Downtown Vancouver Updates

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Nov.1 '16, my pics

1171 Jervis (The Jervis).



Nov.19 '16, my pics

[jollyburger]

Rezoning application open house - 349 West Georgia Street (former Post Office site)
Date and time
November 22 2016, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Fairmont Hotel

http://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/40813.aspx

[entheosfog]

Speaking of the former post office building, the Vancouver Heritage Society hosted a little tour last week of some of the structure and also a preview of the mentioned open house. Here are a few photos from the inside of the building. It's being used for a few movie productions so there was a lot of areas of limits to us:





This was the tunnel entrance that ran to Waterfront station. It has been filled in:

[Vin]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

Thanks! While it's finally done I'm really not impressed with the renovation, does anyone else get a 90's vibe from the steel awnings and window frames?

The new light grey materials clash with the original yellowish concrete, before this renovation i was actually hoping this building would be redeveloped. How much taller could a building go on this site?

Yup, totally dislike the roof. Such a shoddy choice for a historical building. It is the same material used for the reno of The Yale building on Granville/Drake.

Used to look so much better before:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vancouver_-_Christ_Church_Cathedral_01.jpg

Differ from your opinion that the building should go tho. I think every single building pre 1950s should remain, especially the stone or brick ones. We don't have too many of these around. The more modern part of the CBD can always expand outwards, but once the heritage buildings are gone, you don't get them anymore.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Vin

Yup, totally dislike the roof. Such a shoddy choice for a historical building. It is the same material used for the reno of The Yale building on Granville/Drake.

Used to look so much better before:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vancouver_-_Christ_Church_Cathedral_01.jpg

Differ from your opinion that the building should go tho. I think every single building pre 1950s should remain, especially the stone or brick ones. We don't have too many of these around. The more modern part of the CBD can always expand outwards, but once the heritage buildings are gone, you don't get them anymore.

This post was referring to the 70's office building with the renovated lobby and the bull statue. I want the church to stay.

[trofirhen]

Opened SSP, went to this thread, and thought the penultimate one was about Christ Church Cathedral, too !! Liked the old roof better, yes, but glad it was about the bull in the lobby
elsewhere ... (That little building is so, so ... undersized and out of place) ......
May I turn your attention please to the diminutive brick Coastal Church facing Trump Tower. In itself, ultra-modest and humble. (I refer to the church). HSBC on that corner 70s brutalism.
I'd love to see that HSBC tower replaced with something modern and muted, with an elegant arcade leading to the contrast of the quiet urban oasis of that little church.
I know that for the moment it's only a silly Trofirhen dream, but in the upcoming years may play a rather pivotal role on Georgia. Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

I haven't really weighed in on this one, the Erickson building is impressive looking, i wish it was where Park Place is now. I'm glad the church stayed too.

While the steel roof was not part of the original design, having a copper, tin or other sheet metal roof was quite common in the 1880's and 90's as a result of the industrial revolution and was often found on ornate Queen Anne style buildings. It was invented almost 200 years ago now.

This was my rant concerning the church.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by urbancanadian

Are these the four sites you're talking about?



From what I know, all four sites were designated for non-market housing in the 2002 (?) area plan.

RED = 2002 plan calls for 8 fl.; not sure who owns the site.
GREEN = Recently put up for sale by the COV; will be a major development that should mirror Vancouver House in height.
BLUE = 2002 plan calls for 6 fl.; owned by Concord.
YELLOW = 2002 plan calls for 12 fl.; owned by Concord.

Concord has neglected all of it's non-market sites to date, so who knows if or when they will develop their plots. They'll likely try to make some sort of deal with the City to get out of their duties.

This is the info I have. Some could be out of date; I'm sure someone like jlousa would know better. Hope it helps!

The site at the green pin has been sold to Pinnacle:

Controversial Vancouver property sale promises affordable housing
Frances Bula

VANCOUVER — Special to The Globe and Mail
Published Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 10:02PM EST
Last updated Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 10:07PM EST

A controversial piece of property owned by the City of Vancouver has been sold to a local developer for $20-million and a promise to develop tens of millions of dollars’ worth of affordable-housing units.

The city announced on Monday that Pinnacle International Inc. beat three other bidders for the property at 601 Beach Crescent downtown, near the Granville Bridge, with a commitment to provide 152 affordable-housing units.

In exchange, the developer is expected to seek higher density during a planned rezoning process for the property, allowing Pinnacle to build more than the 138 market units allowed there, although it is not clear how large the final project will be.

...

Concord Pacific spokesman Matt Meehan said he could not say anything about the announcement of the sale to Pinnacle because “we have an active lawsuit over the site and it would be inappropriate to make a comment.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/brit...qid=1d8cf2f7-dd00-4eed-b042-1caff2b3fa5e

[EdinVan]

I can confirm that it was approved on October 28, but with a lengthy list of conditions.

Originally Posted by MIPS

I'm hearing rumors that plans for redevelopment of the Pacific Centre dome has been approved.







