Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Vin

That is so true. We always under replace retail spaces, resulting in high rents that the few chain companies can afford. Every time we demo shops or restaurants, we should replace them with at least 3 times the number of stores. Sure, the usual suspects like shoppers or A&W will come but there is only a handful they can fill. The rest will be taken up by the exisitng businesses and other "moms and pops".

Yes developers are definitely going to overbuild and depress CRU prices...

[LeftCoaster]

I hope the UDP comes down hard on this one for not replacing the retail.

The tower itself seems quite good but this stretch of Denman should be a retail strip not unanimated ground floor space.

[city guy]

completely agree

[bc2mb]

Noticed something interesting at the open house for 400 West Georgia Street...



Sorry for the low-quality. City staff said "that wasn't supposed to be on there...oops."

Said there was a new architect on the project but didn't want to elaborate. They were surprised I noticed it.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Yes developers are definitely going to overbuild and depress CRU prices...

This is one thing the City can actually step in and impose, and not other frivolous demands that dont really benefit locals.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Vin

That is so true. We always under replace retail spaces, resulting in high rents that the few chain companies can afford. Every time we demo shops or restaurants, we should replace them with at least 3 times the number of stores. Sure, the usual suspects like shoppers or A&W will come but there is only a handful they can fill. The rest will be taken up by the exisitng businesses and other "moms and pops".

These newer retail units are designed in such a way that you cannot advertise your business effectively to people on the street, or convey the image and feeling you want associated with your business. The facades of these newer retail units scream "bland and tasteless". If you're a restaurant owner or a clothing store owner, these are the last places you want to set up in, regardless of price. It's reason why you see restaurants opening up in the downtown east side. Despite the obvious drawbacks, it's where the character spaces are.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logan5

These newer retail units are designed in such a way that you cannot advertise your business effectively to people on the street, or convey the image and feeling you want associated with your business. The facades of these newer retail units scream "bland and tasteless". If you're a restaurant owner or a clothing store owner, these are the last places you want to set up in, regardless of price. It's reason why you see restaurants opening up in the downtown east side. Despite the obvious drawbacks, it's where the character spaces are.

They don't have to be built "bland and tasteless".

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I hope the UDP comes down hard on this one for not replacing the retail.

The tower itself seems quite good but this stretch of Denman should be a retail strip not unanimated ground floor space.

Maybe they realized there's no demand for any retail on that block and having luxury condos with a bicycle store downstairs isn't appealing.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by jlousa

I can see closing Water St to cars in the evenings and maybe weekends in summer, but to do it all time seems a stretch. Heck part of the report for the viaducts coming down was that water had some spare capacity to absorb some of the displaced traffic. Seems like a slight of hand to use the data to serve your goals and then change the data.

Yeah, I noticed this too. Seems like they are just counting on the fact that everyone will forget that argument.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Yeah, I noticed this too. Seems like they are just counting on the fact that everyone will forget that argument.

CoV slide about Gastown traffic after the viaduct removal:

Residents and businesses
in Gastown are concerned
with traffic volumes and
speeds on Water Street.

It is expected that vehicle
volumes in Gastown
will not increase with
the replacement road
network.

http://council.vancouver.ca/20130625/documents/rr1presentation.pdf

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by bc2mb

Noticed something interesting at the open house for 400 West Georgia Street...



Sorry for the low-quality. City staff said "that wasn't supposed to be on there...oops."

Said there was a new architect on the project but didn't want to elaborate. They were surprised I noticed it.

Originally Posted by Ted Sheckler

I noticed that as well, but I was pretty sure it was the old scrapped design.
Good that you shared this though, as it shows your heart and eyes were in the right place.

[osirisboy]

Yeah this came out a few years ago

[s211]

Originally Posted by bc2mb

Noticed something interesting at the open house for 400 West Georgia Street...

Sorry for the low-quality. City staff said "that wasn't supposed to be on there...oops."

Said there was a new architect on the project but didn't want to elaborate. They were surprised I noticed it.

Hopefully there is a new architect involved because the floorplans for the original design were downright crazy.

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by officedweller

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

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/development-permit-board.aspx

Motion
It was moved by Ms. Molaro and seconded by J. Dobrovolny, and was the decision of the Board:
THAT the Board APPROVE Development Application No. DP-2017-00119, in accordance with the Staff Committee Report dated June 12, 2017, to amend condition 1.2 and 1.4 and add conditions 1.6. and 1.7 as follows:

• 1.2 design development to increase setbacks at levels 5 to 7 of the office tower as follows:
  a) Decrease the terrace at level 5; and
  b) Eliminate roof terrace at level 8 south side.
  Note to applicant: This design condition is to improve the visibility of the church spires to be more readily seen or apparent and will entail revising the massing on Dunsmuir Street.
• 1.4 design development to provide loading spaces and enhancements to existing loading spaces compliant to the Parking By-law as follows:
  a) design development to provide two Class B loading spaces to serve the new development, supported by a comprehensive loading management plan to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services and the Director Of Planning (see also standard condition A1.5).
  b) provision of Class A loading as outlined in Table 4.5 of the provided Transportation Review, including five (5) Class A loading spaces serving the existing tower, and three (3) Class A loading spaces serving the proposed tower;
  c) reinstatement/restoration of the loading spaces of the existing building to meet minimum vertical clearance requirements; and
  Note to Applicant: The loading for the new building is circuitous and needs to be conveniently linked to the proposed office and retail facility. An at-grade connection from the loading spaces to the new building’s elevator core can be considered.
• 1.6 design development to provide continuous weather protection
• 1.7 design consideration for an alternative building color that is more empathetic to the adjacent historic church

I don't think the Development Permit Board is going to make many friends with anyone here based on the conditions they imposed on 401 W Georgia. I bolded the conditions of approval that are going to most affect the design of the building. While it's great that there's a desire to treat the cathedral with respect, I feel there's not enough buildings with dark colours in our urban fabric. In this specific case, I felt the dark tone really added a feel of elegance to the proposal.

[logan5]

Further to that, the black colour of the building accentuates the nice tone of the interior columns, so you're really destroying the whole look of the building if you change the exterior colour.

Another note - the church has black iron railings, and black and grey go great together. There's your empathy.

Really is frustrating.

[osirisboy]

Black has to be the best colour to be empathetic to the church! What do they want? So the city can withhold issuing a permit because they don't like the colour? Or is it just a recommendation?

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Black has to be the best colour to be empathetic to the church! What do they want?

Seafoam green spandrels over the columns, I suppose.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Black has to be the best colour to be empathetic to the church! What do they want? So the city can withhold issuing a permit because they don't like the colour? Or is it just a recommendation?

Shows how the UDP doesn't understand façade compatibility.
The darker office block will allow the light gray stone to stand out.
I guess what they want is a bland wall of medium tones where the church WON'T stand out?

*************

Good news regarding the Central Heat plant site - maybe the new design won't have any windows facing the stadium's Northern Lights Display.

[mcminsen]

A new sign on the old William Farrell building on Seymour Street.



Sept.21 '17, my pic

[Spork]

"Just put it anywhere."

And so. It was done.