[nathan6969]

At first I was concerned that Ellis Don was a small company but now I read this about their mammoth contract so mabey there is still hope Ritz Carlton will get done after all!:

http://www.ellisdon.com/ed/press/press_releases/?id=35

Ellis Don's a huge company, they just don't seem to do that much in vancouver.

[LeftCoaster]

Ellis Don hasn't made too many friends in Vancocuver. They seem to come in when the market is hot, scoop up a few jobs, treat their subtrades poorly then leave town till the next boom.

[officedweller]

Ellis Don built SkyDome in TO

[towerguy3]

And Ledcor had signed a contract to build the tower? I just want to understand the dynamics here.

Ledcor signed a contract for excavation and tower (yes?), and now they have pulled out.

Ellis Don has signed on just for excavation.

That means there is no commitment by anyone to build the tower, any tower, or any variation of the tower we loved at one point.

So I want to establish whether Ledcor had signed a contract to build that tower, yes or no.

If yes, this baby is in dire straits.

[amac]

I'm just curious, why is Vancouver's tallest building a hotel and not an office building? Downtown is becoming “Whistler-ized.”

Agreed! We need diversity with our density. I don't want downtown - a place I call home - to become a playground for the ultra rich.

[osirisboy]

well then where the hell is the ultra rich supposed to play|?

[amac]

Well, we are lucky to have Brent Toderian here -- as he is focused on moving Vancouver away from its so-called "Fool's Paradise" downtown reputation, and actually creating a downtown that is home to commercial activity in addition to livability.

Simply put, Vancouver needs to create an environment so that developers -want- to build commercial space here (or at least downtown).

Agreed. DT Van should be good place to live AND work. Less commuting is a good thing... and our skyline could benefit from more architectural diversity.

[Yume-sama]

It ends up being better for the economy than an office building they can't fill half of. 5-star hotels are a wonderful thing for cities to have, and the people who will stay at both the Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-la will be bringing A LOT (by comparison to someone who may stay in the Holiday Inn) of disposable income with them to drop at stores and restaurants around the city, resulting in the trickle down effect. Everybody wins... especially if you are a bleeding heart who loves your social programs!

[amac]

It ends up being better for the economy than an office building they can't fill half of. 5-star hotels are a wonderful thing for cities to have, and the people who will stay at both the Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-la will be bringing A LOT (by comparison to someone who may stay in the Holiday Inn) of disposable income with them to drop at stores and restaurants around the city, resulting in the trickle down effect. Everybody wins... especially if you are a bleeding heart who loves your social programs!

Hah! The ol' trickle down effect. What is this, the sixties? And I fail to see how 5-star hotels benefit "bleeding hearts" who like social programs. Who the hell said anything about social programs anyway? Why don't you call me a communist and a tree-hugger while you're at it. Vancouver needs to attract more industries that pay better than restaurants, retail and five-star hotels. This is an expensive town, scraps that "trickle-down" from a few rich tourists don't quite cut it. Anyway... this is getting way off topic, why don't go back to talking about pretty hotels and condos because you're way out of your depth here.

[Yume-sama]

It was more of a joke, but... it's called tax dollars (which support the social programs so popular in Vancouver). The building will also provide dozens of well paying jobs to people, who also will pay tax. There will be many high priced units, who will each pay a ton of property tax. There is a reason why the government tries so hard to get tourists and spends so much money doing it, to come to Vancouver, it is a HUGE industry because they SPEND MONEY which results in tax dollars, jobs, and a better economy. 5 star hotels happen to be better at attracting MORE money because the people who stay in them generally have MORE money to spend. No matter which way you look at it, utilizing a tall building as a hotel / condo in the current state of the Vancouver economy, is a better usage than building a very tall office building that you can not fully rent out because the demand isn't really there. If it was there, things would be being built at a more rapid pace.

And that is the answer to skymaster's question of why the tallest building in the city is a hotel / condo.

[LeftCoaster]

And Ledcor had signed a contract to build the tower? I just want to understand the dynamics here.

Ledcor signed a contract for excavation and tower (yes?), and now they have pulled out.

