Downtown Vancouver Updates

[excel]

^Exciting. Thanks for the update.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Changing City

That's interesting about 325 Carrall. It hasn't been called the McConnell Block before - but that's presumably who built it in 1896. It's generally known as the Louvre Hotel, and the bar that first opened there was the Louvre Saloon. The space between the Louvre and 1 West Hastings (The Merchant's Bank), was once the Bijou Theatre.

The work on the Bank is mostly finished on the exterior - there's just one spot where a carved block fell out and broke. Presumably a replica is being carved to replace it. Right now, until it's sealed up, it's possible to see the (rusty) steel frame of the building on the north facing side.

This is very interesting in and of itself, but also that it shows a neighborhood ripe for gentrification. If, when, and how all that unfolds will be interesting to watch.

[WarrenC12]

It was a pleasant surprise to see the third lane back open on Expo Blvd underneath BC Place.

I think this has been closed since the construction for the new roof (late 2010?). Amazing!

There is still a temp closure around the Arc construction.

[LowerLonsdaleMike]

Originally Posted by BodomReaper

Absolutely terrible defacement. This building's colonnade is one of Vancouver's best examples of postmodernism done well. Shame on the property owner.

Totally disagree. That's one of the ugliest fronts in all of the city. So glad to see it updated and that block finally livened up.

[MrFreeze]

The restaurant is still open though, the adjacent gas station lot was closed and destroyed shortly after it was sold. Do we know more the project on these 2 lots? The whole area is starting to be crowded with many buildings UC and new ones proposed... and my flat is just in the middle, here goes my view!

[MIPS]

What was the timeline for installing the new idiot-proofing at BC place?
I was around during Christmas and amazed there's STILL temporary fencing around the upper edges after that stupid dog way back in 2014.

Unrelated, but 123 Hastings should be coming down soon. The building has been vacant for a few years now and while it was pretty tightly boarded up around Christmas I guess someone got in last night and it went up in flames. The incident was overshadowed by a firefighter being injured by a drunk driver going down the street and snagging one of the fire hoses.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by LowerLonsdaleMike

Totally disagree. That's one of the ugliest fronts in all of the city. So glad to see it updated and that block finally livened up.

But just remember that taste or preferences are subjective, and those word are probably not unlike those spouted by modernists of the 1940s and 50s who stripped cornices and other ornament from classically styled buildings.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by MIPS

What was the timeline for installing the new idiot-proofing at BC place?
I was around during Christmas and amazed there's STILL temporary fencing around the upper edges after that stupid dog way back in 2014.

what idiot proofing is this? i am curious to know.

[LowerLonsdaleMike]

Originally Posted by officedweller

But just remember that taste or preferences are subjective, and those word are probably not unlike those spouted by modernists of the 1940s and 50s who stripped cornices and other ornament from classically styled buildings.

Subjective is right, but someone calling this Vancouver's best example of postmodern architecture is a longshot. Take a walk around the building and have a better look. I see this building every day from my office and it's a very mismatched building. Seems as though the "grand entrance" was an afterthought, as the rest of the building is not in tune with the columns. I'm sure most folks will be happy with the reno.

[truenorth44]

Originally Posted by MIPS

What was the timeline for installing the new idiot-proofing at BC place?
I was around during Christmas and amazed there's STILL temporary fencing around the upper edges after that stupid dog owner way back in 2014.

FTFY. It's absolutely appalling that irresponsible dog owners who insist on letting their dogs run off-leash whined and cried and threatened until BC Place had to put up the ugly fencing. And no, a kid would not go running willy-nilly over the original barrier - it's quite high enough to prevent that. Oops, sorry, that got me going. /rant

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by LowerLonsdaleMike

Subjective is right, but someone calling this Vancouver's best example of postmodern architecture is a longshot. Take a walk around the building and have a better look. I see this building every day from my office and it's a very mismatched building. Seems as though the "grand entrance" was an afterthought, as the rest of the building is not in tune with the columns. I'm sure most folks will be happy with the reno.

It think it has a front and back.
Curtain wall facing Robson Square on a concrete plinth supported by columns, and small slot windows overlooking the alley and future tall buildings (now never to be built).
The column bases are pretty typical pomo type adornment with the globe lamps.
The colour green of the bases and the entrance arc was typical of the day - and matched the colouring of the 900 Howe building to the south (which is a Queen's Quay Terminal knock-off).
The selling feature of the building was its large floorplates - some of the biggest in the city at one point.
The large stained glass window in the lobby (lit from the alley) was also a big design element. Not sure if it will be retained.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

what idiot proofing is this? i am curious to know.

