[entheosfog]

Not yet -
How does the parking work? Is it undergound off 8th Ave and still validated for an hour?

Yeah I've been there a couple times already ( I had to get some pics printed out, okay! :rolleyes: ) and the parking is indeed off 8th. But when I was there the parking was free for Mon and Tue. Not sure the deal now. The store sure is massive now but an absolute zoo!

[raggedy13]

The institutional buildings are more innovative than market condos

Social Housing on the Bazaar & Novelty site on West 2nd Ave.:

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20081125/documents/p1.pdf

Interesting, thanks officedweller. That curved rooftop feature looks promising.

[LeftCoaster]

Yeah the curved rooftop feature is infact a trellis support for a solar panel aray. Very cool although somewhat excessive, it might get cut at the upcoming budget review.

Here are some more pictures of 215 W 2nd.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/W2ndmodel-2008-09-03006.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/W2ndmodel-2008-09-03008.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/W2ndmodel-2008-09-03009.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/W2ndmodel-2008-09-03015.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/W2ndmodel-2008-09-03020.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/W2ndmodel-2008-09-03023.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/W2ndmodel-2008-09-03014.jpg

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/mattcav/W2ndmodel-2008-09-03021.jpg

I've got a ton more but they get somewhat repetitve. Either way it looks like a damn nice project if you ask me.

[officedweller]

Nice - thanks for the pics - the solar panel looks better on the model than I expected. Strange though that its not oriented directly south (i.e. angled due to the angle of W 2nd Ave., or closer to 2nd Ave., especially if another tower is built to the west.

[djh]

Nice - thanks for the pics - the solar panel looks better on the model than I expected. Strange though that its not oriented directly south (i.e. angled due to the angle of W 2nd Ave., or closer to 2nd Ave., especially if another tower is built to the west.

Yes I was thinking that. Also, the solar array covers a wall that could easily have had windows in to each suite. I would rather thery put the solar arrays on the roof and put more windows in the building to let in natural light to the suites.

[sacrifice333]

The solar array covers a wall that could easily have had windows in to each suite. I would rather they put the solar arrays on the roof and put more windows in the building to let in natural light to the suites.

From the design, I'm guessing that the "covered" wall is the backside of the elevator shaft.

[nickinacan]

From the design, I'm guessing that the "covered" wall is the backside of the elevator shaft.

I think you have guessed correctly.

[LeftCoaster]

bang on guys, that is exactly why the solar aray is there.

[dreambrother808]

great use of colour, a more refined variation on cooper's quay

[vanman]

bang on guys, that is exactly why the solar aray is there.

You can see balcony railings behind the solar panels though? Or maybe not, I guess I'm just trippin.

[jlousa]

Couple of new developments listed today on the DPB board.

728 West 8th Avenue by Henriquez Partners
To develop this site with a 17 and 11 storey residential building with townhouses (thereby providing a total of 123 dwelling units) over 3 levels of underground parking having vehicular access from the west lane.

This one is the lot behind the Holiday Inn site, it's going to be a great looking project once completed. This project will go ahead but the developer isn't in a rush.

The other one is

1258 West Broadway
To develop this site with a 12 storey mixed-use building containing retail, office and residential uses (49 dwelling units) all over two levels of underground parking having vehicular access from the lane

Not postive but I beleive this is the project that Leftcoaster has been hinting at for a bit.

[LeftCoaster]

The other one is

1258 West Broadway
To develop this site with a 12 storey mixed-use building containing retail, office and residential uses (49 dwelling units) all over two levels of underground parking having vehicular access from the lane

Not postive but I beleive this is the project that Leftcoaster has been hinting at for a bit.

Sure is! Well its one of em at least ;) Most of you will know this site as the former Bar Code. Sad to see it go... but progress is progress.

There are quite a few medium sized infill projects in the pipeline for the West Broadway corridor right now.

[SpongeG]

i wonder if they could invent rain panels for energy

[nickinacan]

i wonder if they could invent rain panels for energy

Wait... you mean like a water turbine... like a mini-hydroelectric dam?

[jlousa]

I had a friend who adapted an old alternator and had it spin with the water coming down the rain spout of the garage. He only used it to keep the battery in his boat charged in the off season. Don't know if it would make enough power to acutally do much more.

[fever]

They've put in plants covering the wall along 8th on Crossroads up to about 5 m. They're like square tiles in green and red, arranged in a few horizontal bands. The wooden pillars don't really fit with the rest of the building. They've tried to do a few too many things, but it still turned out really well.

There's just one more floor of the glass waves at the west end of SEFC.

