Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Bdawe]

Originally Posted by Vin

However, you don't own a business in Yaletown, do you?

Every time the issue is studied in any rigorous way, the conclusion is always the same - the business owners always wildly overestimate the importance of car traffic for bringing people to their businesses.

If we are to be reasonable, we should assume that the business owners are wrong here too, as they are always and everywhere that had a fight over parking reallocation, until they prove themselves otherwise.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Bdawe

Every time the issue is studied in any rigorous way, the conclusion is always the same - the business owners always wildly overestimate the importance of car traffic for bringing people to their businesses.

If we are to be reasonable, we should assume that the business owners are wrong here too, as they are always and everywhere that had a fight over parking reallocation, until they prove themselves otherwise.

I have never seen rigorous studies for this issue, but maybe that's just me. I wonder where the results can be seen. Care to share, particularly for the Yaletown neighbourhood?

[Feathered Friend]

1810 Alberni
Imagine how you would spend the night before Valentine’s Day- does an evening spent at the Westin Bayshore sound romantic? What if there were plenty of free tasty treats, like Nanaimo Bars, Brownies, Fruits, and much more? Perhaps you could watch while an episode of Super Girl was filmed? and, to top it all off, end the night with a beautiful building model and comment sheet… well, maybe you are slightly more romantic than Darren or I…

While the renderings show the building as a monotone white, there is actually some depth to it. Though it is hidden in the renderings, you can see in the models that there is a walnut paneling that divides the the building- an element we both like.

Read more about the night of the open house and our feelings about the building here : https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/0...est-end-homes/

[osirisboy]

Would be nice if the udp could start recomending developers use less spandrel.

[officedweller]

Why does the façade with the most spandrel face Denman?
(i.e. is most visible?)
Can't they rotate the tower so the spandrel side faces west (future building site?)

[Graham_Yvr]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Why does the façade with the most spandrel face Denman?
(i.e. is most visible?)
Can't they rotate the tower so the spandrel side faces west (future building site?)

The views are to the north - to Coal Harbour/Park/Mountains. I'm guessing the building is oriented to maximize that view. Also, less windows over Denman = less noise/fumes in the homes.

I hear ya though. That makes an unattractive facade facing the main commercial street.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Graham_Yvr

The views are to the north - to Coal Harbour/Park/Mountains. I'm guessing the building is oriented to maximize that view. Also, less windows over Denman = less noise/fumes in the homes.

I hear ya though. That makes an unattractive facade facing the main commercial street.

I meant a 180 rotation (not 90).
The side facing another building site should be more solid surface - even if they'd have good - temporary - west-facing views.
The City should not be creating a situation where future owners will complain about view loss to the west
- that west side should really be mostly solid surface with some punched out windows.

[vanman]

If they lost the spandrel and the rooftop cage this would be a decent proposal.

[logan5]

Or at least create some interesting contrast using a dark coloured spandrel. Black maybe?

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I meant a 180 rotation (not 90).
The side facing another building site should be more solid surface - even if they'd have good - temporary - west-facing views.
The City should not be creating a situation where future owners will complain about view loss to the west
- that west side should really be mostly solid surface with some punched out windows.

I hear what you're saying. Though that redevelopment won't be happening anytime soon, as everything west of 1810 Alberni sits in the "neighbourhoods" area of the West End Plan. In short, everything over there will stay short for the foreseeable future.

[Feathered Friend]

I arrived late to the meeting, but in time to hear a panel member express severe disappointment with the building’s streetscape, questioning why the applicant elected for a non-retail use on the Davie Street frontage. Another panelist was near outrage at the lack of information the applicant provided, as well as the lack of an urban design, stating that it made it near impossible to comment on the project. While I wasn’t able to capture all the responses from the applicant, one that stood out was about the height of the podium. The explanation was that if the podium was shorter, the additional density would have been transferred to the tower. This would make the very large floor plates into an even more massive space resulting in units that would be extremely large and expensive.

The rest of the UDP's rebuke can be read here or you can wait till the minutes come out
https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/0...il-in-project/

[SpongeG]

i am so disoriented and there are so many buildings going up on davie. Is this the mansion site or across the street on the south side? or?

either way there is no retail now on that site if it is where I think it is, why would they want to add it now?

[osirisboy]

Very bizarre that the udp is expecting retail there! One thing I don't like is how the project interacts with the corner of davie and nicola.

People thought the podium was too high?! I thought if anything it should be higher lol

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by logan5

Or at least create some interesting contrast using a dark coloured spandrel. Black maybe?

Omg that's madness. The udp would loose their shit lol

[Graham_Yvr]

Ah, right. I see your point.

[GenWhy?]

For the Davie and Nicola St building it's odd (and not so odd) that the UD Panel cited retail at grade even though the West End does not cite that this area east of Cadero need or demands retail. It does west of Cadero, however. So knowing the UDP's knowledge I guess they would assume maybe 1 CRU or a full continuation of mixed-use activity along Davie, which isn't in the plan. It was and will be a residential section. Currently the RM section bordered by C zones up and down Davie. This is the crap I deal with. You follow an area or community plan that is new, and you get stomped on. Or you try to improve a project for an area that still has a plan from either the 80's or 90's and you get stomped on. Even though it's a separate policy, Laneways 2.0, I do agree with their laneway townhome comment, maybe it came from Urban Design or Housing.

Also, the podium in the design is almost as high as what is currently there and in the plan allows 3-storeys, which is low, IMO. What was low hanging fruit for the UDP was the podium, or lack there of, at the corner. I think this speaks to a lack of architects on the panel. Bonus density comes in the form of rental or social housing, 7 FSR, and 58 metres in height. They're at full height now. They provide 51 social housing units, which is 40% of the units. They're at 7 FSR.

This isn't a rezoning even. This is a joke.

[GenWhy?]

Went through their development application and it is a little sloppy. It's like they wanted their Dev. Permit with some vague elements is some parts and wait to make is certain and clarify once they apply for their Building Permit. Which is not good.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks

Here's the description and rendering.
There are 2 orphaned sites (one next to each building).



and from Changing City Updates:

https://changingcitybook.com/2016/07...-drake-street/


http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...rake/index.htm


http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...rake/index.htm


https://changingcitybook.com/2016/07...-drake-street/


http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...rake/index.htm

The construction of 530 Drake Street (across from Covenant House) is well under way now.



Feb.26 '18, my pics









Here's how it looked back in the summer of 2016 as the Immigrant Services Society building.



July 20 '16, my pic

[officedweller]

Thanks for the update!

[officedweller]

Vancouver's Empire Landmark Hotel begins 'quiet' demolition in March
http://<br /> http://vancouversun.c...ition-in-march