Landmark on Robson | Completed

[bb1510]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

You can see them on Youtube. They come on tracks and also have shear/drill attachments..

I did..I was just confused as to why they are so special as it just seems like the same pneumatic attachment on excavators used to demolish concrete buildings around the world except on a remote controlled body

[Demoguy]

I was under the same assumption.... I have worked around lots of hydraulic drills... definitely much quiter than pneumatic drills however the application is still just as loud...... unless there using shears.... then I would have to agree... are they using shears or hammer? Hmmm just thought about it .... definitely munch the concrete instead of hammering it out ....

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Vanville

Cloud 9 à la nude (my pic):

^^^ Vanville's post was July 2. Here are a couple of pics as seen from Denman Street today.



Aug.1 '18, my pics

[logan5]

Just looking at building teardowns, and this building is one of the taller buildings to ever be demolished. Sixteenth tallest according to Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...shed_buildings

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by logan5

Just looking at building teardowns, and this building is one of the taller buildings to ever be demolished. Sixteenth tallest according to Wikipedia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...shed_buildings

I wonder how they'll take down something like the Empire State when its time comes?

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I wonder how they'll take down something like the Empire State when its time comes?

I feel like a building like the Empire State Building is so famous as Big Ben that it would never get taken down. They may restore it and or update the building but tear it down is highly unlikely. If it comes down because of a natural disaster then that is another story.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

I feel like a building like the Empire State Building is so famous as Big Ben that it would never get taken down. They may restore it and or update the building but tear it down is highly unlikely. If it comes down because of a natural disaster then that is another story.

Yeah, probably not. The fact that it was the first old 'scraper I could think of will attest to that.

Something like Scotia or TD Tower, then. Really, if a 121-metre building is "too old" and "too small," then eventually all our high rises will have to make way for the Vancouver from Mass Effect 3.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

I feel like a building like the Empire State Building is so famous as Big Ben that it would never get taken down. They may restore it and or update the building but tear it down is highly unlikely. If it comes down because of a natural disaster then that is another story.

I seem to recall there was an old episode of Thunderbirds that covered this exact question.

[bb1510]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

I wonder how they'll take down something like the Empire State when its time comes?

Take a look at Unbuilding by Dave Macaulay, it's an interesting read; it takes the hypothetical situation of a middle eastern billionaire who purchases the site of the empire state building and wants to demolish it while relocating just the crown to a park

[Vanville]

Something is definitely munching away on top of the old Landmark...



My pics Aug.8

[rofina]

I hope the developer at least has pockets deep enough to go through with this project.

If we end up with a vacant lot and no condos because market is soft, its the worst possible outcome.

[240glt]

That’s quite something to see. It’ll be very interesting to follow the process

[bb1510]

Originally Posted by rofina

I hope the developer at least has pockets deep enough to go through with this project.

If we end up with a vacant lot and no condos because market is soft, its the worst possible outcome.

The developer's mother company Asia Standard International is a listed company in HK, albeit not a super large scale one; they have a market cap of 2.36b hkd ~ 300m usd so not that much in terms of HK developers.

The Duke of Westminster through Grosvenor has significant interest in the company

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by rofina

I hope the developer at least has pockets deep enough to go through with this project.

If we end up with a vacant lot and no condos because market is soft, its the worst possible outcome.

I feel, in the current market conditions, this project would have never happened and this building would not be coming down. Rumour has it only a handful of units have sold.

Several more luxury projects will in no-doubt be cancelled in the immediately area and along Alberni. Developers need to scale back and produce more mid-range product as the luxury segment is suffering badly right now, sales and prices are down and inventory is far too high.

It would have been great for the existing Landmark Hotel to be converted into either market-rental or mid-range condo product, modest small one bedrooms and one-and-dens with mid-range finishes. That's what the market needs and that's about the only market segment that's someone healthy right now.

[mcminsen]

This is a bit unexpected. I don't think I've ever seen a praying mantis in Vancouver before. I wonder if it has something to do with climate change.

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by connect2source

I feel, in the current market conditions, this project would have never happened and this building would not be coming down. Rumour has it only a handful of units have sold.

While sales have been slow much more than a handful have sold, it's nearing 50% averaging $3,300 per sq ft. The developer is willing to take a higher risk and longer sales process to get the high price, which not all high end developments may do, so other high end projects may not sell as slow.

Ultimately if I was in the market for a super high end condo I'd be waiting for something more of a landmark than this so that also may be contributing to its slow sales. $3,300 psf for a mediocre design is a tough sell.

[Vin]

I've no respect for any parties that contribute to the demise of this former West End landmark hotel, and subsequent escalated cost of the future condos. I also don't feel sorry for the developers with the slow sales. Potential owners are not only paying for the building they own, but also for the unnecessary demolition costs. They can get way better deals elsewhere.

[LeftCoaster]

I don't think anyone is asking for your sympathy Vin... nor your respect.

Besides, demolition costs would be factored into the land costs, so it would be net neutral. Free and clear land is worth more than land with encumbrances like a aging hotel which would need to be demoed.

[Vanville]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

This is a bit unexpected. I don't think I've ever seen a praying mantis in Vancouver before. I wonder if it has something to do with climate change.

I'm afraid this could become the new normal. Increased temperatures & now this haze which allows them to arrive unannounced...keep an eye out on your building!

If this demo stops we could end up with a situation similar to what befell this structure for a time (Image: City of Vancouver Archives CVA 779-W14.12 - 1100 West Georgia Street north side):


My pic today:

[Vin]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

I don't think anyone is asking for your sympathy Vin... nor your respect.

Besides, demolition costs would be factored into the land costs, so it would be net neutral. Free and clear land is worth more than land with encumbrances like a aging hotel which would need to be demoed.

That really sounds like a car sales person pitch. There is no such thing as net neutral. The costs have to go somewhere, because no one is doing it for free.

Also, I was just stating my opinion, and care less about what you think as I'm not here on a popularity contest. So get off my back will you?