Downtown Vancouver Updates

[osirisboy]

Love it. Such an improvement. One thing I don't like and this is just nitpicking, is all the trees on top of the building. Looks odd, doesn't fit in with gastown

[Klazu]

[/URL]

I just love how these big proposals keep appearing every few weeks! We are looking forward to a really interesting pipeline of projects for the next 5 years.

I for one am normally all for going for the max height, but actually here I like what they are planning. These towers will still be massive at 48 and 49 floors, keeping in mind that event the 42-floor Patina appears pretty tall today and it will be tiny in the upcoming super block!

I also like how these towers will offer a great stepping from the two older and shorter towers to the north. They won't either be taking away from the two really tall towers on Nelson Street, which will definitely be the highlights for the area. the result will be an interesting stepped skyline instead of tall table top with all towers hitting the same height.

Architecture wise I think they are perfectly fine and the style has not been overdone. I have no problem with twin towers emerging in multiple places either.

Burrard corridor is shaping up to be a really impressive - perhaps the most impressive - street in Downtown Vancouver, lined up with all these tall towers on the west side. I love it!

[LowerLonsdaleMike]

I'm not a huge fan of two buildings with same or similar heights that look almost identical. I think a better proposal would be one taller (maxed to the height limit for that block) and then another that's 3/4 that height. Regardless, this will definitely be a huge plus to our skyline. Love the style.

[rofina]

Completely in love with these two. Very stoked.

[mcminsen]

I noticed the lights on the cables of the BC Place roof were on tonight. They were flashing off and on in a rotating pattern. Great to see them on again after years being off.



Nov.9 '17, my pic

[vancouvercitizen]

Across from the Empire Landmark Hotel, what's happening with this lot? Is it being torn down or just renovated?

[officedweller]

The Jervis
has topped out according to NSDA twitter:


We've reached the top of The Jervis w @axiombuilders ! #constructionprogress #TheJervis #WestEnd #Vancouver
https://twitter.com/NSDA_Architects

[BodomReaper]

^The concrete grid on The Jervis looks terrific.

Renderings of Mirabel that I haven't seen before. Seems that the east and west facades were intentionally designed to look like old-school 60s West End towers (not necessarily a bad thing). Interesting-looking sun shades on the south facade.


Source


Source


Source

[officedweller]

Is this part of Concord's NEFC project?

88 Pacific Blvd
DP-2017-00064
Noordin Sayani
To develop a 13 storey hotel (with restaurant), with 2 levels of underground parking, having vehicular access from the lane.
15 % Additional density
http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/current-development-applications-development-permit-board.pdf

Edit - Looks like a typo.
The DP number is for the 833 West Pender hotel.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

1355 Howe Street starting to disappear.



Oct.9 '17, my pics

Update...




Nov.18 '17, my pics

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by vancouvercitizen

Across from the Empire Landmark Hotel, what's happening with this lot? Is it being torn down or just renovated?

It better not be torn down! I love that building, has great character.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

It better not be torn down! I love that building, has great character.

...where is the character? Really all I can see is the original streamlined geometric pattern in the stucco.

[Feathered Friend]

The property in question, the Robsonstrasse Hotel, recently sold in October 2016 for roughly $24.75 million (I love BC Assessment). It is roughly 75% of the size of the approved 1500 proposal. Whether that makes it viable for redevelopment is something beyond my knowledge.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by retro_orange

...where is the character? Really all I can see is the original streamlined geometric pattern in the stucco.

It has a very Californian feel Imo. I love the yellow colour, the signage, the palm trees out front, its great! It has its own character and fits the neighbourhood perfectly IMO.

I am getting tired of blue / green glassed condos with eastern / Norwegian maples planted outside.

Seriously, with the Empire Landmark now dead, Gyoza King gone (already mentioned my personal connections to that establishment in the restaurant thread) and now possibly this cute structure disappearing, all replaced with soulless cookie cutter condos, this stretch of Robson street it losing all of its character and is simply becoming an extension of Coal Harbour. Can't wait for the Starbucks and dental offices that will fill out the cold and sterile condo street front retails.

[retro_orange]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

It has a very Californian feel Imo. I love the yellow colour, the signage, the palm trees out front, its great! It has its own character and fits the neighbourhood perfectly IMO.

I am getting tired of blue / green glassed condos with eastern / Norwegian maples planted outside.

Seriously, with the Empire Landmark now dead, Gyoza King gone (already mentioned my personal connections to that establishment in the restaurant thread) and now possibly this cute structure disappearing, all replaced with soulless cookie cutter condos, this stretch of Robson street it losing all of its character and is simply becoming an extension of Coal Harbour. Can't wait for the Starbucks and dental offices that will fill out the cold and sterile condo street front retails.

