[hollywoodnorth]

Very cool project. have not heard much in a while.....anyone got any news?

http://www.bastiondevelopment.com/developments/opsal/index.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpfzDJiDW2Q&feature=player_embedded

[entheosfog]

I hope something gets done with it soon. It's falling apart more and more each day, especially on windy days. Looks like a pretty cool project though!

[jlousa]

Maybe Officedweller or SFUVancouver can chime in on this, but my understanding is the city hasn't been to kind to this application. There are still outstanding issues that need to be resolved. Any insight?

[officedweller]

Non-support at UDP last November - no further word on it after that.

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/udp/2008/minutes/nov19.html

[Hed Kandi]

Only in Vancouver could a hundred year old, rotting, wooden shed be heralded as a "heritage monument". :doh:

[entheosfog]

There's been nothing happening with the site for many months now, but today it looked like they were moving some of this stuff off the site and there's a little backhoe there now:
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5523/dscn2479q.jpg

[officedweller]

Nice angle.
I had to look at the thread name to figure out what I was looking at.

[Chadillaccc]

what is it?

[entheosfog]

what is it?

Umm check out the links on the first post!

[hollywoodnorth]

Umm check out the links on the first post!

apparently its easier to just ask people :koko:

[Architype]

Only in Vancouver could a hundred year old, rotting, wooden shed be heralded as a "heritage monument". :doh:

I've always liked that building, strangely, because it was so old and run down. I'm looking forward to the new development, which should quicky become a landmark within the area. This area will undergo the most dramatic changes in the city in the near future.

Website: http://opsalliving.com/

[entheosfog]

Excavation FINALLY started today!

[Jimbo604]

Excellent. Nice scoop, entheosfog.

[entheosfog]

Thanks, it's more like they're just ripping out the foundation of the old building but I'm sure digging will start soon:
http://imageshack.us/a/img526/1619/dscn2860o.jpg

Sorry about the pole :rolleyes:

[Jimbo604]

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/Sat%20Apr%2021%202012/8-a.jpg


http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/Sat%20Apr%2021%202012/8-b.jpg


http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/Sat%20Apr%2021%202012/8-c.jpg


http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/Sat%20Apr%2021%202012/8-d.jpg
Photo credit: me

Excavation of east tower underway.
Car wash site between west and east tower is not part of the re-development... you'll still have somewhere to get your car washed.

Re-zoning application:
http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20100622/documents/p3.pdf

[Jimbo604]

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2012-06-07%20Thr%20Jun/IMG_1808.jpg
Photo credit: me

[entheosfog]

Crane is up on this one as of this weekend.

I imagine Central on Quebec/Main won't be too far behind...

[Jebby]

Is this still just proposed? Or has it been approved?

[SpongeG]

its got a pit and construction going - its under construction well passed approved

[hollywoodnorth]

Crane is up on this one as of this weekend.

I imagine Central on Quebec/Main won't be too far behind...

no crane in position yet.

[Klazu]

It's great to be getting some density on this corner! :tup:

[entheosfog]

no crane in position yet.

Yeah I totally jumped the gun on this one, whoops!
My mistake... :)

[entheosfog]

Okay, I can safely say the crane was being erected here today. For reals this time!

[hollywoodnorth]

I can also confirm this ;) :)

[entheosfog]

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8228/img9661m.jpg

[Jimbo604]

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2012-09-14%20Fri%20Sep/IMG_1910.jpg
Photo credit: me

A few levels done now.

[entheosfog]

Taken on Monday:
http://imageshack.us/a/img15/890/img1336lr.jpg

[Jimbo604]

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2012-11-12%20Sat%20Nov/IMG_2074-1.jpg
Opsal is now one floor above ground.

Photo credit: me

[entheosfog]

Opsal, starting it's upward climb:
http://imageshack.us/a/img233/560/img1610l.jpg

[Architype]

^ Nice progress, thanks for the photo updates.
It's one I'm looking forward to because of the height and the location.
At 74 meters I think it will be the tallest in SEFC, for now (not counting Citygate which is a bit out of the area).