Ellis Don has signed on just for excavation.

That means there is no commitment by anyone to build the tower, any tower, or any variation of the tower we loved at one point.

So I want to establish whether Ledcor had signed a contract to build that tower, yes or no.

If yes, this baby is in dire straits.

No one has ever signed a contract to build the tower. Ledcor was involved with the design phase, and signed a letter of intent to build the tower. Never any contract with a financial component though.

[towerguy3]

If Ritz does get cancelled, are we likely to know sooner rather than later?

[LeftCoaster]

Later, not till well after the excavation is complete can we expect to hear any concrete news of this tower being canceled. It may just progress straight into construction though... this thread is getting quite negative when there is only speculation this tower might be in trouble.

[Cypherus]

The subject matter revolving the current state of the tower really revolves around a disagreement between Holborn and Lelcor. It should not follow into the cancellation of a tower, since it's a mere contract rescission. Most contract rescission's result in delays until a new contract can be devised with a new contractor. Holborn is also not in any financial problems, and as I said before, the tower is still well in the green against current construction costs.

[vanman]

^ And last I heard global commodity prices are cooling off right now, which will help reduce the cost of construction.

[flight_from_kamakura]

there's a curse on this site!

[raggedy13]

^Imagine we end up with a 60-storey twisting concrete shell. Would be a slight improvement over the last eyesore on the site at least. ;)

[AlexYVR]

^Imagine we end up with a 60-storey twisting concrete shell. Would be a slight improvement over the last eyesore on the site at least. ;)

. . .and as Kim Jong Il can happily tell you, you're not a world-class city until you have a giant concrete shell towering majestically above your city.

[skymaster]

Who the hell is Kim Jong Il?? Even if they do cut down the height of this tower, they could possibly build an even taller when not too soon.

[LeftCoaster]

Who the hell is Kim Jong Il??

Are you kidding??? try google... or maybe opening a news paper some time...

also...

they could possibly build an even taller when not too soon.

:whatthefuck:

This tower will either go ahead as planned or get scrapped all together. It will not be built at half height, the economics do not make sense.

[entheosfog]

Who the hell is Kim Jong Il??

:sly:

[AlexYVR]

Who the hell is Kim Jong Il??


He invented the internet. And movies. I don't know if it was just movies, though, or the DVD as well - he's pretty prolific.

[Hed Kandi]

He invented the internet. And movies. I don't know if it was just movies, though, or the DVD as well - he's pretty prolific.

:lmao:

[Hourglass]

He invented the internet. And movies. I don't know if it was just movies, though, or the DVD as well - he's pretty prolific.

And don't forget all the natural phenomena that occurred when he was born. Flowers blooming, birds bursting into song, stars exploding and other such amazing things... :yes:

[skymaster]

He invented the internet. And movies. I don't know if it was just movies, though, or the DVD as well - he's pretty prolific.

I know that he is very well known in Korea but I know for a fact that he didn't invent the internet. Are you kidding me??

[Smooth]

I know that he is very well known in Korea but I know for a fact that he didn't invent the internet. Are you kidding me??

I thought it was well known that Al Gore invented the internet :)

Part of the transcript of an interview on CNN:
BLITZER: I want to get to some of the substance of domestic and international issues in a minute, but let's just wrap up a little bit of the politics right now.

Why should Democrats, looking at the Democratic nomination process, support you instead of Bill Bradley, a friend of yours, a former colleague in the Senate? What do you have to bring to this that he doesn't necessarily bring to this process?

GORE: Well, I will be offering -- I'll be offering my vision when my campaign begins. And it will be comprehensive and sweeping. And I hope that it will be compelling enough to draw people toward it. I feel that it will be.

But it will emerge from my dialogue with the American people. I've traveled to every part of this country during the last six years. During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system.

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/03/09/president.2000/transcript.gore/

[AlexYVR]

I thought it was well known that Al Gore invented the internet :)



Everyone knows the Dear Leader invented anything in the world worth inventing. Next you'll be telling us he's not responsible for holding up the Ritz-Carlton. :yes:

[Smooth]

Everyone knows the Dear Leader invented anything in the world worth inventing. Next you'll be telling us he's not responsible for holding up the Ritz-Carlton. :yes:

Al Gore invented the internet... but I'm sure The Dear Leader invented Al Gore.