[flight_from_kamakura]

from the courier, some good background on the process around a densification scheme in an area that badly needs it. the usual hubbub follows, of course, and the scales will doubtless lack the height the area needs, but this is definitely progress.

Residents wary of proposed neighbourhood centre
City hosts upcoming open house on East Side project
Cheryl Rossi, Vancouver Courier
Published: Wednesday, November 26, 2008

As planning for a neighbourhood centre around Kingsway between East 27th and 41st avenues ramps up again, so do concerns of some local citizens.

The city is holding an open house on the project Nov. 29. The Norquay Neighbours citizen group has called a residents-sponsored meeting for Dec. 3.

"Part of this is considerable distrust and we intend to monitor and make as public as possible every step of the process," he said.

Grant Miller, a city planner who handles neighbourhood centres, said a city outreach worker has been talking with local business owners whose first language isn't English to make sure they're involved in the planning.

Participants at the Nov. 29 meeting will learn about potential plans for the area around Kingsway that extends east to Killarney Street and west to Gladstone Street. They can sign up for workshops slated for early 2009.

At one workshop, members of the community will be asked how parks, streets, playgrounds and pedestrian connections could be improved.

Another workshop will focus on housing on the residential streets that surround Kingsway and plans for rezoning. In response to comments made by neighbours in previous consultations, the city is considering zoning for low-rise apartments near SkyTrain stations, as well as rezoning for duplexes, coach houses and clusters of small strata-titled houses over multiple lots. It is also considering rowhouses on shallow properties.

The "Kingsway Area" workshop will explore how the busy thoroughfare and the areas adjacent to it should be reshaped.

Miller said the city hasn't decided whether it will influence development by rezoning multiple blocks along Kingsway, which would see developers simply applying for development permits, or by developing land use policies that would see developers applying to rezone for bigger projects. How the Kingsway area will be shaped will depend on the preference expressed by the community.

Jones worries mass rezoning of the neighbourhood he's inhabited for 28 years could result in "an urban monoculture."

"If you take a large area and try to treat it all the same, you will lose the flavours that varieties over time put into a neighbourhood, the things that have made Main Street and Commercial Drive such pleasant places," he said.

He also worries about unintended consequences of area rezoning.

"Developers will naturally build to the most advantageous economic use and we saw the problems that that produced with Vancouver specials, 20, 30 years ago," Jones said.

Jones is pleased to see that the city appears to be taking community outcry about housing types into account.

Miller said the city will pay more attention to retaining the unique characteristics of housing in the area, even though there are fewer heritage houses in the Norquay area than in the first neighbourhood centre, at Kingsway and Knight.

Miller expects staff will make recommendations to council for adoption following the workshops, but he wouldn't say when he expected this to occur.

The city's open house happens at the Renfrew Park Community Centre, 2929 East 22nd Ave., in Room 110 on Nov. 29 from noon to 4 p.m.

Norquay Neighbours' meeting is planned for the same community centre from 7 to 9:30 p.m., Dec. 3.

[jlousa]

I'll be at the meeting and I'll be raising hell. ;)
These morons are trying to save a community that has been dying for years due to inaction. There are countless closed storefronts along kingsway, we've had drugstores close, the only bank close and even Wally's close because of a lack of clientele. The only possible way for this area to rejuevenate is via density and lots of it.
I've lived in that area for over 30yrs and have seen it die painfully. When anyway pro-development tries to join their committee they are refused. I've sent numerous emails to cityhall about this groups lack of community invovlement. If you don't share their ideas you simply aren't welcome. At least cityhall is well aware of the problem, in the last survey conducted in the area the auditor reported fraud and ballot stuffing.:hell:

[fever]

Sounds like my old neighbourhood in North Van. The only things these people care about are traffic, parking, and, if they have one, their view. They'll oppose any increase in density, not because of density per se, but because they're afraid they might not have a place to park in front of their house. It doesn't matter that change could turn their neighbourhood around, add amenities, increase their property values, reduce crime, etc, because these are minor problems compared to waiting behind someone at a stop sign.



The entire area should be rezoned to permit a range of development types depending on how far they are from skytrain stations and kingsway, and on the type of street the site sits on. Joyce-like condo towers should be permitted around skytrain stations, 6-10 storey buildings should be permitted along Kingsway and on arterials between Kingsway and the stations. Rowhouses and 4-6 storey buildings should be permitted between Kingsway and the skytrain line and for a couple hundred metres on each side of the skytrain line.

[agrant]

Sure is! Well its one of em at least ;) Most of you will know this site as the former Bar Code. Sad to see it go... but progress is progress.