[wrenegade]

This will definitely be the tallest in the area, perhaps taller than whatever gets built on the McDonalds/Easy Park site at Terminal & Quebec as well. What I really can't wait for is the Executive Group's buildings to go up and block as much of WCFC as possible. They are really not turning out all that well.

[sacrifice333]

This will definitely be the tallest in the area, perhaps taller than whatever gets built on the McDonalds/Easy Park site at Terminal & Quebec as well. What I really can't wait for is the Executive Group's buildings to go up and block as much of WCFC as possible. They are really not turning out all that well.

If it's possible... the WCFC paint colour choices are even worse than James! :haha:

[entheosfog]

A little hard to see, but work has started on the reconstruction of the old Opsal building. That scaffolding is related to the reconstruction and a few of the old beams are in place:
http://imageshack.us/a/img717/7041/img1678m.jpg

[entheosfog]

http://imageshack.us/a/img820/2586/img1019yd.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img543/9704/img1016pj.jpg

The original wood from the old Opsal building is under the plastic:
http://imageshack.us/a/img84/8721/img1018fi.jpg

[Klazu]

Wow, this one is growing up fast! I am guessing they will top this out already in March. :yes:

[entheosfog]

It's actually pretty slender, given the fact the old building is getting reconstructed right beside it.

[Jebby]

What's going to go in the old building?

[entheosfog]

I don't think the tenant has been determined yet but I think the developer wants to keep it as semi-public place, like a restaurant as opposed to offices.

[Jebby]

I don't think the tenant has been determined yet but I think the developer wants to keep it as semi-public place, like a restaurant as opposed to offices.

Hopefully it is kept open. Do you know how big it is? Could it fit more than one restaurant?

[entheosfog]

Hopefully it is kept open. Do you know how big it is? Could it fit more than one restaurant?

Not sure on the size, someone on here could probably answer that. I know the rebuilt heritage building will be smaller than it originally was due to the tower being built on the corner, part of where the old building used to sit.

[jlousa]

Size and other info is in the following document.

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20100622/documents/p3.pdf

[entheosfog]

Thanks!!

[Jebby]

Size and other info is in the following document.

http://former.vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20100622/documents/p3.pdf

Thanks.

I'm looking at the document and I'm confused about one thing: is the car wash staying and dividing this development in two?

Edit: no longer confused, the car wash is not included.

Also, the heritage building seems to be around 6,000 square feet.

[entheosfog]

Thanks.

I'm looking at the document and I'm confused about one thing: is the car wash staying and dividing this development in two?

Edit: no longer confused, the car wash is not included.

Also, the heritage building seems to be around 6,000 square feet.

I was at the development application meeting and the owner of the car wash was there and said he wanted to hold out and sell it for more down the road one day. I wonder if he's regretting that now, given the inconvenience of the construction next door, then tower number two will go up after that...

[squeezied]

The lot for the car wash looks pretty narrow. I wonder how much potential there is for redevelopment.

[wrenegade]

The lot for the car wash looks pretty narrow. I wonder how much potential there is for redevelopment.

On a 50' lot? Not much. Unless he sells to Bastion and they re-zone phase 2 to include more land. I doubt it though. I think he screwed up big time.

[osirisboy]

That lot in Chinatown is 25ft wide and they are doing 9 floors 40 units. So could someone not eventually doing something like that on a lot twice as wide. Personally I am glad it's staying. I find it painfully monotonous when a whole block is developed at once.

[Architype]

This development has risen by several floors now.

[entheosfog]

Jan 24/13:
http://imageshack.us/a/img834/5595/img1956o.jpg

[Jimbo604]

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2013-02-03%20Feb%20Sun/IMG_2353_zps877d3b00.jpg
Opsal with Pinnacle False Creek on the left.