[guyinthesky]

Al Gore invented the internet... but I'm sure The Dear Leader invented Al Gore.

Are you kidding me? Al Gore is just a bigger, whiter clone of the Dear Leader, not to mention I'm pretty sure the Dear Leader designed the Ritz-Carlton too, you're lucky to even have this forum as Dear Leader is the financial backing behind it too! :rolleyes:

[skymaster]

For now I'm just using this LSL web cam http://lvl.verttech.com:8050/webcam3.htm for my personal Ritz Carlton updates. It might not be that great but it work for me :)

[Hourglass]

Are you kidding me? Al Gore is just a bigger, whiter clone of the Dear Leader, not to mention I'm pretty sure the Dear Leader designed the Ritz-Carlton too, you're lucky to even have this forum as Dear Leader is the financial backing behind it too! :rolleyes:

No no no, Al Gore doesn't have the bouffant hair. As you know, this is a must-have for any tyrant worth their salt... :haha:

Back to Ritz Carlton, I know this has been mentioned before, but I recently saw an ad in the Vancouver Sun and I almost fell off my chair when I saw the asking prices. $2.6M to $10M? Does anyone know what one gets at the lower end of the equation?

[Mike K.]

What's the status so far? Anyone have updated photos?

[Yume-sama]

No no no, Al Gore doesn't have the bouffant hair. As you know, this is a must-have for any tyrant worth their salt... :haha:

Back to Ritz Carlton, I know this has been mentioned before, but I recently saw an ad in the Vancouver Sun and I almost fell off my chair when I saw the asking prices. $2.6M to $10M? Does anyone know what one gets at the lower end of the equation?

$2.6 million will get you a 1 bedroom unit measuring in at between 972 - 1002 square feet in the building. :yes:

Shoot for the moon!

I'd be interested in updates about this one, too. Hopefully there is some GOOD news :P

[LeftCoaster]

What's the status so far? Anyone have updated photos?

Excavation continues, and should last around 27 weeks.

A contract to construct the tower has still not been signed, so this tower is essentially in limbo.... so not exactly good news.

As for pics, im sure someone in the area could grab some pics by looking down the alley

[hollywoodnorth]

Excavation continues, and should last around 27 weeks.

A contract to construct the tower has still not been signed, so this tower is essentially in limbo.... so not exactly good news.

As for pics, im sure someone in the area could grab some pics by looking down the alley


How much would an excavation and shoring contract for a hole the size of the Ritz Carleton usually cost? 1-2 million?

[skymaster]

By the looks of the construction site it seems as if the pit is about 20 feet deep so far.

[vansky]

$2.6 million will get you a 1 bedroom unit measuring in at between 972 - 1002 square feet in the building. :yes:

Shoot for the moon!

I'd be interested in updates about this one, too. Hopefully there is some GOOD news :P


we have to realize that it's not about money here, it's about craziness.

[Cypherus]

Some activity persists on the construction site, but I couldn't help noticing only 2 workers (with Orange Vests) on the site when I drove by this morning.

[flight_from_kamakura]

How much would an excavation and shoring contract for a hole the size of the Ritz Carleton usually cost? 1-2 million?

not sure of the depth, but i just asked someone who knows and apparently it shouldn't be more than a million, indeed, probably more in the 500k range. but that's guessing it's 30 meters or so, and judging the site and haste to be about standard (ie. how many people and machines you'd need).

more interesting here is that there's still no contract to built this beast. okay, so really, is this site cursed?

and ps. skymaster, kim jong il isn't just 'well known in korea', he's the master and overlord of something like half the korean peninsula and about 30% of its population. in addition to that, he's one of the great poets of our time, as well as being a world reknowned film director, and a writer possessed of a mastery of language rivaling those of proust and chekhov.

[Yume-sama]

we have to realize that it's not about money here, it's about craziness.

