601 Beach Crescent | 202m | 67fl | Proposed

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

It continues:

https://shapeyourcity.ca/601-beach-crescent
Development Permit Board
September 19 2022

"GBL Architects Inc. has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop on this site a 53-storey mixed-use building, consisting of:

Commercial uses at grade
303 market residential dwelling units and 152 social housing dwelling units
A FSR of 7.57 (470,722 sq.ft.)
A building height of 535 ft.
Three levels of underground parking, including 453 parking spaces and 911 bicycle spaces

Under the site’s existing CD-1 (366) zoning(External link), the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted. However, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board."

As a project under the Higher Buildings Policy, this was always going to need the Development Permit Board's approval.

What's changed is that it has finally managed to (barely) squeak past the Urban Design Panel, and as such, it has now been allowed to proceed to that final step.

I had hoped to summarize the review of that third concept a while ago, but things have been hectic for a while now. Hopefully, we'll get something up before next Monday.

[Jimbo604]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

As a project under the Higher Buildings Policy, this was always going to need the Development Permit Board's approval.

What's changed is that it has finally managed to (barely) squeak past the Urban Design Panel, and as such, it has now been allowed to proceed to that final step.

I had hoped to summarize the review of that third concept a while ago, but things have been hectic for a while now. Hopefully, we'll get something up before next Monday.

Sound good, FF, looking forward to it.

Ok everyone, make your predictions now wrt DP mtg: approval or back to the drawing board.

[Feathered Friend]

[Feathered Friend]

A Dance Of Desperation Finds Clarity With Promise To Satisfy Vancouver’s Every Whim
601 Beach Crescent (DP-2021-00162)
To say following this mix of 303 strata, and 152 non-market homes has been a torturous process would be an understatement. The hurricane of anger Hannah and I witnessed at its open house pales when compared to the tediousness of the three Urban Design Panel reviews it’s been subjected to, and I wasn’t looking forward to sitting through this fourth one. Over three hours later, everyone who was present would agree it went worse than anyone could have imagined.

Never before have I seen an applicant team driven to such submission, as one professional essentially begged the panel to just say what would make them happy, and it would be done. This group’s often vague, and contradictory commentary was further exacerbated by the decision to use this event as the first trial of an in-person/online hybrid meeting. The sole benefit was that it enabled the attendance of guest panellists Laura Jimeneze, Ryan Bragg, and Jennifer Marshall.

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2022/09/19...romise-to-satisfy-vancouvers-every-whim/

Sorry for the late notice, but technically this is still early, as the project won't be heard at the Development Permit Board until probably around 4pm today.

[whatnext]

Looks like residents on the back 638 Beach Crescent (Icon) are going to take the brunt of the view loss and construction noise.

[giallo]

Thanks, FF!

It sounds like an exercise in mind-reading. What a frustrating experience for the developers.

This one just doesn't excite me. I have a feeling it'll be a seafoam green spandrel mess when completed.

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

https://cityduo.wordpress.com/2022/09/19...romise-to-satisfy-vancouvers-every-whim/

Sorry for the late notice, but technically this is still early, as the project won't be heard at the Development Permit Board until probably around 4pm today.

[officedweller]

Thanks!
I like the precast panels better than what they had before.

[Spr0ckets]

This project has really been through the ringer
(...and it's not even done yet).

Overall, I think the approach is the right one - to create a distinction from the geometric/polygonal and pixelated forms of Vancouver House.
Even though their execution has been very hit-or-miss - especially with the problem child podium.

But I think they were always fighting a losing battle given what it's always going to be compared against.

And I agree that how they end up handling and treating the spandrels in the tower is either going to seal the deal for it, or kill it entirely.

For GVA towers, it's not a good track record.

[Jimbo604]

Originally Posted by rofina

If the City wants to be this insistent on design why don't they just have the UDP render what they want to see on each site and builders will have to fit the mold?

Originally Posted by giallo

Thanks, FF! It sounds like an exercise in mind-reading. What a frustrating experience for the developers.

On one hand city says they want more housing but this extremely drawn out and frustrating for developer process doesn't seem to match up.

Oh well, at least it passed.

