Downtown Vancouver Updates

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Stephen Quinn @CBCStephenQuinn
12:04 PM · Apr 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/CBCStephenQuinn/status/1513593776249352192?s=20&t=ft-NE88Eo1B2xu0AW-sIWQ

The adjacent Gastown Hotel SRO has apparently been out of order since and will be back open, at some point soon. No date or schedule given.

https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS...n%20to,Hastings%20and%20in%20Crab%20Park.


In related news, one of the Winters Hotel residents started a class-action against the City and Atria.

In the lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court last Thursday, Hansma alleges that the city and non-profit did not ensure the Winters building met fire safety standards and that it was due to the "perceived lack of power" of the low-income residents there.

"The City's interactions with the Winters Hotel and its residents were influenced by a similar perception," the notice of civil claim reads. "It did not enforce fire safety regulations to the same standards it did in buildings with more politically, economically, and socially powerful residents."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/winters-hotel-fire-class-action-lawsuit-1.6807399

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

ahh yes, these same "residents" who also rip open the walls to steal the metal, and whatever else they can get, to go buy more drugs.

it would be impossible to keep these buildings up to code with these "residents." they just ruin them all the time, and very quickly.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

ahh yes, these same "residents" who also rip open the walls to steal the metal, and whatever else they can get, to go buy more drugs.

it would be impossible to keep these buildings up to code with these "residents." they just ruin them all the time, and very quickly.

You literally know nothing about this specific resident. SRO landlords who stock empty fire extinguishers and, as in this case, don't bother to turn on the sprinkler system are someone the victims here?

SRO landlords should know the challenges they will face before they get into the game, and if they are planning on being negligent with residents' and neighboring buildings' safety they should be held accountable.

[logan5]

This will be a huge shot in the arm for the DTES, but once again view cones are holding this project back.

Bosa wants to make this even bigger, so we will see if Sim is serious about his priorities of community and social benefits over viewcones. The more functional people you bring to this neighbourhood, the better chance of rehabilitation, so instead of a 17 story residential tower, we should be building a 60 story tower with 600 units. Similar to what Woodward did on its block, the Army and Navy project would transform the block it sits on.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/the-cohen-block-army-navy-vancouver-redevelopment-concept

[madog222]

^
-11 storey office tower on the W Cordova portion of the site
-17 storey residential on the W Hastings portion of the site
-225,500 sqft office space
-144 residential units; 111 market, 28 below-market, 16 deep subsidy
-mass timber construction (to some extent)

Office side w/ retained heritage facade


Residential side

[csbvan]

Although I would prefer a deeper preservation than facadism here, I think this project looks great. As for height, whatever, let's just get this built. Hopefully a view corridor review helps open up sites elsewhere for more height. I'd rather see this get a quick start and just get shovels in the ground. Along with Blood Alley, a lot of interesting things happening on this stretch of the old city.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Although I would prefer a deeper preservation than facadism here, I think this project looks great. As for height, whatever, let's just get this built. Hopefully a view corridor review helps open up sites elsewhere for more height. I'd rather see this get a quick start and just get shovels in the ground. Along with Blood Alley, a lot of interesting things happening on this stretch of the old city.

Yes, higher would be nicer, but this is pretty solid and quite dense.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Although I would prefer a deeper preservation than facadism here, I think this project looks great. As for height, whatever, let's just get this built. Hopefully a view corridor review helps open up sites elsewhere for more height. I'd rather see this get a quick start and just get shovels in the ground. Along with Blood Alley, a lot of interesting things happening on this stretch of the old city.

This isn't limited by viewcones.
It's limited by the fact Gastown is under heritage designation, and so they don't allow tall buildings.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Although I would prefer a deeper preservation than facadism here, I think this project looks great. As for height, whatever, let's just get this built. Hopefully a view corridor review helps open up sites elsewhere for more height. I'd rather see this get a quick start and just get shovels in the ground. Along with Blood Alley, a lot of interesting things happening on this stretch of the old city.

It's already a retained facade. Nothing behind the facades on Cordova is original - it was all rebuilt by Army & Navy decades ago.