There are quite a few medium sized infill projects in the pipeline for the West Broadway corridor right now.Seems like it. Do you have a list? Is it bigger than I imagine? Broadway could be the new frontier, along with the Southeast False Creek area.

[giallo]

I'll be at the meeting and I'll be raising hell. ;)
These morons are trying to save a community that has been dying for years due to inaction. There are countless closed storefronts along kingsway, we've had drugstores close, the only bank close and even Wally's close because of a lack of clientele. The only possible way for this area to rejuevenate is via density and lots of it.
I've lived in that area for over 30yrs and have seen it die painfully. When anyway pro-development tries to join their committee they are refused. I've sent numerous emails to cityhall about this groups lack of community invovlement. If you don't share their ideas you simply aren't welcome. At least cityhall is well aware of the problem, in the last survey conducted in the area the auditor reported fraud and ballot stuffing.:hell:

Let 'em have it, Jlousa!

[LeftCoaster]

Seems like it. Do you have a list? Is it bigger than I imagine? Broadway could be the new frontier, along with the Southeast False Creek area.

Well I dont have a list per se, but I do know of quite a few planned projects that have not yet been proposed, so I'm sure there are just as many that I dont know about. Should be an interesting decade for the eastern half of West Broadway.

Oh and I'll let you know about any of the projects as soon as I can.

[hollywoodnorth]

I forgot to post this 2 weeks ago when i saw it 1st. BUT there is a crane up at the PNE Coliseum....obviously for the reno.

[mr.x]

I forgot to post this 2 weeks ago when i saw it 1st. BUT there is a crane up at the PNE Coliseum....obviously for the reno.

What type of crane?

[Mike Stewart Realtor]

I am looking forward to more green space at Hastings Park. It is a park after all!

[LeftCoaster]

I forgot to post this 2 weeks ago when i saw it 1st. BUT there is a crane up at the PNE Coliseum....obviously for the reno.

yeah its been up for several months now. I dont know if anyone else has noticed but the sides of the coliseum are lit up in different colours at night now. Looks ok, but a little like an after thought.

[jlousa]

COV has issues an RFP for the new bylaw impoundment lot, it'll be at 425 Industrial Ave, construction to start Apr/09 and be completed by Apr/10.

Not sure but I'm pretty sure that's were the current large Busters lot is now.

[jlousa]

VPD have a RFP out to study a new HQ.

Background
2.1. The VPD is comprised of three Divisions: an Operations Division, an Operations SupportDivision, and a Support Services Division. An organization chart can be found on the Vancouver Police Department website (www.vpd.ca). The VPD is governed by the Vancouver Police Board.
2.2. The VPD currently has a total authorized strength of 1,327 officers and 392 civilians for a total strength of 1,718. The VPD has projected an increase of more than 250 employees by 2025.
2.3. The VPD is currently housed in three facilities: 2120 Cambie St. (86,000 s.f.), 312-324 Main St and the Cordova St. Annex (146,000 s.f.), and a function-specific building (65,000 s.f.). The VPD currently has approximately 587 vehicles.
2.4. Recent reviews of the three facilities have identified critical issues relating to the physical state of 2120 Cambie St. and 312 Main St. facilities. The 2120 Cambie St. facility, which is leased from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) until January 2014, was designed for light office use and as such, does not meet the robust requirements for a 24 hour/365 day operation. The 312 Main St. complex is approximately 60 years old and is outdated, overcrowded, and has security and fire protection deficiencies. Neither facility meets the requirements for a post-disaster building. In addition, reviews have noted the insufficient parking for fleet and personal
vehicles at the Cambie St. facility in particular.
2.5. In order to address the shortcomings of these facilities, the VPD has undertaken a phased facility replacement plan. The first phase, which is currently under construction, includes the relocation of the Dog Squad Kennel and construction of a Force Options Training Facility. The second phase, which was approved in the 2009-2011 Capital Plan, will include an evidence and property storage facility, and a crime vehicle and storage area. This facility will be co-located adjacent to the training facility.
2.6. It is in this context that the VPD is seeking proposals from suitably qualified facility consultants to review prior reports regarding general physical assessments of all buildings, evaluate current and future space needs of the Department, and to prepare a detailed functional program and estimate of capital costs for a replacement headquarters facility and other facility(s) necessary to meet the forecasted of VPD.
2.7. The VPD will consider Proposals that meet either all or part of the requirements of this RFP.


Seems like they are looking at re-using 312 Main St but with a new building, another option I've heard of is moving to the Flats by the Provdence Hositpal site, not unlike the Green Timber proposal in Surrey.

