Downtown Vancouver Updates

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by domusile

A rooftop bar would be cool above the hotel. Right next to BC Place and on Robson would be a great spot

...possibly a re-purposed rotating restaurant plopped on top...

[jlousa]

Sure why not, every single restaurant opened up there has been a failure, even the ones across the street have all been failures, present boston pizza included, but I'm sure this time will be different. I'm sure lots of entrepreneur are lining up to open a revolving restaurant in that very location.

[retro_orange]

Oh get over it. Just because your generation let an interesting concept go to waste doesn't mean a new generation can't make it work.

[osirisboy]

Failures?!! I always remembered the businesses there always busy. Back forty, the trap and their patio was always full

And revolving restaurants are the best. How can anyone not love them?! Landmark was an overpriced shit hole that didn't have a dime invested in it for decades, that's why it wasn't successful.

[jlousa]

My generation? lol do you even know how old I am or are you making assumptions?
And Back Forty has not been a successful it was constantly on the market, Courtnalls before it, double OT, the trap, etc etc, how many people have tried to make a go at the Boston Pizza site? Players, Chop... I can't even remember them all and the site sat empty for years too.
The location just doesn't work, it's a shame but thats unlikely to change, if anything the casino and their restaurants will leach off even more business from the area. Maybe a Catcus club or Joeys could make it work but is that really what we're striving for?
As for the revolving restaurant yeah lets take an already cut throat margin business and add more overhead and upfront costs to it, worked for well for all the previous attempts or the themed restaurant fad of the 90s.

[osirisboy]

And yet revolving restaurants proved to be successful for decades

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

Oh get over it. Just because your generation let an interesting concept go to waste doesn't mean a new generation can't make it work.

Other people in other places seem to make it work, not only in Canada, but in many BRIC countries as well.
Below is a Wikipedia link showing just about all the revolving restaurants anywhere. Worth opening. Just which cities have them? Take a look.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_revolving_restaurants

[jlousa]

*l* great list, are you trying to make my point or counter it? A chunk of restaurants on that list have closed and or stopping revolving in later remodels. It was a neat concept but one whose time came and went. I'm sure we can do better than copying gimmicks.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by jlousa

I'm sure we can do better than copying gimmicks.

unlikely.

although i do like revolving restaurants. they just need to be something like Gothams. it cant be over priced out dated crap.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by jlousa

*l* great list, are you trying to make my point or counter it? A chunk of restaurants on that list have closed and or stopping revolving in later remodels. It was a neat concept but one whose time came and went. I'm sure we can do better than copying gimmicks.

How do we do it better? Building condos to replace a commercial building with a unique restaurant? Looks like you have lots of better ideas, but i don't suppose building more suburb type condos with ground retail isnt "copying gimmicks"?

[Vin]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

unlikely.

although i do like revolving restaurants. they just need to be something like Gothams. it cant be over priced out dated crap.

Totally agreed. I love the viaducts, but if they are purposely left in a state of disrepair, I would want them pulled down too.

[retro_orange]

Those with no good ideas tend to shut down anyone who dares think differently from themselves.

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I'm looking forward to planters downtown that you can just take a dump in and have it instantly turned into compost. I sure Gregor's on it.

Lol. The green vision will be complete once that happens thanks in part to some brown.

[cornholio]

Originally Posted by jlousa

*l* great list, are you trying to make my point or counter it? A chunk of restaurants on that list have closed and or stopping revolving in later remodels. It was a neat concept but one whose time came and went. I'm sure we can do better than copying gimmicks.

I don't agree with you. Its not your money. Not my money. If someone can be enticed to drop a few tens of millions of dollars on a revolving restaurant I am all for it. They can go bankrupt for all I care, but the mechanisms in place will still be in place and with a bit of luck the restaurant will continue to revolve under some sort of ownership. Its like charity. I dont mind revolving restaurants, sure I have never actually been up to the Landmark but I may go next week before it shuts down.

[WarrenC12]

Who owns the Boston Pizza/Chophouse spot? Did Pavco build that on spec or is that private land?

If we had something like a baseball team with 80+ home games a year, I think that spot would be fine.

[Feathered Friend]

My Photos - June 26, 2017

The former Quality Inn Hotel - 1335 Howe St





A scrap collectors dream to be sure.

225 Smithe St



I didn't manage to take a shot of it, but the interior of the first floor is down to just the walls studs.

[Feathered Friend]

So, this open house was surprisingly well attended given that the proposal conforms to the West End Plan. By the time I left at around 7:30 pm, just over 50 people had passed through. The concerns were pretty much the typical "but this building will affect my view" or "I'm concerned that the new building will shadow my building." Not that I mean to outright dismiss individual's concerns, but I mean what does one expect in a downtown core of a major city?

I think the project manages to integrate the social housing portion rather well given city policy on the matter. One thing that could be improved is the amount of space the parking garage ramp takes up. To solve this, the proponent originally wanted the access ramp to be from Harwood, but the City Engineers nixed that idea. Regardless, it currently feels like a lot of wasted space.

A good thing about this building is the amount of family units that is provided in both the market and social areas. The penthouses will have the option to turn their media/dens into full fledged bedrooms, allowing for up to 5 bedrooms. One funny thing is that the current floor layouts are so preliminary, there are actually errors; such as rooms not having doors, or the elevators in the garbage room being located in different areas on the 1st and 2nd floor. Oh, and in case anyone wasn't 100% sure, the social housing portion will be a new construction rather than retaining any of the original structure.

[Vin]

Two or three retail spaces should've been included for the podium portion. This area deserves more stores, being so close to the busy Beach Ave, Burrard and Davie Streets.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Who owns the Boston Pizza/Chophouse spot? Did Pavco build that on spec or is that private land?

If we had something like a baseball team with 80+ home games a year, I think that spot would be fine.

It was built as part of PCI's Pivotal Building project, but it's not mentioned on their website:

http://pci-group.com/PCIprojects/858-beatty/

[officedweller]

177 West Pender
10 storey non-market housing next to the old Province Building


https://changingcitybook.com/2017/06/22/177-west-pender-street/