[North Vancouver] Lower Lonsdale | Rebirth of a Neighbourhood

[red-paladin]

Let's not get into that again!

[jozero]

The Merchies yogurt place opened up on the corner of 2nd and Lonsdale (formerly LoLo tapas bar). Place was packed when I passed by it, then when we walked to it on Saturday it had a good flow of customers.

Build something good and they will come. Bella Sushi proved it, Merchies has had a great opening.

[Pinion]

Originally Posted by jozero

The Merchies yogurt place opened up on the corner of 2nd and Lonsdale (formerly LoLo tapas bar). Place was packed when I passed by it, then when we walked to it on Saturday it had a good flow of customers.

Build something good and they will come. Bella Sushi proved it, Merchies has had a great opening.

My wife was dying to go so we went. It wasn't nearly as good as pinkberry and cost a fortune (price is by weight - we admittedly loaded up but $20 for two do-it-yourself frozen yogurts?). Kiddies who think Park Royal is too far away may like it though and hopefully it has staying power.

[spm2013]

....

[jozero]

Originally Posted by Pinion

My wife was dying to go so we went. It wasn't nearly as good as pinkberry and cost a fortune (price is by weight - we admittedly loaded up but $20 for two do-it-yourself frozen yogurts?). Kiddies who think Park Royal is too far away may like it though and hopefully it has staying power.

We were surprised by how low the price was. We both got a decent quantity (we didn't fill the rather large bowl) and it was $9 bucks for both of ours.


The open late is fantastic for Lower Lonsdale. I hope they can maintain the hours. It'll really help with making the street lively as literally nothing is open past a decent hour except for restaurants and bars and Waves. If only that awesome store front wasn't occupied by a fricken mattress store. That intersection really could become something.

[wrenegade]

Menchies blows Pinkberry out of the water. If you spent $20 there you must have had a HUGE cup of ice cream. My girlfriend and I go to the one on Cambie all the time and I don't think we've ever spent for than $10 for the two of us. The hours are great. I imagine they'll do well in Lower Lonsdale, especially as summertime rolls around.

[Pinion]

Yeah, we way overdid it. Couldn't finish it, but that's in part because it didn't taste very good.

I am not a frozen yogurt guy in general though. I'm sure they'll do fine, at least as long as people want frozen yogurt.

[wrenegade]

Versatile Building update from February 12th


IMG_1513.jpg by Alex.Wren.Photo, on Flickr

It's a shame that there had to be a blank wall on the 4th floor, otherwise those southern units would have had some fantastic views. It's the nature of that type of development, but still, it kinda sucks.

[LeftCoaster]

Hmm I wonder why the developer wouldn't have put punch out windows at the very least. If I were a purchaser I would rather have some punch outs that later got covered and enjoy the view temporarily than never have the option at all.

[wrenegade]

They would have needed to set the windows back a bit and give them a 4 hour fire rating, either ridiculously think/expensive glass and/or fire shutters. We used fire shutters on a previous project, it's a pain in the ass but it can be worth it. It was probably seen as more as hassle than a benefit.

[natelox]

It's due to a building code regulation. One cannot put windows or any "unprotected openings" on a zero-lot-line condition. What they could have done is step the fourth floor back like they did the fifth floor, however I imagine they went with the option that they did anticipating future, higher development from the building to the south, or to get more revenue-generating floor space.

[slendotnet]

Hey All

New to the forums here, but thought you all might enjoy the photo blog I have been updating fairly regularly for the new Versatile building that has been going up on the corner of 3rd and Lonsdale where the old and new Subway was.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1167866...eat=directlink

Cheers

[SFUVancouver]

Hi Slendotnet, welcome to the forum.

Thanks for posting the link to your photos. This puts you in the running for 'most comprehensive documentation of a project'. Very well done. Thanks.

[slendotnet]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

This puts you in the running for 'most comprehensive documentation of a project'.

I was thinking of the term "obssesive", but that works to

Comes with being an owner I guess...

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by slendotnet

I was thinking of the term "obssesive", but that works to

Comes with being an owner I guess...

Before moving to Toronto I think I was likely in the running for that same (made-up) award. Congratulations on your new home coming along nicely. You should consider blowing up and nicely framing two or three of those progress shots as a house-warming present to yourself. In fact, if you approached Intracorp with the idea I bet they would consider ordering a whole run and giving them to homeowners as they closed on their purchase and moved in.

[slendotnet]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

In fact, if you approached Intracorp with the idea I bet they would consider ordering a whole run and giving them to homeowners as they closed on their purchase and moved in.

My original plan was for a photo wall that would act like a timelapse slideshow as you walked down the hall. Then Intracorp found out what I was doing and asked me to blog for them, which I did. My hope was to get access to the building as it was being built, but that died due to WCB stuff. Oh well. Still enjoying the process.

[Pinion]

How long has A&W's headquarters been on Esplanade? I just noticed the signs (while going to Marble Slab, which I forgot to tout as far better than Merchies and also open until 10pm).

Nice pics, slendotnet. Versatile is looking pretty. I like how tall they made the retail level.

[wrenegade]

A&W HQ has been in Lower Lonsdale for 20+ years if I recall correctly.

[spm2013]

....

[Pinion]

Well I hope those are new signs or else I am the least observant person on earth.