The only loss is the facade of 27 W Hastings - but that has already been messed with too, and it wouldn't work as a residential conversion.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by fredinno

This isn't limited by viewcones.
It's limited by the fact Gastown is under heritage designation, and so they don't allow tall buildings.

I guess you didn't read the article?

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Changing City

It's already a retained facade. Nothing behind the facades on Cordova is original - it was all rebuilt by Army & Navy decades ago.

The only loss is the facade of 27 W Hastings - but that has already been messed with too, and it wouldn't work as a residential conversion.

Ah interesting. Thanks for the information. No notes, then.

[GenWhy?]

It always fun when you heard Bosa explain what they're doing for a site, imagine it in your head, and then see something a bit unexpected.

[chowhou]

Originally Posted by Changing City

It's already a retained facade. Nothing behind the facades on Cordova is original - it was all rebuilt by Army & Navy decades ago.

Are we really at the point now where facades are being preserved a second time around? Sheesh.

[urbanight93]

They need to approve this project yesterday.

Between this project, 46 west hastings across the street, and westbank's blood alley project, I'm excited about the future of this area.

Speaking of projects in the area, anyone have an update on 95 West Hastings, which is almost right beside the Army and Navy? https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/95-west-hastings-street-vancouver-downtown-eastside?auto=true

[Vin]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

You literally know nothing about this specific resident. SRO landlords who stock empty fire extinguishers and, as in this case, don't bother to turn on the sprinkler system are someone the victims here?

SRO landlords should know the challenges they will face before they get into the game, and if they are planning on being negligent with residents' and neighboring buildings' safety they should be held accountable.

You literally know nothing what happens to the landlords.

I would rather think many of the SRO landlords didn't know any better when they first "get into the game". One tries to trust the governmental charitable organizations and justice system, that they would do what is right and only allow deserving and sane/non-criminal folks to come stay at their properties, while holding the bad apples behind bars/institutions/rehab centres. But apparently this hasn't been so in this lovely city/province of ours. With the worsening situations, perhaps there comes a time when the challenges faced by the landlords are greater than their initial responsibilities. In the end, backing out right now would actually be better for them, except tax payers would have to foot more if the municipalities were to take over.

For this example, if the sprinkler system is already damaged due to theft, etc, pray tell how the owners are able to turn it on? Would you rather the building sustain flood damage?

Sometimes human sympathy really goes to the wrong people.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by Vin

For this example, if the sprinkler system is already damaged due to theft, etc, pray tell how the owners are able to turn it on? Would you rather the building sustain flood damage?

Sometimes human sympathy really goes to the wrong people.

LOL I think we'd all want people to live over simply getting wet. Pretty negligent in the eyes of the law to knowingly leave a sprinkler system in disrepair and have people burn to death inside.

[madog222]

A firewatch in place of a functioning sprinkler system is sufficient. For used fire extinguishers, not so much.

The sprinkler system and fire extinguishers were not functioning due to being used a few days before, it has nothing to do with vandalism.
The sprinkler was left shut-off because technicians need to replace the activated heads. That isn't the fire department's job.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The only loss is the facade of 27 W Hastings - but that has already been messed with too, and it wouldn't work as a residential conversion.

No chance of there being original brickwork under the modern facade of the building to the east?
I remember when they pulled the cladding off one of the small buildings to the north of Hudson's Bay on Granville and found a nice facade.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by officedweller

No chance of there being original brickwork under the modern facade of the building to the east?
I remember when they pulled the cladding off one of the small buildings to the north of Hudson's Bay on Granville and found a nice facade.

None. It was a rather lovely brick building, replaced in 1913 by the Rex Theatre. "In 1959 it was closed to be incorporated into the adjacent Army and Navy store. Sadly, underneath that ‘modern’ metal screen there are no vestiges of the theatre facade – it was replaced with concrete blocks.."

[Feathered Friend]

With such short notice, neither of us made it to the event. That said, we know some people who made it down, and they described the attendance as "a lot of people with grey hair."

Here's the project's website (credit to Vancouver is Awesome)
https://www.cohenblock.com/

and the project boards
https://www.cohenblock.com/_files/ugd/fcdb54_816e4190af2f4e8399d44f3c1414b3b2.pdf