Richmond - Fantasy Gardens Demolition

[whatnext]

I'm surprised nobody posted this, given Zalm's been in the news a lot lately. Fantasy Gardens was demolished last week, article and photos in the Sun:
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/eat...807/story.html

[Stingray2004]

Good to hear that they are going to save the replica Dutch castle that is on site - the same castle donated by a Dutch town for Expo '86 and was located at Georgia/Howe on the Four Seasons Hotel plaza during the World's Fair.

The castle is a replica of Coevorden Castle in the Netherlands, the ancestral home of Captain George Vancouver. It was donated by the people of Coevorden for Expo 86 and subsequently moved to Fantasy Gardens where, for a time, it served as the residence of former premier Bill Vander Zalm and his wife.

“It’s got some historical and cultural significance,” said Townsend. “The people in Coevorden and the Dutch government would very much like to see it preserved, so we’re working towards that.”

Source: http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_ar...102638954.html

[BCPhil]

I always find it odd how we keep losing tourism businesses in our supposedly tourism based economy. Not that Fantasy Gardens was the greatest tourist trap, but really, what's a tourist to do once they've walked the Seawall and looked at the mountains?

[SpongeG]

do it all over again or go to victoria

[BCPhil]

The same is happening in Victoria, the Wax Museum just closed and will probably be replaced by a pub when the building upgrades are finished.

[dleung]

Boring places, ie: Anytown Oklahoma, need wax museums to attract local/regional visitors. Mr and Mrs Ivanov from Russia, or the Chong family from Shanghai, isn't going to take the cab down to Steveston Highway for any reason.

Replacing Fantasy Gardens with a bunch of townhouses seems like a waste, and devalues the land IMO. Demolishing is usually the wrong answer. An opportunity was lost to redevelop just the parking lots and eventually build the density to adapt the building to high-street retail uses.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by dleung

Boring places, ie: Anytown Oklahoma, need wax museums to attract local/regional visitors. Mr and Mrs Ivanov from Russia, or the Chong family from Shanghai, isn't going to take the cab down to Steveston Highway for any reason.

Replacing Fantasy Gardens with a bunch of townhouses seems like a waste, and devalues the land IMO. Demolishing is usually the wrong answer. An opportunity was lost to redevelop just the parking lots and eventually build the density to adapt the building to high-street retail uses.

But on the other hand, London's Madame Tussaud's pulls in big crowds. Not my cup of tea, but some people must like it.

Have Townline's plans for the site been published anywhere? The intersection of No. 5 Rd and Steveston Hwy seems overburdened already.

[jlousa]

Townline used to have them on their website, they had a dedicated page for this project. Seems like if you want a controversial project just name it Gateway.

http://www.gatewaytorichmond.ca/pdf/..._Materials.pdf

Go to Page 6 of the pdf for a pretty good idea of what is in store.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by jlousa

Townline used to have them on their website, they had a dedicated page for this project. Seems like if you want a controversial project just name it Gateway.

http://www.gatewaytorichmond.ca/pdf/..._Materials.pdf

Go to Page 6 of the pdf for a pretty good idea of what is in store.

Thanks for that. If I'm reading it correctly, it sounds as though there'll be some significant street widening? At least there's a median seniors will be to take a breather on!

[SpongeG]

Originally Posted by dleung

Boring places, ie: Anytown Oklahoma, need wax museums to attract local/regional visitors. Mr and Mrs Ivanov from Russia, or the Chong family from Shanghai, isn't going to take the cab down to Steveston Highway for any reason.

Replacing Fantasy Gardens with a bunch of townhouses seems like a waste, and devalues the land IMO. Demolishing is usually the wrong answer. An opportunity was lost to redevelop just the parking lots and eventually build the density to adapt the building to high-street retail uses.

i thought that was the plan - i had read somewhere that they were gonna make it an upscale retail place and bring some new retailers to the area - like Crate & Barrel as an anchor possible and some other high end stores only found downtown - it was on some blog i read a long time ago

[Zassk]

Pile driving began on the site this morning.

Preload is mostly removed.

Street widening is underway.

[trofirhen]

Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic !!!

[easy as pie]

ah, what a shame, that site could totally have been re-purposed into like just upscale apartments with a unique (if kitschy) look to them.

[officedweller]

Renders from the Downs Archambault website:

http://da-architects.ca/projects/the-gardens/

Completion Date: Current
Site Area: 0.604 Ha
Residential: 88,000sf 98 units
Retail: 15,000sf

Overview

This project is the third mixed-use development proposed for the master planned ‘Gardens’ development on the site of the former Fantasy Gardens in Richmond. This five storey concrete building contributes to the overall vision of creating a vibrant urban village, with a mix of retail shops opening onto a new community plaza.

The building form is strongly influenced by its context; busy No.5 Road to the west, neighbourhood shopping area to the south and the lush green landscaping of the community park adjacent to the agricultural land to the northeast. The clean geometric forms, highly articulated massing and light colour palette create a contemporary development sensitively designed for this site.

The DA Difference

This relatively long building is successfully broken down into a series of identifiable architectural components. These include a brick clad commercial frontage along the south and west, a unique glass expression at the corners, and a townhouse-like rhythm along the north elevation; together contributing richness and architectural variety to the neighbourhood.

http://da-architects.ca/projects/the-gardens/


http://da-architects.ca/projects/the-gardens/


http://da-architects.ca/projects/the-gardens/

[Zassk]

A full-sized crane was erected over the past three days at the site of the second building (south center section of the lot). The site for this building has been fully excavated.

The first building on the southwest has been under construction for some time, and has reached at-grade level (i.e. the parkade is covered over). This building is using a smaller crane.

The street improvements are pretty close to completion.

[CBeats]

I randomly stumbled upon Fantasy Gardens a number of years ago while lost in Richmond. Creepy place. Although the redevelopment is pretty uninspired, I must say. Perhaps that's just in comparison to the bizarre buildings that preceded them.

[officedweller]

The castle was a replica of the one from Captain Vancouver's home town (If I recall correctly) - built for Expo 86 and was open for display on the Four Seasons Plaza at Pacific Centre. It was saved from demolition and moved to the Fantasy Gardens site.
The remaining buildings were built to blend with it.

[Zassk]

Originally Posted by officedweller

The castle was a replica of the one from Captain Vancouver's home town (If I recall correctly) - built for Expo 86 and was open for display on the Four Seasons Plaza at Pacific Centre. It was saved from demolition and moved to the Fantasy Gardens site.
The remaining buildings were built to blend with it.

The castle has been moved to the edge of the site on a new foundation, and will become the daycare for this development (last I read).

[officedweller]

Nice. Thanks for the info.

[whatnext]

Nearing completion. Whew, talk about a busy corner! Just out of sight on the right it has a really unattractive 10m high blank wall facing the road.

[IMG][/IMG]