Well, believe me... if I could swing it, I would go for it. :haha: I looked in to one of the units, a little bigger than what I am in now and paid under $700,000 for, it was selling for nearly $6 million, on a lower floor and not with the "preferred" view.

[LeftCoaster]

How much would an excavation and shoring contract for a hole the size of the Ritz Carleton usually cost? 1-2 million?

Significantly more than this actually, the contract was worth well over 4 million. Around four million for the bulk excavation to clear room for the parking lot and nearly half a million for the detail excavation of the pad footings, site services etc...

[flight_from_kamakura]

hmmm ^ i guess i stand corrected...

[LeftCoaster]

Yeah it seems quite high, but the site is quite small and inaccessable. Combine that with the depth of this dig and the high price of construction in this city and you get your high number. Keep in mind this number is inclusive of all profit, office and site overhead, fees, permiting, engineering etc...

[phesto]

Couple pics from today. As previously mentioned, progress is a little slower than it would be otherwise because there is part of a foundation still to be removed.

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7307/063lh7.jpg

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2679/064pp8.jpg

[Mininari]

Any updates on whom will actually BUILD this thing?
Obviously not Ledcor...

[EdinVan]

Well, believe me... if I could swing it, I would go for it. :haha: I looked in to one of the units, a little bigger than what I am in now and paid under $700,000 for, it was selling for nearly $6 million, on a lower floor and not with the "preferred" view.

What a tacky response.

[djh]

What a tacky response.

What's tacky about his response? Care to explain, rather than just knocking him and going silent?

[Yume-sama]

I would also like to know what was tacky about pointing out that it is kind of obscene to spend 10x the price on something for something a TINY bit bigger, on a lower floor, with a lesser view just because it is in the RC.

[excel]

nice, thanks for the excavation updates.

[AlexYVR]

I would also like to know what was tacky about pointing out that it is kind of obscene to spend 10x the price on something for something a TINY bit bigger, on a lower floor, with a lesser view just because it is in the RC.

Plus if you spend the obscene amount of money to live in the building. . .you can't even see it ;)

[LeftCoaster]

Thanks for the pics Phesto.

Minari, Yes Ledcor will not be building this project. At this point no one has any idea who will actually build this tower. Obviously Ellis Don thinks they will have a good shot to build this tower as they are making essentially no money on the dig in an attempt to get in with the developer. This means essentially squat with Holborn though, as they are seemingly not interested in building business relationships and there is a good chance they will dump Ellis Don as well. If this happens they could go to a third general (unlikely) or they could attempt to build it themselves without a construction manager. Everything is completly up in the air at this point however.

[excel]

Couple more updates from today, wasnt able to get the greatest pictures tho.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/excel91/IMAGE_075.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/excel91/IMAGE_076.jpg
http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s147/excel91/IMAGE_077.jpg

[Cypherus]

Thanks for the update. It's nice to see some significant activity on the site. You can also notice the concrete pillars from the previous structure in the bed rock that is causing some excavation delays.

[Mike K.]

Nice, thanks for the update.

[Hong Kongese]

Couple more updates from today, wasnt able to get the greatest pictures tho.



Don't be humble, can I borrow your phone?:)

[excel]

^sure why not.

[phesto]

Excavation is moving along at a good pace. They removed the screens/signage they had up - I'm assuming this is to accomodate the excavation or put up better hoarding.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/4334/032ow0.jpg

[excel]

drove by today and the entire billboard has been removed on georgia st. does this mean they are going to be setting up the different construction offices? or is it a negative thing?

[fever]

It was removed a couple weeks ago (?) before the shit hit the fan so it shouldn't be a sign of anything.

Still, I'm wondering about the status of this and other projects. I have my doubts despite what some knowledgeable forumers were saying. I'm not in the industry and I don't know anything, though.

[Yume-sama]

They have posted a new brochure (well, I hadn't seen it before) on their website.

http://vancouversturn.com/documents/ritzBrochure.pdf

God damn, anybody wanna make a pool and throw in money for one :haha: I want, I want...

[subdude]

So, this site still works?

