3333 Main Street | 18m | 5 fl | Completed

[westcoaster1]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Might want to send the inspectors to Gastown the residences above the Met some of those units are only 5 maybe 6ft from transformers, same with the most of the rest of the area.
Obviously regulations have changed over the years.

I looked at the lane way in question and that laneway is likely 20 feet wide and the poles are are the very west side of the laneway. I expect the actual building will be set back at least another 5 feet from the east side. There are some wires strung about 10 feet from the pole (west side of laneway) but that still gives at least 15 feet from a balcony to a wire. That would take some long arms to touch anything.

[whatnext]

I am surprised this building is going to be wood frame, when Cressey built the Olive close by on a very similar site, in concrete.

[wrenegade]

I believe Olive was built at a time when wood frame construction was limited to 4 storeys, not 6 like it is now. Plus buyers on Cambie are more likely to pay the premium for concrete than buyers on Main Street.

[ArtVandelay100]

There are some very large trees on the south east corner of the building and the branches are so long they will touch the balconies. I think that would be a security issue. Not to mention blocking the "view" (on the 2nd floor) on portions of the balconies. The corner unit has a large balcony and is almost blocked entirely by the tree and that's in the winter with no leaves. I can only imagine how much worse it will be in the summer. The 2nd unit is clear but the 3rd unit is also almost entirely blocked by a tree. I think the developer dropped the ball on this one. They should have building back another 20 feet or so. The back of the building is huge with a deck on the 2nd floor. They are owned by the city and cannot be removed but if I was an owner and the tree blocked my balcony I would be pissed off. It's not like I am overlooking a lagoon or anything but in the summer you would not see much of anything. I assume they will have to be trimmed but also can't imagine that the city which has to trim them will do what's required. What does the city care???

[Spork]

Selling other properties in the area and this unit is biting into your sales?

[westcoaster1]

Looks as if all the concrete floor is poured. they have started the elevator shaft, goes up to what seems to be the second floor not sure how they continue the rebar 3 floors up from there. they have started to frame the 4th floor on the south end of the building, they have only got 3 units deep from the south to north. scaffolding for the 2nd floor is almost complete at the north end.

[fuschia_yvr]

That archive photo is awesome. Thanks for posting it!

Anyone been to the site or contacted the developer re: how sales are going? I was there about a month ago and they had sold nine apartments in less than a week. Wondering what the status might be now?

[westcoaster1]

I think they're about 50%. prices have gone up again though

[Joon]

About 50% sold is pretty accurate.

Apparently some of the corner units will have two support pillars going through either side of the kitchen counter due to "structural changes". Does this reduce the value of the unit?

The original floor plan never disclosed the pillars...Would this be considered a "major change"?

[wrenegade]

Originally Posted by Joon

About 50% sold is pretty accurate.

Apparently some of the corner units will have two support pillars going through either side of the kitchen counter due to "structural changes". Does this reduce the value of the unit?

The original floor plan never disclosed the pillars...Would this be considered a "major change"?

Why would there be pillars in a wood frame building?

[SFUVancouver]

This has turned into the strangest thread in the Vancouver section.

[raggedy13]

^Indeed. What's with all the new posters posting exclusively in this thread? What makes this project so special?

[whatnext]

Some pictures I took a week or so ago. The homeowners on 18th must be pissed, there goes their backyard privacy.

[fuschia_yvr]

Wow. That has really moved along quickly since I visited the sales office a month ago.

Based on the wisdom here, any estimates of when it might be done should this speed of progress continue? The sales office is quite vague...

[agrant]

Wood frame buildings often seem to sprout up quickly. If you have a good framing team, they can do a house in a matter of weeks, but every so often there will be speed bumps. Like maybe the owner runs out of money... If there are no hold-ups, I'm pretty sure it will be completed well before next year, just based on my experience in construction. October looks very doable.

[wrenegade]

There is nothing terribly special about this project. My guess is there are a number of people who are buyers (or prospective buyers) here and have been trying to find out more information about the project. It's a fairly straight forward 5 storey, wood-frame-on-concrete-podium building. Because it takes up an entire city block and there is a grade change from south to north, there are an extra half floor of units on the 1st floor. Just take a look at the website (here). A second floor unit on the north side doesn't really have the same "vantage point" as a 3rd floor unit on the south side because they are on opposite sides of the building and look different directions.

It is a nice project that will provide a good anchor (Shoppers) at the south end of the Mt. Pleasant project and add a good bit of density to the area. It is good news to hear that it is 60-65% sold, hopefully encouraging more development of the same type in the area. Nothing really more special about it that that, apart from its a floor higher than most projects in the area, which hopefully should be a sign of things to come as Mt. Pleasant's new ODP was just passed in November of last year.

[fuschia_yvr]

In my case, your guess is right on! I am very interested in this building/Main and while I have always read through many parts of this forum, it made me finally sign up.

I also understand your points about the vantage points. How strange that they are relaying this information. Their version made sense at the time while in the seductive showroom environment but is probably some misinformed nonscientific information!

I don't pretend to be neutral about this building or area as I have been interested in both for quite some time but I do believe it is more special than many other developments I have followed. Perhaps in location rather than architecture or features. I have always loved the curve and topography of Main between 17th and 18th. The eyesore of a Ford dealership wasn't doing it any justice. When I read up on the history of the curve I learned that, "this is where Vancouver and South Vancouver came together in 1929, and had to somehow have their non-aligned grids connected."

Something about this area, that curve, Heritage Hall and all of the history feels special. Like I said, I don't pretend to neutral and my love for Vancouver is probably causing some sentimental affection for the project

This intriguing article also described the potential for 3333 Main to become piazza-like and to transform this part of the city. It is an interesting read about what could make the project more special than most.
http://regardingplace.com/?p=3100

[logan5]

Originally Posted by awvan

There is nothing terribly special about this project.

I hope the storefronts are more creative than the generic large windows with the usual mullions.

Just looked at the website picture. The storefronts aren't special.
I guess you're right.

[westcoaster1]

Originally Posted by logan5

I hope the storefronts are more creative than the generic large windows with the usual mullions.

Just looked at the website picture. The storefronts aren't special.
I guess you're right.

There is space for 4 retail type stores at the south end of the building. Last I heard nothing was set for those 4 spaces, there was talk of an old school coffee shop (not Starbucks thank god), a health food type store similar to one at Main and 27th, and a bank. The north end is going to be Shoppers. I've also been told the slip street which cuts off from Main and runs parallel to the building is coming out and that whole triangle is going to be a park. The sales center is moving from its current location to one of the new town homes on 17th so they can build the park.

[westcoaster1]

The sales centre is moving into the northern most (on 17th) townhome in the development. Not the "Mix" townhomes across the street.