Downtown Vancouver Updates

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by officedweller

How about a palm tree up there?

I like the palm tree idea, they are certainly more resilient to our dry summers than an Oak. I never understood why they chose a Pin Oak, they aren't a native species so why use it to represent the former tree height. Also Oaks are more susceptible to disease.

I think some type of compact, Bonsai type conifer would be more appropriate. A conifer will more easily adapt to being in a container and would be easier to maintain and last longer.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

I like the palm tree idea, they are certainly more resilient to our dry summers than an Oak. I never understood why they chose a Pin Oak, they aren't a native species so why use it to represent the former tree height. Also Oaks are more susceptible to disease.

I think some type of compact, Bonsai type conifer would be more appropriate. A conifer will more easily adapt to being in a container and would be easier to maintain and last longer.

Palms would actually work well given how manageable they are.

If they really want to go with an oak tree why don't they ever plant Gary Oaks? You know, the Oak tree that is actually native to the PNW and is adapted to summer droughts?

[Feathered Friend]

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There's not a lot to say about this on; it's under the West End Community Plan and seems to max out it's potential. I think it's a good colour scheme, and that it will complement the buildings proposed for the current Empire Hotel site.

[hollywoodnorth]

- I doubt they can close the alley at 400 Georgia due to the loading needs of the theater in that alley.

- glad the city is sticking it to the people who killed that iconic tree. looks like the cost will be 554K ,,,, lol

"Strata documents obtained by CTV show the owners of the building's condos have no choice in the matter. The city's building permit was contingent on having a rooftop tree, so owners will have to pay about $35,000 per unit for its replacement." hahahahahaha

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/554k-price-tag-to-replace-iconic-tree-at-top-of-condo-building-1.3401073

[Rico]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

-

- glad the city is sticking it to the people who killed that iconic tree. looks like the cost will be 554K ,,,, lol

"Strata documents obtained by CTV show the owners of the building's condos have no choice in the matter. The city's building permit was contingent on having a rooftop tree, so owners will have to pay about $35,000 per unit for its replacement." hahahahahaha

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/554k-price-tag-to-replace-iconic-tree-at-top-of-condo-building-1.3401073

That cost is staggering. Seems it would be cheeper to ask Vancouver to close the road and seawall for an hour over a couple of days and use a heavy lift helicopter to sling everything in and out.

[Vin]

That's daylight robbery....half a million for one tree. Hmmmm

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

if i loved in that building, i would be so god damned pissed at the penthouse owner. they should have to pay for the thing for letting it die.

[mcminsen]

I'm really glad to hear about the Eugenia tree replacement. Especially because it's going to be a mature 25 foot tree. I was worried that it might be a little tree that would take another 25 years to get big again.

Ultimately it could be the property manager that was responsible for the neglect of the tree. It might have been "common property" that the penthouse owner is not responsible for. If the building manager knew the penthouse owner was absent they should have made sure the tree was taken care of. It would have been interesting to be at their recent strata meetings. I'm sure the owners can afford it though.

[Jebby]

What exactly happened to the tree? Was it drought or disease?

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Jebby

What exactly happened to the tree? Was it drought or disease?

idunno
Registered User



I noticed the guys on the roof this morning and the distinct lack of tree.

Didn't the tree die because the watering system was broken for a few months in the summer 2 years ago and nobody in the building noticed?

According to my realtor friend, the owner of the two floor penthouse is a Mexican diplomat who is only around a couple of weeks per year.

'Twas the global economy that killed it.

[jlousa]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I'm sure the owners can afford it though.

What a weird thing to say I'm sure not all those unit owners are rich, and a $35k hit for nothing in return is a tough pill to swallow even for an upper middle class family. I'm glad to see the tree replaced but I feel for the average owner there who had no fault in the situation.

[osirisboy]

I would be pissed off at the strata. The maintenance of the tree is the stratas responsibility. If I was an owner I would be looking at sueing the strata and/or management company for negligence. I know stratas are liable if they fail in upkeeping of a property...

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

'Twas the global economy that killed it.

Anyone who owns a property they visit only a few weeks a year has a caretaker. But that still doesn't answer the question, what exactly killed the tree?

And I highly doubt it's a Mexican diplomat who owns it. If he can afford to buy a place like that, he's not a Mexican civil servant. And if he's been a diplomat, it's a political appointee who would not serve under more than one president.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Anyone who owns a property they visit only a few weeks a year has a caretaker. But that still doesn't answer the question, what exactly killed the tree?

And I highly doubt it's a Mexican diplomat who owns it. If he can afford to buy a place like that, he's not a Mexican civil servant. And if he's been a diplomat, it's a political appointee who would not serve under more than one president.

Probably lack of water during the months long drought of the summer of 2015. Here are some pics. Note the dates. My guess is that they wanted to give it another spring (this year) to see if it would come back any better than it did last summer (which was not very much).



July 23 '15, my pic



April 2 '16, my pic



April 30 '16, my pic



May 25 '16, my pic



June 13 '16, my pic



Aug.16 '16, my pics

[Marshal]

A few points from memory:
1. They chose a Pin Oak because that was botanically the best species option for those conditions.
2. It was a condition of the building permit; meaning the Strata took the responsibility communally.
3. If you bought into the building, you knew the condition and the potential for a possible replacement. There was no long term guarantee the thing would live out a full lifespan.
4. The Strata managed the care. But no particular owner can be upset with the Strata (unless they can prove negligence) . . . the owners are the Strata after-all.
5. The owners can be angry all they want, and that is a ridiculous cost, but the smallest units in that building are 1/2 floors . . . they 'can' afford it.

and,

Latin America has a long tradition of very wealthy and famous diplomats. Some, very wealthy. Many famous authors and intellectuals including Nobel Laureates.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Anyone who owns a property they visit only a few weeks a year has a caretaker. But that still doesn't answer the question, what exactly killed the tree?

And I highly doubt it's a Mexican diplomat who owns it. If he can afford to buy a place like that, he's not a Mexican civil servant. And if he's been a diplomat, it's a political appointee who would not serve under more than one president.

If the city is forcing them to replace it, what killed it should be publicly available.

This is just one of those hidden costs condo owners are never really aware of. I often wonder what the hidden costs of some of the more "adventurous" designs will be that prospective owners have no clue about.

[SpongeG]

an article from a few years ago http://www.jpmtree.com/images/sides/JPM,%20Vancouver%27s%20Highest%20Tree.pdf

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nice to see that part of robson street gaining more height

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Marshal

Latin America has a long tradition of very wealthy and famous diplomats. Some, very wealthy.

And none have become wealthy from their salary as a civil servant. If you see a wealthy Mexican diplomat, it's a political appointee not a career diplomat.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Jebby

And none have become wealthy from their salary as a civil servant. If you see a wealthy Mexican diplomat, it's a political appointee not a career diplomat.

I'm sure all the corruption down there helps them make money.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by whatnext

If the city is forcing them to replace it, what killed it should be publicly available.

This is just one of those hidden costs condo owners are never really aware of. I often wonder what the hidden costs of some of the more "adventurous" designs will be that prospective owners have no clue about.

Jacqui Cohen sent in a covert team to kill it.