[excel]

thanks for the brochure link.

[Hed Kandi]

They have posted a new brochure (well, I hadn't seen it before) on their website.

http://vancouversturn.com/documents/ritzBrochure.pdf

God damn, anybody wanna make a pool and throw in money for one :haha: I want, I want...


Incredible.

I will keep my fingers crossed that this building doesn't get put on hold/canceled. The US economic meltdown is spreading like wildfire.

[djmk]

from CKNW

Work halts at new Ritz Carton Development

10/21/2008

What's happening with the massive Ritz Carlton Hotel/Condo project in downtown Vancouver?

That's what many people are asking but the developer is no where to be found.

Work seems to have ground to a halt at the site at Bute and Georgia streets on the planned twisting 60-storey glass tower that will offer 123 luxury condos atop the new Ritz Carlton hotel.
No one is answering the phones at developer Holborn properties.

[Metro-One]

:previous: and the sad bugle plays.

[sono65]

Apparently Holborn is modifying the design now....

Click on video on the right of the page

http://www.cbc.ca/bc/

[LeftCoaster]

from CKNW

Work halts at new Ritz Carton Development

10/21/2008

What's happening with the massive Ritz Carlton Hotel/Condo project in downtown Vancouver?

That's what many people are asking but the developer is no where to be found.

Work seems to have ground to a halt at the site at Bute and Georgia streets on the planned twisting 60-storey glass tower that will offer 123 luxury condos atop the new Ritz Carlton hotel.
No one is answering the phones at developer Holborn properties.

Haha well that was the case in the best of times

[officedweller]

Thanks for the CBC video link.

[rather_draconian]

That video is depressing, it's worrying that they are modifying the design and that even the banners have been removed from the site.

[officedweller]

The other thing to remember is that it's one of only a few sites that can go to 600ft - so if they shorten the tower - so long to a "higher building" to complement Shangri-La.

Chalk this up to yet another failed proposal on this site.

Newport City Club
Golden Ocean Plaza
Cadillac Fairview (?)
Ritz Carlton

[AlexYVR]

CBC BC front page now:

Construction of one of Vancouver's most prestigious condominium projects has been halted, but the developer says design changes, and not the international credit crisis, are behind the move.

Work halted on the Ritz-Carlton construction site on Friday, and crews did not return on Monday after the weekend, leaving a giant hole in the ground near the corner of West Georgia Street and Bute Street in the heart of Vancouver.

Fifty per cent of the condominium units were reportedly pre-sold, but the building's developer Simon Lim, president of the Holborn Group, told CBC News financial concerns were not behind the decision to put the project on hold.

According to Lim, the work was halted so some design changes can be made, and it made no sense to keep crews working, or to keep the sales office open while those changes were underway.

Advertising signage around the construction site was missing on Tuesday and construction trailers had been removed from the site. About 50 per cent of the excavation for the foundation of the project had already been completed.

The 60-storey tower, which twists 45 degrees as it rises, is an Arthur Erickson design. The design features a high-end Ritz-Carlton hotel on the lower floors and 123 luxury condos on the upper floors priced between $2.5 million and $10 million, with the penthouse priced at $28 million.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/10/21/bc-ritz-carlton.html

[officedweller]

From News 1130:

Construction and sales halted on Ritz Carlton hotel/condo

Tuesday, October 21 - 02:34:53 PM
Jim Goddard/Mike Hanafin

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - Construction and sales have been halted at the massive Ritz-Carlton hotel/condo development in downtown Vancouver, amid questions about whether or not the project is falling victim to the world-wide credit crunch.

Right now the 58-storey, $500 million project is only a hole in the ground along Georgia (between Thurlow and Bute), as work stopped last Friday and all signage promoting the building has been removed. The sales pavilion a short distance away is also closed, and there is no indication as to when construction work, or sales will resume.

The City of Vancouver says all the plans for the site were approved, and nothing has changed at their end. But speculation now questions the financial health of the project (20 storey hotel/38 storey luxury condo), considering the recent financial downturn and squeezing of credit markets.