[hollywoodnorth]

COV has issues an RFP for the new bylaw impoundment lot, it'll be at 425 Industrial Ave, construction to start Apr/09 and be completed by Apr/10.

Not sure but I'm pretty sure that's were the current large Busters lot is now.

seems to be right beside it >> http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=425+Industrial+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia,+Canada&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.946584,96.591797&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FfbK7wIdS7Wp-A&ll=49.269919,-123.095074&spn=0.002377,0.005895&t=h&z=18

[jlousa]

Some updates via the parks board today.

Looks like they are complementing installing a new skate park in Kenningston Park, and a BMX/Mountain bike jump park in Vanier Park. The Bike park doesn't appear like it'll be big but it should be a nice addition.

The Emery Barnes expansion is moving along slowly, all the remaining buildings have now been environmentally cleared with the exception of the one with the drycleaner and nail salon. Work is ongoing.

Also now the the city wide wifi project isn't happening at least for now, they will be upgrading all libraries and community centres around the city to provide free wifi.

[johnjimbc]

Thanks for the updates, jlousa. Good news all around.

[raggedy13]

Thanks jlousa. I like the idea of a bike park in Vanier Park. Vanier Park has a great location and all but I don't think it is used to its full potential most of the time (except maybe during the Children's Festival). I'd say the lackluster attendance at the Planetarium/Vancouver Museum and Maritime Museum are proof that it could use a little extra something to draw more people to it. A bike park probably won't help a ton but it's a step in the right direction.

[SpongeG]

sounds good - so much wasted open space in that park

[officedweller]

I'm sure the Kits Point Residents' Association will raise a ruckus about the bike park (they killed attendance at the Maritime Museum by geting City Hall to prohibit tour buses in the area).

[tempel1]

http://bankofhamilton.blogspot.com
Great heritage revitalization at the corner of Commercial Street/20th near Trout Lake in a pocket of the city that is still undergoing a major transformation from light industrial to semi-high-density residential.
Cafe Dias has reopened on the corner.

[officedweller]

Not out of the ground yet, but delayed:

Wall project joins condo turbulence
Four-tower, 414-unit complex next to Olympic Village faces delays

By Stuart Hunter, The ProvinceJanuary 19, 2009

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.theprovince.com/news/vancouver/wall+project+joins+condo+turbulence/1193312/1193313.bin?size=620x400
The Wall Centre False Creek condo complex next to the 2010 athletes' village may be delayed by market conditions.
Photograph by: Les Bazso, The Province, The Province

The future of another False Creek condominium project is in limbo.

Work on Wall Financial Corp.'s four-tower Wall Centre False Creek will likely be delayed.

The 414-unit complex is across the street from Vancouver's embattled Olympic Village, a project of Millennium Developments.

President Bruno Wall said a decision on the future of Wall Centre False Creek is expected within 60 days.

Under the provincial Real Estate Development Marketing Act, developers can presell units for nine months without a building permit or financing, as long as disclosure statements are filed.

After nine months, developers must have a building permit and financing in order -- or give buyers the option of taking back their money.

Disclosure statements were filed last April by Wall Financial for two phases of the development, meaning its nine-month sales period concludes at the end of this month.

If they fail to meet the deadline, developers must stop marketing the project and come up with a new plan within three months.

Media reports from last year show about 60 per cent of the first two-tower phase were sold for between $400,000 and $1.3 million.

There were to be four towers in all. Two of the towers were designed to soar 15-storeys, one is 14 storeys high, and the fourth is 12 storeys tall.

The development would include a new performance, rehearsal, office and support space for the Playhouse Theatre Company.

Wall Centre False Creek is on the south side of 1st Avenue, between Columbia and Manitoba streets, directly south of the Olympic Village, for which the city is seeking nearly a half-billion-dollar emergency loan.

Yesterday, the provincial government granted Vancouver the right to borrow whatever it takes to complete the Olympic Village.

shunter@theprovince.com

© Copyright (c) The Province

[vanman]

Two of the towers were designed to soar 15-storeys

What are we living in Regina?

[jlousa]

Some nice improvements to the City hall north lawn, you'll have to navigate the following link to get the all the details. Sorry no ferris wheel. :D

http://vancouver.ca/cityhall/improvements/index.htm

[SpongeG]

What are we living in Regina?

:haha:

[dreambrother808]

http://bankofhamilton.blogspot.com
Great heritage revitalization at the corner of Commercial Street/20th near Trout Lake in a pocket of the city that is still undergoing a major transformation from light industrial to semi-high-density residential.
Cafe Dias has reopened on the corner.

