Vancouver House (1400 Howe St) | 151.5m | 52Fl | Completed

[domusile]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

You were looking into the rental units.

UCW is taking space in the podium buildings still being built. I just grabbed the floor plans for those two podium buildings and if they are taking 90,000 square feet then it looks like there's no room for any retail in any of the two other podium buildings because if you add up all the space it's 87K feet of usable space.

Level 1 6,433
Level 2 20,704
Level 3 26,585
Level 4 23,912
Level 5 7,211
Level 6 2,161

https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applications/1412-1460howe/documents/fsrcalcs_rev.pdf

Isn't momofuku in one of the office buildings?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by domusile

Isn't momofuku in one of the office buildings?

Seems like there might be more like 100+K square feet in 1461 and 1462 Granville so there might be some retail at the ground floor then.

http://vancouverhouse.ca/plans/

[skylinegazer]

view from metrotown



from - https://www.remax.ca/bc/burnaby-real-estate/2502-6088-willingdon-avenue-wp_id254451142-lst

[skylinegazer]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

Interesting tenant for this space. Hopefully the student population should add some vibrancy.

I have barely heard of University Canada West so I just did some cursory reading... and it's not a pretty story.

It's a private for-profit school that is almost wholly focused on international students from India. It was started by the former president of UVic in a former elementary school. It was almost instantly granted 'university' status by the BC Liberals while still working out of that interim facility and with the new-found designation it expanded its course offerings and bought a Victoria-area arts school (whose students promptly quit en masse). They opened a Vancouver campus and scaled back the course offerings in Victoria and ultimately announced a complete closure of the Victoria campus the day after the tuition refund date passed but offered to let students continue their studies in Vancouver, but at their own cost to move. Classy.

Its founder bailed fairly quickly and it's been sold a few times and is now owned by a Dutch company that owns degree mills around the world. A string of presidents with solid educational leadership experience (BCIT, KPU, etc.) have been involved, but they don't hang around long.

Perhaps (hopefully) they've turned the corner somewhere along the line? It devalues Canadian post-secondary to call a small private for-profit college with generic business and MBA (ha!) programs working out of a few floors of an old office building downtown a 'university'. It's a matchbook college, and it's clearly making enough money to afford a fancy new campus, and it targets international students who want a Canadian 'university' degree but didn't have the grades and/or resources for Canada's public universities. That just doesn't sit very well with me.

thanks for the research! I remember them from about 10 years ago, but thought they went kaput

[SpongeG]

The ground level is for retail, the above space is office space and will be the floors that the university will occupy. They will have a ground floor lobby most likely but the area needs the retail, classrooms at street level would be a big mistake.

I got to see the Chandelier in person, it is way bigger in person than it is in photos or videos its really quite massive and mesmerizing to watch spin. It's a very busy intersection so people get honked at a lot as everyone gravitates to go underneath it.

If you haven't gone to watch it go do it its worth the trek. I went two nights in a row. I could probably enjoy it 7 days a week lol.

2020-01-06_12-48-17 by snub_you, on Flickr

There is also someone living in one of the units, maybe a renter?

some other pics of the area.

2020-01-06_12-47-34 by snub_you, on Flickr

2020-01-06_12-47-29 by snub_you, on Flickr

2020-01-06_12-47-23 by snub_you, on Flickr

2020-01-06_12-47-15 by snub_you, on Flickr

2020-01-06_12-47-10 by snub_you, on Flickr

2020-01-06_12-42-38 by snub_you, on Flickr

2020-01-06_12-42-24 by snub_you, on Flickr

[Zepfancouver]

[QUOTE=SpongeG;8792135] There is also someone living in one of the units, maybe a renter?

Dec 14 - I also notice the new residents, they have a front row view. These suites below the bridge deck are the ones I would choose to live in. I enjoy people watching. It's a better neighborhood community experience.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

The ground level is for retail, the above space is office space and will be the floors that the university will occupy. They will have a ground floor lobby most likely but the area needs the retail, classrooms at street level would be a big mistake.

I got to see the Chandelier in person, it is way bigger in person than it is in photos or videos its really quite massive and mesmerizing to watch spin. It's a very busy intersection so people get honked at a lot as everyone gravitates to go underneath it.