One report says the developers--the Holborn Group--halted construction and sales while they make modifications to the design, and they insist it is not due to financial problems. They also say the project is going ahead, but no time line has been given.

[Yume-sama]

:( Quick, someone give them $500 million.

[LeftCoaster]

:( Quick, someone give them $500 million.

For some odd reason money isnt the issue here... the financial backers for this project are from Malaysia are are quite wealthy. The reason for the project stalling are quite a mystery to almost everyone and at this point can only be attributed to the ineptitude of Simon Lim.

[SpongeG]

The other thing to remember is that it's one of only a few sites that can go to 600ft - so if they shorten the tower - so long to a "higher building" to complement Shangri-La.

Chalk this up to yet another failed proposal on this site.

Newport City Club
Golden Ocean Plaza
Cadillac Fairview (?)
Ritz Carlton

i tell ya that site is cursed!!!! cursed I say :haha:

[hollywoodnorth]

maybe W is gonna take the Ritz's place....and also take up more floors...... :)

[flight_from_kamakura]

hmm...

when was the last time a minor redesign necessitated halting excavation and closing the sales office? seems to me that they'll be scaling the project back, otherwise it doesn't make sense.

here's some wild speculation: the holborn people couldn't get anyone to build the thing for the price that they needed to ensure the profitability that they'd anticipated (and what they'd committed to with the r.c. people). so they decided to go ahead with the project themselves, then they realized that they couldn't do it either, and they realized that they needed a redesign to make the thing cheaper to build, but hopefully not a redesign so significant as to force them to return deposits, etc. so they suspended the whole thing while they re-evaluate things and get themselves a design they can afford to build.

and if something like this has happened, suspending the project give them time to get a sense of what's going on economically, especially in asia, which is where i imagine a number of the r.c.'s guests and residents will be coming from.

pure speculation this, i don't know anyone connected with the project.

[LeftCoaster]

Well there was talk about the Ritz needing more space, but I doubt a change like that would necessitate a stop in the excavation process, including sending all the workers home with no explination. That kind of change would involve ammending the permits issued by the city, but nothing below grade would likely change, as the required parking spots would not change too drastically unless the amount of suites cut was substantial.

[SpongeG]

trying to sell a $10 million dollar apartment in a city overcrowded with them already in todays climate tough sell

[phesto]

Simon Lim’s reluctance to make a simple statement to the media is an implication that he’s screwed up on this project.

Had to laugh at this when I looked back at the Sun article from last year when it was formally announced:

"We've been talking to the developer about Vancouver for over four years," Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company senior vice-president Michael Beckley said in an interview.

Beckley said there are just a few cities in Canada where a high-end Ritz-Carlton hotel will thrive, and Vancouver is clearly one of them. He also said it was important to join forces with a quality developer like Holborn, controlled by Vancouver entrepreneur Simon Lim.

"That's very important to us because we can't put our name on a building and have it fail," Beckley said. "We just can't have that."

[Yume-sama]

Well, it is a tremendous embarrassment for the Ritz Carlton, if this project fails.

Seems the developer is rather inept in this one...

[officedweller]

If the podium is going to be taller (to provide more meeting room and amenity space), then maybe the footings would have to be strengthened or rearranged depending on the layout and the additional loads - but that shouldn't impact the excavation stage.

Remember too that the twist in the tower accommodates the view cone over the site by twisting out of the way above a certain elevation (i.e. 150ft). If the tower is redesigned without a twist, I think you'll see a triangular floorplate (like the original proposal for the site) at least for the upper storeys.

Holborn also owns the Terasen Centre next door, doesn't it? Maybe there's a move afoot to integrate the podiums or redevelop the Terasen podium?
By analogy, Business in Vancouver states that the delays in opening for the Loden Hotel were for changes to the hotel layout to accommodate Amacon's redevelopment of the neighbouring site (i.e. expansion of the hotel?).

Personally, I'd rather have the site sit empty for 5 years and get a proper tall 600 ft building than building a stubby 300ft tower and sacrificing what is the only readily developable 600ft site in the core.

