Downtown Vancouver Updates

[officedweller]

New blog references the former Wall Financial site a bock away also partly owned by Asia Standard:

https://vanreplaybook.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/vancouver-empire-landmark-to-be-redeveloped/


https://vanreplaybook.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/vancouver-empire-landmark-to-be-redeveloped/

[Bankview]

From MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert's Facebook page.

It appears that the Landmark is being torn down to facilitate the construction of two banal boxes studded with balconies.

[retro_orange]

Ok, now i'm disappointed. I'd love to know what their rationale for tearing down a structure to replace it with 2 that combined are equal size and banality. The cost of demolition must be quite high and take a big chunk out of any profit margin. Why not just renovate and capitalize on the existing landmark status. However it's not locally owned so they don't give an F.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Exactly. This is the most frustrating news I have heard out of Vancouver in years.

Not to play with the name, but love it or hate it the tower is a landmark.

It is a big piece of the Vancouver skyline, and it's loss will be felt.

This is seriously making me angry.

Even if the proposed replacement were taller with better lighting features, I would still be against it, simply because there are so many surrounding lots with two or three storie building that are far less of a waste to redevelop.

Green fucking city indeed.

Just read about same elsewhere and now have popped over here and see that the matter has already been discussed.

Frankly, just couldn't believe it. Unreal.

And yes, totally agree with your sentiments.

Edited to add: That's the 2nd dumbest thing coming outta Van City today! The 1st? Van City will eventually ban natural gas usage within its limits - hot-water tanks, heating, fireplaces, commercial kitchens, etc.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2958288/city-of-vancouver-votes-to-ban-natural-gas-by-2050/

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Just read about same elsewhere and now have popped over here and see that the matter has already been discussed.

Frankly, just couldn't believe it. Unreal.

And yes, totally agree with your sentiments.

Edited to add: That's the 2nd dumbest thing coming outta Van City today! The 1st? Van City will eventually ban natural gas usage within its limits - hot-water tanks, heating, fireplaces, commercial kitchens, etc.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2958288/city-of-vancouver-votes-to-ban-natural-gas-by-2050/

Gregor the Green has decreed it. Our very own Kathleen Wynne.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Bankview

From MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert's Facebook page.

It appears that the Landmark is being torn down to facilitate the construction of two banal boxes studded with balconies.

Nice find.

[osirisboy]

This sounds like a huge April fools joke. Just the stupidest thing ever

That seperate little building on the east side could be built on easily and renovate the tower, seems like that would make more economical sense. They could sell condos on the upper floors for a premium with the views it has at that height.

[csbvan]

As expected. Bland, boring and pointless towers replacing the Landmark when they could build one tower, more interesting, next to it. Maybe West End NIMBYs can actually make themselves useful here.

[SFUVancouver]

That's an unfortunately banal proposal for an important downtown site. With the removal of a significant, prominent tower, and the loss of hotel beds, I had hoped that the replacement would justify, for lack of a better term, the cost. In my opinion, it doesn't.

[LeftCoaster]

Guys the decision isn't made yet. If you disagree with it, send a letter to mayor and council. Believe it or not they actually get read and influence decision.

[officedweller]

1488 Robson Street - DP-2016-00376

Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop this site with a 28 and 30 storey mixed-use building. The proposal includes the following:

• 280 dwelling units (57 social housing units /223 market units);
• retail use on the ground floor and office use on the second and third floors;
• 393,850 sq. ft. of floor area;
• building height of 300 ft.; and
• four levels of underground parking accessed from the lane.

Under the site’s existing C-6 zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board.

To learn more, join us at a Community Open House:

October 11, 2016 5:00 – 8:00 pm
The Listel Hotel – The Impressionist Gallery
1300 Robson Street

The Development Permit Board will decide on the permit at a meeting on:

Monday, December 12, 2016 at 3:00 pm
Vancouver City Hall, 453 West 12th Avenue
Ground Floor, Town Hall Meeting Room

Anyone may register to speak on this item at the meeting. For details, visit: vancouver.ca/dp-board

We welcome your written comments (letter or e-mail) on this development application.
Comments should be received on, or before November 4, 2016, to be considered in the staff review.
However, written comments will be considered up until the date of decision.

Contact: Lisa King, Project Facilitator, [email protected], 604.873.7642

http://development.vancouver.ca/1488robson/index.htm


http://development.vancouver.ca/1488robson/index.htm


http://development.vancouver.ca/1488robson/index.htm


http://development.vancouver.ca/1488robson/index.htm


http://development.vancouver.ca/1488robson/index.htm


http://development.vancouver.ca/1488robson/index.htm

[LeftCoaster]

The white and bronze trim actually looks quit sharp, that said I still don't think I'm supportive of tearing down the existing building.

[Vin]

Thumbs down.

Won't support this unless they double the heights of those towers and put back at least one rotating restaurant on top. The design is rather mediocre and wouldn't look any better than the current Empire Landmark hotel.

[logan5]

You are a different cat. Lover of all things tacky.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by logan5

You are a different cat. Lover of all things tacky.

TBH, we need more tackiness in this city of grey concrete and green glass.

[LeftCoaster]

A rotating restaurant on top of a condo building.

It's like bizarro 1980...

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

A rotating restaurant on top of a condo building.

It's like bizarro 1980...

So make it a yoga studio and juice bar!

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

The white and bronze trim actually looks quit sharp, that said I still don't think I'm supportive of tearing down the existing building.

Which can be built on countless other sites where only 2, 3, or 4 story towers exist all along Robson.

Seriously, this is a landmark tower that has been a key feature of the city skyline for decades.

Can people not see that come 20 or 30 years down the road everyone will look back at this as a major loss?

I am sure lots of people in the 60s gave the same passive reactions to towers that were torn down at the time as I am seeing here for this tower.

Not to mention it will further table top and bore the west end of the skyline. Seriously, it is not even being replaced with a taller structure.....

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Not to mention it will further table top and bore the west end of the skyline. Seriously, it is not even being replaced with a taller structure.....

They should at least attempt to match the height with one of them. I'm curious how much public backlash there will be

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

They should at least attempt to match the height with one of them. I'm curious how much public backlash there will be

The proposed towers are 389.5 and 375 feet. The current tower is 397 feet (121 meters) according to the city diagram here on SSP. So these towers are of similar height to the existing tower.