Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[niwell]

Originally Posted by Pavlov

Empty (more accurately, partially empty) buildings still count as part of a skyline, no?

Also, the City of Calgary has some pretty ambitious plans to incentivize the conversion of older office buildings to residential. If successful, it would radically alter the character of the CBD (for the better, I think).

Any additional info on this? Sounds very interesting. I would imagine mostly older buildings are targeted as they aren't as desirable for offices in the first place, plus it's always a tricky proposition as the wide-open floorplates of office towers don't easily lend themselves to a residential layout. Not cheap, either. Older buildings are a bit more favourable in this respect as well though.

It can be very cool if done well of course - one of my friends was living in the old boardroom of an art deco former bank headquarters in Johannesburg CBD. A number of vacant towers in the CBD there have been converted with results ranging from high end palatial multi-storey units to student and low-income housing. Helps a lot at street level too.

[Pavlov]

Originally Posted by niwell

Any additional info on this? Sounds very interesting. I would imagine mostly older buildings are targeted as they aren't as desirable for offices in the first place, plus it's always a tricky proposition as the wide-open floorplates of office towers don't easily lend themselves to a residential layout. Not cheap, either. Older buildings are a bit more favourable in this respect as well though.

It can be very cool if done well of course - one of my friends was living in the old boardroom of an art deco former bank headquarters in Johannesburg CBD. A number of vacant towers in the CBD there have been converted with results ranging from high end palatial multi-storey units to student and low-income housing. Helps a lot at street level too.

It's part of the City of Calgary's (Council-approved) $200M "Greater Downtown Plan":

Downtown office vacancy is at approximately 12 million square feet which translates into approximately 30 percent. As downtown office vacancy rates continue to rise, the impacts are far-reaching. The status quo scenario is the biggest risk to downtown vibrancy, Calgary’s economic competitiveness, and fiscal sustainability. Downtown office property values have declined by $16 billion since 2015, or 60 percent, resulting in the tax shift situation that affects City finances and residential, commercial, and industrial property taxes throughout the city.

The City worked in collaboration with industry experts including Calgary Economic Development’s (CED) Real Estate Sector Advisory Committee (RESAC) and the Real Estate Working Group (REWG) to develop an incentives package for downtown office conversions, office replacement, and new residential development.

Converting office to residential uses is complex and expensive, with incentives being required to stimulate investment. The City and its private sector real estate partners have identified 28 potential downtown office buildings for conversion or adaptive reuse. This could include conversion to or reuse as residential units, student housing, senior housing, post-secondary institutions, and the amenities needed to establish complete, thriving neighbourhoods.

Council committed $45M to that part of the plan. Other interesting ideas:

Implementing the Greater Downtown Plan means allocating $55 million immediately for impactful projects, big and small, which move the plan from from a planning document to real actions. We’ve identified downtown vibrancy projects that contribute to one or more of the following objectives:

Activate public places and spaces
Catalyze private investment in the Greater Downtown
Increase attractiveness of public spaces to Calgarians
Allow The City and our partners to pilot, experiment, & prototype longer term projects
Promote tourism and increase visitor numbers to the Greater Downtown
Enhance safety & security for residents, workers, and visitors
We are considering the following projects that would improve vibrancy in Calgary’s downtown:

Future of Stephen Avenue
Create short and long-term strategies that can be implemented over time to make Stephen Avenue better for Calgarians and visitors, while creating opportunities for private investment and redevelopment.
Downtown West Promenade from the Peace Bridge to 14 Street S.W.
Create a gateway to the Bow River and river pathway system in Downtown West
Extend pathway and public space improvements already in place or being built in Eau Claire, Chinatown and the East Village
8th Street S.W.
Improve north-south connections from the Bow River to Downtown West and the Beltline
Redesign and rebuild public spaces to support residential, retail, and commercial growth in the Downtown Core and Downtown West
Establish a downtown public market
Create a sustainable public space that reflects the surrounding communities and The City’s social, environmental, economic and cultural priorities
Renovate Northwest Travelers Building and Historic Firehall #1
Redevelop for food and beverage and arts and culture development
Redesign and rebuild Olympic Plaza
Re-imagining our Olympic legacy by renovating the living room for City Hall and Arts Commons

SOURCE: https://www.calgary.ca/pda/pd/downtown-s...-plan.html?redirect=/greaterdowntownplan

[esquire]

Originally Posted by suburbanite

On the flip side, Gold Coast doesn't even have the oil factor going for it. Oil builds skylines pretty well...

