Downtown Vancouver Updates

[trofirhen]

Originally Posted by Klazu

They should have LED strips running along all prominent edges of the tower and the building. Thatwould highlight the overall shape which is pretty iconic in Vancouver.

It's too bad in a way that the building is so iconic. Despite the revolving top, the building itself has a "Stalinist brutalism," element to it, IMHO. I'm "supposed" to like it, but it's Norilsk.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

^^^ Yeah kinda like the ATB building in edmonton, it looks really good, seen it in person a few times, the atb sign also changes colours.

Yeah. Another great example is Bank of America Plaza, the tallest skyscraper in Dallas. There the LED stripes really highlight the shape of the tower.


http://keranews.org/post/dallas-tallest-skyscraper-lights-downtown-again

[dleung]

Originally Posted by christmas

Just out of curiosity, and my love of Vancouver city, does this city have any plans to make a billboard free zone like Dundas Square in Toronto, and Times Square in New York?

Yikes I hope not.

[mcminsen]

Here's a look at the new sidewalk, ramp, steps and landscaping in front of St. Paul's Hospital. I think they had just taken down the Christmas light display so it was still a bit messy.


Jan.13 '16, my pics

[mcminsen]

During construction and after. Sorry, I don't have any pics of what it was like before.



Sept.13 '15, my pic



Jan.13 '16, my pic

[mcminsen]

I took these pics from the Howe Street ramp today. The former site of Umberto Menghi's il Giardino restaurant at Hornby and Pacific seems to have become a little park. I wonder if the same thing will be done with the site across the alley.


Jan.13 '16, my pics

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by a very long weekend

yeah, vancouver's not exactly new york city, but i'm pretty sure you don't have to worry about calgary and edmonton stealing your thunder any time soon. the height of a building is nothing compared with a great strollable city, which vancouver is, sterility or not.

This.

We might have a new Western Canadian tallest coming, but we have an absolute mountain to climb with regards to urban design, activation, vibrancy and beauty.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

The former site of Umberto Menghi's il Giardino restaurant at Hornby and Pacific seems to have become a little park. I wonder if the same thing will be done with the site across the alley.

Thanks, mcminsen. Who is that small park for? It looks so tiny and I wonder if they intend it to be a dog park?

I think it's a waste of space and could have two small midrises.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Thanks, mcminsen. Who is that small park for? It looks so tiny and I wonder if they intend it to be a dog park?

I think it's a waste of space and could have two small midrises.

I'm sure it's just temporary to save on taxes.

[officedweller]

Agreed - temporary park.

Strange that it's not also on the other lot across the alley (yet).

[connect2source]

Grosvenor likely set up the temporary park as they own the parcel. Don't think the own the one across the lane, hence no park.

[s211]

Originally Posted by Klazu

Thanks, mcminsen. Who is that small park for? It looks so tiny and I wonder if they intend it to be a dog park?

I think it's a waste of space and could have two small midrises.

This is usually a way to cheat the system to dramatically lower the property taxes.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by connect2source

Grosvenor likely set up the temporary park as they own the parcel. Don't think the own the one across the lane, hence no park.

I thought they own both, with the former Tony Roma side to be an amenity contribution site.

This BIV article suggests the Tony Roma side would be the temporary park -
but I guess they could have been mistaken.

https://www.biv.com/article/2015/5/grosvenor-properties-eyes-downtown-south-developme/

Edit - Found this:

Neighbourhood Pocket Park Project
December 2, 2015
As part of our Living cities philosophy, Grosvenor strives to create livable spaces that enhance the vibrancy of the surrounding neighbourhood. In keeping with this, we are currently working to convert a portion of our site at 1382 Hornby Street into a temporary green space for the use of the public as we move our proposal through the City’s rezoning process. This temporary park has been designed by Durante Kreuk, a local award winning landscape architect, and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

http://grosvenorpacific.com/2015/12/02/neighbourhood-pocket-park-project/


Guess we all missed this, too:

Community Open House To Be Held December 3, 2015
Grosvenor is pleased to announce that we will be hosting the first Community Open House for our proposed development at 1380-1382 Hornby Street on Thursday, December 3rd from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Georgia Room at the Holiday Inn (1110 Howe Street). This is a developer-led open house where the community is invited to review the proposed concept, get to know the project team, and give feedback in advance of submission of the official rezoning application to the City of Vancouver. Your feedback is important and we encourage you to attend and provide input.

http://grosvenorpacific.com/2015/12/02/community-open-house-to-be-held-december-3-2015/

The Project

Architecture firms ACDF and IBI Group Architects have designed a 375 foot residential tower comprising approximately 240 homes including townhomes, 250 underground parking stalls and 280 bike stalls*. The development concept also includes plans for amenity space, enhanced landscaping and public realm.

The building design is based on the following urban design principles:
•Celebration of Leslie House through restoration and retention on-site
•Respect for adjacent lower scale buildings, and
•A high-quality architectural design that is timeless, refined, and elegant.

The design concept uses volume and materiality to create a tower that is both graceful and well-suited to its surroundings, meant to stand the test of time in a long established neighbourhood. Additionally, Grosvenor is committed to sustainable design and will be designing the building to LEED Gold standards.

*All statistics are approximate and for illustrative purposes only.

http://grosvenorpacific.com/

NOTE: acdf is the same architect as The Parq (Vancouver Urban Resort)

Found 2 possible pics

Posted March 19, 2015
Caption says project in Vancouver. Another post says 35 storeys (though the rendering is taller (375 ft / 9ft = 41 storeys).
The frontage would be Pacific. The circle in the background would be the Executive Inn tower.
I think it looks a lot (too much) like the one proposed for the Quality Inn site (so maybe they changed it to the pic at the bottom?)

Un nouveau projet en développent à Vancouver. Plus d'images seront publiées prochainement.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.432062216961966.1073741828.432062146961973&type=3


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.432062200295301.1073741825.432062146961973&type=3


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.432062200295301.1073741825.432062146961973&type=3


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.432062200295301.1073741825.432062146961973&type=3


But there's this December 4, 2015 posting too.
Is that Burrard Gateway in the background and a relocated Leslie House in the foreground??
Posted December 4, 2015 (the day after the open house)


https://www.facebook.com/acdfarchitecture.acdfarchitecture/

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by s211

This is usually a way to cheat the system to dramatically lower the property taxes.

Obeying written laws is not cheating. If you don't like it, talk to the City of Vancouver.

[officedweller]

Yeah, I'd say it's "working" the system to your advantage.

[Klazu]

Damn it, officedweller. That's some Ultimate Vancouver Rumour Thread level stuff that you got in there.

The design in the last image looks very interesting. I can't believe how much will be going on in that area!

[officedweller]

The post kept building and building as I found info!!

As much as I like that last design, I think it might look out of place at Hornby & Pacific surrounded by brick buildings.

[Klazu]

Just keep digging deeper in the rabbit hole. We don't mind at all!

[urbancanadian]

I'm glad they put some effort into that temporary park - looks pretty good. That's the whole point of the tax break: to provide usable green space instead of a fenced off gravel pit. Something that benefits the neighbourhood in the interim, which is nice to see from Grosvenor.

If you want to accuse anybody of "cheating the system", I would blame Concord or Pinnacle. Remember the mucky patch of "grass" Pinnacle put in across from the Olympic Village, with the bench they picked out of the dump?

--------------------------------------------------

Good finds officedweller, thanks!! I personally like the first design better, though it's hard to see much from the second. Here's another render from the facebook page you linked:


https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.432062200295301.1073741825.432062146961973&type=3

[Klazu]

The shape of the first one reminds me of The Lauren in West End. It does not rub me in a good way.