[LeftCoaster]

yes Holborn owns the Terasen Centre, lets hope that this is all that is going on... somehow I doubt it though.

[LeftCoaster]

By analogy, Business in Vancouver states that the delays in opening for the Loden Hotel were for changes to the hotel layout to accommodate the redevelopment of the neighbouring site (i.e. expansion of the hotel?).


Whoa almost missed this. The neighbouring site is the site of the rumoured Amacon Office Tower. Spending almost a year redesigning a hotel to tie into a future development make me think that the Amacon tower is perhaps not as pie in the sky as once thought.

[officedweller]

The story says it "contributed" to the delay...Here's the BIV story on Loden:

Loden a go

The long-anticipated opening of the 77-suite Loden Hotel on Melville Street was set for October 18, more than a year after the deed was to have been done.

General manager Edel Forristal said changes to the hotel’s configuration to accommodate Amacon’s development plans for an adjacent site contributed to the delay. While any delay in the current construction environment sparks buzz among the naysayers (one thinks of the dark rumours circulating earlier this year regarding the lack of activity on the Ritz-Carlton site a couple of blocks away on West Georgia), Forristal said the 95 employees brought on for the opening were kept abreast of the project’s progress.

“We tried to keep them as part of the family through the process,” Forristal said.

Regular communication and staff events were held to stoke the enthusiasm, which will be on show for the business travellers, tourists and entertainment industry types from Los Angeles attracted since reservations began being accepted just after Labour Day.

Forristal declined to share booking numbers, but said reservations were meeting expectations.

[phesto]

The story says it "contributed" to the delay...Here's the BIV story on Loden:

IIRC, Amacon's plan at one point was to connect the existing rental residential units at 1133 Melville to the Loden since they share a wall, and the old vacant rental units could have been reno'd and added to the hotel. It would've required at least the top floors to have minor changes in floor-toceiling heights.

I don't think an office tower development was even contemplated at that point.

[AlexYVR]

Ironic that the news that prompts the most response on this forum in months is no news at all.

In the interest of moving things in a conversational direction (even though I may be inviting the wrath of forumers down on myself). . .

I have to say that I am surprised there is this much attachment to this project. Yes, it was good architecture - for Vancouver. For anywhere else, this tower would have barely registered as a blip on the radar. It is the most basic form of an idea that has been played out many times now (the turning tower) to varying success. Straighten out the curves and this thing IS a Yaletown tower, double the height.

I was as excited as any to see this go up, I guess, although I don't think another hotel/condo is what the city needs; I just wish that we weren't willing to settle for a 'something, anything, please' mentality and to see this for what it is: a solid, if standard, derivative to the world of skyscrapers.

Anyone agree? No?

[osirisboy]

umm no

[SpongeG]

that aside Ritz Carlton has a lot of these towers under construction - LA, Dallas etc - it was nice to be part of that group

[jlousa]

You know what, I'm starting to think this thing will get done anyways. I think we might see some slight modifications but I gut feeling is now that we will see it go ahead. Simon has a lot of pride and while I'm not his biggest fan, he has a lot to lose by not going forward with this (cough LM cough).
I can't say why I've had a change of heart... hope I'm is right because I hate being wrong.

[Metro-One]

Yes, it was good architecture - for Vancouver. For anywhere else, this tower would have barely registered as a blip on the radar.

I would have to disagree with that. This was (hopefully still is) a beautiful tower, for me personally it is the best design of a twisting tower i have seen to date. There are many signature towers in the world that are larger and more detailed, but many of those also become too busy, cheesy or even annoying to look at. This style has a classy elegance to it that embodies a sense of agility and power. I think in many cities of the world this would be more than just a blip. Size isn't everything.

[billy corgan]

I hope this project goes ahead. In Toronto we’re lucky our Ritz project started before this financial crisis.

[TwoFace]

More than any other, I really wanted to see that one go up, it would have been the crowning jewel of a phenomenal building blitz.

[Delirium]

Construction halted on Ritz-Carlton site
Developer is considering a change in design, condo marketer says

Bruce Constantineau, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Construction of the $500-million-plus downtown Vancouver Ritz-Carlton hotel-condo project has been suspended so the developer can consider redesigning it, project condo marketer Bob Rennie said Tuesday.

