Downtown Vancouver Updates

[officedweller]

Thanks. Is that a taper on the tower, or (presumably) increased floorplates due to reduction in elevator core size on the upper floors?
Any comment on the outward appearance of the building? i.e oval (I think I recall it was oval), rectangular, modern, etc.?

[giallo]

Great updates, jlousa.

[Hed Kandi]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Went to the Granville St redesign open house, looks really good, there didn't have any pamplets so I have nothing to scan. They informed me that the info was all submitted to COV earlier in the day and that it should be on the citys website by the end of the week, I did get a fancy paper bookmark though.

Anyways nothing new to report, the lighting they have in mind really is incredible, I think they have it called the "Great white way" the parking on the sidewalk acuatally looks like it'll work. They also have a public event space destined as Granville from Georgia to Robson, not sure how they can close that off for bus traffic during events though, unless they have plans to keep the buses off Granville, but that isn't the case at this point.

Awesome news. Thanks

[nathan6969]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Thanks. Is that a taper on the tower, or (presumably) increased floorplates due to reduction in elevator core size on the upper floors?
Any comment on the outward appearance of the building? i.e oval (I think I recall it was oval), rectangular, modern, etc.?

Have we actually seen renderings of this one yet??

[jlousa]

I haven't seen any rendering out there yet, they had a model at the open house but I wasn't going to take pictures of it. Anyways it's a recentanglar glass box, it does look stubby next to Shangri-la. On the model it had two different coloured glass. It wasn't a great looking building but it's not ugly either.

[officedweller]

Thanks.
Different coloured glass doesn't usually work that well unless there's a drastic difference in the colours.
i.e. the Carmana Plaza apartments on Alberni uses different coloured glass, but it's hardly noticeable - ditto for the Marinaside complex on the Concord Lands.
There's an office block on Pender that uses gold and silver mirrored glass (Revenue Canada?) which actually looks better than other examples, despite the dated look.
Then of course, there's One Wall Centre.

[SpongeG]

City prefers fitness centre for Storyeum site

VANCOUVER - City staff is recommending a proposed homeless shelter at the former Storyeum building in Gastown be rejected in favour of a fitness centre.

The Downtown Eastside Residents' Association suggested the failed Storyeum site at Water and Cordova streets be turned into a 24-hour shelter to house the downtown poor and get them off the streets.

But a staff report suggests this plan -- as well as a proposal by Xcalibur Bowling & Entertainment Ltd. to turn the site into a 48-lane bowling alley -- are too "expensive and impractical" and would not provide the necessary financial returns.

Instead, city staff is recommending council lease the 31,000-square-foot site to Eco Fitness Ltd. Partnership, which is expected to provide $750,000 revenue to the city each year for the first five years of the 10-year term.

DERA, by comparison, has cited the financial returns as "lessening the heavy financial demand on social and municipal services," while Xcalibur said its revenue would be about $600,000 a year.

"The design, zoning and built form condition of the premises would be prohibitive challenges to implementing the uses of a homeless shelter and bowling alley, respectively," the city report by John Breckner states.

The report will go to council next Tuesday for approval.

At least two councillors say they doubt the site, which is zoned commercial and was vacated by Storyeum in November 2006, is appropriate for a homeless shelter.

The city terminated the lease with Storyeum's parent company, Historical Xperiences, after it sought bankruptcy protection in August 2006 and became insolvent.

NPA Coun. Kim Capri said Wednesday she hadn't read the staff report but said there are a number of reasons why the city is reluctant to put a homeless shelter at the Gastown Parkade. She said most of them stem from concerns from neighbouring businesses, which argue they already have enough challenges to boost business and tourism and create economic vitality in the area.

As part of its proposal, Eco Fitness has said its 24-hour, seven-day-a-week facility will generate 25,000 member visits each month, increasing pedestrian traffic in the area.