....well, there goes another landmark.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by bc2mb

A $58 million penthouse is up for sale at Three Harbour Green in Coal Harbour -- a new record for Vancouver: http://urbanyvr.com/inside-58-million-vancouver-penthouse-canada-expensive-condo-ever

Here's how it looks from ground level.



Nov.21 '16, my pics

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by EdinVan

I can confirm that it was approved on October 28, but with a lengthy list of conditions.

I think 'landmark' is a huge stretch for this rather ugly 80's dome thing that wasn't even a part of the original Pacific Centre. The current dome does allow for some open plaza space but I've always found it rather ugly and totally out of synch with the design of the surrounding buildings. Today it looks dated and needs to go.

What's approved is another story, not a huge fan.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by connect2source

I think 'landmark' is a huge stretch for this rather ugly 80's dome thing that wasn't even a part of the original Pacific Centre. The current dome does allow for some open plaza space but I've always found it rather ugly and totally out of synch with the design of the surrounding buildings. Today it looks dated and needs to go.

What's approved is another story, not a huge fan.

Thank you, thank you. I'd like to second your opinion.
The dome was an awkward "add-on" that just didn't 'mesh' with the rest of Pacific Centre, even though being inside a glass dome can be quite nice.
The replacement building cannibalizes plaza space, and somehow clashes with the Pacific Centre design (not that that was ever any award winner, putting it diplomatically).
The building-to-be looks squished-in and has an undertone of "hurry hurry hurry, get your glitzy trinkets while they last." Confining and tacky, catering to the Rolex crowd. Need I say more?

[connect2source]

Totally agree trofirhen! Although the materials look to be of decent quality, the new building looks bulky and awkward, would have been better with more of a wrap-around retail facade on the Howe St. side.

The blank wall on the Howe St side is just weird and looks as though that side of the building is on a laneway vs. a very visible an busy street.

Not lamenting over the loss of the plaza, however, it was made pretty awkward and useless after the dome was added, plus we're getting a refreshed and more usable plaza across the street.

[BodomReaper]

Thanks for the shots of 3 Harbour Green, mcminsen. Probably the best glazing system in the city.

[christmas]

Was this posted before?

1335 Howe by Onni
40fl tall.
http://www.vancouvernewcondos.com/properties/1335-howe-onni-vancouver-downtown/

[Anorak]

I don't think it has, but that building looks odd. That white is very bright and wouldn't last very long in Vancouver.

[dleung]

pretty sure it's just a bad render. My eyes have already been accustomed to adjusting the image per the standard materials

[urbancanadian]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The site at the green pin has been sold to Pinnacle:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/brit...qid=1d8cf2f7-dd00-4eed-b042-1caff2b3fa5e

I think this is one of the worst possible cases for the site (not talking about the affordable housing). Pinnacle is known for their cheap designs, so I think we can kiss goodbye any answer to Vancouver House architecturally. I wonder who the other developers were that were beaten out.

Originally Posted by connect2source

Totally agree trofirhen! Although the materials look to be of decent quality, the new building looks bulky and awkward, would have been better with more of a wrap-around retail facade on the Howe St. side.

The blank wall on the Howe St side is just weird and looks as though that side of the building is on a laneway vs. a very visible an busy street.

I agree that the design could be better, but I think LeftCoaster had hinted that the back part is designed to integrate with planned major upgrades to the Four Seasons hotel. (ie. the parts that look unfinished/out of place won't be visible once the hotel connects to it.)

Originally Posted by christmas

Was this posted before?

1335 Howe by Onni
40fl tall.
http://www.vancouvernewcondos.com/properties/1335-howe-onni-vancouver-downtown/

It's been posted a number of times. The most recent was when I brought up concerns that Onni had taken over the project from Townline and that they are selling "customizable units". Basically, we could be in for another version of The Mark where the building is coated in prominent, random spandrel.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

Thank you, thank you. I'd like to second your opinion.
The dome was an awkward "add-on" that just didn't 'mesh' with the rest of Pacific Centre, even though being inside a glass dome can be quite nice.
The replacement building cannibalizes plaza space, and somehow clashes with the Pacific Centre design (not that that was ever any award winner, putting it diplomatically).
The building-to-be looks squished-in and has an undertone of "hurry hurry hurry, get your glitzy trinkets while they last." Confining and tacky, catering to the Rolex crowd. Need I say more?

I do love this PC glass dome. This year, like other years, they've lit the trees around it for Christmas, and even added a spectacular Christmas tree set up on the plaza. All these little bits of charm would be erased once that bulky hulk of an ugly block of shops is built on the site.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2830803,-...3teqkbjIX7vfPhdpcmSfw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Vin

I do love this PC glass dome. This year, like other years, they've lit the trees around it for Christmas, and even added a spectacular Christmas tree set up on the plaza. All these little bits of charm would be erased once that bulky hulk of an ugly block of shops is built on the site.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2830803,-...3teqkbjIX7vfPhdpcmSfw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I can't say I really love the glass dome, (although I admit it do would well as a conservatory somewhere) ... but I will admit it's a whole lot better than that ugly piece of shit replacement!