If you haven't gone to watch it go do it its worth the trek. I went two nights in a row. I could probably enjoy it 7 days a week lol.


2020-01-06_12-47-10 by snub_you, on Flickr

Is that road open to traffic? if so it seems a pretty dangerous placement of the artwork to encourage people to stand in the middle of traffic.

[nds88]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Is that road open to traffic? if so it seems a pretty dangerous placement of the artwork to encourage people to stand in the middle of traffic.

Some people will do anything for the 'gram https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_selfie-related_injuries_and_deaths

I haven't seen this light in person. How is the cleanliness of the bridge? I'd imagine underneath the bridge and the support columns could use a good power washing. That would make the bridge area much more attractive.

[rofina]

For the people that were saying "whats the point?"

Thats the point!

People are gathering and watching this thing come down and spin. Its generate dozens and dozens of blogger videos and hundredths of photos.

Its art. Not everyone has to like it. People are enjoying it. That's the point.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by rofina

For the people that were saying "whats the point?"

Thats the point!

People are gathering and watching this thing come down and spin. Its generate dozens and dozens of blogger videos and hundredths of photos.

Its art. Not everyone has to like it. People are enjoying it. That's the point.

It has also generated a lot of controvery and criticism, though you wouldn't know it from reading this thread.

[Migrant_Coconut]

A statue of a poodle or a salt pile generates controversy and criticism. Let people have their fun; worst comes to worst, the intersection becomes a roundabout.

[Vin]

I propose putting another two or three chandeliers all the way to Pacific Boulevard. Would be awesome when they all spin together.

[SpongeG]

there was a constant flow of mostly taxis going through, the cars mostly pulled over and watched, it was just the taxis that were wanting to get through honking at people. I thought it was going to be over a sidewalk/pedestrian spot but it is really dead centre of the intersection there, at least it's not too busy for vehicular traffic.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by Vin

I propose putting another two or three chandeliers all the way to Pacific Boulevard. Would be awesome when they all spin together.

Considering how ridiculously expensive this one was, I doubt more will be built.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Considering how ridiculously expensive this one was, I doubt more will be built.

yeah the cost shocks me the most. and i still don't think i like how the city allowed them to amalgamate other art contributions for other projects into this one single thing.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Considering how ridiculously expensive this one was, I doubt more will be built.

I have a feeling if more were built, the costs would be a fraction of the 20-odd million, and it also depends on where you get them manufactured that determines the final total invoice. I also wonder if there were any kickbacks for this art installation to render it so expensive.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

... and i still don't think i like how the city allowed them to amalgamate other art contributions for other projects into this one single thing.

Agreed.
Would other developers be allowed to do that?

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Agreed.
Would other developers be allowed to do that?

doubtful. how many other developers can make the CoV bend over for less than the cost of a beer?

i don't see why they were allowed to do that. just because they under-estimated the cost, why should that be the Cities problem? they agreed they'd provide this, and the cost should be the job of the developer. cost overruns and all. i still don't see why it cost so much more than they thought? it feels like something shady went on. i.e. developer pays more to artist who in turn gives some back to the developer; something shady like that probably happened. art is very subjective. everyone wins, except the City/Citizens.

i would like to know the details on why/how this was negotiated. was it CoV staff? or was it council? what was lost out on? and what was gained? all i can see is the developer gave what it promised while getting out of the requirement for another ~3? projects. it seems like the City lost.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

i would like to know the details on why/how this was negotiated. was it CoV staff? or was it council? what was lost out on? and what was gained? all i can see is the developer gave what it promised while getting out of the requirement for another ~3? projects. it seems like the City lost.

I mean when you get something as subjective as a public art contribution what do you expect? Should artists get the money and then do as they like or should it go into a fund for the city to dole out? (Developers have the option of either).

There's a public art committee but they probably just advise council.

Vancouver House was $1.2 million, Butterfly was another $1 million. So the two the other projects would have been big as well. Maybe 720 Beatty?

[Design-mind]

Correct me if I am wrong but did not the developer pay for the chandelier?
Why the controversy?

That is like saying you cannot buy this certain piece of art as it is to expensive. The nice part is the developer put this on public display for anyone to enjoy, instead of hiding it away in his private home.