The Georgia | 157m | 48 fl | Completed

[Metro-One]

Is it just me or is Vancouver getting the worst of it in Canada, it seems that all of Calgary's and Toronto's signature towers that had started excavation before the bust are going to be completed relatively on time, yet Vancouver's 3 best towers which were all well under way (this one, the RC and Jameson House) with years of planing behind them are all becoming holes in the ground or as just said on this thread possibly a parking garage for the time being. I find this funny seeing how Ontario's economy is by far the hardest hit by the economic troubles yet their towers are being completed. I feel it is are fault though for allowing all these towers to be residential, which seem to be the most flaky in development, wish we had some true office towers in excavation besides just Metro-3.

[vanlaw]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Is it just me or is Vancouver getting the worst of it in Canada, it seems that all of Calgary's and Toronto's signature towers that had started excavation before the bust are going to be completed relatively on time, yet Vancouver's 3 best towers which were all well under way (this one, the RC and Jameson House) with years of planing behind them are all becoming holes in the ground or as just said on this thread possibly a parking garage for the time being. I find this funny seeing how Ontario's economy is by far the hardest hit by the economic troubles yet their towers are being completed. I feel it is are fault though for allowing all these towers to be residential, which seem to be the most flaky in development, wish we had some true office towers in excavation besides just Metro-3.

It is a slight misconception that Ontario is harder hit than BC and the West. In terms of raw numbers of jobs lost etc, yes they have been hardest hit. There was a good article in the Globe a week or two back that basically showed that BC and Alberta have in fact been the hardest hit so far. Aside from Calgary, not too many other cities saw the extent of the housing bubble that Vancouver did, so naturally we are primed to get hit hard.

[s211]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

I have heard a rumour, although completely unconfirmed, that they will bring this to street level and then put on hold. However, that doesn’t really make much sense so who knows.......

From my industry sources, this rumour is much more probable than the existing project being completed.

[Stingray2004]

Originally Posted by vanlaw

I have heard a rumour, although completely unconfirmed, that they will bring this to street level and then put on hold. However, that doesn’t really make much sense so who knows.......

Has any project in Vancouver ever been brought to street level and placed on hold?

The only such project that I'm familiar with was 64-storey Tower 2 of First Canadian Place in Calgary in 1982, which I understand was also brought up to street level. The second tower still hasn't been built.

[wrenegade]

There are so so so many more projects in Toronto that won't be going ahead compared to Vancouver. We are much better off.

[Metro-One]

Well i guess now all we really have to look forward to are the low fruit buildings now, Capitol and Patina i guess. It looks like Fairmont Pacific Rim may be the last true building we get to watch to completion for a while. I really do with that RC, Georgia and Jameson did commence construction 2 years earlier, around the time of Shangri-La.

[Metro-One]

There are so so so many more projects in Toronto that won't be going ahead compared to Vancouver. We are much better off.

then how come on the Toronto forums they are all confident that all of the future rendering shown will still become a reality on a few years, because ares sure wont now. (Please note i do not wish any troubles on Toronto, i just wish our buildings were still going through as well)

[Yume-sama]

The Georgia better go through! Although, they were also horribly overpriced, and their marketing wasn't as good as the Ritz Carlton. Maybe being horribly overpriced isn't a good thing? Especially when we're not talking about the market as a whole, but these two buildings are unattainable to anybody who is not part of the SUPER elite. Perhaps that is the wrong strategy. When you look at other buildings they manage to integrate all sorts of people, not just "rich", and "really rich". Nope, other buildings have studio apartments, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, all the way up to 3 bedroom penthouses, and they all seem to have sold really well (Capitol, Patina).

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Stingray2004

Has any project in Vancouver ever been brought to street level and placed on hold?

Bentall V was capped at ground level in the early 1990s. (Then of course, Phase I was built, then Phase II). The existing underground structure meant that when the Higher Buildings Policy subsequently came into effect, the developer couldn't take advatange of additional height because the foundations were already built.

[vansky]

which one is the best hotel, (looks, service,food, bed, furniture) in vancouver? anyone have any ideas.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by vansky

which one is the best hotel, (looks, service,food, bed, furniture) in vancouver? anyone have any ideas.

Existing now, or coming in the future?

I would definitely try the Shangri-la before any other hotel, all nice and new, and squeaky clean! Plus the early reviews say the beds are comfortable and service is great.

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

then how come on the Toronto forums they are all confident that all of the future rendering shown will still become a reality on a few years, because ares sure wont now. (Please note i do not wish any troubles on Toronto, i just wish our buildings were still going through as well)

I personally think they are in denial. They are planning to build SO many more tower than we are here in Vancouver, many of which are residential, and that market is gone, not just in Vancouver. Maybe it will take longer for reality to hit them there, but unless it's under construction right now, I don't think half of the buildings they are planned to build will make it.

[jlousa]

The downturn should be seen as a prime opportunity for renovations, Mr. Downey said, adding that labour and construction costs are likely to become more affordable.

Those trends are being closely watched by Bruce Langereis, president of Delta Land Development Ltd., the developer behind the Residences at Georgia, another high-profile office, residential and hotel project destined to rise on West Georgia Street.

That project is being largely internally financed, Mr. Langereis said, with Delta Land committed to the tune of $100-million.

“We are pouring concrete,” Mr. Langereis said, adding that he is balancing revised constructions costs with a planned completion date of 2011 or 2012. “I tell anyone who has doubts to come to the site and see it
themselves.”

http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090226.wrhotels26/BNStory/Business/home

[vanman]

^ That's reassuring. Thanks Jlousa.

[SFUVancouver]

Hotel Georgia

Taken by SFUVancouver, April 11th, 2009

[raggedy13]

I greatly appreciate the long overdue update. Looking good.

[rather_draconian]

Above ground? Yay!

[jlousa]

They are still a floor and a half below grade, but they have been climbing pretty quickly and will be above grade there by the end of the month. What's interesting it they have left the area to the west of the existing hotel empty so far, perhaps to assist with removing the forms and bringing them up, but it's still unusual to see it done that way.

[woodbutcher]

Originally Posted by jlousa

They are still a floor and a half below grade, but they have been climbing pretty quickly and will be above grade there by the end of the month. What's interesting it they have left the area to the west of the existing hotel empty so far, perhaps to assist with removing the forms and bringing them up, but it's still unusual to see it done that way.

Actually they're just 3 floors behind, the excavation in that area was finished later than the tower, so its playing catchup

[woodbutcher]

First section of ground level slab being poured tomorrow.... 100' underground and 520' to go!