"[Developer] Simon Lim has notified our office that he has suspended construction pending a redesign of the parkade," he said in an interview.

Excavation work at the 1133 West Georgia site began about four months ago, but was halted recently as Lim decides whether to excavate another floor or redesign the parkade for hotel and commercial parking.

"Given construction prices today, everybody is looking at everything they can to be prudent," Rennie said.

He said Lim can't re-evaluate parking for the project's 123 luxury condos because they require a set number of parking spaces.

A 127-room Ritz-Carlton hotel is supposed to occupy the first 20 floors of a new 58-storey Arthur Erickson-designed twisting tower that was scheduled for completion by early 2011.

Luxury condos -- at prices ranging from $1.4 million to $13 million -- will take up the top 38 floors.

Rennie said just over half of the 123 condos have been sold, with the most recent sale taking place about 60 days ago.

He said buyers are understandably nervous now because financial problems have forced delays and uncertainty at some Metro Vancouver condo projects.

The $350-million Infinity project in Surrey, which attracted 560 pre-sale buyers, is on hold because its major U.S.-based investor recently went bankrupt.

"Given what's happened at Infinity and given what's happening in financial markets, everybody's radar is really, really alert so the tougher questions are being asked," Rennie said.

He noted skeptics often claimed the Shangri-La hotel-condo development in downtown Vancouver would not proceed, but it is nearing completion, with the hotel set to open early next year.

"So we have to let this developer go though his growing pains, too," Rennie said.

He said Lim still plans to open the new development in 2011.

Lim's Holborn Group bought the West Georgia property from Cadillac Fairview about four years ago. The site had been a vacant and derelict eyesore for more than a decade following failed attempts to build a private members' club and a strata-title office building.

bconstantineau@vancouversun.com

[LeftCoaster]

You know what, I'm starting to think this thing will get done anyways. I think we might see some slight modifications but I gut feeling is now that we will see it go ahead. Simon has a lot of pride and while I'm not his biggest fan, he has a lot to lose by not going forward with this (cough LM cough).
I can't say why I've had a change of heart... hope I'm is right because I hate being wrong.

I sure hope you are right on this one... this is one of the rare times in life I will actually be pleased to be wrong. I just have a tough time being optamistic when I was concerned about this project before all the stoppages and ensuing media hooplah.

The excuse of a deeper parkade seems a little suspicious to me as if this project had full intentions of going forward it should still be excavated to the original depth and further depth could be added afterwards, as opposed to a high profile work stoppage which certainly cant help condo presales.

This all being said Lim has sunk a LOT of money into this project for him to just walk away for no solid reason... even if he is a well backed financially as he appears to be.

[phesto]

^That's what I was thinking. Assuming the project was still going ahead as Lim claims, why not excavate to full depth? and why close the sales centre? they still have to pay rent and surely keeping it open by appointment would make the most sense if only a delay was anticipated.

Anyway, all this lack of info is really another indication of Holborn's bumbling of this project - rather than responding directly to the media, we get second hand knowledge of a notice Rennie received?

I'm losing faith in Simon Lim's ability as a developer by the minute. He may be a very private guy or whatever, but this is a big project in $ figures and he's not doing much to disspell the rumours that this is project is in more serious trouble.

[officedweller]

Hmmm - the headline in the Metro Newspaper says "Ritz condos hit bedrock". The article doesn't mention "bedrock" in the article - but didn't they have to blast at the Shnagri-La? Does anyone know if there was blasting at the Ritz-Carlton site? Maybe they are redesigning the parkade to avoid blasting bedrock? But then again, how much would that add to the cost?

[jlousa]

They've already hit the bottom contray to what the media is reporting about the exavaction only being 50% done. They did have to do some blasting but they finished, the only thing left was to finishing shoring and remove the fill. Of course this could change depending on the "redesign"

[officedweller]

Thanks for the info

[Yume-sama]

Half sold with the last one some 2 months ago? I wouldn't have guessed that.