625 W Hastings | 100M | 28fl | Proposed

[Metro-One]

Would love for this project to come back to life!

[officedweller]

Thanks!

[mcminsen]

Originally Posted by officedweller

619-685 West Hastings Street

Apparently this is still alive...
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/619-...r-rbc-building


Artistic rendering of 619-685 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. (Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership)
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/619-...r-rbc-building

It's the light well that I find most interesting about this project. Apparently they will have moving panels to align with the sun and direct light down into the light well.




Nov.21 ’16, my pics

[s211]

Not a fan of this project's lower floors because they ape the low floor-to-floor heights of the heritage building. (Unless that's changed now?)

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by s211

Not a fan of this project's lower floors because they ape the low floor-to-floor heights of the heritage building. (Unless that's changed now?)

Practically 11 feet until about floor 20

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by GenWhy?

Practically 11 feet until about floor 20

Presumably that's necessary for the new structure to tie in to the existing tower so that it provides the intended seismic support. The 1930s building has a steel frame, but I'm assuming the new one will be concrete to create the needed shear wall.

[officedweller]

They also say they can make the floors contiguous across both buildings if desired.

[officedweller]

Model pics here:

https://www.instagram.com/bbscalemodels/

[trofirhen]

IMHO, when construction starts on this building, the anticipation and excitement will grow perhaps even exponentially.
The RBC building, radiating mature big city vibes, has for too long stood rather sad and neglected. This project will bring it back to life and set it off for the treasure it is.
Additionally, the fusion of that block, rather a demanding task, will be completed and will form a true canyon streetscape, worthy of, and complentary to, Hastings Street West.

[BodomReaper]

I heard that CAC negotiations are one of the main reasons why this one hasn't started yet - the City apparently refuses to treat the seismic upgrading of a large heritage high rise as a community benefit, demanding tribute a CAC payment of magnitude as if it were a conventional project.

This was as of a couple months ago so not sure if it's been resolved since then.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by BodomReaper

I heard that CAC negotiations are one of the main reasons why this one hasn't started yet - the City apparently refuses to treat the seismic upgrading of a large heritage high rise as a community benefit, demanding tribute a CAC payment of magnitude as if it were a conventional project.

This was as of a couple months ago so not sure if it's been resolved since then.

It's not the case anymore, if it was true. The project was approved by Council to move to a Public Hearing earlier this month; the CAC of $9.3m is purely the value of façade restoration and heritage retention of the historic building. "Real Estate Services staff have reviewed the applicant’s development proforma, which included analysis of both the proposed leasehold and strata-titled portions of the new office building. The review concluded that after factoring the costs associated with the heritage work, there was no additional increase in the land value generated by the rezoning. As such, the on-site benefit in the form of heritage conservation is recommended for this application in lieu of a CAC."

[BodomReaper]

Originally Posted by Changing City

It's not the case anymore, if it was true. The project was approved by Council to move to a Public Hearing earlier this month; the CAC of $9.3m is purely the value of façade restoration and heritage retention of the historic building. "Real Estate Services staff have reviewed the applicant’s development proforma, which included analysis of both the proposed leasehold and strata-titled portions of the new office building. The review concluded that after factoring the costs associated with the heritage work, there was no additional increase in the land value generated by the rezoning. As such, the on-site benefit in the form of heritage conservation is recommended for this application in lieu of a CAC."

Great, I stand corrected - should have checked the status before posting.

[Cypherus]

Dailyhive reporting this officer tower was approved.

Source

Site context:


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Image sources: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/625-...uver?auto=true

[trofirhen]

deleted / double post sort of

[Feathered Friend]

619 W Hastings St (DP-2020-00766) and 675 W Hastings St (DP-2020-00811) development application

Construct a new 28-storey office building at 619 W Hastings St, including:

• Five levels of underground parking, with 49 parking stalls and 115 bicycle spaces
• A building height 110.46 m (362.4 ft.)
• A floor space ratio of 25.2
• A floor area of 15,509 m² (157,219 sq.ft.)
• The structure of the new tower will tie into the Royal Bank Tower providing a seismic upgrade

Seismic upgrade to the two-storey ‘1929’ royal bank Tower at 675 W Hastings St, including:

• Heritage designation of the façade
• Restoration of character defining elements on the exterior impacted by the seismic upgrade

https://shapeyourcity.ca/619-675-w-hastings-st

[Metro-One]

I love this project! Glad to see it is still alive.

Also, did it just get a little taller?

[jollyburger]

What got approved in June?

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

What got approved in June?

The rezoning. This is the Development Permit application that follows from that approval.

[mcminsen]

I have some new photos to post but I thought I would first quote the new posts about this project from the Downtown Vancouver Updates thread so we can move the conversation over to this thread.


================

Originally Posted by jollyburger

Was just going to reply to a message in the 320 Granville thread about the status of the RBC Building development. Seems like there is some movement on it? From March 1, 2022


https://council.vancouver.ca/20220301/documents/a1.pdf

Originally Posted by madog222

^Great to see that is going ahead, it’s amazing how much that block will have changed in such a short time.

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I really really hope it happens, one of the projects I have anticipated the most over the last few years.

Originally Posted by Vin

Not looking forward to the table-topping of this area. Will it become the modern version of the Walled City of Kowloon? Perhaps not, but this blob here will essentially tone down the unique looks of each of the towers.

Originally Posted by Changing City

The sidewalk is closed today while they construct a steel frame over the path, so it looks like it will be the location of the contractors site boxes, and construction is imminent.

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

Looks like 625 West Hastings Street has started site prep. Construction trailers on site. And some Steel Bracing along Hastings in front of the old tower seems to be being placed. I guess they will do work on the existing tower before they start on the new one.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/625-...reet-vancouver

Originally Posted by Klazu

I have been hoping for a redesign with 625 West Hastings but that doesn't seem to be in the cards then.

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

what dont you like about it? i am surprised they can build so much on such a small lot, though. only 52*120

Originally Posted by ranvancan

Could easily have built and matched the originally intended second half of the now RBC building. Completing this today could really have finally put the finishing touches on a development that ran out of money back in the day. This boring glass filler does nothing for the aesthetics of the RBC and I need not mention about the the ugliest of ugliest to it's immediate east. This city really struggles when it comes to spending and developing properly. YAWN

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

yeah as much as i am for historic buildings, old architecture, etc. that never would have happened. it would have cost more $$$ and given them a lot less floor space. no way that'd happen. i wish i was around to see some of the old lost buildings of Vancouver. the Birks one i would have loved to see. or the old Opera hall. or the 2nd Hotel Vancouver. though sadly, those were torn down long before i was ever born.

the article stated the only reason it is this small, is due to the view cones.

i think overall they did the best they could for achieving their goals with the constraints of the site. i am surprised they didn't acquire that small, old building to the east. it seems like that would be ripe to be included. you could almost double the size of the building if that was included.

[mcminsen]

March 13 '22, my pics