CF Pacific Centre Developments

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

First part, after the renovations are complete, how much more difficult would it be for Translink to do so?

The existing entrance and mall connection was built in existing mall space -
so about as disruptive as that first entrance was (i.e. not very - it's all behind some haording).

The plan shows potential space under the entrance vestibule on the corner that could connect
if they widened the service passage. Stores in that area could become "double sided" (which retailers
don't generally like) or at least install more display windows.

It would be reasonably easy to lock off the mall and police after mall hours
- which is when an entrance facing the entertainment strip would be used.


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Or for even better security and minimal loss of retail space, a vertical stair (no escalator required) from the street above
straight down (like at The Bay on Seymour):


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But this is what I would do, maybe combined with a vertical stair (no escalator) directly to the street.
Nordstrom could have a "mall presence" ("Nordstom" sign) on the angled wall and visible down the mall corridor
(with a bank of escalators up to the main floor off the mall corridor and an atrium above).
The passage from the station could disgorge passengers directly across from Nordstrom's mall entrance.


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Agreed on the Granville frontage and the missed opportunity for separate CRUs.
I also don't see Nordstrom's image and "gritty" Granville Street being consistent with each other.
I'm sure they'll love late night revellers pissing on their facade.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by Hed Kandi

This is probably going to sound a bit stupid but where exactly is the 558,000 sq ft expansion going to be?

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL x LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

are you following this thread at all? or? just pretending?

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL x LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

are you following this thread at all? or? just pretending?

Leftcoaster is right - it's a marketing spin.
It's not "new" space - but "reallocated" or "repurposed" space.
I don't think anyone would disagree that Sears was not part of the "mall" - its landlord was even Cadillac Fairview.
The Bay, however, is not part of the mall as it is under separate ownership.

[dleung]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

First part, after the renovations are complete, how much more difficult would it be for Translink to do so?

Second part, the idea of screens is just an example. If they don't wan't screens, so be it, but again a little more colour / light / signage would be very welcomed, such as another Pacific Centre vertical sign akin to what they have a block north near H&M along the Granville side instead of just the one dark black Nordstrom sign.

Again, don't hate the redesign, just feel the Granville side is a little insulting to the atmosphere of the street.

Oh, and dreambrother808, I will keep airing this opinion on here until the project is fully complete, and you know what, maybe after then as well, because the problem is still there There are many, many, many other threads where the same dissatisfactions towards projects keeps coming up (materials on the Mark, building the Evergreen Line before the Broadway Line for a couple examples) so why should I just roll over and die on this one? Cheers mate

Lack of LEDs and screens is the least of this project's design problems

[TwoFace]

I don't think that calling it "new" space is necessarily a marketing spin on behalf of CF, as a substantial renovation does classify it as "new" space.
There is a definition as to the % requirements for it to be considered new.

I believe that doing a reno on a residential property up to 90% classifies it as brand new, not sure of the commercial % requirements though.

*** anyway, I've been to the Nordstrom's in Bellingham ... hardly a big deal.

[Retail-Insider]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

*** anyway, I've been to the Nordstrom's in Bellingham ... hardly a big deal.

You are either thinking of Nordstrom in Bellevue, Washington (???) or a completely different store in Bellingham, Washington? There currently is no Nordstrom store in Bellingham.

Nordstrom in Bellevue has an excellent women's designer department. One of the best in the chain.

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by Retail-Insider

You are either thinking of Nordstrom in Bellevue, Washington (???) or a completely different store in Bellingham, Washington? There currently is no Nordstrom store in Bellingham.

Your correct, my mistake.
I was thinking of Macy's at Bellis Fair.

[Capitol Hill]

I live in Seattle, a 15 minute walk from the headquarters of Nordstrom. I haven't stepped foot in Nordstrom in 3 years. But that isn't necessarily bad. What Nordstrom provides is 'caché' for attracting other retailers. However Vancouver is already further ahead than Seattle in attracting interesting retailers.

I find it interesting how disappointed most people seem with this architecture. In Seattle, we all seem very disappointed with our architecture as well.

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The existing entrance and mall connection was built in existing mall space -
so about as disruptive as that first entrance was (i.e. not very - it's all behind some haording).

The plan shows potential space under the entrance vestibule on the corner that could connect
if they widened the service passage. Stores in that area could become "double sided" (which retailers
don't generally like) or at least install more display windows.

It would be reasonably easy to lock off the mall and police after mall hours
- which is when an entrance facing the entertainment strip would be used.

{snip}

Or for even better security and minimal loss of retail space, a vertical stair (no escalator required) from the street above
straight down (like at The Bay on Seymour):

{snip}

But this is what I would do, maybe combined with a vertical stair (no escalator) directly to the street.
Nordstrom could have a "mall presence" ("Nordstom" sign) on the angled wall and visible down the mall corridor
(with a bank of escalators up to the main floor off the mall corridor and an atrium above).
The passage from the station could disgorge passengers directly across from Nordstrom's mall entrance.

{snip}

Agreed on the Granville frontage and the missed opportunity for separate CRUs.
I also don't see Nordstrom's image and "gritty" Granville Street being consistent with each other.
I'm sure they'll love late night revellers pissing on their facade.

I can't see CF losing any more retail space (and rent) just to get another entrance to the same Canada Line station.

If there's a problem of crowds from the south clogging up the station entrance on Georgia St., then it's up to Translink et.al. to build a new entrance on the Robson side of this station.

If CF was actually interested in another connection to SkyTrain from the mall, they would have already made a connection to the Granville Station (Expo & Millennium lines) during the major renovations for Holt Renfrew a few years ago.