I suppose that this is subjective, but I'm always more impressed by "working" city skylines of offices, residences, institutions, etc. than I am of resorty places like Benidorm, Fort Lauderdale, Gold Coast, Cancun, etc. where it's mainly holiday apartments for vacationers from elsewhere.

[isaidso]

Originally Posted by esquire

Unlike Gold Coast, Calgary doesn't even have the resort factor going for it to drive up the skyline in a big way.

Yes, resort cities have a leg up. Calgary's skyline shows what a big impact lots off head offices has on not only a city economy but its skyline. Their energy sector is in trouble but hopefully they can find new sources of wealth and grow new companies in other fields. Calgary is a big success regardless. I hope it, and Edmonton, can continue their rapid ascension.

[Martin Mtl]

Credit photo: @brendanrileyphotography

[Chadillaccc]

The view from the glass elevator of my new building...


The New View by Chadillaccc, on Flickr



The view from my balcony… (get ready for a lot of pics from this angle)


June in the City by Chadillaccc, on Flickr

Originally Posted by Pavlov

It's part of the City of Calgary's (Council-approved) $200M "Greater Downtown Plan":

The 200 mil is only for the first phase of the $1 billion Greater Downtown Plan. But the fact that the investments have already been made, including the immediate investment in converting an office building to affordable housing beginning within the month is a really good sign I guess.

The plan aside, the fact that nearly every public park (excluding Olympic Plaza and Prince's Island) and every major pedestrian thoroughfare in the downtown area (except 8 Street) has been completely revitalized over the past 10 years has jumpstarted that plan reducing its cost by probably 2 billion. The Green Line public realm investments aren't included in the plan either, nor are concurrent projects like the Glenbow Museum, the Contemporary Art Gallery, Arts Commons, the Convention Centre, etc. I suppose this makes the Greater Downtown Plan even more impressive, in context

[Nite]

1188 Wolfe Avenue Vancouver-36 by ONIKON Creative, on Flickr

[zahav]

^^ amazing pic, the colours are very vibrant. Reminds me on an address book my parents had in the mid 1980s. It was all Vancouver pictures taken from that time period, I remember being obsessed with flipping through it as a young kid, and I remember a pic from this angle with the same colours popping, but obviously the view has changed dramatically.

[Martin Mtl]

Crédit photo: @beimeizaixian


Crédit photo:
@jyclal


credit photo: @messalisamuel

[J.OT13]

Solar eclipse over Ottawa.


https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/photo-galleries/photos-of-the-day/photos-of-the-day-june-2021-1.5452892

[niwell]

That Vancouver picture Nite posted above is very interesting to me. Yes, the skyline and scenery are nice but the lowrise mid-century density of the area in the foreground (Fairview? Don't know Van very well) is fascinating. Speaking of tells, that type of urban development seems to be distinctly Canadian - or at least of the Commonwealth because I've seen similar stuff in Australia and South Africa.

[LeftCoaster]

You know Vancouver better than you think, that is indeed Fairview. The area is likely to change quite a bit with the subway coming in the next few years and what most anticipate to be a large upzoning of the neighbourhood. Vancouver has a lot of those neighbourhoods with 3-4 storey woodframe walkups of varying repair.

The feel in there actually reminds me a bit more of 1970s mid rise California, there are a lot of architectural similarities walking around Kits or Fairview with walking around the inland areas of say Santa Monica for instance. It's not the most attractive building style, but it is cost effective and they went up quick. It also makes for a quick demo to intensify once the building has outlived its useful life, which many are coming up on.

This kinda thing, slightly different vegetation of course:
https://goo.gl/maps/tHs89uXqgrpSEign9

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Nite

1188 Wolfe Avenue Vancouver-36 by ONIKON Creative, on Flickr

cool. good ol fairview slopes. I can see the building that I used to live in (corner Hemlock and 10th.

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.2629009,...itch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

[Chadillaccc]

A really cool video of Calgary taken earlier this spring. Displaying the astounding level of intensification and parkspace development the city is undertaking…


• Video Link

[craner]

^Love it !
Thanks Chad.

[itom 987]

A friend of mine on facebook posted this excellent drone photo of Edmonton's skyline!

This photo was posted with permission.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10159100407365482&set=a.10150987012125482

[905er]

Great Edmonton shot!

Here's a small portion/partial skyline shot of Mississauga.

[esquire]

Really interesting perspective of Mississauga... From that angle it looks like a true standalone city.

[Brizzy82]

some Winnipeg pics


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[MolsonExport]

The peg has a great mix of different styles and these are well spaced.