Downtown Vancouver Updates

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Obviously there are more details to the story. The red flag to me is the first elevator that was out of service for months already. What's the story there? Did they cheap out on getting it addressed? Yes elevators are "complicated" but we aren't sending people to Mars here.

Our building had one elevator out for about 5 weeks last year, it was a big problem. But the issue was parts of course (supply chain). Once they were in, the elevator maintenance company fixed it pretty quick.

I do agree that elevator maintenance contracts are very expensive and repair companies are their own little oligopoly.

Seems like it's fairly common. From three years ago (Vancouver reddit)

I live in a building of approx 300 units and 1 of 3 elevators have broken down. It's not the first time but this time it's been almost 4 months and still no timeline on when it will be fixed. We're waiting on the elevator company to service the elevator, and it seems like everytime they are about to get started on work, they magically find something else wrong with it that is a costly, proprietary technology that can only be fixed or serviced by them. Then we go back to the standstill of either waiting for parts or being scheduled for repair at a later date.

This building has had non stop issues with the elevators since I moved in (almost a year ago). The one elevator has been down for the last 3 months and the last elevator went down yesterday. Before that always 1 or the other was always down or not working. I guarantee almost all tenants have got stuck in the elevator at least once.

I live in a strata with ongoing on and off elevator issues.

Just be glad it's only 1 of 3 down. We only have 1 elevator. We had more than one four week long stretch last year with no elevator. That was REALLY fun with a baby while I was on mat leave.

I live in a building with about 250 units or so, and three elevators. Generally, at least one is down at any given time and occasionally a second will break for a day or three, leaving us with one working elevator. Last week all three were down for about a full day, before they fixed one, leaving the building with a 5-10 min wait every time you wanted to get in or out.

My building is barely ten years old and I have lived in it since it was built. Ten stories, two elevators, and at least ten times per year one or the other goes offline for days or weeks at a time. I am on the building manager's case but he says "what can we do? Waiting for parts." Always waiting for parts. I presume they are all manufactured on Neptune.

I now work in a heritage building downtown with 3 elevators, one of which is ALWAYS down - for the last 5 years, one or more has been out of service monthly (if not weekly). I'm sure the techs make a mint servicing our building. Would be interesting to see whether the number of trainees are restricted (and if so, how), but for us it seems like there are enough techs available to come by weekly, so it may be more of an issue with part availability.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/d2a9pc/elevator_breakdowns_slow_servicing_and_costly/

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Seems like it's fairly common. From three years ago (Vancouver reddit)

Sure but it's all about the context. It's not that the 2nd elevator went down, it's what was happening with the first one?

Elevators do have issues. Regular maintenance and calling the company when something starts to go wrong or makes a "weird noise" is important to avoid bigger shutdowns for longer periods of time.

Just like anything else, avoiding dealing with the issue then crying to the paper when your lack of preparation catches up to you should be a lesson for others.

I'm not defending elevator companies, they certainly make a mint. One step behind escalators.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Sure but it's all about the context. It's not that the 2nd elevator went down, it's what was happening with the first one?

Elevators do have issues. Regular maintenance and calling the company when something starts to go wrong or makes a "weird noise" is important to avoid bigger shutdowns for longer periods of time.

Just like anything else, avoiding dealing with the issue then crying to the paper when your lack of preparation catches up to you should be a lesson for others.

I'm not defending elevator companies, they certainly make a mint. One step behind escalators.

If it was built in 2005 then it's probably nearing some major maintenance.

Once your elevator reaches its 20th year, the elevator car operating panel, cables, and traveling cables should all be replaced for optimal efficiency and safety. Between 20 and 25 years of use is when your elevator’s controller and dispatcher should be replaced. After 25 years, your hoist rails should be realigned and the elevator’s hydraulic piston should either be replaced or re-sleeved, depending on its condition after this amount of time. The gibs and rollers of your elevator’s shaft doors should be replaced between 20 and 30 years of operation, depending on the amount of use and wear your elevator experiences.

https://champion-elevator.com/news/how-l...nd%20dispatcher%20should%20be%20replaced.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

If it was built in 2005 then it's probably nearing some major maintenance.



https://champion-elevator.com/news/how-l...nd%20dispatcher%20should%20be%20replaced.

Wow, what a word salad from, you guessed it, an elevator maintenance company. It's basically saying you need a complete rebuild at 20-30 years, no? But instead it's like several different projects which will all cost hundreds of thousands.

[Sheba]

Developer clears last legal hurdle to Plaza of Nations project

Canadian Metropolitan Properties Corp. has a conditional development permit to proceed with a 28-storey mixed use building as the first stage of redeveloping Vancouver’s Plaza of Nations now that the company has cleared the last legal hurdle for the proposal.

The City of Vancouver’s development board approved the permit for 750 Pacific Blvd. on June 27, subject to fine-tuning of the design for a terraced tower, ahead of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision Aug. 18 to not hear an appeal of the legal dispute between Canadian Metropolitan and rival Concord Pacific over control of the site.

Canadian Metropolitan is now clear to start on its corner of Vancouver’s ambitious 20-year Northeast False Creek Plan, which calls for removal of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts to reconnect the Downtown Eastside with False Creek and communities to the south.

The key architect on the development, Walter Francl at Francl Architecture, on Tuesday, declined to comment on the first phase of the project. A top executive with Canadian Metropolitan didn’t return Postmedia News calls.