[officedweller]

Are the vertical sections of the 'staggers' a lighting feature?
I could see a series of offset verticals lit up.

I think the design has transitioned away from a 'fish scale' look
- you can tell that the window/curtain wall behind the staggers is flush on each side (it doesn't step outwards).

[dleung]

It not that hideous, if not for the fact that it dilutes/waters-down the dramatic effect of the much-better building next door

[zahav]

I too am skeptical about how this will look, leaning more towards low expectations. I've never cared for the architecture, materials, or overall look of any Pinnacle Development here. Pinnacle on the Park near Olympic Village, all buildings in Capstan Village, and the waterfront development in N Van near Lonsdale are all disgusting. I suppose of them all, the North Van one is the least terrible, but still bad. Then look at their GTA projects and it's like night and day! Some GTA projects are meh, but still better than the Metro Van ones. But some GTA projects are super ambitious, like the One Yonge project. I'm not sure if it's true anymore, but apparently it will be Canada's tallest building once complete? Like, really? They go from gag-worthy monstrosities all over Vancouver to an iconic design that will be literally the tallest building in Canada?!? It totally doesn't compute, they are like the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of developers. Vancouver gets the murderous, lunatic side and Toronto gets the smart scientist. I bet the design budgets put together for all their metro Van properties is still less than one TO project lol.. So ya, not feeling great about this. You'd think for such a prominent tall building in Vancouver, they would have given it more design budget and consideration; the current design would be acceptable on Marine Dr. or Scott Rd. But one of the only tall building sights? Could they not have spared a drop of that Toronto design budget to give 601 a fighting chance lol, I can only think they have a secret hate on for Vancouver and are punishing the city with piles of 🞵🞵🞵🞵 all over the city... Concord is also building a landmark TO tower of it's own, on top of the tons of tall ones they already have built. Here's a interesting statistic: when completed, the 3 tallest buildings in the country will be condo towers in Toronto built by Vancouver developers... Let that sink in. The 3 tallest buildings in the whole country, not just for residential, overall for every building type, will be condo towers built by Vancouver developers... It feels like such a jab at CoV policies. Concord moreso than Pinnacle certainly would have had taller buildings developed, but they were kept so restricted... Pinnacle didn't really have downtown developments in the last several years, and even before then their buildings were pretty generic so kind of doubt they would have done much better even without view cones. But I feel like Concord would have. And now they are doing it in TO, it's so tragic... Can't wait to do a side-by-side photo collage of the completed Sky Tower and one of their Richmond eyesores lol

[Spr0ckets]

Originally Posted by zahav

I too am skeptical about how this will look, leaning more towards low expectations. I've never cared for the architecture, materials, or overall look of any Pinnacle Development here. Pinnacle on the Park near Olympic Village, all buildings in Capstan Village, and the waterfront development in N Van near Lonsdale are all disgusting. I suppose of them all, the North Van one is the least terrible, but still bad. Then look at their GTA projects and it's like night and day! Some GTA projects are meh, but still better than the Metro Van ones. But some GTA projects are super ambitious, like the One Yonge project. I'm not sure if it's true anymore, but apparently it will be Canada's tallest building once complete? Like, really? They go from gag-worthy monstrosities all over Vancouver to an iconic design that will be literally the tallest building in Canada?!? It totally doesn't compute, they are like the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of developers. Vancouver gets the murderous, lunatic side and Toronto gets the smart scientist. I bet the design budgets put together for all their metro Van properties is still less than one TO project lol.. So ya, not feeling great about this. You'd think for such a prominent tall building in Vancouver, they would have given it more design budget and consideration; the current design would be acceptable on Marine Dr. or Scott Rd. But one of the only tall building sights? Could they not have spared a drop of that Toronto design budget to give 601 a fighting chance lol, I can only think they have a secret hate on for Vancouver and are punishing the city with piles of 🞵🞵🞵🞵 all over the city... Concord is also building a landmark TO tower of it's own, on top of the tons of tall ones they already have built. Here's a interesting statistic: when completed, the 3 tallest buildings in the country will be condo towers in Toronto built by Vancouver developers... Let that sink in. The 3 tallest buildings in the whole country, not just for residential, overall for every building type, will be condo towers built by Vancouver developers... It feels like such a jab at CoV policies. Concord moreso than Pinnacle certainly would have had taller buildings developed, but they were kept so restricted... Pinnacle didn't really have downtown developments in the last several years, and even before then their buildings were pretty generic so kind of doubt they would have done much better even without view cones. But I feel like Concord would have. And now they are doing it in TO, it's so tragic... Can't wait to do a side-by-side photo collage of the completed Sky Tower and one of their Richmond eyesores lol

Well, if it means anything, they're (both Pinnacle and Concord) also building and/or proposing what will be the tallest and third tallest towers respectively in the GVA Metro area.
.....

