Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Metro-One]

It is sad to think that Edmonton has now surpassed Vancouver in height, and Quebec City and Ottawa are going to be doing the same with their new tallest projects (all 3 of those cities also surpassing Burnaby’s Gilmore Place as well).

The proposal in Ottawa (which is located at their rail systmem’s future hub) is what should already exist at Commercial / Broadway.

It is getting frustrating how our region seems to have a real phobia towards height. We are not some 1000 year old European city (even then most of them have districts with taller towers).

It is great to see so many tower projects happening in Vancouver, but out of the current batch, only one is notable / substantial in height, and only 3 others make up for their lack of height with interesting designs.

The rest are just frustrating 120ish metre towers (tall, but not tall) with pleasant but vanilla designs that scream for an extra 50 or 75 metres.

[Aroundtheworld]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

It is sad to think that Edmonton has now surpassed Vancouver in height, and Quebec City and Ottawa are going to be doing the same with their new tallest projects (all 3 of those cities also surpassing Burnaby’s Gilmore Place as well).

The proposal in Ottawa (which is located at their rail systmem’s future hub) is what should already exist at Commercial / Broadway.

It is getting frustrating how our region seems to have a real phobia towards height. We are not some 1000 year old European city (even then most of them have districts with taller towers).

It is great to see so many tower projects happening in Vancouver, but out of the current batch, only one is notable / substantial in height, and only 3 others make up for their lack of height with interesting designs.

The rest are just frustrating 120ish metre towers (tall, but not tall) with pleasant but vanilla designs that scream for an extra 50 or 75 metres.

I think Downtown could use a 250m tall tower. It would be a good addition to the skyline. I don't see us every having some much taller than that though.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Aroundtheworld

I think Downtown could use a 250m tall tower. It would be a good addition to the skyline. I don't see us every having some much taller than that though.

You pretty much read my mind, a few towers between 220 and 250 metres would do wonders for the downtown skyline.

Not asking for a super tall or anything (even though 300 metres isn’t what it once was anymore either) but not a single tower over 200 metres? That’s ridiculous for a young modern North American city that loves to self proclaim itself as green and embracing density (especially around transit stations).

The height issue didn’t bother me so much years ago when Vancouver was pretty standard in height for cities in Canada, but now even Edmonton, Burnaby, Ottawa and Quebec City are / will be building taller. Montreal also has a couple of new 200 metre towers proposed, Portland Oregon has a supertall proposed, Seattle as usual is building taller, Denver has a supertall in the works as well I believe, San Fran has been growing much taller... well, you get where this is going.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

city that loves to self proclaim itself as green and embracing density (especially around transit stations).

you mean like that 8 floor building at Cambie and Broadway where Canada-Line and Millennium-Line will converge? the Canada-Line going to the regions #1 job centre and the Millennium-Line heading through/to the #2 job centre?

yup, they sure embrace density... as the saying goes "actions speak louder than words," and the actions are saying "no density for you!"

[logan5]

I think we will see 1 or 2 700 footers relatively soon (as per West End plan, or a future plan), but my prediction is that we will see an 800' plus tower at the St. Pauls site. That being such a large heritage retention project, I can see the City heavily relaxing height restrictions for that site.

That being said, even if they built 10 Stantecs in Edmonton, it's still going to be snoozeville.

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

you mean like that 8 floor building at Cambie and Broadway where Canada-Line and Millennium-Line will converge? the Canada-Line going to the regions #1 job centre and the Millennium-Line heading through/to the #2 job centre?

yup, they sure embrace density... as the saying goes "actions speak louder than words," and the actions are saying "no density for you!"

In fairness, the City asked the applicant to hold off on that proposal until after the new Broadway area plan is approved. Apparently the family who owns the site wanted it redeveloped asap, as the head of the family is (was?) critically ill. Assuming we're talking about the former Original Joe's location.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

In fairness, the City asked the applicant to hold off on that proposal until after the new Broadway area plan is approved.

