Attractions and events you'd like to see in Vancouver...a wish list

[Zassk]

Moving the zoo to Hastings Park would be a wonderful thing! I am a strong supporter of the zoo and hate the bad publicity that it gets. We have a young generation of kids who feel no empathy for animals. I'm convinced it is because these animals only exist on a screen for these kids. A BBC documentary or website are no replacement for the zoo and aquarium.

Replace the Hastings parking lot with a parkade (already planned I believe) and a short SkyTrain spur from Gilmore. Build the zoo on the Empire Fields and parking lot lands. Keep Playland there. I would love to see Playland moved to the False Creek Flats, but realistically, that land is too juicy for redevelopment.

[trofirhen]

A Film Festival to rival Toronto's.

A branch of Harrod's of London.

European stone sidewalks downtown.

Elegant lamp posts throughout the central city.

An elegant stone piazza in front of the present VAG; seating, cappucino, new fountain ....

Getting an upgrade from a non-world class city to a Gamma, or even Beta World city. (forget the Alpha for now)

A cleaned-up Stock Exchange, that is listed in major newspapers.

Underground connectors from Pacific Centre to Sinclair Centre, Royal Centre, Robson Square ......

Brighter night lighting. ............... (I'll think of a few more) ...........

More airlines, more destinations.

[wrenegade]

The two things I would like to see the most are an expanded Vancouver Aquarium and a Maritime Museum in North Vancouver.

We already have a pretty damn good aquarium, we should expand on it and abandon our dreams of a better zoo. It's likely there is only money for one, and the Aquarium makes a little more sense seeing as we're a coastal city. Plus the location in Stanley Park is awesome. We're never going to compete with Calgary's zoo (let alone Toronto) and I don't think we should try.

I think it would be a waste to try and put the Maritime Museum in False Creek. Number one, you wouldn't be able to have tall ships, number two, False Creek was an industrial hub based on the railway, steel manufacturing and logging, not ship building. The area in North Vancouver was (and kinda still is) built on shipping. There is a massive concrete pier that is sitting basically unused (or very under-used) and tourists would access the museum by Seabus, quite an appropriate method of transportation. I still hope that this can happen in North Van. My dream would be to see a replica of George Vancouver's HMS Discovery built and permanently docked at the pier there.

I'd like to see Canada Day celebrations expanded (hopefully with the Olympic Flame and Jack Pool Plaza this happens) and have Harbour Green Park and Stanley Park lined with people to watch a firework display either at Canada Place or from a barge in the middle of the Harbour. Something like the celebration of lights, but in Coal Harbour.

Beyond that I am pretty happy with what Vancouver offers. Of course I'd like to see the Celebration of Lights continue every summer, and I hope that our shopping and restaurants continue to get better.

[SpikePhanta]

Originally Posted by mr.x

My Pacific Centre expansion idea above is based on a timeline of when Sears would decide to move out, so such a major expansion would be something like 15-years down the road at the very earliest.

A zoo and Playland would still work together at Hastings Park, there's room for both.

False Creek's Creekside Park expansion site could be turned into park as currently planned, but on the west end of the park you'll have that big ferris wheel with the admission entrance located on the proposed new False Creek plaza/pier.

Then I very much would support these ideas!

Originally Posted by BCPhil

BC used to have 2! At the outbreak of WWI, Our Premier Sir Richard McBride, was unsatisfied that the West Coast of Canada was left unprotected by the British Navy. Upon hearing rumors that the German Cruiser Leipzig was seen off the coast, raiding ships, on behalf of BC he bought 2 submarines built in Seattle that were originally destined for Chile. The sale was ratified by the federal government and the ships entered service in the RCN. They were the only British ships to patrol the west coast for the first 3 years of WWI.

Although I guess new ones would have more windows and fewer torpedo tubes.

It's funny because our number of two subs matched the number of ships in the canadian navy


Also I would like to see an indoor pool similar to west edmonton mall, but it must be easily reached by transit since splashdown and cultus lake arnt easily to reach.

Thing is where would this pool go? I would hope not Surrey.

Oh maybe south burnaby big bend area?

[delboy]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

A Film Festival to rival Toronto's.

A branch of Harrod's of London.

European stone sidewalks downtown.