However, this convenient connection costs money, so it's cheaper to let people walk through the food court and The Bay to get to Granville Station.

[officedweller]

I wouldn't expect CF to bear the full cost of an entrance - a second entrance could be tied to additional density for future projects (whether at the Sears building or on the plazas).

If I recall correctly, the existing Canada Line entrance was the public amenity they contributed for the rezoning for Holt Renfrew (permission to remove the previous public amenity, which was the food court atrium) and the developments on the two plazas.

Found the report:

The Director of Current Planning supports elimination of the current atrium (see Figure 2 and
3) as it is anticipated that it will be replaced with a public benefit of an equivalent value
elsewhere on the Pacific Centre Mall site. The options under discussion at this time are:
• The provision of a more publicly accessible atrium, suitable for public gatherings and
events at the corner of Georgia and Howe Streets (see Figure 4); and/or
• The provision of a major, high profile entrance to the Richmond Airport Vancouver
rapid transit station, on the Pacific Centre plaza (see Figure 5), adjacent to the corner
of Georgia and Granville Streets.

With respect to the first, Cadillac Fairview intends to pursue a reconfiguration of the
Georgia/Howe site, asking the City to consider improvements and additional floor space. With
respect to the second, detailed discussions and conceptual design are well underway. A
general resolution on the costs and benefits to the respective parties should happen in the
next month or two. A rezoning will be needed for either or both of these, at which time the
replacement amenity can be considered.

Although at this time we do not have a rezoning application in hand, planning staff are
supporting the consideration of their development application at this time because Cadillac
Fairview and Holt Renfrew are facing significant time constraints in renovating and
completing the new anchor store.

http://www.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/ccl...cuments/p4.pdf

[vansky]

image from project site



own

i thought the window side could be a little wider, probably looks a little better.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Capitol Hill

I live in Seattle, a 15 minute walk from the headquarters of Nordstrom. I haven't stepped foot in Nordstrom in 3 years. But that isn't necessarily bad. What Nordstrom provides is 'caché' for attracting other retailers. However Vancouver is already further ahead than Seattle in attracting interesting retailers.

I find it interesting how disappointed most people seem with this architecture. In Seattle, we all seem very disappointed with our architecture as well.

Perfect!! As a lifelong Vancouverite, I lived in Seattle for a year for business. While there, I quickly realized that Vancouver had a much better mix of retail including, at the time, many European chains that Seattle lacked.. and a much livelier and youthful energy on the streets as well as a much denser, more urbanized and successful downtown.

We seem to have a fascination with American retail chains that I perceived as totally mundane when I lived in the states, didn't care about Target, no one seemed to... and Nordstrom was always perceived and VERY traditional and conservative, especially for men, their mix looked very 'new england' and Brook Brothers ( ish ) to me. I couldn't wait for Fridays when I'd head up I-5 and hit Robson, South Granville, Main and Gastown. Since returning I never go cross-border shopping and I've learned to appreciate how great our mix of retail has become, I'm proud of how our urban hubs have evolved and am glad to keep my dollars here and support our merchants and our retail mix.

[GeeCee]

It's closing this weekend! Woo!

[vansky]

vancouver is cosmo, seattle is the united states...which is more authentic, more local and self-absorbed.

you rarely see americans over market their brands, coach, TH, nike etc...they r just stores and names.

van is the gateway, it's a commercial and business center, and Seattle is not in that destination.

You go to work in Seattle and shop here.

[Pinion]

Nike is just a store and name? lolololol

I will continue to buy all my clothes in Seattle until Vancouver offers clothes for people who are taller than 6'0.

[Darren Tate]

Originally Posted by vansky

vancouver is cosmo, seattle is the united states...which is more authentic, more local and self-absorbed.

you rarely see americans over market their brands, coach, TH, nike etc...they r just stores and names.

van is the gateway, it's a commercial and business center, and Seattle is not in that destination.

You go to work in Seattle and shop here.

Americans don't "over-market" their brands? Brands are just names? You talk rubbish. Seattle is for working, Vancouver is for shopping? WTF? Seattle/Bellevue still remains a shopping destination for me. More selection, better prices.

And Vancouver is a business centre? What are you smoking?

[ryanmaccdn]

Originally Posted by Darren Tate

Americans don't "over-market" their brands? Brands are just names? You talk rubbish. Seattle is for working, Vancouver is for shopping? WTF? Seattle/Bellevue still remains a shopping destination for me. More selection, better prices.

And Vancouver is a business centre? What are you smoking?

AGREED!

I'll take Alderwood or Southcentre or Bellvue Mall any-day over Robson.

Also it's cheaper.

I'm trying to desperately think of any retailers that downtown Vancouver has that would be better?

Le Chatue, Roots, TNA, La Senza is a whole lot of EWWWW.

American retailers have it down to a science... hell Lord and Taylor took over the fumbling Canadian retailer HBC and in a few years have boosted sales significantly and repositioned the brand to what it used to be.

[Hourglass]

Wrt shopping, the grass is almost always greener on the other side no matter where you live -- and I think you're looking at it from a Canadian / Vancouver perspective.

For many people outside the city, the perception is that Vancouver is more cosmopolitan than Seattle -- and that pertains to shopping as well. Don't know how true this is, but either way, given the number of Asian residents and visitors to Van compared to Seattle, I'd be surprised if this didn't have some impact on the retail mix.

[GeeCee]

More variety is always better.. there are plenty of Sears stores around town.

[osirisboy]

We are not turning this thread into a Vancouver versus Seattle debate. If you guys want to discuss it why don't you create it's own thread!