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2013-02-03%20Feb%20Sun/IMG_2345_zpsfaabd773.jpg
Meccanica pit with Opsal in background.


http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2013-02-03%20Feb%20Sun/IMG_2341_zps9770f92d.jpg
From Quebec St, facing south

Photo credit: me

[Architype]

Thanks for the updates Jimbo604 and Entheosfog.

[entheosfog]

They recently raised Opsal's crane just last week

[entheosfog]

Glass has started to go up:
http://imageshack.us/a/img577/5218/img2097l.jpg

Lately:
http://imageshack.us/a/img843/3652/img2087dvt.jpg

[Klazu]

This one is growing very fast. I think I counted them working already on the 12th floor as I drove by today. The building starts to be visible from several directions now. Too bad the architecture is nothing to admire. :(

[entheosfog]

Yeah, they're already about half way up and the heritage building is going up quickly as well. This was taken earlier this week:
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/206/img2212dr.jpg

[Jimbo604]

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2013-03-16%20Mar%20Sat/IMG_2359_zps4f03c33c.jpg
Opsal in background, Meccanica in foreground.


http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2013-03-16%20Mar%20Sat/IMG_2364_zps5f76bc1d.jpg
Photo credit: me

[vanman]

For the amount of spandrel used Opsal looks suprisingly good. Darker spandrel looks much better than light or white spandrel imo. Chancellor is another good example.

[logan5]

For the amount of spandrel used Opsal looks suprisingly good. Darker spandrel looks much better than light or white spandrel imo. Chancellor is another good example.

Spandrel is so plain jane. Why not try some silk screen or etched designs on these pretty large empty spaces. Even a simple design would add some much needed visual interest.

[Sir Conga]

Taken today from the edge of Olympic Village.
http://i.imgur.com/PpIvolo.jpg

From 2nd
http://i.imgur.com/KdICsMR.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6PT1xn0.jpg

[Smooth]

I am quite surprised how close the wood frame structure is to the tower. At its closest point it probably is not much more than 1 meter away.

I would have expected a greater setback.

[Jimbo604]

http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w376/jimbo604/2013-04-14%20Apr%20Sun/IMG_1992_zps5c5db70a.jpg
Photo credit: me

[Sir Conga]

From today.
http://i.imgur.com/ejrhGwn.jpg

[Jebby]

Are there any plans or rumors about redeveloping Mario's Gelati? It would be pretty cool to have an ice cream factory at the base of a residential tower to show the city that light industrial/manufacturing can work even in mostly residential neighborhoods.

[jlousa]

If I'm not mistaken the upper floor(s) are used for banquets, probably not the most suitable mix for residential above.

[Jebby]

If I'm not mistaken the upper floor(s) are used for banquets, probably not the most suitable mix for residential above.

I don't see why it would be a problem with proper sound insulation. Here in Madrid there are nightclubs with residential on top, beside, and behind.

[entheosfog]

I heard the crane for Opsal is getting raised again tomorrow...

[Sir Conga]

Crane is most definitely raised.

http://i.imgur.com/XB6Ku99.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gSOb2zV.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/wWKByGg.jpg

From today.

[hollywoodnorth]

yes I saw the crane erection in person. good erection if I do say so myself. nice and solid.

[Spork]

How much larger will the erection get? I see 18 slabs in that photo. Surely the erection will get larger? Will be nice to see something so huge in this area. All of the smaller erections around it are nice, but seeing more significant height slip towards SE False Creek, truly expanding "Downtown".

[corner_unit]

Steel Toad brewpub/restaurant will be leasing the Opsal barn area based on the notice they have on the Quebec side of the building.

[hollywoodnorth]

Steel Toad brewpub/restaurant will be leasing the Opsal barn area based on the notice they have on the Quebec side of the building.

interesting thanks >>

https://twitter.com/kel_roberts/status/315584698439065600

[Klazu]

Starting to make its mark in the Eastern False Creek area. This view is an extreme angle from our apartment and layers of the window start to distort the image resulting in poor photo quality... :(

http://vuosiamaailmalla.fi/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/opsal_rakenteilla1.jpg