Has there been any applications on the property? I don't think I have heard anything so it may be renovated and kept as a boutique hotel or turned into expensive rentals until redevelopment.

I think you answered your own question though, If the Landmark will be torn down then what is the long term likeliness of this being retained?

Slim, like the expensive highrise that will inevitably replace it.

I'm more concerned for the fate of the well maintained 1936 Spanish revival hotel/apartment next door. If it were painted a better colour scheme and added some palms and other tropical greenery it would be amazing.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

It has a very Californian feel Imo. I love the yellow colour, the signage, the palm trees out front, its great! It has its own character and fits the neighbourhood perfectly IMO.

I am getting tired of blue / green glassed condos with eastern / Norwegian maples planted outside.

Seriously, with the Empire Landmark now dead, Gyoza King gone (already mentioned my personal connections to that establishment in the restaurant thread) and now possibly this cute structure disappearing, all replaced with soulless cookie cutter condos, this stretch of Robson street it losing all of its character and is simply becoming an extension of Coal Harbour. Can't wait for the Starbucks and dental offices that will fill out the cold and sterile condo street front retails.

Some of the reservation websites said it's being renovated though the dates are out of whack.

Renovations and Closures: This property is closed from 30 November 2016 to 31 December 2017 (dates subject to change).

https://www.hrs.com/en/hotel/robsonstrasse-hotel-and-suites/a-381063

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Some of the reservation websites said it's being renovated

One possibility is that they started renovations and found something problematic. (That's just a guess - not based on knowledge). It's originally a 1955 apartment building, so it's quite possible it has asbestos, for example. Once renovations reach a certain threshold, the building has to be brought up to code, and that might be a lot more expensive than was anticipated. It's been fenced off for a long time, so the owners have already taken a pretty substantial financial hit. Something similar happened with the Plaza 500 hotel at Cambie and 12th, which was eventually converted to rental apartments, but after a long delay.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

It has a very Californian feel Imo. I love the yellow colour, the signage, the palm trees out front, its great! It has its own character and fits the neighbourhood perfectly IMO.

I am getting tired of blue / green glassed condos with eastern / Norwegian maples planted outside.

Seriously, with the Empire Landmark now dead, Gyoza King gone (already mentioned my personal connections to that establishment in the restaurant thread) and now possibly this cute structure disappearing, all replaced with soulless cookie cutter condos, this stretch of Robson street it losing all of its character and is simply becoming an extension of Coal Harbour. Can't wait for the Starbucks and dental offices that will fill out the cold and sterile condo street front retails.

I was always worried about that when I saw the West End plan. That stretch of Robson probably has one of the greatest concentrations of Korean restaurants in the country. It was a unique enclave. They will likely face the wrecking ball.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by csbvan

I was always worried about that when I saw the West End plan. That stretch of Robson probably has one of the greatest concentrations of Korean restaurants in the country. It was a unique enclave. They will likely face the wrecking ball.

My feelings exactly, that stretch of Robson was my favorite part of the entire street because of the amazing selection of Korean and Japanese eateries (most of the Japanese ones are / were actually owned and operated by Japanese, which is relatively rare in Vancouver) with authentic atmospheres in interesting retail spaces.

Just feels a shame to lose that unique corner of our city. There are so many drab, boring, and rundown corners of our city, I would much prefer that those areas were redeveloped before the western end of Robson, which is a complete well maintained neighborhood with its own unique vibe.

PS thanks for the info on that Robson Hotel. I hope the renovations work out and it is not replaced.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Any links / emails we can send our comments to insisting for the full 167 meters?

By looking at them I am guessing yet again these towers are around 135 meters?

It feels that 120 to 140 meters is the new Vancouver table top.

Once the Rezoning/DP is posted on the city's website it will have an email and I fully encourage anyone to submit their comments, whatever they may be.

I'd imagine these towers will be closer to 150M, not 135-140, as they are 48 and 49 storeys respectively.

Originally Posted by Chikinlittle

I'm not too fussed about shadowing on Robson street, but having the sun visible on a downtown shopping street, is that does a horrible attribute to want to maintain?

While I do agree my issue with the proposal is according to the project team the shadowing analysis does not include the existing 2-3 storey buildings on Robson which already shadow the south sidewalk, so these buildings if taller would not cast a shadow on Robson as there already is one.

Originally Posted by LowerLonsdaleMike

I'm not a huge fan of two buildings with same or similar heights that look almost identical. I think a better proposal would be one taller (maxed to the height limit for that block) and then another that's 3/4 that height. Regardless, this will definitely be a huge plus to our skyline. Love the style.

That was my comment in the open house. Let one go to 60 and one at 40 and we've got a real stunner of a complex.