Great Canadian Skyline Thread II - Page 626

esquire · #**12501** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 6:07 PM**

I still think about eating hamburgers at that White Spot a few years ago. From a land value perspective that humble establishment might have been the most valuable restaurant that I have ever patronized.

Chadillaccc · #**12502** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 7:16 PM**

https://www.visitcalgary.com/node?page=2

logan5 · #**12503** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 8:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

This is just a fun exercise but let's say we rebuilt the White Spot on Georgia Street in Vancouver as triplexes.

It's just under an acre, and the triplex lots are often around 10x30 m. We could fit about 14 triplexes onto that site (probably fewer). That gives us 42 units.

It sold for $245M a few years ago. Each triplex unit would have about $5.8M in land costs. So sticker price $6M, annual municipal tax bill $15,000. Maybe we can interest Jeff Bezos in a 3rd storey walkup.

Land cost is based on what you can build on it. If the Whitespot property was zoned for triplexes, or around FSR 1.0, the property would sell for nowhere close to 245 million. Maybe like a tenth of that.

someone123 · #**12504** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 8:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan5

Land cost is based on what you can build on it. If the Whitespot property was zoned for triplexes, or around FSR 1.0, the property would sell for nowhere close to 245 million. Maybe like a tenth of that.

I agree. The earlier discussion was about why Vancouver doesn't have triplexes. They were not built in the past and they are not economical today.

logan5 · #**12505** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 8:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

I agree. The earlier discussion was about why Vancouver doesn't have triplexes. They were not built in the past and they are not economical today.

Why are they not economical today? if you rezone, say, Arbutus Ridge to triplexes or some form of ground oriented units that are less costly to build than condos, what would be wrong with that? Unless you are talking only about downtown Vancouver. Obviously that wouldn't work.

someone123 · #**12506** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 8:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan5

Why are they not economical today? if you rezone, say, Arbutus Ridge to triplexes or some form of ground oriented units that are less costly to build than condos, what would be wrong with that? Unless you are talking only about downtown Vancouver. Obviously that wouldn't work.

Because each triplex plot is worth $1M+. Probably $2-3M+ in the Arbutus Ridge area. If the goal is to just force triplexes to be built for rich people because they look cool then maybe it's doable, assuming the foreign buyer gravy train continues. It's not a good housing strategy.

If the housing market crashes here maybe they will be viable in East Van.

Zeej · #**12507** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 8:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

Not exactly. Triplexes never stopped being built. They changed form slightly, with basement garages being added in the 1960s, a more suburban form in the 1980s, then an urban revival starting the 1990s. But the fundamental logic of Montreal housing (small apartment buildings with multiple street entrances and few/no common areas) was never really altered.

1955:

https://goo.gl/maps/edFWfG8banHqfSb77

1965 (left), 2014 (right):

https://goo.gl/maps/YnLRsKHzPt5QKxCA7

1985:

https://goo.gl/maps/FraAF9YGNgFYjwht8

1994:

https://goo.gl/maps/7RudipBcidwE6rM99

2001:

https://goo.gl/maps/wnA98nVfXys5eHZWA

2019:

https://goo.gl/maps/AUZF6AhitrAW7cCQ8

The curving outdoor staircase has even made a comeback, as you can see in the examples from 2014 and 2019.

Very good/interesting analysis of the evolution of the Montreal triplex which, as you mentioned, continues to be part of the city's urban vernacular.

I quite like the 1994 po-mo-esque iteration as well as the paired down 2019 version. But damn, there are a lot of those quasi-suburban 2001 developments around town that are pretty harsh IMO.

Black Star · #**12508** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chadillaccc

https://www.visitcalgary.com/node?page=2

Yikes....2 of the best pics I've seen of our less attractive sister to the south

Chadillaccc · #**12509** Posted **Mar 27, 2020, 10:06 PM**

That's a good joke

Coldrsx · #**12510** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 1:39 PM**

A few new shots.

https://twitter.com/kmoorephotos/status/1243774659985727488
@kmoorephotos

Monolith · #**12511** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 5:05 PM**

^^^ Edmonton looking beautiful; such a nicely balanced city ^^^

Vancouver

1098 Wolfe Avenue Vancouver Drone-12 by ONIKON Creative, on Flickr

1098 Wolfe Avenue Vancouver Drone-15 by ONIKON Creative, on Flickr

Coldrsx · #**12512** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 5:26 PM**

^some of the more insane properties along that curve...

zahav · #**12513** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 10:38 PM**

^^ exactly, that is just behind "The Crescent" which is the unofficial heart of First Shaughnessy. I live at Cambie and 16 (just out of the first shot, but only about 10 min walk from the subject of the photo), and go for walks in that neighbourhood a lot. It feels like Bel Air or Beverly Hills, just west coast version

kool maudit · #**12514** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 10:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zahav

It feels like Bel Air or Beverly Hills, just west coast version

zahav · #**12515** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 10:58 PM**

If you ever walked through that area you would know, it's huge houses on massive lots

isaidso · #**12516** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 11:29 PM**

My friend is holed up at his parents' place in Shaughnessy atm. He once mentioned that it was a pleasant neighbourhood but it looks like every other wealthy enclave I've seen.

Nouvellecosse · #**12517** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 11:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zahav

It feels like Bel Air or Beverly Hills, just west coast version

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool maudit

logan5 · #**12518** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 11:52 PM**

Vancouver House looks massive from that angle. Rare view from the south that captures all of the north shore mountains, the dt peninsula, and the broadway corridor.

Incredible skyline shot that few cities in the world could match.

Nouvellecosse · #**12519** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 11:57 PM**

I have to admit that it really bothers me to see large lot SFHs that close to the centre of town. It's like an OCD thing or something. Like, I want to take all the houses and push them closer together and take all the excess land and put it to a more useful purpose. Beautiful picture though. At least once you crop out the bottom half.

We have the same thing in Halifax though with parts of the south end so I'm not specifically picking on Vancouver.

isaidso · #**12520** Posted **Mar 31, 2020, 11:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

I have to admit that it really bothers me to see large lot SFHs that close to the centre of town. It's like an OCD thing or something. Like, I want to take all the houses and push them closer together and take all the excess land and put it to a more useful purpose. Beautiful picture though. At least once you crop out the bottom half.

Sort of like Rosedale in Toronto. I suppose the South End in Halifax fits that description too. They're remnants of a time gone by and would never be possible if built today. In that sense, I like them as historical markers.

South End Halifax home

Courtesy of CBC