General Vancouver Updates

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Are you kidding? I would constantly use those balconies!!

Wish the building was closer to the street. Instead of stepping back after the retail

For what? Smoking?

I'm constantly amazed when I'm downtown visiting someone in a highrise how few people I ever see on a balcony. The extra dollars in building costs and aesthetics isn't worth sticking these useless appendage on every building especially on arterials.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by whatnext

For what? Smoking?

I'm constantly amazed when I'm downtown visiting someone in a highrise how few people I ever see on a balcony. The extra dollars in building costs and aesthetics isn't worth sticking these useless appendage on every building especially on arterials.

I do find the variety of opinions on this pretty amusing.

Personally, I would never consider a unit without a balcony.
But I know plenty that couldn't care less.

[Prometheus]

Maybe someone can weigh in on whether the construction of all these balconies on the front of buildings along commercial streets (where artful, urban facades were once erected in earlier architectural periods) is the product of current city mandates, in whole or in part.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by rofina

I do find the variety of opinions on this pretty amusing.

Personally, I would never consider a unit without a balcony.
But I know plenty that couldn't care less.

I agree, but only on floors 10 and higher. The higher the better, and ideally southwest facing for some sun.

Last place I lived in was on the 12th floor, but close to a busy intersection. The constant roar when the light went green was annoying. I can imagine down on floor 5 and below you'd be able to smell exhaust regularly as well.

[BodomReaper]

How did the Granville + 7th proposal go from this:


Source: Changing City Book

To an under-designed pile that belongs on Scott Road:


Source: Vancouver Market

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

I agree, but only on floors 10 and higher. The higher the better, and ideally southwest facing for some sun.

Last place I lived in was on the 12th floor, but close to a busy intersection. The constant roar when the light went green was annoying. I can imagine down on floor 5 and below you'd be able to smell exhaust regularly as well.

So that's what the podiums are for...

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by BodomReaper

How did the Granville + 7th proposal go from this:


Source: Changing City Book

To an under-designed pile that belongs on Scott Road:


Source: Vancouver Market

The massing looks identical to me - it's just that the lower image has a more realistic representation of the glazing showing spandrel and opening lights, and the top one conveniently forgot that. The balcony sizes shrank a bit as well, and the art piece became a patio.

[Feathered Friend]

During a late night of surfing the web, I found a few new proposals from Arno Matis Architecutre. The projects are a TOD for Plaza 500, a renovation of Roger's Arena's north plaza and a hotel for 888 W Broadway. Slightly more information is available at the following link.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/02/16...chitecutre-a-new-plaza-a-hotel-and-more/

[Vin]

Originally Posted by whatnext

I have friends who live off that stretch of Granville, trust me it can be noisy. people underestimate engine noise created when you're going accelerating uphill. It's constant, broken by louder emanations from trucks, motorbikes, sportscars etc .

Too bad then, for a city with all the height restrictions, that's what we keep getting. Ideally a busy shopping street should be a place where a developer can build huge podium (3-5 floors), followed by taller residential suites on top. That would reduce the decibels for the residents, unless sound bounces back due to "canyon effect".

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

During a late night of surfing the web, I found a few new proposals from Arno Matis Architecutre. The projects are a TOD for Plaza 500, a renovation of Roger's Arena's north plaza and a hotel for 888 W Broadway. Slightly more information is available at the following link.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/02/16...chitecutre-a-new-plaza-a-hotel-and-more/

I'm confused. Plaza 500 was just renovated into apartments. It is already a TOD.

[domusile]

Originally Posted by csbvan

I'm confused. Plaza 500 was just renovated into apartments. It is already a TOD.

Maybe it's the office podium along Cambie?

[Ailurus]

While we're on the subject of the Granville and 7th area...

Kind of hard to see from the picture below, but salvage and abatement has started on the old Vancouver Masonic Centre. Demolition should be starting soon. Pic below by me.



Changingcitybook wrote about this project back in 2016, but the project is finally about to move ahead.

Renders by SHAPE Architecture.

https://shapearchitecture.ca/projects/vancouver-masonic-centre/

[whatnext]

Nice to see purpose built rental go ahead, but those Masonic Totem things in the render creep me out.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Ailurus

While we're on the subject of the Granville and 7th area...

Kind of hard to see from the picture below, but salvage and abatement has started on the old Vancouver Masonic Centre. Demolition should be starting soon. Pic below by me.

And I bet nothing will be done with those ghetto hydro poles.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by whatnext

For what? Smoking?

I'm constantly amazed when I'm downtown visiting someone in a highrise how few people I ever see on a balcony. The extra dollars in building costs and aesthetics isn't worth sticking these useless appendage on every building especially on arterials.

No I don't smoke. And I would sit out there and hangout and relax, people watch, Read, do whatever. It amazes me how many people can't realize the potential of an outdoor space, especially with the size of some of these balconies seem to be pretty decent. If there are plants and proper outdoor furniture it can be great! But sadly too often ppl end up using it as a storage space.

[SpongeG]

I wonder if anyone will glass em in, they look awful when they do that

[officedweller]

You'd need a rezoning application to add a balcony to bonus density if you glass it in - same as if you remove solarium glass doors you need a rezoning application (and likely a purchase of heritage density) to change a solarium from bonus density to actual living space density (whatever it's called).
You occasionally see people doing it legally on the DPB meeting agendas.
If you do it illegally, you're opening yourself up for a lawsuit from a future purchaser.

[officedweller]

I guess this one by Landa Global at 10th & Alma is proceeding.
The Hive has a story on it now.
Somehow, it looks better in the new rendering:

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/3668-west-10th-avenue-vancouver-landa-global

Originally Posted by chrisel

Looks like this will be going up at the former Gas station plot which was bought by Landa:
Source: https://www.landaglobal.com/projects/alma-intro/

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by officedweller

You'd need a rezoning application to add a balcony to bonus density if you glass it in - same as if you remove solarium glass doors you need a rezoning application (and likely a purchase of heritage density) to change a solarium from bonus density to actual living space density (whatever it's called).
You occasionally see people doing it legally on the DPB meeting agendas.
If you do it illegally, you're opening yourself up for a lawsuit from a future purchaser.

oh ok, they always look so tacky when they do that

[Feathered Friend]

It is no secret to anyone who has spent time at City Hall lately that the UDP panel this term is barely functioning. Currently the UDP has only filled 70% of the available slots, with half of the slots for architects sitting empty. In short, most meetings are just barely reaching quorum. This was bound to cause problems, and finally a project, fell victim to this lack of volunteers. While there were 6 of 13 members in attendance, 2 individuals had to recuse themselves due to conflict of interest. At only 4 members, the panel fell out of quorum, losing the ability to render a decision. There was a debate on whether the panel should even provide commentary on the project or move on to the next proposal. The applicant team expressed their interest in the remaining members’ views, as their team had already committed their time to this meeting, and would like to see at least something result from it.

For those interested, you can get the summary of the remaining panel member's opinions below:
cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/02/24/udp-lacks-volunteer-members-to-function-red-tape-may-delay-40-rental-homes-on-kingsway/