What an interesting article... I was there for much of the work in the early days, when Jerry Prussin of Prussin Music was lying to the tenants of the building, waiting to tell them at the last possible moment that his real intentions were to evict them from the building, that his stated desires upon purchasing the property were not as they seemed. It's so funny to read the blog charmingly iterate that the tenants have "moved on" when in fact many fought hard to stay in a building they had lived in for a decade or more. I learned from the contractor that he had previously done this at his music shop reno in Kits as well.

Jerry foolishly tried to cheap out by not getting the proper permits in an area that was obviously busy with inspectors on the various other sites. Unsurprisingly we were shut down for a month or so. He also decided to use a musician friend as an electrician, an uncertified and poorly trained one at that. I was thrown from a ladder and lightly electrocuted by a dangling live wire that I had been told was dead.

The bank itself was quite interesting. Apparently it was the first to be robbed in the city of Vancouver. We found many old newspaper clippings and wonderful glass bottles from various decades in the past century.

I wonder how the cafe tenants felt when the reno they were told would take a few months ended up taking a couple years out of their earnings. I wonder how they survived that. I find it hard to believe that Mr. Prussin entered into this as naively as the blog maintains. There were obvious signs of rot everywhere, leaving little to the imagination with regard to how much work would actually be involved.

The end result is quite beautiful, yes, but please don't be such a phony when it comes to the actual process. Other people matter, the people you trample on along the way... THEY MATTER.

[Coldrsx]

What are we living in Regina?

Bahaha... money!:cheers:

[amor de cosmos]

check out Google Earth! go to Vancouver & turn on the 3D buildings! (didn't think it was worth starting a brand-new thread, & didn't' know where else to put that)

[nova9]

check out Google Earth! go to Vancouver & turn on the 3D buildings! (didn't think it was worth starting a brand-new thread, & didn't' know where else to put that)

No worries. I already created a thread for it in the General Discussion section 2 days ago. ;)

[SpongeG]

does anyone know why there is a crane here? its in the midst of single family homes - is the house that big that it needs a crane?

locarno - spanish banks area... up the hill a bit

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/DSC01185.jpg

[SpongeG]

oh the news reported that that chinese demonstration thing in granville might be pulled down soon

yay!

[mr.x]

^ the house requires a bit of steel work and concrete....and yes, it's big. :p

[East Van]

Its a massive mansion under construction (20K sq/ft I recall hearing). Its at the northern tip of Blanca. A few months ago I saw 3 cranes up there.

[wrenegade]

Is that Mattrick's place?

[rather_draconian]

Don't think so, I think Matrick's has been built already.

[WarrenC12]

Some nice improvements to the City hall north lawn, you'll have to navigate the following link to get the all the details. Sorry no ferris wheel. :D

http://vancouver.ca/cityhall/improvements/index.htm

Do you have any updates on a possible relocation of city hall? I sure hope not. The location and the building are great IMHO. If anything they need to cut expenses to fit inside it. :cheers:

[jlousa]

City hall won't be going anywhere, what's planned has been posted here before somewhere. Pretty well they will house their front line staff and move some depts to a new building next to the Canada Line entrace. No idea on timeline but they need space sooner rather then later (Probably around the time their Crossroads lease expires). As far as I know there are no renderings on what the building might look like.

[jlousa]

Glad to see Henriquez involved in the York theater renewal, still don't agree with the project, it was too much density and should have been used for the Pantages theater instead.

http://www.vancouversun.com/Entertainment/Wall+Financial+City+Vancouver+team+save+historic+theatre+from+demolition/1244995/story.html

VANCOUVER - After decades as everything from a roost for heavy metal and punk rock to a Bollywood movie house, the historic York Theatre on Commercial Drive is finally returning to its roots. Opened in 1913 as the Alcazar, the now-decrepit space was on the verge of demolition late last year, but has been saved from the wreckers' ball by a unique collaboration between the City of Vancouver and developer Bruno Wall.

Vancouver city council went against its own staff recommendation and handed Wall a full transfer of heritage density from the York. Worth the equivalent of about a 20-storey building, the transfer will be applied to a future Wall project, yet to be determined.

At a Monday press conference, Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson applauded the restoration by architect Gregory Henriquez that could see the York Theatre opening anew in two years.

"This is undoubtedly going to be a great addition to the north end of Commercial Drive," the mayor said. "We need to be enabling neighbourhoods across the city to have the arts close at hand, and certainly this is a real boost for a part of our city that hasn't perhaps had its share."

