Granville Island Updates

[Tetsuo]

Land reclamation isn't du jour, people will protest the loss of water...

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Tetsuo

Land reclamation isn't du jour, people will protest the loss of water...

Given rising sea levels it isn't that practical either. Never mind unsightly.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by SeymourDrake

random but related question, would it be possible for Granville island to claim new land from false creek? Say if they backfilled 2 to 4 acres of ocean into land? I realize that that area is a tight fit but it would be physically possible to add more space with the right design.

also, why not do a complete redesign on a part of the property and add a vendors mall with underground parking and a living roof. Multiple vendors floors and even a larger event/concert venue.

i'm obviously not sold on the current plans

Also move that concrete eyesore to a part of false creek that works for the company and the island.

When i think of the island now i think of clutter vs bringing someone in who specializes in maximizing space.

Why not look at it as a blank canvas vs a reno.

Door #2. Sell the island, use the money to reclaim a large part of the English bay and build it with room for expansion in the future.

Door #3. Reclaim more of english bay and build multiple islands connected by small walkways. Not open to vehicle traffic.

Just some random thoughts...

Is the problem even really quantity or is it quality?

[Migrant_Coconut]

Well the concrete plant's not going anywhere, and neither are the art spaces (not without densification and serious musical warehouses at least)... that leaves just the parking lots to be repurposed.

[fredinno]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Well the concrete plant's not going anywhere, and neither are the art spaces (not without densification and serious musical warehouses at least)... that leaves just the parking lots to be repurposed.

Well, the Parking at least is about 5 acres out of 35 total acres on the Island... (including the Anderson St. Parking Garage, which I don't think is being redeveloped).

If you're truly desperate, you can start filling in the parks on Granville Island.

Ron Basford Park minus the Ampitheatre is 1 acre (1.3 acres if you include the Ampitheatre, Sutcliffe and the Water Park is 3.2 acres, and there's a tennis court behind Arts Umbrella as well (0.64 acres).

[whatnext]

Looks like GI took advantage of lockdown to finish off some of the public space refurbishments:

[IMG]IMG_8209 by whatnextyvr, on Flickr[/IMG]

[officedweller]

Nice.
that wooden bench looks like the one at 401 West Georgia.

[WarrenC12]

That looks really nice. Wood is good!

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

That looks really nice. Wood is good!

I kind of miss the boat tho'

With all the Covid/protest news I missed the fact that the statue "Naked Boy & The Family" is returning to Vancouver, to be installed on Granville Island. Longtime Vancouverites will remember the statue from its location the old Pacific Press building at Granville & 7th:


Generations of Vancouverites will remember the Naked Boy from an iconic/infamous Jack Harman sculpture that stood in front of the old Pacific Press Building at Sixth and Granville from 1966 to 1997.

The Family also depicted a father and mother, with a babe in her arms. But most people remember it because the son wasn’t clothed, which was controversial back in the day.

When the Pacific Press building was sold in 1997 the statue was installed at the then-Pacific Press printing plant in Surrey. Since 2015 it’s been in storage.

Last November, The Vancouver Sun and Province announced the statue needed a new home. David McCann thought Granville Island was perfect...


https://vancouversun.com/news/the-na...anville-island

[Feathered Friend]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Looks like GI took advantage of lockdown to finish off some of the public space refurbishments:

[IMG]IMG_8209 by whatnextyvr, on Flickr[/IMG]

Seems like a wonderful place for a young urban duo to get married, say around 2 or 3 o'clock today

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Seems like a wonderful place for a young urban duo to get married, say around 2 or 3 o'clock today

Congrats! Watch out for the geese!

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Seems like a wonderful place for a young urban duo to get married, say around 2 or 3 o'clock today

Congratulations! Looks like the rain will hold off too.

[rofina]

Originally Posted by Feathered Friend

Seems like a wonderful place for a young urban duo to get married, say around 2 or 3 o'clock today

Sweet! Congrats!!!

[officedweller]

Congrats!

[officedweller]

Pics by me yesterday:





Pacific Press sculpture to be installed on Granville Island.
It was originally fronting Granville St. at the Pacific Press Building at West 6th Ave. (now demolished),
then moved to the Pacific Press facility at Kennedy Heights, Surrey (since decommissioned).




GLENN BAGLO / VANCOUVER SUN
https://vancouversun.com/news/art-co...ough-the-years

The Naked Boy and The Family make a move to Granville Island
https://www.sherwoodparknews.com/new..._autoplay=true

[whatnext]

Looks like the city is going to push ahead with adding bike lanes to the bridge, albeit in a cheaper form. First time I've heard of them wanting to sell off the southwest loop for development. Sneaky but that seems to be what
the bureacrats think the best use of the bridge is for.

Vancouver looks to upgrade Granville Bridge despite pandemic’s hit on finances
City faces $124 million revenue loss in operating budget, $219 million in capital plan
By Mike Howell | September 11, 2020

The pandemic’s hit on the city’s finances has reduced the scope of a long-proposed plan to upgrade the Granville Bridge and left city council to consider a $12.5 million interim solution to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists travelling to and from downtown.

The plan goes before city council Wednesday and calls for two of the current eight traffic lanes on the west side of the bridge to be reallocated to create a path adjacent to a widened sidewalk for pedestrians, cyclists and others who use wheels for manual transportation...

...Coun. Colleen Hardwick has expressed her doubts in previous council meetings about the need to go forward with upgrades to the bridge, noting the city has already spent about $25 million on seismic upgrades and safety measures.

“The so-called ‘Granville Connector’ is literally on top – quite literally – of the upgrades that have already been undertaken,” Hardwick told Glacier Media in an email Friday. “So, why are we pushing this capital project through when the city’s finances are in jeopardy? I surmise that this has more to do with the future development of the north side of the Granville Bridge and proposed developer contributions than anything else.”..
...

https://biv.com/article/2020/09/vanc...s-hit-finances

[Migrant_Coconut]

“The so-called ‘Granville Connector’ is literally on top – quite literally – of the upgrades that have already been undertaken,” Hardwick told Glacier Media in an email Friday. “So, why are we pushing this capital project through when the city’s finances are in jeopardy? I surmise that this has more to do with the future development of the north side of the Granville Bridge and proposed developer contributions than anything else.”..[/I]

City Hall's also conspiring with the developers to turn the frogs gay, for those not in the know.

[mellowyellow]

Daily Hive has a good summary of what's been scaled back with images from the city: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/gran...interim-design

[GenWhy?]

How can the be selling the loop if they turning it into a bike/ ped path?

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Vancouver looks to upgrade Granville Bridge despite pandemic’s hit on finances
City faces $124 million revenue loss in operating budget, $219 million in capital plan
By Mike Howell | September 11, 2020

...

https://biv.com/article/2020/09/vanc...s-hit-finances

Coun. Colleen Hardwick is against something - I am sooo shocked!

Somehow I think this might have something to do with why it's happening:

Charles Gauthier, president of CEO of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, said upgrading the Granville Bridge makes sense as more people continue to get around the city by walking and cycling.

“We’ve heard from our building owners and employers downtown that this is something their tenants and employees want more of and to be able to cycle to and from downtown,” Gauthier said. “We’re in support.”

I also noticed "Truck volumes are limited because of weight restrictions." Is this a reason why there isn't a plan to have the Arbutus streetcar / tram / lrt travel across the bridge?