CF Pacific Centre Developments

[LeftCoaster]

Nearly there!

Should be wrapped by end of summer/fall. Tower is nearly complete but lower levels are finicky and will take longer.

[Feathered Friend]

A Community open house will be held from 5:00pm - 7:00pm on Monday, May 6, 2019, at Four Seasons Banquet Room, Seasons Room, 791 W Georgia Street with the applicant team and City staff available to answer any questions.

https://development.vancouver.ca/701wgeorgia/index.htm

A last minute open house has been scheduled for 701 West Georgia (Pacific Centre Plaza.)

[LeftCoaster]

Open house is tonight in the Seasons room at the Four Seasons.

I encourage anyone and everyone to come out and voice your opinion... unless you don't like the project in which case I think you should stay home and reflect on your life's decisions.

Be sure to say hi if you drop in, I'll be the jerk in the blue suit.

[s211]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Open house is tonight in the Seasons room at the Four Seasons.

I encourage anyone and everyone to come out and voice your opinion... unless you don't like the project in which case I think you should stay home and reflect on your life's decisions.

Be sure to say hi if you drop in, I'll be the jerk in the blue suit.

Dang. With a bit more advance notice, I'd have checked it out.

[Vin]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Open house is tonight in the Seasons room at the Four Seasons.

I encourage anyone and everyone to come out and voice your opinion... unless you don't like the project in which case I think you should stay home and reflect on your life's decisions.

Be sure to say hi if you drop in, I'll be the jerk in the blue suit.

Originally Posted by Vin

The other day walking back from work at the Art Gallery square, I looked over towards Hotel Georgia and the glass dome, and it struck me that they really complement each other at the two corners of Howe and W. Georgia. That Macbook roof monstrosity will ruin the whole area, and akin to having the old Sears/Eatons urinal building back.

If you like the glass dome, I don't get how you don't feel anything regarding its pending destruction, especially when what's proposed is nothing but a tacky Macbook temple perched on top of those ruthless steps, with a horrendous green screen as a backdrop.

I guess I should just "stay home and reflect on my life's decisions".

[osirisboy]

I sure hope that doesn't pass. It looks like a big bus shelter.

[Feathered Friend]

Those who stayed home sure missed out on some good cookies, and good company too for that matter. FYI the room's response was very positive, but I'm not sure there's enough to write a recap about though.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Open house is tonight in the Seasons room at the Four Seasons.

I encourage anyone and everyone to come out and voice your opinion... unless you don't like the project in which case I think you should stay home and reflect on your life's decisions.

Be sure to say hi if you drop in, I'll be the jerk in the blue suit.

so was this for the "not an apple store, store"

if so, how can anyone not like it?

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by osirisboy

I sure hope that doesn't pass. It looks like a big bus shelter.

I agree it isn't perfect, but IMHO it's a thousand times better than an earlier design which was: parallel to Georgia (perpendicular to Howe) with a sloping roof.
It looked rather like an oversized, upscale "tool shed." Totally ugly. At least this one is at an angle, and 'softens' the corner. Yes, it could be more stylish, but could be worse, too.

[djh]

Did the new design pass?

I don't think it's a worthy replacement for the glass dome, for the following reasons:

People seem to be mostly willing for the proposed design mainly on the assumption that it will end up being a prestigious Apple store. But high-profile architecture, although often designed by and for a private entity, should be considered part of the public realm. Right now, in this moment in time, that location might very well look good as a cool Apple Store. But retailers come and go. In 10, 25, 50 years, I doubt it will still be an Apple Store. If its future use ends up being a 99 cents pizza store or a Dollarama, or a public meeting space, it won't be so appealing.

For such a high-profile junction, a way higher standard should be set, something that is iconic. Something that ends up on postcards or in tourist photos, or people's memories of the city as an unusual part of the urban kandscape, as I suspect the existing dome does.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by djh

Did the new design pass?

I don't think it's a worthy replacement for the glass dome, for the following reasons:

People seem to be mostly willing for the proposed design mainly on the assumption that it will end up being a prestigious Apple store. But high-profile architecture, although often designed by and for a private entity, should be considered part of the public realm. Right now, in this moment in time, that location might very well look good as a cool Apple Store. But retailers come and go. In 10, 25, 50 years, I doubt it will still be an Apple Store. If its future use ends up being a 99 cents pizza store or a Dollarama, or a public meeting space, it won't be so appealing.

For such a high-profile junction, a way higher standard should be set, something that is iconic. Something that ends up on postcards or in tourist photos, or people's memories of the city as an unusual part of the urban kandscape, as I suspect the existing dome does.

