Downtown Vancouver Updates

[officedweller]

The pit for The Smithe:

From Boffo twitter.


https://twitter.com/BoffoGroup

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Parking in Yaletown about to get scarce:

http://www.vancourier.com/news/parking-w...ty-looks-at-taking-away-spots-1.23166202

I'm not sure what to think about this. Those areas have always been way too crowded. I would think however, that removing the back-in only angle spots in the narrow streets there would be enough, leaving the parallel meter parking. Maybe that's what they are doing, it's not clear from this article.

Lots of complaining, but if people died from a fire that was inaccessible to firetrucks, I'm sure we'd be hearing the opposite.

From the Courier:

Both sides of Yaletown parking debate state their cases
http://www.vancourier.com/news/both-sides-of-yaletown-parking-debate-state-their-cases-1.23182961

The green parking would all be parallel parking spaces (no angled parking).


http://www.vancourier.com/news/both-sides-of-yaletown-parking-debate-state-their-cases-1.23182961

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Parking in Yaletown about to get scarce:

http://www.vancourier.com/news/parking-w...ty-looks-at-taking-away-spots-1.23166202

I'm not sure what to think about this. Those areas have always been way too crowded. I would think however, that removing the back-in only angle spots in the narrow streets there would be enough, leaving the parallel meter parking. Maybe that's what they are doing, it's not clear from this article.

Lots of complaining, but if people died from a fire that was inaccessible to firetrucks, I'm sure we'd be hearing the opposite.

Excuse me if I'm a bit off topic, but wow, that streetscape. At once ugly (with the old utility poles) and quaint (as with the artisanal street lights) Made me think of St Louis or such.

[WarrenC12]

Here is the CoV's information boards on this project:

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/yaletown-information-display-boards-february-2018.pdf

Interesting to see the increase in taxi spaces. They are always blocking traffic, so as long as they use this assigned space that's an improvement.

I was surprised at how many public lots exist in the area and the spaces they have. They aren't well advertised IMO.

[officedweller]

I like how they show poor parallel parking:


http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/yaletown-information-display-boards-february-2018.pdf

PS - the blue (P) parking lots marked in the info package are just for monthly parkers.
The lot at the SAP building is, I think, for employees during the day, as it's completely full during the day.
It's often empty at night (presumably it is open at night)
For short duration daytime parking, Lot 22 and Lot 55 are probably the only parking lot options.

[Vin]

I support the local business people call for the City to just remove the parallel parking but leaving the diagonal parking intact. The City should listen for once.

[officedweller]

The Jervis

NSDA Architects twitter today:


Corten Steel signage, construction progress, and snow conditions update.
https://twitter.com/NSDA_Architects


https://twitter.com/NSDA_Architects


https://twitter.com/NSDA_Architects

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I like how they show poor parallel parking:


http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/yaletown-information-display-boards-february-2018.pdf

PS - the blue (P) parking lots marked in the info package are just for monthly parkers.
The lot at the SAP building is, I think, for employees during the day, as it's completely full during the day.
It's often empty at night (presumably it is open at night)
For short duration daytime parking, Lot 22 and Lot 55 are probably the only parking lot options.

Maybe fire departments in Vancouver and other urban areas should have a variety of sized trucks like they do in Japan???

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Maybe fire departments in Vancouver and other urban areas should have a variety of sized trucks like they do in Japan???

The fire station on Hamilton has a SUV size emergency vehicle that gets dispatched often.

They should just remove the parallel parking and the taxis can use that space, since they can move out of the way if needed to.

[bb1510]

While I do support removing the parallel parking spots while retaining the angled stalls, I think the reason why the COV isn't entertaining this option since once you have a longer wheelbase vehicle in the angled stalls like an S class or an Escalade, it'll start impeding into the clearance area whereas for parallel stalls, the amount of width larger vehicles may encroach is minimal vs those of angled stalls

[Vin]

Regarding removal of Yaletown Street parking:


Where's the 6-metre fire truck "staging area" here?

Hornby Street
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2759755,-...i3AEYzJQCCFSiH5CwqB0Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Or here?
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2788745,-...FZiY9di1O0JzIIV9HAsug!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Or here?
Water Street
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2840955,-...pK75c_6iW2mRxoHfwdzeA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Many of the downtown streets used to be a whole lot wider until CoV installed bike lanes. So that does not violate "Fire" code?

I'm so used to CoV coming up with BS/poor excuses when they want something bulldozed through. The tearing down of the viaducts would be one good example.

