Downtown Vancouver Updates - Page 397

Prometheus · #**7921** Posted **Oct 10, 2011, 8:40 PM**

Thanks for the update.

They knocked down that building. But it appears that they are building something else. I wonder what it is. A covered area or formal entrance for the park?

hummingbird · #**7922** Posted **Oct 12, 2011, 3:05 PM**

Greedy politions and developers hungry for profit.... Yet another Historical landmark is being destroyed. All the cities History is being destroyed 100 year old church gone. 100 year old mansions gone. What is in its place empty buildings owned by off shore investments and the people who have lived in this city since 1879 are booted out to Surrey, White rock or Langley. But that's Vision for you..

LeftCoaster · #**7923** Posted **Oct 12, 2011, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hummingbird

Greedy politions and developers hungry for profit.... Yet another Historical landmark is being destroyed. All the cities History is being destroyed 100 year old church gone. 100 year old mansions gone. What is in its place empty buildings owned by off shore investments and the people who have lived in this city since 1879 are booted out to Surrey, White rock or Langley. But that's Vision for you..

jsbertram · #**7924** Posted **Oct 12, 2011, 7:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hummingbird

Greedy politions and developers hungry for profit.... Yet another Historical landmark is being destroyed. All the cities History is being destroyed 100 year old church gone. 100 year old mansions gone. What is in its place empty buildings owned by off shore investments and the people who have lived in this city since 1879 are booted out to Surrey, White rock or Langley. But that's Vision for you..

PROFF?

What church?
What mansion?

SpongeG · #**7925** Posted **Oct 12, 2011, 9:42 PM**

big story in the 24 hour newspaper today about that mansion in the west end - was supposed to get integrated into the new tower but now they want to demolish it

i forget the name of the project maybe someone here can remember it

some kind of townhall meeting is coming up to discuss it - i am sure there are details somewhere online with the changes to the building and project

sacrifice333 · #**7926** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 12:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

big story in the 24 hour newspaper today about that mansion in the west end - was supposed to get integrated into the new tower but now they want to demolish it

i forget the name of the project maybe someone here can remember it

some kind of townhall meeting is coming up to discuss it - i am sure there are details somewhere online with the changes to the building and project

Not sure on the project name, but the mansion is the Legg mansion IIRC.

officedweller · #**7927** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 12:50 AM**

That's the 1241 Harwood project - see other thread.

SpongeG · #**7928** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 6:00 AM**

ok i glanced quickly at someone reading the paper on the train so i didn't get all the details - but the headline jumped out at me

jlousa · #**7929** Posted **Oct 13, 2011, 6:23 PM**

Strange to put his out so close to election time, figured they would wait to ensure the next parks board council shares the same vision.

Quote:

This Request for Proposal ("RFP") identifies a business opportunity for the successful Proponent to provide an aboriginal cultural centre and attraction. The City of Vancouver as represented by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation ("VPB") is requesting proposals from interested firms with expertise in presenting West Coast aboriginal culture and history. Expertise must include the translation of the cultures and values of local
Coast Salish, and regional (British Columbia's) Aboriginal peoples and their contribution to environmental and social values, into presentations which will be understandable and appealing to the diverse and multi-cultural public who visit Stanley Park.

This will be in the same area that was occupied by the childrens farmyard.

jlousa · #**7930** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 4:29 AM**

Today Chinatown joined Gastown in becoming a National Historic site and allowing for a potential bid at gaining a UNESCO world heritage status. Quite surprised that no local news picked this story up, it's a pretty significant deal.
Anyways congrats to Chinatown.

giallo · #**7931** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 7:17 AM**

^Cool. Even though it's seen better days, it's a true jewel of Vancouver and Canada.

mhy · #**7932** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 8:29 AM**

Really? our chinatown is obsolete... i'd pick san fran's chinatown for unesco status anyday...

Chadillaccc · #**7933** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 9:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhy

Really? our chinatown is obsolete... i'd pick san fran's chinatown for unesco status anyday...

I agree to an extent. But I think our Chinatown has just been neglected/forgotten due to it's proximity to Main and Hastings. That whole area of the city has been forgotten for nearly half a century. But the same could have been said for Toronto's Chinatown until the 90s. Now it's a thriving, developing community.

Hopefully this new legislation can spur some renewed interest in Chinatown. Even if "development" doesn't happen, it would be nice to see the place cleaned up significantly and have some of the older buildings converted to residential.

Glad to see the project "The Flats" has been proposed on East Georgia. That might help the area a bit

Jebby · #**7934** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 10:40 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Today Chinatown joined Gastown in becoming a National Historic site and allowing for a potential bid at gaining a UNESCO world heritage status. Quite surprised that no local news picked this story up, it's a pretty significant deal.
Anyways congrats to Chinatown.

Seriously? World Heritsge status for Vancouver Chinatown? They've really lowered the bar...

Echowinds · #**7935** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 10:51 AM**

Just National Historic site right now, which puts it on the same level as sites such as Britannia Shipyard, Lions Gate Bridge, and Fort Langley, amongst nearly 1000 sites in Canada.

Out of those 6 are designated World Heritage Site culturally wise. So, in all likelihood Chinatown won't be one for quite sometime.

djh · #**7936** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 5:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlousa

Today Chinatown joined Gastown in becoming a National Historic site and allowing for a potential bid at gaining a UNESCO world heritage status. Quite surprised that no local news picked this story up, it's a pretty significant deal.
Anyways congrats to Chinatown.

What will this mean for developers and owners in Chinatown? Will it mean that, for example, renovations to existing structures have to be in the style of the original building? Will it mean any new structures will have to be to the style and height of the existing structures? Will this overrule the city's bylaws concerning form and height? Will interior building changes be allowed, or does this just affect facades? Will it make it harder to knock-down condemned buildings in lieu of painstakingly repairing them?

Too little information for me to gauge whether this is "good" or "bad" for the area, but I do appreciate that it means the area won't just get bulldozed.

jlousa · #**7937** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 5:52 PM**

Being designated as a National Historic Site doesn't provide any legal protection for the historic elements, you do get a nice plaque, some free advertising and it opens the taps to receiving federal funds.

TwoFace · #**7938** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 6:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by djh

does this just affect facades?

Correct

hollywoodnorth · #**7939** Posted **Oct 14, 2011, 9:55 PM**

an update on one of my fav projects right now

http://www.henriquezpartners.com/archimemo/?p=891

10.14.11 | Henriquez Partners Will Convert Prison Cells to Apartments
Former DTES Jail to Become Affordable Housing Project

October 14, 2011 | Global BC

Locked In · #**7940** Posted **Oct 16, 2011, 11:23 PM**

English Bay Cactus Club update - my photo. I also noticed a sign today on the site facing the sea wall advertising that CC is Now Hiring: