Downtown Vancouver Updates

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by mcj

Both of these buildings were gutted long ago from their original insides, the facades is the only element of heritage that remains, and remain they shall.

The city has done a great job keeping the Dominion Building and Sun Tower in top shape, funny how neither of those have been mentioned as they're much more integral to the city's history than The Bay or The Post (btw does anyone know the original name of the buildings themselves without googling them?).

Personally I'm not a fan of heritage designation at all, since it's usually just what matters to a certain in-group and are hardly ever publicly accessible, if it truly has such great value to the greater public it should at least be publicly accessible.

Doubt the city has much to do with the upkeep of heritage buildings unless they're giving rezoning benefits or some kind of funding program to restore it. Seems like it has more to do with the landlord and their preference whether or not to maintain a building.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Doubt the city has much to do with the upkeep of heritage buildings unless they're giving rezoning benefits or some kind of funding program to restore it. Seems like it has more to do with the landlord and their preference whether or not to maintain a building.

Probably should have worded that better but I was referring to the city as a whole, including the landlords that own those buildings, versus something that the CoV has done.

[Jimbo604]

Something happening to Sandman Hotel/Shark Club. Building desperately needs recladding or refreshing, imho.




Not too much visibly happening at the ol' steam plant project across the street.

Photo source: I took these. I did.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Not too much visibly happening at the ol' steam plant project across the street.

Photo source: I took these. I did.

I assume any work on this site is probably down below the current building.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I assume any work on this site is probably down below the current building.

It appears that activity is paused for the time being. Maybe the relatively recent approval to generate steam from electricity requires some changes and further Building Permit approvals? If a contractor (rather than Westbank's own construction company) is building it, the changed plans might also mean an altered contract.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

https://www.ordersdecisions.bcuc.com/bcuc/decisions/en/486412/1/document.do

All property agreements are in place, construction is now planned to start in 2025 with excavation filled in 2028 and substation in service 2030.

Project page:https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/projects/west-end-substation.html
BC Hydro Jan 2023 update: https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/pro...nd-substation-2023-01-project-update.pdf

There will be consultation on the vent design 'soon' (outhouse looking structures on the left of the concept drawings).


Image from BC Hydro

[scryer]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Some buildings should be beyond the reach of facadism. Hard to get more clear of an example than Sinclair Centre.

I agree.

In my opinion, Toronto went way too crazy with Facadism to the point where I openly criticize the movement there as an erasure of history. Not only that but the facadism there is corny and tacky .

I think that the Sinclair Centre and They Bay should be left untouched with the exemption of internal renovations. And our heritage groups should be fighting tooth-and-nail. Otherwise they're just another funded group being paid to twiddle their thumbs.

We already know that, if left to their own devices, the facadism executed on these buildings will be mediocre at best. I mean, just look at the Post Office. Sure the towers are nice... but they should have been iconic for what they did to the building. And that would include going taller or designed more strikingly.

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

Crane is up.

Sept.3 '22, my pics

...

Jan.14 '23, my pics

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Something happening to Sandman Hotel/Shark Club. Building desperately needs recladding or refreshing, imho.

It's been going on for a while - quite slow going. Cladding is mostly finished on the Cambie side with different shades of gray.
The big blank wall on the addition would be good for a mural.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

YMMV; I've seen the inside of Sinclair Centre... and it looks like friggin' City Square. Build, baby, build.

Does anyone have any pictures of interior spaces in Sinclair Centre worth preserving? I've only ever been or seen the more modern parts (passport renewal place, basically)

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Vin: you seem to be struggling with the meaning of words again. The Birks Building was destroyed. The second Hotel Vancouver was destroyed. The Georgia Medical Dental Building was destroyed. The plans for The Bay don't currently show it being destroyed, just like the Post Office hasn't been destroyed.

Funny, but the demolition of the beautiful internal structure of a building itself is the destruction of heritage. Perhaps the word does not apply for your pitifully low standards, but it is for me.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by dreambrother808

Do you ever leave that basement apartment?

You have anything against those who live in basement apartments? Shows your biases and intolerant attitude towards others, and that's not even a surprise.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Does anyone have any pictures of interior spaces in Sinclair Centre worth preserving? I've only ever been or seen the more modern parts (passport renewal place, basically)

The interior walls of the separate buildings are found in the interior portion. These need to be preserved:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sincla...d49.2858794!4d-123.1141119!14m1!1BCgIgAQ

Look up through the glass dome:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sincla...d49.2858794!4d-123.1141119!14m1!1BCgIgAQ

I suspect these walls will be torn down in order for a mega-structure to be constructed in the interior court.

Originally Posted by mcj

Both of these buildings were gutted long ago from their original insides, the facades is the only element of heritage that remains, and remain they shall.

The city has done a great job keeping the Dominion Building and Sun Tower in top shape, funny how neither of those have been mentioned as they're much more integral to the city's history than The Bay or The Post (btw does anyone know the original name of the buildings themselves without googling them?).

Personally I'm not a fan of heritage designation at all, since it's usually just what matters to a certain in-group and are hardly ever publicly accessible, if it truly has such great value to the greater public it should at least be publicly accessible.

