General Vancouver Updates

[Vin]

Originally Posted by vanman

That looks like something out of "downtown" Maple Ridge.

That's a very fitting description. And the City planners are from hick-ville central.

Originally Posted by Changing City

I'm not sure that it is limited - Citti, a few blocks west of here that was completed a few months ago has eight storeys. The density under zoning is limited to 3 FSR, and in terms of economic performance that usually translates into around 6 storeys. OnQue, that was built a few years ago on this same intersection (but the south side of the street), managed to squeeze their 3 FSR into only four storeys of woodframe construction.

If a developer wants to build a rental building under Rental 100 then a rezoning can be contemplated, like the building at East 11th and Kingsway currently under construction. The Mount Pleasant Plan (adopted less than 7 years ago) identified a few places where rezonings for condos could also occur - like The Independent just up the street from here, but this wasn't one of those locations.

Haha big deal with 8 stories. For that area they should be putting in a 40 storey building to house as many people as possible! No wonder we have a housing crisis.

[Feathered Friend]

191 East Main:



209 E 7th Ave (The Ellsworth):




A few more pictures of developments along Main Street from my day at the Mural Festival.

[officedweller]

Thanks!

[Feathered Friend]

Darcy Matheson, Senior Digital Producer, CTV Vancouver
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/last-gas-chevron-sells-2-more-vancouver-gas-stations-1.3548547

The Chevron at Oak Street and West 41st Avenue will close today, and the location at West 16th Avenue and Cambie Street will follow suit Friday.

Its locations at Broadway and Alma Street, West 4th Avenue and McDonald Street and West 59th Avenue and Cambie Street, remain listed.

This brings Chevron in line with the chains that have roughly 5 stations each west of Main St. I feel for the workers now out of employment, and hope that they were given more notice than this.

[officedweller]

Prefab office building to be erected in 4 weeks @ 7th & Yukon
(site of Wilf's Transmissions) for Fast + Epp Structural Engineers
No sign of streetfront retail on this site behind Canadian Tire and Home Depot.

The plan calls for a 4-storey mixed-use commercial/industrial building containing:
◾Wholesale Class B on the ground floor and partial second floor;
◾General Office use on the second floor to fourth floors;
◾a total density of 3.00 FSR (15,958 SF)
◾an overall building height of approximately 60 feet; and
◾one level of underground parking providing 10 spaces and one at grade parking space, having vehicular access from the lane.

http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2017/08/22/industrialoffice-building-planned-for-yukon-7th-site/


http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2017/08/22/industrialoffice-building-planned-for-yukon-7th-site/


http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2017/08/22/industrialoffice-building-planned-for-yukon-7th-site/


http://www.vancouvermarket.ca/2017/08/22/industrialoffice-building-planned-for-yukon-7th-site/

[csbvan]

It would be great if they loosened up the zoning to allow retail uses into those century old homes next to this development (and, generally, throughout lower Mount Pleasant).

[officedweller]

Park Board opens city’s largest playground complete with high flying zipline
http://vancouver.ca/news-calendar/park-b...d-complete-with-high-flying-zipline.aspx


https://twitter.com/CityofVancouver

[LeftCoaster]

High flying zipline? Isn't that just a flying fox? They've had those in playgrounds for decades.

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Panel Consensus:
Having reviewed the project it was moved by Ms. Spoelstra and seconded by Ms. Anderson and was the decision of the Urban Design Panel:
THAT the Panel Recommend RESUBMISSION with following recommendations to be reviewed by City Staff:

• Re-examine the character of the building
• Make the expression and symmetry of the building more contemporary
• Make the building more sustainable, including the glazing ratio and the solar orientation
• Acknowledge the corner of the building
• Look at the retail and street opportunities on Broadway, possibly add an outdoor patio area
• Re-examine the Quebec façade to add more articulation and take more advantage of the views
• Re-examine activating the lane
• Change the staircase exiting to open up to Quebec street
• Look at the amenity programming in the lane
• Consider consolidating parking access in the lane with loading
• Reconsider lateral stability by looking at stairs
• Further develop mechanical systems for the next stage of development

Related Commentary: The panel noted the building design overall had missed design opportunities. A few panel members noted the design was ‘too dated’ for Broadway.
Stamped asphalt should be a different material. The ramp should be moved. The restaurant expression and main lobby expression needs work. The elevator core should not be the only ‘lateral’ element.

Also, a couple of interesting tidbits from the Applicant’s Introductory Comments:

• The applicant noted there was no setback requirement in the zone. However the road would be widened at the ground level in future.
• The restaurant and market rental units will be owned and operated by the same party.

Like much of our forum, it's clear the UDP was not a fan of this design. Hopefully the team can recover fast from this dissection and come back when something more fitting for the location, even if it still won't reach the density that the neighbourhood should have.
Something that puzzles me is the remark in the introductory comments about road widening happening in the future. I'm not sure if this refers to Broadway, the Laneway, or Quebec.

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

update on 829 Powell Street with a new render >>

http://changingcitybook.com/2013/11/29/829-powell-street/

Originally Posted by mcminsen

May 21 '16, my pics

My photos - August 26 2017

[logan5]

Is this news? The Chevron at 16th and Cambie has closed permanently, which sucks because that was my go to gas station. Any development plans for that site yet?

[Tetsuo]

Originally Posted by logan5

Is this news? The Chevron at 16th and Cambie has closed permanently, which sucks because that was my go to gas station. Any development plans for that site yet?

Most of the gas station talk has been in the Retail Thread.

Main St. and 12th Chevron?

Ron.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

My photos - August 26 2017

Thanks for the update on 829 Powell Street. I had kind of forgotten about that little project.

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Thanks for the update on 829 Powell Street. I had kind of forgotten about that little project.

It's an easy one to forget about, and you've been grabbing plenty of pictures of the more impressive building in the area. I too hadn't realized how long it had been since the last update, until I was trying to find the last set of photos . Still, it's a good design considering it's just going to be storage units.

[officedweller]

I drove past The Spot on Cambie on Saturday and noticed that they've installed fins across the entire black upper section - so it looks much better now.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I drove past The Spot on Cambie on Saturday and noticed that they've installed fins across the entire black upper section - so it looks much better now.

Here are some pics to compare, from early June and then today.



June 3 '17, my pic





Aug.29 '17, my pics

[retro_orange]

It makes it look better executed with the fins all around. I was getting disappointed.

[Jebby]

I think it turned out pretty well. Not the biggest fan of the design, but it certainly is a step up from the usual Vancouver midrise condo.

[Vin]

Finally, an addition of more retail shops along Cambie after more than a decade.

[Tetsuo]

Is White Spot going back in the retail space?

Ron.