Members of the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

Vision Coun. Raymond Louie agreed the site is more appropriate for commercial uses. "It has been empty for a while and we [need] to ensure we realize some value for our citizens," he said.

He said there are better areas for a homeless shelter, such as closer to the Woodward's development, and said the provincial and federal governments have to step up in the battle against homelessness.

[email protected]

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/...?id=4a8d7273-3489-42bd-8b76-c053dfcde0e6

[officedweller]

Comments -
The article does not mention that this is just a part of the site (the Cordova side).
Raymond Louie must not realize that the part to be leased is across the street from Woodward's.

[TwoFace]

[Quote]
As part of its proposal, Eco Fitness has said its 24-hour, seven-day-a-week facility will generate 25,000 member visits each month, increasing pedestrian traffic in the area.

That surprises me, I always though that these Gyms were plentiful and always changing hands due to low memberships & bankruptcy.

[Jacques]

Originally Posted by leftside

We could do with a fitness centre in Gastown. D E R A can F U C K off.

I agree with you on this one, I am truly getting sick of Dear and the Anti poverty group who fews days ago slam Michelle Jean while she tour DTES

a fitness centre would be great a block away for home, FANTASTIC

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by TwoFace

That surprises me, I always though that these Gyms were plentiful and always changing hands due to low memberships & bankruptcy.

They do.
The one at L'Aria on Robson has gone out of business - twice.
The one in Yaletown (Cossette Building) is now a World Gym.

[SFUVancouver]

jlousa, thanks for the update on the Bentall (6?) tower.

Any idea when this will go before the DPB (Development Permit Board)? It has been through the UDP (Urban Design Panel) already, hasn't it?

[TwoFace]

Originally Posted by officedweller

They do.
The one at L'Aria on Robson has gone out of business - twice.
The one in Yaletown (Cossette Building) is now a World Gym.

Exactly my point, you would assume the City did some due diligence and would want a stronger tenant.

[jlousa]

I beleive the Bentall tower has been thru the design panel but not the development board, not postive though, it might still be at the UDP level.

A couple of new tidbits, nothing major

701 Georgia St
To remove the existing rotunda structure and construct a two-storey addition to Pacific Centre Mall, encompassing the entire public plaza area now existing at the corner of Georgia and Howe Streets.

777 Thurlow St
To add 435 square feet of floor area on the upper level of this commercial building through a transfer of Heritage density and provide a roof deck area for the existing restaurant tenant (Joe Fortes)

[jlousa]

Just did a search and this came up

1. 745 Thurlow Street
DE: Rezoning
Use: 23-storey office tower, with other commercial uses at grade, with height of 300 ft. and FSR of 15.4
Zoning: DD to CD-1
Application Status: Rezoning
Architect: Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership
Review: First
Delegation: Mark Whitehead & Mark Thompson, Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership; Chris Sterry, PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc.
Staff: Phil Mondor/Ralph Segal

EVALUATION: SUPPORT (3-2)

Introduction: Phil Mondor, Rezoning Planner, introduced the proposal for a rezoning application at the corner of Thurlow and Alberni Streets. The maximum FSR for the area is 7 with applicant seeking 15.4 FSR. The proposal is for a 2 storey retail podium with a 23 storey office tower and below grade parking. There is a view cone from the False Creek Seawall and the height of the tower will be slightly over the 300 foot limit. City Policy encourages transfer of density and the applicant will be transferring density from the Evergreen property on West Pender Street. Although there isn’t a Green Building Strategy in place, the City has an expectation that new buildings will achieve at least LEEDTM Silver. The applicant will be pursuing a LEEDTM Gold registration and will be the first office tower in the city to do so.

The Panel adjourned to the model, where Ralph Segal, Development Planner described the surrounding area and the design development for the property.

Advice from the Panel on this application is sought on the following:
1. Overall built form:
Does the proposed building massing accommodate the increased density, creating an appropriate urban design “fit” in this context?