....just not in Vancouver itself.

Both in Burnaby with Pinnacle's Lougheed development project (also a "meh" design for what's going to be Western Canada's talles) and Concord's Metrotown Sky Tower project.

SO it fits with the fact that they're also building signature taller buildings in the GTA and not in their home city.

[zahav]

True, that's a good point. But it's more than just the height for Pinnacle. The design of the GVA projects has been so terrible, regardless of the height. The Lougheed development is definitely a step in the right direction, but the 601 tower is such a let down for a tower of that height and location.

I feel like Concord is better than Pinnacle for sure, but still not amazing. Their Toronto project is on such a different scale than anything we've had in Vancouver, I don't expect us to be Toronto, we are very different and are way smaller. But close the gap a little on design and quality lol, this is too extreme. I think Concord would have made a better tower for 601 than Pinnacle, but c'est la vie. It's done now, and gotta look on the bright side: at least a big vacant lot in a prime location will become a 55-storey tower instead of a junkyard..

[Feathered Friend]

https://vancouver.ca/docs/council/part20230123item2.pdf


https://vancouver.ca/docs/council/part20230123item2.pdf


https://vancouver.ca/docs/council/part20230123item2.pdf


https://vancouver.ca/docs/council/part20230123item2.pdf

This mix of 303 strata, & 152 below-market homes at the Granville Bridge’s Downtown gateway finally won the Developer Permit Board’s approval after 4+ years & several Urban Design Panel reviews. Set to open in 2026, a last minute hiccup almost delayed it further #Vancouver #VanRe

This process took so long that the city guidelines affecting it had been updated, & now required the
hallways of each floor of non-market housing to be increased in height by 4 inches. The problem was this would likely eliminate a level of strata homes & the project’s viability.

One solution was to add 4 or 5 feet to the building’s total height, but city staff were concerned there wasn’t enough support for this approach. Instead, the Director of Planning proposed a relaxation to condition A.1.26 that, like this proposal, was unanimously approved.

Looks like the address has been updated to 605 Beach Crescent. Also, this news/post is a little overdue, but better late than never?

[svlt]

Great news - if only for the significant impact it will have on the skyline going into downtown. Been looking forward to hearing something about this one.

[C3YVR]

I live just south of this property and the amount of change I see all around me is unbelievable. It started with Vancouver House to my northwest and now I can see 1477 W Broadway to my south, next up will be Senakw to the southwest, and then 601 Beach. After that the loops will be developed and then the changes to Broadway. For all the density that already surrounds me it is amazing at the amount still to come.

[zahav]

I will remain skeptical about the tower until it's done. But one thing I am OK with is the size of the podium, it is very substantial and considering the size of this lot, is very prominent. And it isn't just 3 storey townhouses surrounding the tower, the podium has decent presence on all elevations. My concern is still just quality of finishes, the Pinnacle projects in Richmond and North Van are hideous, so if the finishes are similar to those, it'll be sad. But if done right, it will be acceptable, just not iconic.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by zahav

I will remain skeptical about the tower until it's done. But one thing I am OK with is the size of the podium, it is very substantial and considering the size of this lot, is very prominent. And it isn't just 3 storey townhouses surrounding the tower, the podium has decent presence on all elevations. My concern is still just quality of finishes, the Pinnacle projects in Richmond and North Van are hideous, so if the finishes are similar to those, it'll be sad. But if done right, it will be acceptable, just not iconic.

But some of those projects are just lower end so that might explain the finishing quality?

[privatejet]

Looks like they are moving to start marketing the project

https://www.pinnacleinternational.ca/communities/601Beach