That's not true at all. A lot of the original columns and internal details are still preserved in the current Bay building. Same for the Sinclair Centre.

See the first floor columns of the Bay in this article:
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/history/hudson-bay-vancouver-vintage-photos-1937495

The 6th floow skylight:
https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2012/10/vancouvers-hudsons-bay-company-mens/

Once you lose these architectural beauties, you lose them forever.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vin

That's not true at all. A lot of the original columns and internal details are still preserved in the current Bay building. Same for the Sinclair Centre.

See the first floor columns of the Bay in this article:
https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/history/hudson-bay-vancouver-vintage-photos-1937495

The 6th floow skylight:
https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2012/10/vancouvers-hudsons-bay-company-mens/

Once you lose these architectural beauties, you lose them forever.

It's true, in terms of The Bay there will be new columns instead of old columns. There will also be a new ceiling because the store will be smaller. And brighter, and more open. It might survive as a store, that way. If it doesn't evolve it could end up the same as the Downtown Bay stores in Winnipeg, or Victoria. If adding office space turns out to be no longer viable, that might be where we get to anyway.

Your choice is either a new retail store with an office building on top, or no store at all. 'Like it was in 1931' is not an option.


[source]

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Vin

You have anything against those who live in basement apartments? Shows your biases and intolerant attitude towards others, and that's not even a surprise.

This describes your views of anybody who's homeless.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by Changing City

It's true, in terms of The Bay there will be new columns instead of old columns. There will also be a new ceiling because the store will be smaller. And brighter, and more open. It might survive as a store, that way. If it doesn't evolve it could end up the same as the Downtown Bay stores in Winnipeg, or Victoria. If adding office space turns out to be no longer viable, that might be where we get to anyway.

Your choice is either a new retail store with an office building on top, or no store at all. 'Like it was in 1931' is not an option.


[source]

Why is it true? The other guy said the old interior was gutted long time ago, and apparently that wasn't true as per the evidence I provided with the heritage columns and 6th floor ceiling still intact today. I feel like you are trying to spin things, as always.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by Vin

Why is it true? The other guy said the old interior was gutted long time ago, and apparently that wasn't true as per the evidence I provided with the heritage columns and 6th floor ceiling still intact today. I feel like you are trying to spin things, as always.

Why are you asking me to comment about 'the other guy'? They're not wrong though. If you look at your 1931 pictures, and the store today, the interior has been changed quite a bit, and not necessarily for the better. The columns are probably in the same place, because they hold the building up, but the interior doesn't look much like it used to.

I'm just trying to explain the options. The Bay as it is today is not viable. It's too big. It's also not to current seismic code. To have any chance of success the owners say it needs a complete rethink. Either that's a smaller store in the existing building with the upper floors converted to office use (so the 6th floor ceiling won't be in a retail space), or it's a more radical rebuild within the existing envelope, with additional offices on top. That allows the big central atrium idea, shown in the picture. And given 21st century engineering, probably fewer columns.

[Metro-One]

Does anybody remember the exact height restriction to signage on buildings? Is it 480ft.?

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Does anybody remember the exact height restriction to signage on buildings? Is it 480ft.?

Just saw this in the Sign bylaw. Not sure how it's set or the policy.

9.26 Site Specific Regulations for Higher Buildings Policy Sites
Despite anything to the contrary in this by-law, the following site specific signs for Higher
Buildings Policy sites are permitted in the Commercial, Mixed Use and Industrial Sign District:
(a) 1001 Hornby Street (CD-1 (386)) (Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre)
A fascia sign on the site zoned CD-1 (386) that is no more than 107 m in height;
(b) 1128 West Hastings Street (CD-1 (409)) (Marriott Pinnacle Hotel)
A fascia sign on the site zoned CD-1 (409) that is no more than 107 m in height;
(c) 801 West Georgia Street (CD-1 (413)) (Rosewood Hotel Georgia)
A fascia sign on the site zone CD-1 (413) that is no more than 137 m in height;
(d) 1120 West Georgia Street (CD-1 (426)) (Shangri-la Hotel)
A fascia sign on the site zoned CD-1 (426) that is no more than 137 m in height;
(e) 1133 West Georgia Street (CD-1 (446)) (Trump Tower)
A fascia sign on the site zoned CD-1 (446) that is no more than 137 m in height;
(f) 1412-1480 Howe Street, 1429 Granville Street, and 710 Pacific Street (CD-1 (580))
(Vancouver House)
A fascia sign on the site zoned CD-1 (580) that is no more than 68.6 m in height;
(g) 1229-1281 Hornby Street (CD-1 (588)) (Burrard Gateway)
A fascia sign on the site zoned CD-1 (588) that is no more than 91.4 m in height;
(h) 1133-1155 Melville Street (CD-1 (722))
A fascia sign on the site zoned CD-1 (722) that is no more than 137 m in height.

https://bylaws.vancouver.ca/Sign/Part9.pdf

[Metro-One]

Awesome, thanks! Not allowing signs on the top of towers regardless of height is one of the most bizarre and arbitrary of Vancouver’s long list of bizarre finger fu¥&ing regulations.