The Ultimate Vancouver Rumour Thread! - Page 49

Metro-One · #**961** Posted **Jun 24, 2013, 9:50 PM**

What type of height would we be looking at regarding this tower? Would be so nice to have a new tallest office proposed in this city. Does not have to be the tallest over all, but a 160 to 180 meter tall office tower would be so nice in Vancouver.

wrenegade · #**962** Posted **Jun 24, 2013, 11:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

apparently the design is by SOM(?)

My interest has been piqued.

logan5 · #**963** Posted **Jun 25, 2013, 1:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

What type of height would we be looking at regarding this tower? Would be so nice to have a new tallest office proposed in this city. Does not have to be the tallest over all, but a 160 to 180 meter tall office tower would be so nice in Vancouver.

Yes. If you're a fan of great skylines, Vancouver desperately needs a stand above the crowd office tower or two, with good residential density providing a nice back-drop. (Mountains and water are a pretty nice back-drop too).

logan5 · #**964** Posted **Jun 26, 2013, 5:11 AM**

Actually, I think I'll delete.

osirisboy · #**965** Posted **Jun 26, 2013, 5:34 AM**

Well presumably this company still wants/needs offic space so maybe they will go into something else that's coming up

officedweller · #**966** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrenegade

My interest has been piqued.

My friend confirmed that the design of Oxford's Melville tower is by SOM and is currently proposed to include a lot of vertical terra cotta fins culminating in a "glowing" (ie translucent) backlit feature at the top of the tower. He said it was better than the last design.

easy as pie · #**967** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 6:29 PM**

has som done a building in vancouver before? for such a huge and influential shop, it's a little surprising that they don't appear to have.

Prometheus · #**968** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 7:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

My friend confirmed that the design of Oxford's Melville tower is by SOM and is currently proposed to include a lot of vertical terra cotta fins culminating in a "glowing" (ie translucent) backlit feature at the top of the tower. He said it was better than the last design.

Interesting. Any word on dimensions?

Metro-One · #**969** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 7:29 PM**

Again, any idea on height? (what can it max out at regarding view cones).

officedweller · #**970** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 7:51 PM**

I don't think SOM has done a Vancouver building before.
WRT height he didn't mention it - but it's one of the only sites under no view cones.

Prometheus · #**971** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metro-One

Again, any idea on height? (what can it max out at regarding view cones).

I actually don't think there are any viewcones over that site, other than the Queen Elizabeth Park viewcone, the one the city seems willing to bend. I think zoning in that area used to allow for heights of 300 feet, with discretionary increases up to 400 feet. But after the city revised its higher building policy in 2011, I believe that area now allows for discretionary increases up to 550 feet (i.e., 168 metres). In fact, I believe this site was specifically identified as a site for a "higher building" when the policy was revised.

phesto · #**972** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 8:20 PM**

There is no view cone restriction for the site, though the general policy for higher buildings limit is 550 ft. With a 10% allowance for mechanical and a potential roof feature as OD mentioned, I'm guessing Oxford's could pass 600 ft...

The previous design (below) from a few years ago was 511 ft. I would expect Oxford's version to be at least this tall, but likely closer to 600 ft.

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Metro-One · #**973** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 8:21 PM**

Thanks guys, so basically don't get excited.

That is no fun that an area zoned for office with no true view cone limits (honestly, how many sites do we have like that in the city?) has a lid put on it at 400 feet. We have enough stumpy office towers.

Again, would love to see a 170m to 210m tall office building in this city.

Edit, 550 feet to 600 feet would be more than welcome though!

trofirhen · #**974** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 8:41 PM**

If that was their original design, I hope they tweak it a little. I'm sure they will.

officedweller · #**975** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 8:45 PM**

The question I have is regarding the density for the site.
I recall that 1133 Melville was part of a combined site for the rezoning of 550 Bute (The Melville). So Oxford will have to seek a significant rezoning in order to build a tall tower there, since much of its density was, in essence, transferred to The Melville.

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...ts/550bute.htm

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...550bute_ta.pdf

Maybe it only refers to residential density and not commercial density:

Quote:

Appendix A2 - Standard Conditions - 1133 Melville Street (DE407782)
A2.1 Standard Conditions

A2.1.1 arrangements shall be made to either consolidate all the existing lots into one parcel, to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Engineering Services, or to execute a single site covenant for 550 Bute Street, being Lot B of 22 and 23, Lot 22 Exc. Pcl A, Lot 24 with the adjacent site, 1133 Melville Street, being Strata Plan VR1286, District Lot 185, for the proposed density, to the satisfaction of the Director of Legal Services and the Director of Planning.

Note to Applicant: The single site covenant must address the total residential floor area capacity for the two properties and sequencing of the approval must be clarified to ensure that residential FSR for the “single site” is at no time exceeded.

jlousa · #**976** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 9:15 PM**

That's correct, and although the city is very keen on allowing office space they will need to be very cautious about granting density after they already allowed it to be sold. There is certainly enough density sitting in the heritage bank to make this tower work, and it would solve that problem as well. Not sure Oxford is looking at paying that much though so I'm sure there is something else in play here.

officedweller · #**977** Posted **Jul 9, 2013, 9:20 PM**

Thanks for the insight.

Pinion · #**978** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 1:17 AM**

Edit: maybe later

LeftCoaster · #**979** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 9:44 PM**

You tease!

Well let us know when you can.

phesto · #**980** Posted **Aug 1, 2013, 10:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by officedweller

The question I have is regarding the density for the site.
I recall that 1133 Melville was part of a combined site for the rezoning of 550 Bute (The Melville). So Oxford will have to seek a significant rezoning in order to build a tall tower there, since much of its density was, in essence, transferred to The Melville.

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...ts/550bute.htm

http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/...550bute_ta.pdf

Maybe it only refers to residential density and not commercial density:

It was the residential density/use that was transferred, not commercial. The site currently has about 180,000 SF of density for commercial before any potential density transfer.

I would expect a total density transfer of 300-500k SF.