Okay, so back in 2014 a man out walking his dog had it off leash while going up the stairs at BC place to get from Pacific Boulevard up to Beatty street (or he was walking around the stadium...anyways he had the dog off-leash in an on-leash area). The dog gets away from him and jumps over the ledge and falls 30 feet to Expo Boulevard below because dogs can't look over the ledge and go "oh, there's a drop here". The dog did survive but he got screwed with a few grand in vet bills.
News Article Source
This was followed by two more dogs within the span of a few months.
After 30 years of relatively no problem people start screaming this is unsafe and unacceptable and media outlets start making a HUGE stink, so BC Place acknowledges and says it will install new fencing to ensure it can't happen again. In the meantime all of the ledges are blocked off with that nasty temporary fencing. As of the end of the year it was still in place with nothing permanently installed.

I only call it idiot-proofing because it's not really adding anything of value to safety. It just prevents stupid people complaining, for example:

Originally Posted by previously linked news article

Drewitz said he had noticed a sign that read, “Caution Steep Drop,” but he said it didn’t register with him until after his dog had fallen.

It's not that it was unsafe, it was that he was stupid.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Okay, so back in 2014 a man out walking his dog had it off leash while going up the stairs at BC place to get from Pacific Boulevard up to Beatty street (or he was walking around the stadium...anyways he had the dog off-leash in an on-leash area). The dog gets away from him and jumps over the ledge and falls 30 feet to Expo Boulevard below because dogs can't look over the ledge and go "oh, there's a drop here". The dog did survive but he got screwed with a few grand in vet bills.
News Article Source
This was followed by two more dogs within the span of a few months.
After 30 years of relatively no problem people start screaming this is unsafe and unacceptable and media outlets start making a HUGE stink, so BC Place acknowledges and says it will install new fencing to ensure it can't happen again. In the meantime all of the ledges are blocked off with that nasty temporary fencing. As of the end of the year it was still in place with nothing permanently installed.

I only call it idiot-proofing because it's not really adding anything of value to safety. It just prevents stupid people complaining, for example:

It's not that it was unsafe, it was that he was stupid.

what happened to people being smart? can we bring back the days when idiot proofing wasn't considered the normal?

i can see why BC Place isn't putting up permanent fencing. they fixed the problem for very cheap.

thanks or the info btw.

on another note, looking at Google Street View, wow a lot of those lights on Expo Blvd under the overhead walk way have burnt out. there is almost none left from 2009-2016.

[jollyburger]

They should fine em.

Under section 4 of the bylaw, you are required to keep your dog under your control at all times. You cannot allow your dog to run free on the street or in any other public place other than one of our 36 dog off-leash areas.

http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/responsible-dog-ownership.aspx

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

They should fine em.



http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/responsible-dog-ownership.aspx

What a stupid comment. And what happens when it's a kid that falls over?

How about they have a fence that actually works

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

What a stupid comment. And what happens when it's a kid that falls over?

How about they have a fence that actually works

well considering BC Place opened in 1985 and there have been 0 kid/people deaths from the ledge. and on-top of that, considering there have been 0 accidents involving people listening to rules and bylaws

i would conclude that the system with no fence DID in-fact work, that is until people started breaking rules and forgetting about common sense.

but what do i know, i am not a politician or interested in building things for the lowest common denominator.

[osirisboy]

Oh so it's just recently that people have broken rules and not used common sense? I think it's weird that everyone gets butt hurt over this. Accidents happen and if they can fix it so it's safer then great! But of course people have to bitch about it

[truenorth44]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I think it's weird that everyone gets butt hurt over this.

It's because the idiot dog owners refuse to take responsibility for their error, and instead of just going with the simple, already-in-place solution, they demand that society conform so that they can continue in their own way. That results in making that concourse very ugly. Now of course, the irresponsible dog owners feel even more entitled to let their dogs run off leash in that area, making it off-limits to people who do not like dogs or are afraid of them. Leashes are meant to keep the animal from hurting itself or others. That's something those dog owners just refuse to acknowledge.

[osirisboy]

You sound like the one who is demanding and entitled. Yes the dogs should be leashed but if the owners are going to not follow the rules (because I know everyone on here follows all rules all the time) and the dog falls off, we should just say "oh well it's your fault" ? The dog can't read the signs, why let them get hurt for the owners carelessness?

The fencing there now is obviously temporary. They could just put a railing on top and will solve the problem

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

What a stupid comment. And what happens when it's a kid that falls over?

How about they have a fence that actually works

If it's a stupid rule, then get rid of it. What happens if a guy carrying a nuclear bomb slips on a banana peel and sets off an explosion?