General Vancouver Updates

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Boulevard project in Kerrisdale from GBL Twitter today:


https://twitter.com/GBLArchitects

^^^ officedweller's post is from September 28th.



Nov.3 '16, my pics

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Oct.5 '16, my pics

Citti at 238 West Broadway.



Nov.4 '16, my pics

[a very long weekend]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

not so impressive on the height/density (what's with the goofy setback at the 4th floor to make it look like it's only 3 stories? oh, ww, the precious 3 story neighborhood context), but a very nice job at the street level, with what looks like 5 commercial spaces.

[BobLoblawsLawBlog]

Originally Posted by red-paladin

Thanks for the photos, I think the Containers project came out great.

I thought it looked very cheap. Those colours just look like a post modern comeback gone wrong.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by a very long weekend

not so impressive on the height/density (what's with the goofy setback at the 4th floor to make it look like it's only 3 stories? oh, ww, the precious 3 story neighborhood context), but a very nice job at the street level, with what looks like 5 commercial spaces.

I agree, this area should have 6 floors. If they want they can set back the top 2 or 3 floors to make it look less "imposing" from street level, but 6 floors really ought to be the norm on streets like West Boulevard.

Also, the building just one block down is 4 floors and doesn't have any setback, so there really is no reason why this couldn't have been 5 with the 5th set back to appear 4 floors.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Duke and it's smaller wood frame neighbour, Vya/Portliving(?) on Kingsway just south of Kingsgate Mall.

Oct.25 '16, my pics

Nov.8 '16, my pics

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Jebby

I agree, this area should have 6 floors. If they want they can set back the top 2 or 3 floors to make it look less "imposing" from street level, but 6 floors really ought to be the norm on streets like West Boulevard.

Still better than parts of downtown's Robson, Davie and Denman height allowances. 2 stories is just ridiculous.


And thanks McMinsen, the Kingsway mid-rise concrete tower, Duke is a sight to behold. Hello there!

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Remember this at 2290 Main:



It's now the Ellsworth, according to Changing City Updates:





Source: http://changingcitybook.com/2016/01/28/2290-main-street/

^^^ Prometheus' post is from Jan.28 '16. Here's how the Ellsworth (at 7th & Main) is looking now.



Nov.15 '16, my pics

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Nov.8 '16, my pics

The Duke and Vya on Kingsway as seen from the Kingsgate Mall parking lot and from further south on Kingsway.



Nov.15 '16, my pics

[giallo]

The transformation of the Main/Kingsway area is really something.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by giallo

The transformation of the Main/Kingsway area is really something.

You can't go wrong by densifying with condos of 10 stories or more, along with lots of services accompanying them, like retail, spanning multiple streets. That's how you make a really vibrant neighbourhood.

[BobLoblawsLawBlog]

Also having narrow streets make neighbourhood feel more cozy, this can be done by adding trees, increasing building heights or just cutting on street size.

The mix of heritage buildings also help add character.

[osirisboy]

The fact that they aren't point towers makes it feel more dense and "urban".

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Vin

You can't go wrong by densifying with condos of 10 stories or more, along with lots of services accompanying them, like retail, spanning multiple streets. That's how you make a really vibrant neighbourhood.

With all this new density in Mt. Pleasant, I would hope to see E Broadway filling out the way Main St has. The key is to preserve most of the older affordable retail units. That's where the character of a neighbourhood comes from.

Outside of the peninsula, Vancouver doesn't have 2 vibrant streets that intersect.

[domusile]

Here is a new project at 377 East Broadway

http://synchro.bold.ca/

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logan5

With all this new density in Mt. Pleasant, I would hope to see E Broadway filling out the way Main St has. The key is to preserve most of the older affordable retail units. That's where the character of a neighbourhood comes from.

Outside of the peninsula, Vancouver doesn't have 2 vibrant streets that intersect.

That's why long term planners should stop insisting on only having retail along major streets while designating side streets as quiet residential (such as OV). This model has failed miserably in Vancouver and Burnaby, with certain stretches turning rather sketchy. It also encourages urban sprawl with the focus on personal vehicular use. It would be more walkable for a person shopping in a commercial node than having to go down a long street to run multiple errands. Shopping/service nodes should contain affordable and market units above commercial podiums for the convenience of residents, etc. Broadway/Main/Kingsway is turning out to be like that: not so much due to City planners, but because of the gradual removal of paralyzing restrictions of the past due to market pressure. The City and local residents are still making it difficult for developers, especially when it comes to density and height.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by domusile

Here is a new project at 377 East Broadway

http://synchro.bold.ca/

Thanks, finally something may be happening there. I posted about it last December when I saw a sign on the property. Here are some pics I took last year.



Dec.18 '15, my pics

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

csbvan posted the above pic on June 5th. The little building going up on the former site of Rumpus Room restaurant on Main Street continues to muddle along. For previous discussion and more info on this project, click on the link in my quoted post above.



Aug.23 '16, my pic

In a shocking turn of events, they have now erected a crane at this site:

20161118_222032 by C B, on Flickr

[SFUVancouver]

^ That's crazy!

What will they think of next? Buying materials? Hiring construction workers?

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

^ That's crazy!

What will they think of next? Buying materials? Hiring construction workers?

Woah now, let's not do something crazy here.