510 Seymour | 48.2m | 10 Fl | Completed

[mcminsen]

July 7 '15, my pics

[Prometheus]

Thanks for the update.

Given that this project was fully leased months before demolition began (and that it's city policy to grant rezoning up to the viewcones for sites within the CBD as a matter of course), I wonder if there are any regrets they didn't go taller, since they are leaving a lot of rents on the table.

Anyway, I don't recall seeing this render before:


Source: http://www.mcmparchitects.com/portfolio/109

[Jimbo604]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

July 7 '15, my pics

Another shameful orphaned property on the left. The city shouldn't allow it.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Another shameful orphaned property on the left. The city shouldn't allow it.

Is that some kind of joke? Because retaining that property is a lucky victory for the urban landscape. Albeit modest, it's a charming little heritage building and Vancouver is clearly better off that it will continue to exist and add texture and diversity to the steetscape.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Another shameful orphaned property on the left. The city shouldn't allow it.

Not sure what you're saying. That's the last character building on that block and should be preserved for all time. That whole block is made up of almost entirely expressionless retail. It's a dead zone as a result.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by logan5

Not sure what you're saying. That's the last character building on that block and should be preserved for all time. That whole block is made up of almost entirely expressionless retail. It's a dead zone as a result.

You likely wouldn't get a place like Cartems if it was some expressionless office building retail either. It would be another Tims or Starbucks, oh yay what a big city vibe they give...Balance is important.

[red-paladin]

I agree that the small heritage building should remain. They removed the crappy building, kept the legit heritage one, while building the largest office building that is economical for the small site. What more can we ask for?

[vanciti]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Thanks for the update.

Given that this project was fully leased months before demolition began (and that it's city policy to grant rezoning up to the viewcones for sites within the CBD as a matter of course), I wonder if there are any regrets they didn't go taller, since they are leaving a lot of rents on the table.

Anyway, I don't recall seeing this render before:


Source: http://www.mcmparchitects.com/portfolio/109

That's an early rendering of the project.

[vanciti]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Another shameful orphaned property on the left. The city shouldn't allow it.

The city doesn't have a choice in the matter. When land owners hold Developers hostage there isn't much the City can do.

Orphaned properties often have a bigger story to them than the Developer not wanting to proceed OR the City not trying to force it.

Edward Chapman on the otherside next to the Exchange is another example.

[Jebby]

It would be nice if the heritage building could get a 3-4 story addition.

[vanciti]

Originally Posted by Jebby

It would be nice if the heritage building could get a 3-4 story addition.

The problem with those buildings is the sheer volume of seismic that would be required to allow for an addition would be cost prohibitive as well as render a lot of leaseable/usable area useless as well.

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by vanciti

The problem with those buildings is the sheer volume of seismic that would be required to allow for an addition would be cost prohibitive as well as render a lot of leaseable/usable area useless as well.

Then just facade it. The interiors probably aren't worth saving anyway.

[NewWester]

Originally Posted by Jebby

Then just facade it. The interiors probably aren't worth saving anyway.

In some situations, I am ALL FOR facading, since it's a compromise between keeping heritage elements and growing and in some cases it salvages an architecturally unsound building (Trapp and Holbrook in New West falls into this category). But you gotta leave some heritage buildings intact! The interiors have such a soul to them that can't just be replicated in new construction. Like, have you ever went for coffee at Nelson The Seagull? The space there has this amazing patina that helps make it so charming. I think it's great when we can preserve some of these spaces.

And really, in this case, it's a narrow little lot. How much is an extra few narrow floors here really worth? I don't think it's worth the tradeoff.

[mcminsen]

July 28 '15, my pics

[vanciti]

I understand that that the excavation is nearing completion. The Tower Crane should be erected in the last couple weeks of August.

It will be good to see this one U/C finally.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Another shameful orphaned property on the left. The city shouldn't allow it.

On the flip side, it could be consolidated with the parkade next door when / if it is redeveloped.

[mcminsen]

Aug.12 '15, my pics

Looking north from alley:



Looking south from sidewalk on Pender:

[mcminsen]

Crane erected today.



Aug.22 '15, my pics

[hollywoodnorth]

nice erection photos! thanks!

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by mcminsen

I noticed something a little disappointing. In the rendering on the hoarding, you can clearly see that they have eliminated a floor.

Compare it to former renderings below: there were clearly 10 glazed floors. But in the new rendering on the hoarding there are only 9 glazed floors:




Source: http://www.mcmparchitects.com/portfolio/109