Wall Financial Corporation purchased the site for $2 million, completing the deal last Friday, and expects to spend at least another $10 million to restore the space. Henriquez expects preservation of the original space, restoration of a 1937 Art Deco refit of the front and addition of a new two-storey glass lobby; the finished project will be operated by the nearby Cultch - also known as the Vancouver East Cultural Centre.

"The partnership being formed with the city and the Cultch," Wall said, "is a great example of how the private sector, the non-profit sector and a pro-active and progressive civic government can work together to create jobs, foster creative and cultural activity and revitalize a neighbourhood."

The York was first threatened with demolition in 1982. That's when Tom Durrie launched the Save the York Theatre Society, selling about 200 memberships at $5 each and beginning a 27-year campaign to save the York.

"I think that our current city government, I can honestly say, have shown their commitment to the importance of culture in this city," Durrie said. "I can hardly wait for opening night."

Before that happens, Wall Financial is on the hook for the full bill.

"At this point, it's 100-per-cent private money," said former councillor Jim Green, who was instrumental in bringing Wall and the city together. "There's a bit of risk in it for the developer, but there's no risk in it for the taxpayer."

Henriquez also praised Wall for agreeing to accept the full financial cost of the restoration.

"There's nothing guaranteed Mr. Wall other than that he has this density - that one day he has to earn the right to land somewhere else," the architect noted. "And so this is a very equitable way of going about it for the city, because the city then has to put no money up front. It gives him this density in the bank and then he gets to use it in the fullness of time."

Wall Financial's project at False Creek, adjacent to the troubled Olympic Village, is on hold in the current real-estate crunch, and Wall said negotiations with city staff are forthcoming about using all or some of the York heritage density transfer at the False Creek site. That complex of condominiums (or, it's rumoured, possible rental accommodation) is supposed to include important new production facilities for the Playhouse Theatre Company.

Wall is also involved in similar amenities at Capitol Residences, a condo tower now emerging next to the Orpheum Theatre. When completed, the building will incorporate an expansion of the Orpheum's backstage area, as well as a music school, recital hall and rehearsal hall.

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/wall+financial+city+vancouver+team+save+historic+theatre+from+demolition/1244995/1245539.bin?size=620x400

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.vancouversun.com/wall+financial+city+vancouver+team+save+historic+theatre+from+demolition/1244995/1245540.bin?size=620x400

[flight_from_kamakura]

holy mackerel, that's going to be awesome. GRRRREAT NEWS!

[dreambrother808]

maybe this will enliven that area. it's pretty scuzzy as is.

[entheosfog]

Good news! I'm glad the theatre is being saved...now if only something will happen with the Pantages...

[giallo]

Nice!
I'm glad it's been saved.

[Vancity]

looks good :yes:

[officedweller]

Looks good.

Interesting that they may add the density to the Wall False Creek Project - especially since the density is coming from a neighbourhood so close to a SkyTrain station that could really use more density. Wouldn't it be nice if density transfers had to be used within, say, a kilometre of the site from which they originate?

[flight_from_kamakura]

^ that would be interesting, especially in the dtes, but it would make the transfers a lot less valuable. the false creek project had weird density as it was; hopefully they quash the townhouses element rather than raising heights of the towers.

incidentally, does anyone know if they ever decided anything with that lot on the southwest corner of commercial and hastings?

[jlousa]

Umm Officedweller the York theatre isn't close to any skytrain station, the closet station at Broadway would be a hell of a walk, I'd guess 25 blocks.
The problem with the density needing to be used in the area it's from stems from the DTES where most of the density is given due to heritage restoration, but it can't really be used there so needs to be transferable across the city to more suitable locations.

[officedweller]

Oh, I thought it was on Commercial between 1st Ave and Grandview Hwy.
Where is it located?

[SpongeG]

its about 2 blocks south of hastings

its really odd - its all aparrtments and than you hit a block with some commerical retail buildings far away from the rest of the retail of commercial

it was last home to the RAJA theatre for bollywood films

[Rusty Gull]

I can understand Officedweller's confusion. There's another Indian movie theatre near the Broadway Skytrain station. But yeah, the one we're dealing with is close to Hastings, right beside Nick's Spaghetti House -- a restaurant close to my heart, but one that is also too crowded for my liking on my weekend evenings.

[raggedy13]

A few construction updates (pics by me):

That infill building at 1st and Burrard is complete and looking pretty good (can't recall the name):
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3292334256_78d2203ae0_b.jpg

And some building u/c on Broadway at Commercial (have no idea what it is):
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3413/3292341620_09a31c217f_b.jpg

[sacrifice333]

Building at First & Burrard is called "First on First".

