it's referred to as the "historic Northern Electric Company building".

That would be a big job tearing down that solid old building as you can see the big pillars in one of the interior shots I posted. What I'm wondering is if they will save the mature trees out front. It would be nice if they could also save the rhododendron bushes too but I'm most concerned about the trees. Mature trees in front of a historic facade would work together nicely to preserve a heritage look.

And I'm wondering if there will be a new men's homeless shelter in the development. I think the Archdiocese wanted to keep a shelter at that location because it's been there a long time and there is a need for it. On one hand, some may not like the idea of a homeless shelter in the neighbourhood but it's existence predates all the residential buildings and hotels nearby. If there is one then the homeless might have someplace nearby to go to rather than sleeping in your doorway. From what I've seen and experienced the archdiocese has run a good and orderly operation there.

Good points, poured concrete structure would make the historic building a good podium section if they just demolished the part where the tower goes. Before today i never knew the Northern Electric Co. built this building. One of my interests is vintage radios and i know this company was based out of Montreal, I wonder if this was a showroom/service centre.

company info:
http://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_hersteller_detail.cfm?company_id=7806

An example of what they would have sold in those early days just after this was built:

from: http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/northernel_55.html

[csbvan]

Oh great, another tear down except for a tacked on facade.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Oh great, another tear down except for a tacked on facade.

Agreed. I like to call it "Architectural Taxidermy".

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Oh great, another tear down except for a tacked on facade.

There's nothing special to save apart from the facade of this building.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Jebby

There's nothing special to save apart from the facade of this building.

I guess which part of the facade. If it is just the Robson side, that is disappointing, if it is both the Robson and Cambie sides then I can live with that.

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I don't mind the mall expansion at all. It's way better than that useless dated plaza

Why? Does the mall not have enough stores to satisfy your shopping needs?

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by EdinVan

Why? Does the mall not have enough stores to satisfy your shopping needs?

Lol. I'm assuming your joking! I also like having a nice office tower on a downtown corner does that mean there's not enough offices for my office needs?

There are two plazas across the street. One of them is a full city block. Are there not enough dated plazas for your plaza needs?

[Klazu]

Interesting news on past few pages. The Robson project sounds exciting and happy to hear that the brick facade is going to remain. A tower at Robson and Cambie would be great addition to the area.

I have somewhat mized feelings about the Chevron site, mainly due to losing another gas station nearby Downtown. There are examples of integrating gas stations with buildings above them around the world. Is that not possible here, especially if the location has been seeing good business?

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Klazu

I have somewhat mized feelings about the Chevron site, mainly due to losing another gas station nearby Downtown. There are examples of integrating gas stations with buildings above them around the world. Is that not possible here, especially if the location has been seeing good business?

I mentioned that before (probably over a year ago) and someone responded that building codes in BC/Canada would not allow something like that.

Something like this in Brussels (I've also seen it in Germany and Spain):


http://www.pbase.com/image/79510300

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Jebby

I mentioned that before (probably over a year ago) and someone responded that building codes in BC/Canada would not allow something like that.

Something like this in Brussels (I've also seen it in Germany and Spain):


http://www.pbase.com/image/79510300

That building look's like 30's or 40's, can they do that in new buildings there aswell or is this an exception because of it's age? It's likely original to the building. Gas station accidents and explosions are still fairly common.

Here in Vancouver we had a few buildings like that too, Hycroft Towers on south Granville had 2 gas pumps when it was built in the early 50's


from: https://vanasitwas.wordpress.com/2015/11/09/hycroft-towers-service-station/

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

That building look's like 30's or 40's, can they do that in new buildings there aswell or is this an exception because of it's age? It's likely original to the building. Gas station accidents and explosions are still fairly common.

It seems it's still allowed, at least in the UK. This article is from 2002:

Texaco plans to build homes over London petrol stations
http://www.building.co.uk/texaco-plans-to-build-homes-over-london-petrol-stations/1014935.article

Also, this building in London was built in the 90s


http://www.estatesgazette.com/blogs/london-residential-research/2015/08/living-petrol-station/

[Aroundtheworld]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Interesting news on past few pages. The Robson project sounds exciting and happy to hear that the brick facade is going to remain. A tower at Robson and Cambie would be great addition to the area.

I have somewhat mized feelings about the Chevron site, mainly due to losing another gas station nearby Downtown. There are examples of integrating gas stations with buildings above them around the world. Is that not possible here, especially if the location has been seeing good business?

The thing is how much longer are we going to need gas stations? With more efficient vehicles and electric ones coming online, I don't see much need for them anymore.