Downtown Vancouver Updates

[Changing City]

I read the limited information we have so far as suggesting it's a four storey building with 5 storey massing. The double height main floor is retail, so is the third floor, and the smaller 4th and 5th floors are office. The whole thing is under 25,000 sq ft, so it looks like about 8,000 sq ft of office, and 16,000 or so of retail. The single storey of underground parking helps improve the bottom line - trying to squeeze parking for a residential tower of 75,000 sq ft might well have needed an elevator.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Much better than what was there before. But why do they need Double the frontage to build a tower?

It's in the West End plan, they can apply with a shorter frontage if they include more rental/social housing.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

It's in the West End plan, they can apply with a shorter frontage if they include more rental/social housing.

I know it's in the west end plan. I meant more what's the rational behind it.

[scryer]

I'm a bit disappointed as well.

It could have been a taller, skinny retail/hotel/office/rental apartment mix. Hell it's in a predominant enough of a location being Robson street (which is fairly low-rise to begin with).

[officedweller]

The Jervis

From Axiom twitter today - occupancy received...


We have successfully received occupancy at The Jervis!
https://twitter.com/axiombuilders

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Changing City

I read the limited information we have so far as suggesting it's a four storey building with 5 storey massing. The double height main floor is retail, so is the third floor, and the smaller 4th and 5th floors are office. The whole thing is under 25,000 sq ft, so it looks like about 8,000 sq ft of office, and 16,000 or so of retail. The single storey of underground parking helps improve the bottom line - trying to squeeze parking for a residential tower of 75,000 sq ft might well have needed an elevator.

Would all that be worth it in the end vs. just retaining the hotel? Or is this building just a placeholder?

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Would all that be worth it in the end vs. just retaining the hotel? Or is this building just a placeholder?

There has to be some economic logic, or it wouldn't have happened. The total floorspace of the hotel was about the same as the new retail/office building.

The old hotel was a 1976 conversion of a 1955 apartment building, so must have had some issues that meant refurbishment wasn't viable - (seismic maybe?). We're seeing some new boutique hotels being built (like Amacon's project in the Catholic Charities building on Robson), but presumably here retail and office is considered a better investment than a replacement modest sized hotel.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

Much better than what was there before. But why do they need Double the frontage to build a tower?

Tall skinny taller towers would be frowned upon in this fair city, especially along the "village" retail streets.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Vin

Tall skinny taller towers would be frowned upon in this fair city, especially along the "village" retail streets.

It's not in the "village" part of Robson. It is on a part of Robson designated for higher density towers...

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The whole thing is under 25,000 sq ft, so it looks like about 8,000 sq ft of office, and 16,000 or so of retail.

The project is posted on the City website now: just under 10,000 sq ft of office and 14,000 of retail. With the Landmark redevelopment across the street that's quite a bit of new retail on Robson where there hasn't been any before.

[mcminsen]

The Burrard Building at Georgia and Burrard.




Oct.14 '18, my pics

[connect2source]

Thanks mcminsen, hoarding for the flagship Hermes.

[officedweller]

A 2-storey facade will blend better with the 2 storey Tiffany façade.

[Vin]

Interesting to note that this site is supposed to be for the "mother of all towers" in Vancouver. Hopefully, they won't build the tallest tower here, but somewhere else more deserving.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by csbvan

It's not in the "village" part of Robson. It is on a part of Robson designated for higher density towers...

It sure looks like a continuation of the "village" to me, from Burrard all the way to Denman street. Things are changing, but not much is happening still. Even the Empire Landmark Hotel redevelopment is a major letdown knowing what used to be there. Robson Street had been neglected way too long and that's why it is what it is today.

[officedweller]

Entrance at 840 Howe (Robson Court) - by me the other night:



These are the "before" shots.
Can't tell if they've removed the big stained glass window from the back window.

[IMG][/IMG]
https://gwlraleasing.com/building.php?building=robson-court#gallery-3

[IMG][/IMG]
https://gwlraleasing.com/building.php?building=robson-court#gallery-3

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Vin

Interesting to note that this site is supposed to be for the "mother of all towers" in Vancouver. Hopefully, they won't build the tallest tower here, but somewhere else more deserving.

Maybe not on that site, but along Georgia, I'd love to see the I.M.Pei building that Klazu calls "his favorite unbuilt building." It was supposed to have been where the TD Tower is now.
It's so sleek, so elegant, so "urbane" and sophisticated-looking that it deserves to be build in a high-profile location. Adding a few floors to it couldn't hurt any, either. Just my wish.
It might not be "The Mother of All Towers," but it would sure be a handsome addition. Personally, I'd like to see it here, but kitty-corner to Trump, at the HSBC site would be good, IMO.

[Vancouver_Highrise]

Looks like they are planning to re-do the retail space where Hook and The 3 Brits occupy on davie and denman... looks like generic glass boxes..

[officedweller]

From VancouverMarket.ca:

1318 Thurlow


New renderings of 1318 Thurlow Street, an assembly of a condo building & two apartment buildings sold by our team to partnership of @Stranddev & @intracorphomes. 30-storey tower includes 121 condo units & 39 units of social housing.
https://twitter.com/vancouvermrkt


https://twitter.com/vancouvermrkt

[dleung]

What is this, the early 90's?