Elegant lamp posts throughout the central city.

An elegant stone piazza in front of the present VAG; seating, cappucino, new fountain ....

Getting an upgrade from a non-world class city to a Gamma, or even Beta World city. (forget the Alpha for now)

A cleaned-up Stock Exchange, that is listed in major newspapers.

Underground connectors from Pacific Centre to Sinclair Centre, Royal Centre, Robson Square ......

Brighter night lighting. ............... (I'll think of a few more) ...........

More airlines, more destinations.

vancouver is already a gama rated city. I imagine having hosted the Olympics will set us on a certain course for Beta rating in the not to distant future.

What Vancouver needs is not more tourist attractions (although I agree with improving what we have) but soul and culture that can evolve organically through those of us that live here.

[MistyMountainHop]

I would love to have a 20,000+ capacity outdoor concert bowl somewhere. Maybe on one of the local ski hills or up at Whistler Blackcomb? (summer use only, of course)

The Gorge, WA:

http://www.glidemagazine.com/hiddentrack/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/the-gorge.jpg

Red Rocks, CO:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Red_Rocks_Amphitheater.JPG

[idunno]

That would be amazing - the Gorge is possibly the best outdoor venue in North America. I could see something like that up on Mount Seymour since Grouse has the gondola and Cypress is a park. Could you imagine? - looking over the city at sunset as bands play. If only we had more consistent weather here, especially up on the mountaintops.

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by awvan

The two things I would like to see the most are an expanded Vancouver Aquarium and a Maritime Museum in North Vancouver.

We already have a pretty damn good aquarium, we should expand on it and abandon our dreams of a better zoo. It's likely there is only money for one, and the Aquarium makes a little more sense seeing as we're a coastal city. Plus the location in Stanley Park is awesome. We're never going to compete with Calgary's zoo (let alone Toronto) and I don't think we should try.

That's a good point...few cities have both a zoo and an aquarium, though I do think a zoo at Hastings Park could be quite world-class. If Calgary can do it, why can't Vancouver? Our climate is so much more suitable for a zoo than Calgary.

I think it would be a waste to try and put the Maritime Museum in False Creek. Number one, you wouldn't be able to have tall ships, number two, False Creek was an industrial hub based on the railway, steel manufacturing and logging, not ship building. The area in North Vancouver was (and kinda still is) built on shipping. There is a massive concrete pier that is sitting basically unused (or very under-used) and tourists would access the museum by Seabus, quite an appropriate method of transportation. I still hope that this can happen in North Van. My dream would be to see a replica of George Vancouver's HMS Discovery built and permanently docked at the pier there.

I'd like to see Canada Day celebrations expanded (hopefully with the Olympic Flame and Jack Pool Plaza this happens) and have Harbour Green Park and Stanley Park lined with people to watch a firework display either at Canada Place or from a barge in the middle of the Harbour. Something like the celebration of lights, but in Coal Harbour.

Beyond that I am pretty happy with what Vancouver offers. Of course I'd like to see the Celebration of Lights continue every summer, and I hope that our shopping and restaurants continue to get better.

Great points/ideas!

[mr.x]

Originally Posted by SpikePhanta

Then I very much would support these ideas!

My idea for a 8-floor mall atrium mall expansion was probably a bit too much, but something like 3-4 floors including the ground/basement level that links you to the rest of the mall would suffice.

Imagine the expansion using the renderings below. The main entrance located on Robson with a huge glass facade, and you'll also have smaller entrances on Granville and Howe.


http://www.blogto.com/city/2010/06/design_selected_for_st_lawrence_market_north/

[SpongeG]

i'd rather see more streets pick up the slack in retail

[SpikePhanta]

wow those are really nice renderings!
Now that and a nice unique office tower would make me happy, even though I'll miss the big white box.

[vancityrox]

Those are some really great ideas and I honestly agree with all of them. They are all things that can only improve the city. Love the idea of the fair on Creekside Park. Such a wasted oppurtunity on that land that can be used for something like this. That area has robably some of the nicest views of the city.


What I would realy like to see is the city make a vast public square. Robson square is just too hidden and mediocore. A Plaza where the city can hold Festivals and can have thousands of people on it. Great lighting surrounding it. Also the city can maybe shut down a main street for a couple days and do and outdoor market and terrasses fromrestaurans and bars can spill onto the streets. Nice feel for the summer and it can be like a kick off to summer in Vancity just like the F1 weekend in Mtl is a kickoff to summer in Montreal with all the endless festivals.