However, Canadian Metropolitan’s owner, Singaporean billionaire Oei Hong Leong, said he wanted to “build something iconic for Vancouver” to give back to “this city I love,” following last Thursday’s decision.

...

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by Zepfancouver

Called back to core a couple more holes today. My work is done here, it is my last visit.
...

A very quick look at the Grand Staircase.
...

Aug.23 '22, my pics

[Klazu]

Yeah, that doesn't look great at all. I wish I would have been able to visit when the building still had a steakhouse restaurant in it.

[Zepfancouver]

Thanks mcminsen for the update, I drive by this site every other month, but never stop for a good look. I like it, the stone work on the townhomes looks good. I love to see the Mansion's interior again.

Originally Posted by dleung

Those townhouses could've taken the colour of the mansion's trim rather than trying to match the limestone colour with gross-looking flat panels that have the same colour as batt insulation and more commonly found in low-end projects in Richmond or Surrey

I still don't get the proforma here... how many million $$$ for the site? How many millions for each of the 4 townhouses? Why aren't they ultra-luxury?

Originally Posted by urbanight93

The project files indicate new fibre cement panels and stone block veneer cladding (sandblasted limestone) are to come. I would suggest perusing https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applications/1523davie/index.htm before breaking your legs jumping to conclusions.

[Changing City]

Here's an unexpected rezoning (although test drilling was noted a few months ago). Paul Y construction have submitted an application for a 30 storey, 393 room hotel at 848 Seymour. 17.7 FSR, in a location that permits residential. With the Onni hotel conversion down the street, that's two new hotels proposed Downtown on Seymour. This would be a Moxy / Element by Westin. More details on Changing City blog.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Aug.23 '22, my pics

They definitely put in the work to make the project architecturally hint back at the older building. The stone is obvious, but you can also see it in the awnings. Looks good all things considered.

Obviously a shame and waste of space to keep that older building, but you know how it is. Architectural hoarding is what I like to call it now.

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Here's an unexpected rezoning (although test drilling was noted a few months ago). Paul Y construction have submitted an application for a 30 storey, 393 room hotel at 848 Seymour. 17.7 FSR, in a location that permits residential. With the Onni hotel conversion down the street, that's two new hotels proposed Downtown on Seymour. This would be a Moxy / Element by Westin. More details on Changing City blog.

I thought the current parking lot belonged to the City, and they need it to support the adjescent entertainment/sport facilities?. I'm surprised that they would let it be developed.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

I thought the current parking lot belonged to the City, and they need it to support the adjescent entertainment/sport facilities?. I'm surprised that they would let it be developed.

No, Paul Y has owned it for at least 20 years, and also the one across the lane on Richards.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Changing City

No, Paul Y has owned it for at least 20 years, and also the one across the lane on Richards.

Their website reads:

Current project is a mixed use development including hotel and extended stay offerings at two sites on Seymour Street and Richards Street, located in downtown Vancouver.

That sounds like they are developing the Richards lots as well but could just be bad wording.

[jollyburger]

Rooftop lobby

The Hotel 2 entry at grade provides a
jump lobby that takes guests up to the
rooftop level where check-in and the hotel
lounge will be located. Warm and inviting
materials are again used to signify special
moments and amenity spaces throughout
the building. An outdoor patio space is
provided on the northwest corner, providing
views to the North Shore mountains. The
rooftop space takes advantage of the high
elevator overrun, providing a separate
localized lift to the upper mechanical
and partial amenity storey. Mechanical
equipment has been composed within
the overall tower frame with illuminated
screening to conceal the equipment, but
illuminate the top of the building.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by madog222

Their website reads:

That sounds like they are developing the Richards lots as well but could just be bad wording.

Seems like more of a "future phase" than anything to do with this project.

[Klazu]

Getting a new hotel will be great, but I hope the parking lot along Richards can go quite a bit higher than only 30 floors.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Getting a new hotel will be great, but I hope the parking lot along Richards can go quite a bit higher than only 30 floors.

Two view cones cross the site. The Richards side should be at the higher end of 400 feet

The maximum height allowed by the view cone to the east side (along Seymour St.) is 96.7m (317.5’); the west side view cone (adjacent to the lane) is higher, at 122.6m (402.5’).

Interesting the view cone application was from James KM Cheng in 2018

https://shapeyourcity.ca/848-seymour-st

[jollyburger]

The elevation diagram mentions Floor 04-17 is Hotel Type 1 and 18-28 is Hotel Type 2.

Moxy's micro units

Our guest rooms maximize play on your stay. No closets? No problem. Steam your unmentionables before hanging them on our peg wall, then enjoy extra floor space for your routine downward dog. Plus check out the table and chairs that double as wall art. Not to mention under-bed storage to maximize space. Then clean up from top to toe with MUK toiletries.

The rooftop lobby is only for Element. Moxy has a ground floor lobby.

The program contains two types of hotel rooms, short term stay (261 rooms) and long term stay (132 rooms)

[idunno]

Super cool about the rooftop lobby/lounge. I hope there's a real bar up there. Vancouver has way too few rooftop bars IMO.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by idunno

Super cool about the rooftop lobby/lounge. I hope there's a real bar up there. Vancouver has way too few rooftop bars IMO.

One of the best things to do in Hong Kong during the week was to go to a rooftop bar after work for happy hour.