[osirisboy]

thanks for the pics, that one went up fast. seems like just last year the car rental place was still there.

the one going up around 3rd is almost at ground level now

[Spork]

Anybody have any details on the building at Broadway and Commercial? I go by there a few times a week and the pit is quite deep (4-5 stories?)

[officedweller]

Vancouver Coastal Health Building - only 4 storeys.

[giallo]

^Really? I'm a bit perplexed with the slow (and low slung) developments around Broadway Station. I'm sure it has to do with zoning laws or some other red tape, but for such a busy transit interchange it sure is underutilized.

[Jared]

^Really? I'm a bit perplexed with the slow (and low slung) developments around Broadway Station. I'm sure it has to do with zoning laws or some other red tape, but for such a busy transit interchange it sure is underutilized.

I imagine its a zoning thing. Broadway/Commercial is probably one of the most transit accessible locations in the entire region, the face that there's currently nothing there above 2 stories is absurd. They should be building 40 stories, not 4.

[jlousa]

Actually the area around Broadway and Commercial is already one of the densest in the city even though it doesn't look it. If they build the aterials up to 4-6 floors it would be sufficient while still maintaining it's charm.

[jlousa]

Some new renderings for the Redtruck brewery site which will be along the empty stretch of Terminal Ave. across from the flee market. Between this, the Containers buildings, the building that just went up and the tim hortons building coming soon this stretch will be unrecognizable in only 5yrs.
This one will be 8 stories, of which 70Ksqft will be the brewery and 140K of commercial space.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/redtruck1.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/redtruck2.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/redtruck3.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/redtruck4.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/redtruck5.jpg

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/redtruck6.jpg

Link to architectural firm.
http://www.amarchitects.com/redtruckbrewery.html

[Metro-One]

:previous: I love it, it will be so nice to see that stretch revitalized (and with commercial aspects, not residential) ;)

[giallo]

^Agreed. It's still a bit of a dead zone, but one with a lot of potential.

[SpongeG]

on south granville - next to the new Lucky Jeans - used to be two old corner/produce stores - both were closed down last fall - one has been completely demolished and says LEASED - I wonder what it will be... and the other store is a temp ronsons clearance shoe store and the other half is empty

also on dunabr at 16th I think it is - the one corner building looks empty and a development zoning sign is up - any idea what it will be? wicked views from there

[wrenegade]

That Red Truck building looks fantastic.

[LeftCoaster]

Red truck building looks great, a nice homage to the industrial feel of the area... looks like the red brick building already in the neighbourhood, forget what it is for though?

I like seeing all the businesses embrace the flats but I still wish there would be a bit more residential just to keep the place safer and a little more vibrant after working hours and on the weekend... but I'm a total whore to mixed use neighbourhoods.

[officedweller]

Red TRuck Building looks good - all they need is a closer Skytrain Station (or opening up Glen Drive across the tracks.

[WarrenC12]

Red truck building looks great, a nice homage to the industrial feel of the area... looks like the red brick building already in the neighbourhood, forget what it is for though?

I like seeing all the businesses embrace the flats but I still wish there would be a bit more residential just to keep the place safer and a little more vibrant after working hours and on the weekend... but I'm a total whore to mixed use neighbourhoods.

If.. IF St. Paul's is ever re-located close by I'm sure there will be a demand for housing and many of the non-heritage houses north of that area will become more dense residential buildings.

[LeftCoaster]

Its not an if but a when at this point.

and its sooner than some think.

[osirisboy]

that would be great and help the economy right now if they could go ahead with the new saint pauls.

[ckkelley]

Its not an if but a when at this point.

and its sooner than some think.

Are you sure about this? The last time Minister Abbott mentioned anything publicly about this (around Christmas time) he had taken a posture that was more if and what form rather than it being a certainty.

[WarrenC12]

Yes, please let us know. After the initial design plan was released there was a real backing off by the government.

The fact that we have gone through federal and provincial budgets, lots of talk on infrastructure stimulus, and no mention of St. Paul's says a lot to me. :shrug:

[Coldrsx]

red truck is hot hot heat... what an injection of life into such a down and out area at the moment.

[LeftCoaster]

hmm well last I heard it was still a matter of when not if. I'm not quite as sure as the time line but from what I have been hearing over the past few months it is still on the drawing board. I will admit however that I am not quite as in the loop with this project, so if anyone has any more in depth information please fill us all in!

[wrenegade]

Where is the money coming from? A project of this size has got to be in the $100+ million ballpark correct?