I am in Montreal now and went to a couple of the amazing festivals downtown on the brand new Quartier Des Spectacle and that plaza is BEAUTIFUL! A friend from Vancouver is with me and she was astonished of how lively it was downtown compared to Vancouver. I think a plaza like that would be awesome. The Vancouver Jazz Fest would rock on it.

You can see what I mean about the plaza in the video on MTL tourism.
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/MontrealTV

Sorry if I compare the cities to often but I just love Vancity and think it can really work! The city desperatly needs some festivals for music and SPONSORS!!!!!!!

Here is some pics...This can really work in Vancouver for the summer.

http://yfrog.com/jkcimg1378djx

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by delboy

vancouver is already a gama rated city. I imagine having hosted the Olympics will set us on a certain course for Beta rating in the not to distant future.

What Vancouver needs is not more tourist attractions (although I agree with improving what we have) but soul and culture that can evolve organically through those of us that live here.

Thanks for the feedback; you are absolutely right. However, what you're talking about has to come from within the minds of the people who live here themselves. Travelling educationally to other places is a great eye-opener. Most people seem to like to travel, and do it when the can, but it takes money anyway. However, when enough people have travelled culturally, and seen "HOW THEY DO IT" in other places, this will help bring home that "soul and culture" that you're referring to, I think.

[Joat]

Giant Playdium like arcade super fun centre! Maybe around BC place/False Creek.

[ozonemania]

These are all great ideas.

A few of mine, in no particular order:

-Waterfront football/soccer stadium, along with...

-A waterfront transportation hub that integrates commercial centre along with rail, subway, buses, seabus connections, plus airport/luggage check-ins right downtown.

-New Museum of Natural History with focus on Pacific Northwest

-New/renovated second cruise ship terminal

-More vibrant live theatre and Broadway entertainment scene

-More internationally acclaimed film/jass/music festival. (These are already quite good, we just need to kick them up a few notches)

-Streetcar network as proposed

-I agree we need a real public square, not an architectural curiosity in whiat we call Robson Square. I remember really loving Senado Square in Macau. Not really for Vancouver but I loved how it integrated a large public area (not square) that were lined with small food and retail shops all around it, all bound in a very distinctive style.

-Robson/Granville looking to Times Square (NY)/Shinjuku (Tokyo) for inspiration. Granville and Robson could both use some more verticality. IT can and has been done without turning it into a canyon. There were pictures of what was it, either Perth or Brisbane utilizing the 2nd floor in the high street streetscape.

[BCPhil]

Originally Posted by trofirhen

A Film Festival to rival Toronto's.

A branch of Harrod's of London.

European stone sidewalks downtown.

Elegant lamp posts throughout the central city.

An elegant stone piazza in front of the present VAG; seating, cappucino, new fountain ....

Getting an upgrade from a non-world class city to a Gamma, or even Beta World city. (forget the Alpha for now)

A cleaned-up Stock Exchange, that is listed in major newspapers.

Underground connectors from Pacific Centre to Sinclair Centre, Royal Centre, Robson Square ......

Brighter night lighting. ............... (I'll think of a few more) ...........

More airlines, more destinations.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Harrod's only one store? Everything else with the Harrod's name are just Airport Boutiques where the name is just licensed?

The VAG doesn't need a new fountain. It only needs to be cleaned, properly maintained and most importantly: actually turned on! When it's on it's a very beautiful fountain, has amazing tile work, and actually has some history behind it. It's actually on in the streetscape view of it, but I swear I've seen it "turned up" more than that.

Elegant light poles and coble stone streets can be found in Gastown, and work great with the character of the buildings. Stone sidewalks make for a good tourist spot, but in a business district where there is a lot of foot traffic, they can actually be somewhat hazardous (almost everyone I know has tripped/slipped on a stone in Gastown, none serious, but a bit embarrassing). The light poles along Granville are quite nice, as are the ones in Yaletown and Gastown, and I hope there are plans in store for lighting along Robson.