In fairness, the City and mayor have had 10 years to develop such a plan and other plans which get serious about the vital importance of massive density increases at Vancouver’s busiest transportation nodes. And yet on their 10-year watch not a single major project will have been built for the Waterfront Transportation Hub, Commercial-Broadway Hub or Broadway Corridor-Cambie Hub, Vancouver’s three busiest and most important nodes.

[officedweller]

Pic by me tonight

400 Dunsmuir / 401 West Georgia



Based on FF's model pics - looks like it will be almost half the height of the 401 West Georgia tower.

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

I had to double check this was for 401 West Georgia, as I find the model very underwhelming when compared to the renderings.

[osirisboy]

I wonder why they didn't go higher given that it was fully leased by amazon. Seems like they could've built more office space and easily lease it

Would be great to see the Georgia side get redone.

[logan5]

Dang. I wish that building was 50 stories tall.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

The Smithe

May 9 '18, my pics

Originally Posted by officedweller

The Smithe

Pic by me yesterday:

June 23 '18, my pics

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by logan5

That being said, even if they built 10 Stantecs in Edmonton, it's still going to be snoozeville.

Cute.

[logan5]

My point is that these glassy tower districts don’t work very well at creating an interesting urban environment. Coal Harbour is terrible. City Place is terrible.

[Feathered Friend]

Neil Denari sets a new Peak in Downtown Vancouver’s Architecture
902 Davie

As we’ve said before, Darren and I have a real love of pre-application events. Despite this Darren was committed to seeing the last item of Wednesday’s UDP meeting, so I had time to view this proposal alone, and enjoy a cup of coffee too. That was hard, as I was really excited after viewing the boards. This is easily one of the best designs Vancouver has seen, and I was happy to tease Darren about it until he eventually joined me at the open house.

While Vancouver’s view corridors have preserved beautiful views of the North Shore Mountains from several locations in the City, they are also responsible for Vancouver’s infamous tabletop skyline, and also lead to many buildings having a simple squared box roof. While this site is affected by two of these view cones (views of the Lions from the Laurel Landbridge and Charleston Park), as well as policy that limits shadow on Davie Street west of Burrard, the architect has simply viewed these as challenges to be overcome.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/06/29...eak-in-downtown-vancouvers-architecture/

[Vin]

Originally Posted by logan5

My point is that these glassy tower districts don’t work very well at creating an interesting urban environment. Coal Harbour is terrible. City Place is terrible.

You are wrong. The ICE District in Edmonton isn't just a "glassy tower district", but a mixed use development of a mall, office, entertainment residential, hotel and other amenities. Just the Cineplex itself will bring lots of foot traffic into the neighbourhood. It will be a vibrant district, unlike all the underwhelming projects built in Vancouver.

If you are unfamiliar with that, go take a look yourself:

http://icedistrictproperties.com/

The downtown area of Edmonton is certainly thinking big.

For Vancouver, Coal Harbour would've been an awesome place if the city allowed a mall (possibly attached to the convention centre), a cineplex, or a performance concert hall built there, all connected with undergound passages with retail.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/06/29...eak-in-downtown-vancouvers-architecture/

This is the one to replace the run-down 7-11 store? I guess they decided not to go with the micro-suites. I rather liked the earlier proposal of the black building with the big red splotch.

[officedweller]

Thanks for the post.

I wonder if the "Shadowing Consideration" (over Burrard & Davie) is mandated?
That carve-out fomo the tower form will be negated if the building on the corner is ever redeveloped any taller than it is now. That particular carve-out seems to reduce the usefulness of the upper parts of the tower.

PS - WRT your posts, can you please add a title to the top of each post so we know what the subject matter is without wondering until we reach the bottom of the post? That would be much appreciated.

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

[osirisboy]

If they got rid of that carve out and it just went straight up and making the upper floors more useful you would think that would help make units more economical?

[officedweller]

The old version did not have that shadow carve-out:


http://projects.denari.co/902-DAVIE-2013
https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2018/06/19...es-return-with-space-for-families-homes/

[Vin]

Despite our City's unaffordability, dumb City policies strike again to lessen the amount of housing space. I suppose mountain views are a lot more important.