[LeftCoaster]

More like 250M to half a billion.

And your pocket is the answer.

[WarrenC12]

I think the initial estimate was $900m, building only. Built to higher standards for a medical facility (more power, some lead walls, etc), but not including all of the equipment.

Ottawa, you listening? :D

[wrenegade]

Jesus Christ, $900 million?

And by my pocket, do you mean fully funded by taxpayers? I thought I remembered some sort of donation/investment fund Providence had set up.

[WarrenC12]

BTW, there is a thread for this here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=145575) :notacrook:

[NewfBC]

hmm well last I heard it was still a matter of when not if. I'm not quite as sure as the time line but from what I have been hearing over the past few months it is still on the drawing board. I will admit however that I am not quite as in the loop with this project, so if anyone has any more in depth information please fill us all in!


You seem to be very much in the loop with this comment...
Originally Posted by LeftCoaster
Its not an if but a when at this point.

and its sooner than some think.

Ron.

[jlousa]

Trillium Park update
Staff have been preparing plans for two synthetic turf fields that will be built on the southern 2/3 of the site, away from residents to the north. A future passive park will be built on the northern 1/3 of the site, the passive park will be built after the VPD dog sqaud is relocated in 2010. Construction should start soon, cost is $4.5Million.

Current condition

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/TrilliumParklocation.jpg

Trillium Park Plan

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/TrilliumPark.jpg

[jlousa]

Work will start shortly on updating Pigeon Park, apparently there is talk of renaming it back to it's original name of Pioneer Place as well. Not too much is being done as they only have $187,000 left in the International village park fund but it will get a facelight. Work will be done shortly as they will do it at the same time they are working on the Carrell St Greenway on that block.

The proposal to build a canopy in the park is no longer being pursued. It was not widely supported by the public, and a majority of City staff working in theDowntown Eastside were not supportive of building a canopy in Pigeon Park
The proposed overhead grid lighting system has also been dropped because its installation requires a portion of the grid to be affixed to the ‘Merchants Bank’ building immediately adjacent to the park, and the timing of the renovation of this heritage building is uncertain. The location of the proposed public toilet has been shifted from the sidewalk on Hastings Street to the edge of Pigeon Park because the detailed analysis has revealed that the sidewalk is not wide enough to accommodate the toilet.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/PigeonPark.jpg

[SpongeG]

ah they will be able to shoot up in comfort now

[officedweller]

Current condition
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p155/jlousa/TrilliumParklocation.jpg


The northern boundary of the passive park suggests a westward extension of Atlantic Street into the Providence Lands, and maybe even the missing connection between the viaducts and Malkin Ave. for when the overpass over the railway tracks is eventually built to Clark Drive. i.e. can't give that corner of land to the park board because you'd never get it back.

[wrenegade]

Wow, 4 turf fields within a 5 minute walk of each other. Plus a possible 5th in SEFC west of the Olympic Village? Are that many really needed? (serious question). I had hoped this land could have been used as a medical office/reseach buildings.

[officedweller]

Are you counting the fields to the east opposite the Cloverdale Paint (don't know the name of the park) or the Andy Livingstone ones near the viaducts?

[dreambrother808]

ah they will be able to shoot up in comfort now

lol, true, but at least the corner will look a little less third world now. a little is maybe all we can ask for at the moment. :)

[wrenegade]

Are you counting the fields to the east opposite the Cloverdale Paint (don't know the name of the park) or the Andy Livingstone ones near the viaducts?

I meant to say artificial turf, so I was talking about Andy Livingstone, but there is also the field at Strathcona Park to the east (I think that's the one you are talking about). It might be a bit further walk, same with the Olympic Village, but damn, that's a lot of sports fields.

[agrant]

I meant to say artificial turf, so I was talking about Andy Livingstone, but there is also the field at Strathcona Park to the east (I think that's the one you are talking about). It might be a bit further walk, same with the Olympic Village, but damn, that's a lot of sports fields.The last time I was at Strathcona was about a year ago, and I didn't notice any artificial turf fields there. There's a gravel field, a grass oval, and I believe two other grass fields. Did they install one recently?

There's a good reason for creating all these new artificial turf fields... the grass fields used for soccer very often become unusable (torn up) after the first month of the winter season, which is easy to do with all the rain we get. So you end up with a bunch of games being called off, and the season extending into baseball season... Also, the damage done to fields probably costs a lot to repair every year.

There's no shortage of demand for these all-weather turf fields. Believe me. Oh, and I believe Andy Livingstone is primarily for grass hockey games.