The high-profile location is likely to stay some sort of high-end store. There's no reason anyone would pay extra rent like this for a Dollarama, and having one like this is likely to change the reputation of the mall to streetgoers for the worse. So, no, it won't happen, unless CF is dumb.

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by fredinno

The high-profile location is likely to stay some sort of high-end store. There's no reason anyone would pay extra rent like this for a Dollarama, and having one like this is likely to change the reputation of the mall to streetgoers for the worse. So, no, it won't happen, unless CF is dumb.

Agreed. And a central city location like this is unlikely to go Dollarama. Just too central; Robson Sq; PC; CBD; rrt; The Bay; Nordström; ..... also, nothing is written in stone.
In "x" number of years, it could again be redesigned, maybe as a glass bay windowed structure withg a sloping glass roof - as you like it. Whatever goes here IMHO, will be up to snuff.

[officedweller]

Pic by me today:

[osirisboy]

Are they going to put new uniform blinds in? That would be great if they did

[officedweller]

Leftcoaster said that it's just the one tenant who has the whiter blinds, the rest are building standard.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by fredinno

The high-profile location is likely to stay some sort of high-end store. There's no reason anyone would pay extra rent like this for a Dollarama, and having one like this is likely to change the reputation of the mall to streetgoers for the worse. So, no, it won't happen, unless CF is dumb.

Stop ruining his argument by being all logical. Of course it could be a Dollarama..

[Galaxy]

There are 3 Dollarama's one block east. 1) Harbour Centre 2) The Bay Parkade 3) 1508 East Hastings. So I think there is a pretty critical mass in Dollaramas in the area! Lol!

[LeftCoaster]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Leftcoaster said that it's just the one tenant who has the whiter blinds, the rest are building standard.

Ya if you want to write a letter to Canaccord asking them to change their blinds on the 24th floor that would be great!

Originally Posted by Galaxy

There are 3 Dollarama's one block east. 1) Harbour Centre 2) The Bay Parkade 3) 1508 East Hastings. So I think there is a pretty critical mass in Dollaramas in the area! Lol!

Ya... CF is not going to put a dollarama or anything even remotely of that nature in this building. Period.

[Feathered Friend]

The not Apple Store goes to the development permit board on Monday. I have to say, city staff's recap of the open house is rather interesting. (bolding is mine)

NOTIFICATION
On February 4th, 2019, 1201 postcards were sent to neighbouring property owners advising them of the application and offering additional information on the city’s website. Site signs were confirmed installed on February 4th 2019.

An Open House was held on May 6, 2019 from 5-7pm by the applicant team. COV staff attended from Planning, Landscape and Development Services. Notice was posted on the City webpage, events page and local newspapers by the applicants. Stickers were added to the DP site signs alerting the public of an open house but unfortunately without a location included. Little effort to inform the public walking through the rotunda of the open house by way of posters and other signage to alert the public prior to or during the event. The Rotunda would have been a far more ideal place to hold the event in the opinion of City staff.

Approximately 60 attendees were counted by City staff. 48 people signed in. 40 written comments were received: 36 with strong support and 4 with suggestions for improvement or negative comments. There were a number of associates of the applicant team that submitted supportive comments. Generally the writers felt that the new proposal was an improvement on the previously approved DP in 2017. Most people were supportive of the improvements to the exterior spaces for use by the public.

The support for the proposal from 35 of the written comments included: The green wall, architectural expression, renewal of exterior public space, generous mall entry, neighbourhood fit, siting in relation to the Vancouver Art Gallery, potential energy efficiency, better pedestrian zones

Some felt the proposal was not well blended into the existing architectural expression; that it seemed pasted on. Others felt that the outside public realm lacks activation opportunities like a café or kiosk for drinks. The opportunity for staying and enjoying the space were not optimized. It was pointed out that the interior mall space within the existing rotunda is not being replaced by the new proposal. Some suggested lifting the retail space one storey above a renewed publically accessible lobby space that would replace the lost rotunda. The lobby would have flexible retail spaces, interior seating and tables. The opportunities for smaller retail spaces in the future or flexibility to accommodate same lost with this design. The loss is perceived as public realm, one that doesn’t require buying anything, was sharply felt. Many comments centered on how the application could perhaps find new spaces within the mall entry and lobby to re-invigorate the lost public realm of the rotunda.

What surprises me, aside from identifying people as "associates" of the applicants, is the amount of coverage given to the 10% of feedback forms that were negative. I can understand the desire for more signs indicating where the event was held, but the rotunda would have been a terrible location in my view.

[jollyburger]

They should have had the open house at the Apple Store lol.