Canadian City Proposals II

[Nouvellecosse]

Well they sure didn't waste any time with this video discussing the Vancouver proposal and comparing the city with Toronto.

• Video Link

[giallo]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Well they sure didn't waste any time with this video discussing the Vancouver proposal and comparing the city with Toronto.

• Video Link

Thanks for sharing. A few of my drone shots were used. At least they credited me.

[WhipperSnapper]

It's more concept than buildable proposal. Toronto has more than a few of these around. The next supertall in Canada or mentioning "rising" is an embarrassment. Perhaps, they don't care. This will get views.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

It's more concept than buildable proposal. Toronto has more than a few of these around. The next supertall in Canada or mentioning "rising" is an embarrassment. Perhaps, they don't care. This will get views.

@whippersnapper, you seem to be relatively critical of a lot of the proposals that get posted here and you seem to definitely know your stuff. I'm wondering what kind of projects you like and what you like to see more of going forward. Are there any cities in Canada where you think they're hitting more than they're missing?

[WhipperSnapper]

You're quoting me on the video which is acting like it's already under construction. I've watched a couple other videos from this group in the past while. They are well produced but, after watching the opening of this video, it makes me rethink the content I took for granted.

There was a time and place when dizzying heights was enough to overlook that height and residential seldom compliment one another. 30 to 50 storeys is the Canadian housing standard now. 2000 units + 900 hotel rooms across 3 to 4 tall towers on giant podiums will be undoubtedly priced luxurious but far from luxurious. These type of projects rather add to the affordability crisis. They cost a premium to have the quality of life of having the sun blotted out near grade or a view into a neighbours living room 150 metres in the air. No human scale. Little natural element. Saves acreage by paving over it entirely.

Pro development gurus love percentages of non market unit bonusing. However, 1750 unaffordable market rate units need to be secured for the 250 affordable below market units to be built.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by WhipperSnapper

You're quoting me on the video which is acting like it's already under construction. I've watched a couple other videos from this group in the past while. They are well produced but, after watching the opening of this video, it makes me rethink the content I took for granted.

There was a time and place when dizzying heights was enough to overlook that height and residential seldom compliment one another. 30 to 50 storeys is the Canadian housing standard now. 2000 units + 900 hotel rooms across 3 to 4 tall towers on giant podiums will be undoubtedly priced luxurious but far from luxurious. These type of projects rather add to the affordability crisis. They cost a premium to have the quality of life of having the sun blotted out near grade or a view into a neighbours living room 150 metres in the air. No human scale. Little natural element. Saves acreage by paving over it entirely.

Pro development gurus love percentages of non market unit bonusing. However, 1750 unaffordable market rate units need to be secured for the 250 affordable below market units to be built.

So is there anywhere you feel they're doing things right or any projects you're following that you think could be a concept to follow?

[WhipperSnapper]

Something like Mirvish Village that does a decent job to break up the podium(s) with complex massing and facades. Also pedestrian corridors break up the large development site. In order to wholly preserve a street with heritage homes, the developer was forced to concentrate the buildable density to recoup the large purchase price. Unfortunately, the similar towers all blend into a giant lump and the pedestrian corridors end up as tight alleys in a non downtown neighbourhood. Stronger zoning controls would have set the price lower allowing the developer to build less square footage with wider corridors and lower heights (mix of midrises and highrises than just highrises up to 28 floors tall) to allow more sun to filter in.

Investors are driving development all across Canada with cities struggling to meet housing needs. It's creating super high density suburban tract development away from just about everything and formulaic, overbuilt downtowns that will create an undesirable crush load of people over time with hundreds of developments completed

I have growing doubts that Canada will remain a destination for immigrants and temporary residents for development to reach critical mass for the crush load to be in full force. However, the forums' popularity of shifting a proposals discussion to population increase when the design is mediocre or forgetable is a little too pro development. Of course, most Canadian downtowns can use more residents. More people doesn't necessarily resolve problems and often creates problems. Again, an overpriced shoebox with no view is not exactly desirable. Like Toronto, it doesn't take much to go from the forelorn streets of the 1990s to the troubled but, packed streets of today.

[Pellimo]

New projects for Quebec City













Plus two new 20-storey projects in the downtown area, which is a minor miracle because everything is still blocked due to the management of the city's built heritage.