[osirisboy]

Also the countless residential streets where there is parking on both sides, creating a single narrow lane in the middle

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Not sure if this was already reported here. Fresh from their Langara West debacle, Vivagrande is proposing a 22 story tower at Davie and Nicola:

http://www.vancourier.com/real-estate/22-storey-residential-tower-planned-for-west-end-1.23160838

Buyers, write in a hefty cancellation penalty before you make that pre-sale offer!

Model pic from Changing City Updates:


https://changingcitybook.com/2018/02/19/1485-davie-street/

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

Regarding removal of Yaletown Street parking:


Where's the 6-metre fire truck "staging area" here?

Hornby Street
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2759755,-...i3AEYzJQCCFSiH5CwqB0Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Or here?
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2788745,-...FZiY9di1O0JzIIV9HAsug!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Or here?
Water Street
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2840955,-...pK75c_6iW2mRxoHfwdzeA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Many of the downtown streets used to be a whole lot wider until CoV installed bike lanes. So that does not violate "Fire" code?

I'm so used to CoV coming up with BS/poor excuses when they want something bulldozed through. The tearing down of the viaducts would be one good example.

Did you go out and measure those streets? It looks to me like they are 1 lane, however there would be enough room for 2 cars to squeeze by, or park side-by-side. That's usually around 3m per car.

Compare that to current state Hamilton, where only 1 car can get by, and sometimes barely:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2750161,-...D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I do enjoy your constant search for a vast conspiracy though.

[connect2source]

I think the Yaletown BIA is being a bit dramatic about this. I do business in YT all the time as well as have frequent meetings with clients in various restaurants and bars. There is ample parking on many streets immediately adjacent to Mainland and Hamilton, in fact I avoid both of those streets due to tight parking and outrageous meter rates. Parking on Homer, Richards, Drake is never an issue and never more than a block or two from central YT.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Did you go out and measure those streets? It looks to me like they are 1 lane, however there would be enough room for 2 cars to squeeze by, or park side-by-side. That's usually around 3m per car.

Compare that to current state Hamilton, where only 1 car can get by, and sometimes barely:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.2750161,-...D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I do enjoy your constant search for a vast conspiracy though.

Well, in that case, can't the City just remove the parallel parking and leave the diagonal parking stalls in place? The diagonal ones can park more cars, as per the Yaletown Business Association. Why is the City rejecting them, when they are the ones that cause many other streets in the City to be narrower?

Originally Posted by connect2source

I think the Yaletown BIA is being a bit dramatic about this. I do business in YT all the time as well as have frequent meetings with clients in various restaurants and bars. There is ample parking on many streets immediately adjacent to Mainland and Hamilton, in fact I avoid both of those streets due to tight parking and outrageous meter rates. Parking on Homer, Richards, Drake is never an issue and never more than a block or two from central YT.

However, you don't own a business in Yaletown, do you? I notice the parking stalls are all filled during late hours, when there are a lot more people going there after work for drinks, dinner, etc. Also, perhaps it is the many parking spaces available now that makes it an ease for yourself to find parking in the area. We should not shoot the Golden Goose.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

Well, in that case, can't the City just remove the parallel parking and leave the diagonal parking stalls in place? The diagonal ones can park more cars, as per the Yaletown Business Association. Why is the City rejecting them, when they are the ones that cause many other streets in the City to be narrower?

Those diagonal spots are not... compatible with the average skill of a Vancouver driver.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Those diagonal spots are not... compatible with the average skill of a Vancouver driver.

So are you saying that average Vancouverites are a little more retarded when it comes to parking? As far as I know, diagonal parking exists virtually everywhere in the world. So, what makes you think Vancouverites can't park properly on diagonal parking, or is this another CoV lie that tends to be believed by gullible folks?

FYI, New West has diagonal parking that they installed on the newly openen Front Street. I see cars happily parked there. Also, I haven't seen people fighting in Yaletown due to fender benders from diagonal parking, have you?



New West Front Street (totally flouting Vancouver-style fire codes):
https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.201733,-1...0kliiUHRG7N6rFtyVbRuw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I suppose all the Front street buildings will go up in flames due to an absence of "staging areas".

[WarrenC12]

What, no jokes about Vancouver drivers?

Let's back up a minute. You're suggesting they remove the parallel spots and keep the angle ones. The proposal is to change angle to parallel, keep existing parallel, and make room for some taxi and loading zones. How is removing one entire side of the street parking better? Please show your math.

As for angle parking, it's quite variable based on the size of the vehicle, and maybe they can't maintain that 6 meters if some really large vehicles show up. What about a limo for instance?

[Graham_Yvr]

MODS: Can we move these fire staging/parking posts to "Urban Issues"? I think the topic is better suited there.