2. Pedestrian Environment:
Will the proposal’s Public Realm interface contribute to pedestrian activity and amenity?

3. Preliminary Architectural Design Concept:
Does the proposed architectural design respond appropriately to this site and context?

Mr. Mondor and Mr. Segal took questions from the Panel.

Applicant’s Introductory Comments: Mark Whitehead, Architect, further described the proposal noting the various sustainable measures planned for the site including green roofs and water conservation. He noted that they are committed to achieving LEEDTM Gold for the project.
Chris Sterry, Landscape Architect, described the landscape plans for the project noting the roof gardens as well as the plans for green wall proposed for the upper portions of the podium façade on the lane.

The applicant team took questions from the Panel.

Panel’s Consensus on Key Aspects Needing Improvement:

Consider looking at the density on the site and adjusting the form of the building; and
Consider the type and amount of glazing in order to make for a sustainable building.
Related Commentary: The Panel supported the proposal and thought it was a very interesting project and commended the applicant for an excellent presentation.

The Panel thought it was a great location for an office building and that it would animate Alberni Street. Some of the Panel thought the two levels of retail were a benefit in terms of also animating the street. The Panel did not have any concerns regarding shadowing into public spaces.

The Panel commended the applicant for their commitment to achieve LEEDTM Gold registration. One Panel member suggested angling the glass for more solar control especially on the south side of the building. It was suggested that care needed to be taken in the building design to make it sustainable considering the high percentage of glazing.

There was good support for the office use on the site. Several Panel members were concerned with the amount of density being asked for in this submission. There was a comment that, in the Development Permit submission, the applicant should further develop the expression of the building. They felt there could be a more strongly sculpted form to the building. The Panel did not have any concerns regarding the floor plate size and one Panel member commented that they would like to see the floor plates more clearly expressed on the building facade.

Several members of the Panel thought the building had a strong entrance and one member commented that the canopy could project more strongly. It was noted that the quality of the detailing would be key to the success of the project.

Most of the Panel liked the landscape plans and thought the green roof on the lower level would work but they weren’t sure about the green roof on the 23rd floor of the tower as they felt it hadn’t been integrated into the building. A couple of Panel members thought the public realm had not been as well developed as the roof level. There was also a comment that the public open space on the podium was a little too narrow and may have some problems with wind shear. Several members of the Panel noted that it would be wonderful to have the green wall visible from Robson Street.

Several members of the Panel noted that the oval plan forms in the roof landscaping did not seem to complement the oval mechanical enclosure on the roof.

Applicant’s Response: Mr. Whitehead thanked the Panel for their comments and noted that they will be back to the UDP at a future date. He added that they will not be using 100 per cent glazing but some spandrel glass or frosted glass.


So it appears it passed so no need to come back, but the applicant did mention they would appear before the UDP at a future date

[LeftCoaster]

Something still in the conceptual stages, but could be coming to fruition soon:

Reclading of the podium on the Burrard building, involving a backlit glass curtain wall surrounding the entire podium set 18 inches off the existing building skin.

[vanman]

Which building is this again? The backlit podium sounds interesting

[LeftCoaster]

This is the glass building on Burrard and W. Georgia. One of the first modern buildings in vancouver, and the one so many fourmers here want to see demolished to make way for some massive office tower...

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster

Something still in the conceptual stages, but could be coming to fruition soon:

Reclading of the podium on the Burrard building, involving a backlit glass curtain wall surrounding the entire podium set 18 inches off the existing building skin.

Presumably on the 2nd floor only - i.e. not Tiffany & Co.
I wonder how the tenants would like that - Kamei Royale probably wouldn't care - it has the screens on the windows. Italian Kitchen would probably object.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by officedweller

They do.
The one at L'Aria on Robson has gone out of business - twice.
The one in Yaletown (Cossette Building) is now a World Gym.

good news Downtown will FINALLY get a 24 Hour gym.............as the Fitness World on Georgia is NOT 24 hours even though they advertize it as.........lame lame lame