Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Feathered Friend]

From the March 8th City Finance and Services Meeting
https://covapp.vancouver.ca/councilMeetingPublic/CouncilMeetings.aspx

4. Contract Award for Central Library Levels 8 & 9 Construction
February 17, 2017
THAT the Committee recommend to Council
A. THAT Council authorize City staff to enter into a contract with Smith Bros. &
Wilson (B.C.) Ltd., for the construction of Levels 8 and 9 of the Central Library,
with an estimated contract value of $12,748,621, plus GST to be funded
through the approved multi-year Capital Budget of $15 million for Central
Library Levels 8 and 9 Expansion project, to be funded from:
(a) $8,500,000 in cash Community Amenity Contributions (CAC) received
from the following downtown rezonings:
(i) $1,445,515 from the approved allocation from rezoning of
225 Smithe Street;
(ii) $4,520,000 from the unallocated balance of cash CAC from the
rezoning of 1151 West Georgia Street;
(iii) $1,910,639 from the unallocated balance of cash CAC from the
rezoning of 535 Smithe Street;
(iv) $623,846 from the unallocated balance of cash CAC from the
rezoning of 999 Seymour Street;
(b) $6,000,000 contribution from the Vancouver Public Library Foundation,
which includes a $2,000,000 contribution from the Federal government
(Canada Cultural Spaces Fund); and
(c) $500,000 contribution from the Federal government (Canada 150
Community Infrastructure Program).
...
ADOPTED ON CONSENT (Vote No. 01817)

http://www.vpl.ca/about/details/central_library_expansion

Looks like the expansion should soon get under way. I think it'll be really interesting to see how the rooftop space turns out.

[osirisboy]

Finally! Didn't the Feds vacate in 2014 and VPL take Over the space then?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Finally! Didn't the Feds vacate in 2014 and VPL take Over the space then?

The province was using it since 1995 on a 20-year lease. The feds will remain in the office tower next door.

[osirisboy]

Ah province not Feds. Regardless they were out at end of 2014 I believe. So it's been a relatively long time sitting vacant

[truenorth44]

Originally Posted by misterchill

More on Shigeru Ban's project

Demolition has slowly begun at 1255 W Pender. Only interior work so far.

my pics:





Overhead views, from my office boardroom next door in the Evergreen Building:

[LeftCoaster]

Exciting, this one has been quiet but it didn't need rezoning as far as I know so it can proceed pending DPB approval, which may have already been given.

Strange no pre-sales marketing or anything like that.

[domusile]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Exciting, this one has been quiet but it didn't need rezoning as far as I know so it can proceed pending DPB approval, which may have already been given.

Strange no pre-sales marketing or anything like that.

http://terracehouse.ca/

[LeftCoaster]

^ Touché

Apparently my income band doesn't qualify me to see ads for it!

[SFUVancouver]

From Vancouvermarket.ca:

Oxford Properties has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to build a brand new infill office building on an underutilized portion of a 59,000 SF lot and existing 22-storey office building property they own at 401 West Georgia (built in 1987) , which runs along Homer Street all the way to Dunsmuir Street on the North, where the new building will be located.

The plan is to build a new 10-storey office building on the North part of the property facing Dunsmuir Street. Details include:

retail and office use on the ground floor and office use on the 2nd-10th floors;
4,654 SF of new retail space
147,000 SF of new office space
Office floorplates of 14,000 – 19,000 SF
6,600 SF of amenity space, 2,300 SF conference centre & 4,300 SF fitness facility
a building height of 139.4 feet
two levels of underground parking accessed from the lane; and
retention of the existing commercial building on the south portion of the site.

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2017/03/22/oxford-planning-new-office-building-on-west-georgia-site/

I like it. It's a refreshing, simple design that should look great if executed well.

[LeftCoaster]

Thanks for the update, here's the DP app as well: http://development.vancouver.ca/401wgeorgia/index.htm

Don't know why Vancouver Market and some of the B+H documentation calls it a 10 storey building, when clearly it's only 9.

Design wise I think it's a handsome building that achieves what it is trying to achieve. Like said before this one will move quickly and begin construction ASAP.

[officedweller]

Thanks!

Looks great - looks English for some reason - maybe being next to the cathedral.

Good to see they are not attaching it to the older building.
That'll create a courtyard between the two (albeit dark).



http://development.vancouver.ca/401wgeorgia/index.htm


http://development.vancouver.ca/401wgeorgia/index.htm

[Jebby]

Love that design.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Thanks for the update, here's the DP app as well: http://development.vancouver.ca/401wgeorgia/index.htm

Don't know why Vancouver Market and some of the B+H documentation calls it a 10 storey building, when clearly it's only 9.

Design wise I think it's a handsome building that achieves what it is trying to achieve. Like said before this one will move quickly and begin construction ASAP.

I assume the 10th is that little square mechanical room on the top of the 9th floor.

They should move BMO to this side and also redevelop the other corner.

[officedweller]

The Georgia side may be harder to redevelop (although the bank pavilion footprint could just go taller and still retain plaza).
- I think it's one of the alternating plazas down Georgia Street.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

From Vancouvermarket.ca:



http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2017/03/22/oxford-planning-new-office-building-on-west-georgia-site/

I like it. It's a refreshing, simple design that should look great if executed well.

From today.


March 22 '17, my pic

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks!

Looks great - looks English for some reason - maybe being next to the cathedral.

Good to see they are not attaching it to the older building.
That'll create a courtyard between the two (albeit dark).



http://development.vancouver.ca/401wgeorgia/index.htm

From today.


March 22 '17, my pic

[mcminsen]

And a couple more angles.


March 22 '17, my pics

[SpongeG]

that looks really good

[logan5]

My guess is that the City is going to ask that the building be set back further from Georgia Street so as to not obstruct the view of the church so much. Which makes sense.

[Vantage]

Originally Posted by logan5

My guess is that the City is going to ask that the building be set back further from Georgia Street so as to not obstruct the view of the church so much. Which makes sense.

Yeah, it definitely imposes on the church quite a bit.