I don't think elaborate tunnels need to be built under the city as the streets are quite walkable (and enjoyable), as it's our outdoor life that sets us apart from our colder siblings in Canada, and it's hard for a city our size to support subterranean and surface level businesses at the same time. Maybe add just a connection between Pacific Center and Robson Square, if anything important is ever put in Robson Square first.

I would agree with the film festival, but I think it's getting there. Each and every year it seems to be bigger and better. If a government body tried for force it to be too big it would probably just all flat on its face. It's natural growth (and general interest and like of Vancouver and our film industry) will keep it on a path to becoming a world class event. First I think we need some more suitable theaters in the downtown core if you want to hold a proper film festival. The Granville cinema could use a real upgrade, Tinseltown could use some pizazz, and the loss of the Capital has hurt the possible capacity of a large film festival (as having it all right on Granville street would have been a huge draw).

[SpongeG]

the film festival is a true festival though unlike torontos which just pushes hollywood product and uses the festical for publicity

vancouver's ffestival is one of the better low key quality film fests out there

there is also a Harrods in Buenos Aries but its not the same owner there is/was some dispute between the london owner or something - its all on wikipedia

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by BCPhil

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Harrod's only one store? Everything else with the Harrod's name are just Airport Boutiques where the name is just licensed?

The VAG doesn't need a new fountain. It only needs to be cleaned, properly maintained and most importantly: actually turned on! When it's on it's a very beautiful fountain, has amazing tile work, and actually has some history behind it. It's actually on in the streetscape view of it, but I swear I've seen it "turned up" more than that.

Elegant light poles and coble stone streets can be found in Gastown, and work great with the character of the buildings. Stone sidewalks make for a good tourist spot, but in a business district where there is a lot of foot traffic, they can actually be somewhat hazardous (almost everyone I know has tripped/slipped on a stone in Gastown, none serious, but a bit embarrassing). The light poles along Granville are quite nice, as are the ones in Yaletown and Gastown, and I hope there are plans in store for lighting along Robson.

I don't think elaborate tunnels need to be built under the city as the streets are quite walkable (and enjoyable), as it's our outdoor life that sets us apart from our colder siblings in Canada, and it's hard for a city our size to support subterranean and surface level businesses at the same time. Maybe add just a connection between Pacific Center and Robson Square, if anything important is ever put in Robson Square first.

I would agree with the film festival, but I think it's getting there. Each and every year it seems to be bigger and better. If a government body tried for force it to be too big it would probably just all flat on its face. It's natural growth (and general interest and like of Vancouver and our film industry) will keep it on a path to becoming a world class event. First I think we need some more suitable theaters in the downtown core if you want to hold a proper film festival. The Granville cinema could use a real upgrade, Tinseltown could use some pizazz, and the loss of the Capital has hurt the possible capacity of a large film festival (as having it all right on Granville street would have been a huge draw).

I'm not sure about the legal/commercial status of Harrod's, but it would be great to have a second, real, true-to-life Harrod's in Vancouver. It is SUCH a fantastic department store.

I don't think there's anything I disagree with you on, really, and you make some excellent points about the film festival and related issues.

Personally - and I know this will NOT go down well - I would change the fountain at the VAG, simply because that stone sculpture seems to clash with the neo-classical design of the VAG building, and the harsh red-blue-yellow lights jar me; I'd prefer pure white lighting if they're going to leave the fountain as is. (Personally I'd prefer a fountain with no sculpture, rather, just a play of water, but most people seem to like the sculpture. I have nothing against it, but think it might be better located elsewhere, that's all)

I'd like to see Vancouver - downtown - "Europeanized" a little bit (maybe because I live in Europe an have become accustomed to that) but all it means is more esthetic, a finer attention to detail, and a more walkable, sittable, photograph-worthy environment. (micro as well as macro-photography)

But that's just my personal taste. I doubt many will agree.

[sacrifice333]

Re: an open air stage / amphitheater... here's an example of what could be built up on Seymour courtesy of the Austrians!

Source & pics.

[thenorthofvan]

Originally Posted by sacrifice333

Re: an open air stage / amphitheater... here's an example of what could be built up on Seymour courtesy of the Austrians!

Source & pics.

pretty sure grouse mtn on the cut would be a 100x better of a venue haha. seymour, not so much.