SkyscraperPage Forum - The Granville Clearcut

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- Vancouver Photos (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=180)

- - The Granville Clearcut (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=162048)

fever

Dec 8, 2008 3:19 AM

The Granville Clearcut

Pinion

Dec 8, 2008 3:39 AM

What was the reasoning for cutting down all the trees? Seems very un-Vancouver-like.

I work near Pender and they're still up there.

raggedy13

Dec 8, 2008 4:17 AM

^They were cut down in preparation for the Granville Street redesign project:
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/current...sign/index.htm

Great photo thread fever. Looks like Giallo got his wish for a post-clearcut Granville tour. It sure will be interesting to see Granville once it's all redone. I see they're still working on the Carrall Street Greenway. Nice to see the progress on the Olympic Village too.

excel

Dec 8, 2008 4:24 AM

Great pictures fever, Thanks.

giallo

Dec 8, 2008 5:24 AM

Wow! This is just what I wanted. Thanks so much, fever.
I really like the SEFC update too. The buildings there are looking a lot better than I originally imagined.
Great photos all around.

Architype

Dec 8, 2008 5:29 AM

^Great photos.

Maybe they should rethink the landscaping on Granville, and come up with something more creative and unique than the typical rows of tall trees which hide everything.

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/current...sign/index.htm

fever

Dec 8, 2008 5:56 AM

I guess it would be too late to redesign the redesign. Is it all done in house? Maybe they could just leave the trees out?

mr.x	Dec 8, 2008 6:00 AM

^ if only.

It kind of reminds me of Yonge Street, or at least parts of it.
http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/2...ueen_empty.jpg

http://talawren.net/A.weekend.in.Tor...et.toronto.jpg

http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/photos/2...ueen_empty.jpg

raggedy13

Dec 8, 2008 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fever (Post 3960079)

I guess it would be too late to redesign the redesign. Is it all done in house? Maybe they could just leave the trees out?

I just came across this interesting Fred Herzog quote about the trees on Granville. Apparently he doesn't like them:

Quote:

"Oh, neon signs," he sighs. "This was one of the greatest uses of technology, to make people happy. When you went to town in Vancouver in the 1950s, you had the experience of going to town. That's gone.

"If you go to this spot on Granville Street [today], all you see is trees. This is what bothers me about the city. Everything that had interest or teeth or contradiction or American blaring culture, which makes our cities interesting [is gone].

"Take that away and it's all grey. Now when we go to Granville Street, it almost looks like an East German slum. It's not nice."

http://www.nonstopdesign.com/lost-vancouver.php

WarrenC12

Dec 8, 2008 5:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raggedy13 (Post 3960345)

I just came across this interesting Fred Herzog quote about the trees on Granville. Apparently he doesn't like them:

http://www.nonstopdesign.com/lost-vancouver.php

I was there this weekend, now it looks terrible. I'm sure they have big plans for the re-design, but the lack of trees reveals all of the buildings much more, and guess what? They are ugly, dirty, boring structures for the most part. It's bad. :yuck:

I used to take a lot of the trees and green spaces in Vancouver for granted. One trip to Manhattan changed that. I'm no tree-hugger, but I'd be thinking long and hard before cutting down those 50+ year old trees. :shrug:

LeftCoaster

Dec 8, 2008 5:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.x2 (Post 3960085)

^ if only.

It kind of reminds me of Yonge Street, or at least parts of it.
http://talawren.net/A.weekend.in.Tor...et.toronto.jpg

Clearly not yonge street...

jlousa

Dec 8, 2008 5:45 PM

Sure it is, they have their mail delivered by the US Postal service, they have been an American city for over a decade now. :tup:

LeftCoaster

Dec 8, 2008 5:49 PM

Silly me, how could I have forgotten!

worldwide

Dec 8, 2008 5:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeftCoaster (Post 3960725)

Clearly not yonge street...

yeah, the tree is a dead giveaway :)

Dylan Leblanc

Mar 21, 2009 7:18 AM

was in 'couver a couple weeks ago and actually thought Granville was better without the trees. they are too much clutter

Vancity

Mar 21, 2009 8:15 AM

so is the granville redesign going to have trees on the streets, or is it going to look a lot like yonge street in toronto?

Delirium

Mar 21, 2009 4:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raggedy13 (Post 3960345)

I just came across this interesting Fred Herzog quote about the trees on Granville. Apparently he doesn't like them:

"If you go to this spot on Granville Street [today], all you see is trees. This is what bothers me about the city. Everything that had interest or teeth or contradiction or American blaring culture, which makes our cities interesting [is gone].

hmm.. i totally disagree. so in essence he's saying that Vancouver should look like just about every other major city in North America. that's hardly interesting imo.
i remember my first visit to Van in 1998 and the trees on granville really struck me. it was so pleasant walking down a commercial street with large mature trees. they also did a great job at hiding some really hidious buildings.
i am glad though that they decided not to replace the trees between robson and georgia.

Locked In

Mar 21, 2009 6:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vancity (Post 4152088)

so is the granville redesign going to have trees on the streets, or is it going to look a lot like yonge street in toronto?

Every block of Granville except for the block between Robson and Georgia will have street trees. Some are existing, but most are new. Here is the overall master plan:
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/current.../display12.pdf

And here is the design concept for the street trees, and an excerpt:
http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/current.../display10.pdf

Quote:

The design concept proposes a continuous line of trees on either side of the street in order to achieve a cohesive form, scale and character for the street. Trees will be of a single species with a spacing of about 9-10m, a suggested maximum spacing distance to maintain a continous tree-lined street effect. A tree species will be selected whose canopy is light and open in order to maintain views of adjacent signage, and so as not to obscure roadway and pedestrian lighting.

Also, I agree wholeheartedly with Delirium about the need for trees. Too many of the buildings along Granville are unattractive and in terrible condition. I enjoy having lush green trees, at least half the year, to soften the look of the street.

Anyways, this conversation should probably be in the Granville redesign thread - Vancity, you should check it out for more information about the project if you're still interested: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=139190

stevai

Mar 21, 2009 8:14 PM

^ oh wow, notice on those diagrams it is noted that there will be "multi-directional pedestrian scatter junctions" at Robson & Granville as well as Granville & Georgia.

CBeats

Mar 21, 2009 11:32 PM

^^Yeah, I'm excited for those to be open. They were great in Tokyo and now we get the first ones in Vancouver! I want see what people's reactions are to them when they first open.

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