.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007

If the colored things were black, and the windows were smoked glass, it might look better. It would just be black holes punctuating a white surface.

Also, that white surface should be white aluminum. Like on this. It will age much better.

I'm thinking do the shorter tower with the colours and then go with the black/smoked maybe two slightly different variations for the others. It would set each tower apart from the others.

Overall though, I like the kookie vibe I am getting. Even if it turns out on the flop side of things it is a great talking point and will be a decent landmark in navigating the city.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

I'm thinking do the shorter tower with the colours and then go with the black/smoked maybe two slightly different variations for the others. It would set each tower apart from the others.

Overall though, I like the kookie vibe I am getting. Even if it turns out on the flop side of things it is a great talking point and will be a decent landmark in navigating the city.

I just wonder how many people are going to want to live in such a ridiculous-looking building.

I mean, sure, there will always be some people with offbeat tastes who will like something like that, but if you want to sell or rent hundreds of apartments I would think you'd want to design something with broader appeal.

I would think even the small windows and no balconies alone would discourage lots of potential buyers or renters.

[FrAnKs]

Originally Posted by Pellimo

New projects for Quebec City













Plus two new 20-storey projects in the downtown area, which is a minor miracle because everything is still blocked due to the management of the city's built heritage.




.

Pour les deux tours de 20 étages au Centre-ville, je m’attend à quelque chose qui a de la gueule, pas quelque chose de banal!

[Rico Rommheim]

What and where exactly is "downtown" Quebec?

[FrAnKs]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

What and where exactly is "downtown" Quebec?

It’s unclear
But as far as I’m concerned, anything east of Avenue de Salaberry & Boulevard Langelier aswell as South of Rivière St-Charles (St-Roch, St-Jean-Baptiste & Vieux-Québec)…but there are many definitions of what downtown Quebec City really is. Per example, there are people that include the entire La-Cité-Limoilou district as their definition of Downtown but I’m unsure about that.

[Pellimo]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

What and where exactly is "downtown" Quebec?

It's here...the core of the city











But Ste-Foy is getting big...



And Lévis to...







And Lebourgneuf....

[FactaNV]

I didn't realize Québec had such a small skyline for such a large city by Canadian standards. The skyline looks like Regina, not a comparable like Winnipeg or Edmonton.

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by FactaNV

I didn't realize Québec had such a small skyline for such a large city by Canadian standards. The skyline looks like Regina, not a comparable like Winnipeg or Edmonton.

Still one of the most breathtaking settings in North America.

The skyline is dictated by the need for historical preservationism in the core, and, the fact that the city's economy is dominated by government and educational institutions. No need for lofty downtown financial towers.

The skyline is also distributed. There are a number of larger buildings further west, closer to the bridges.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Still one of the most breathtaking settings in North America.

The skyline is dictated by the need for historical preservationism in the core, and, the fact that the city's economy is dominated by government and educational institutions. No need for lofty downtown financial towers.

The skyline is also distributed. There are a number of larger buildings further west, closer to the bridges.

Oh 100%, it's a gorgeous city, just an observation on my part haha.

[MolsonExport]

No doubt QC has a stunning location, and looks great due to its historical structures. Amazing urban fabric as well. Nobody goes there for the skyscrapers (although Edifice Price is very nice).

[Pellimo]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

No doubt QC has a stunning location, and looks great due to its historical structures. Amazing urban fabric as well. Nobody goes there for the skyscrapers (although Edifice Price is very nice).

I am a resident of Quebec City and a real estate developer.....

I'm used to working with great restrictions in my projects.

Here, the downtown area is preserved from skyscrapers because heritage prevails.

This has favored development elsewhere than downtown, in Ste-Foy, Lebourgneuf and Lévis.

What's more, the city's steep slopes camouflage many of the buildings in the St-Roch sector, for example.

But the city is beginning to open up, because the need for housing is great, and it has just authorized the construction of two new 20- and 21-storey projects in the city center. Something that hasn't happened for a very long time.

Quebec City doesn't develop like other cities and likes it that way...

It's that little touch of diversity, a plus for everyone because it's different.

I like Toronto for its dinamism, Calgary for its mountains and skyscrapers, Victoria for its development on a human scale near the sea, Halifax for its progressive spirit with its big-city areas, even if it remains on a human scale. Kelowan, growing fast on the edge of a lake.

Every place is different, and that's fine.

[nclsteba]

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