[New West] The Shops at New West (Plaza 88) | Completed - Page 31

Metro-One · #**601** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 6:27 AM**

I like it. Are there a few things I would change if I had the power, yes, but over all i love it. A very "Asian" style transit / suburban development. It would be in like flint in Japan.

logan5 · #**602** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 7:17 AM**

I haven't been down that way lately to get a good look, but I'm hoping it's more urban than suburban.

Chadillaccc · #**603** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 7:49 AM**

wow... what a dink :S

Metro-One · #**604** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 7:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logan5

I haven't been down that way lately to get a good look, but I'm hoping it's more urban than suburban.

"Suburban" in a Japanese sense is very good

Anyone who has been to the "burbs" in Osaka or Tokyo know what I am talking about. For this development to be considered "urban" in Japan it would have to be about 10 times as big, with multiple train lines running through it, half of it would have to be underground and there would have to be an anchor tenant (electronic or department store) taking up 4 to 5 floors itself

Oh, and there would be many bars, LED screens and probably a casino or two in it (pachinko) to be urban.

This is a suburban transit mall in Japan

Which translate to EARTHSHATTERING in North Amercia for "thinking out of the box" urban design. Which is what I wish they were doing with the viaducts downtown, you know, truly interesting urban space. Not trying to be "country side" urban space.

red-paladin · #**605** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 4:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterprinciple

"Ugly is as ugly does sir."

GOD this thing is ugly...Here's to the City of New Westminster taking the city council and mayor to court to recall the re-elected members and sue the former members of council for misrepresentation. Sue the developer for lieing about the finished product.

I point to the nefarious parkade on the waterfront and say "No... that's an ugly new west parkade!"

Millennium2002 · #**606** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 4:54 PM**

Well... add me to the list of people with reservations about this project... I still think some stores should have been built on the street perimeter... and the finishings are turning out even more tacky, piecemeal, and cheap overall for such a gateway project of high prominence and importance. Mind you, there are several other serious wrongs in New Westminster (the parkade being one of them) but the sad part is that this half-travesty will stay for at least 50 more years from now. Oh well. =S

And if you wonder what I consider to be good ToD, the most likely counterexamples would be the Brewery District and Collingwood...

PaperTiger · #**607** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 7:34 PM**

I can see the pro's and cons of a development like this conceptually. But from an execution stand point I think it has failed terribly. The whole south wall is a hideous monolith. Like, wow is that awful. It’s as if they picked up Colossus from Langley, jacked it 50 feet in the air and dropped it in the middle of their downtown.

Chadillaccc · #**608** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 9:26 PM**

yeah the exterior is terrible and I wish they would have put some retail at street level, but I still think over all the project is a good thing for the region.

SpongeG · #**609** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 10:13 PM**

it isn't that bad - that part of columbia is not pedestrian or street front friendly never has been never would be

i imagine they will hang giant movie posters for the theatre along the blank walls

officedweller · #**610** Posted **Dec 5, 2011, 11:44 PM**

Thanks for the pics!

I think the colour blocking on the exterior is in line with a shopping as "entertainment" theme - like the theatre wing of Metropolis at Metrotown. It's not trying to blend in.

Chadillaccc · #**611** Posted **Dec 6, 2011, 7:03 AM**

Exactly.

The biggest thing I hate about the design is the "cage" over the parking garage. It looks terrible from street level. But other than that, it is fine. As SpongeG noted, that area of Columbia isn't pedestrian friendly and how could it be? The other side of the road is railway fence. :S

Let's just hope that if they do redevelop the IGA plaza that they make it a pedestrian friendly, retail/residential development that will be able to tie in with the rest of downtown so it cancels out the unfriendlyness of the Columbia Streetfront of plaza 88

McPaul · #**612** Posted **Dec 6, 2011, 7:47 AM**

I received my invite to a "viewing party" for the Safeway on thursday before it opens so I can "walk the aisles and explore this wonderful new store"

It's a grocery store. Not a movie advance screening.

Nevertheless, I am curious.

Chadillaccc · #**613** Posted **Dec 6, 2011, 12:25 PM**

Take pics!

McPaul · #**614** Posted **Dec 9, 2011, 2:52 AM**

Biggest Safeway ever.

Maybe it's just cause its squished into a train station, but this thing seems HUGE!!!!

Cant find my camera and won't insult the members with a horrible bb pic. This place was BUSY!!!

Oh, and here's one more nugget of goodness.

http://www.newwestnewsleader.com/news/134499203.html

racc · #**615** Posted **Dec 9, 2011, 3:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McPaul

Biggest Safeway ever.

Maybe it's just cause its squished into a train station, but this thing seems HUGE!!!!

Cant find my camera and won't insult the members with a horrible bb pic. This place was BUSY!!!

Oh, and here's one more nugget of goodness.

http://www.newwestnewsleader.com/news/134499203.html

Check out the fly through linked to on the Leader article. Marvellously old-school. Looks like it was done on a 386 with 3ds version 1. The camera flies through people, cars and even the SkyTrain guideway and every thing just disappears before the camera hits it. Pretty funny.

Great development anyway!

McPaul · #**616** Posted **Dec 9, 2011, 4:19 AM**

Yeah, no....

I was kinda referring to the opening dates for the rest of the stuff.

SpongeG · #**617** Posted **Dec 9, 2011, 7:37 AM**

all the way until april for the movie theatre - could it be any slower...

Quote:

According to the report, the day after the Safeway opening, CIBC, Shoppers Drug Mart, the Level 3 parking garage and the Level 5 main concourse at the SkyTrain ticket level will be opened. Dec. 9 is also the target opening date for Wind, Westland Insurance and Yogabody. A dental clinic, Subway and Togo Sushi are expected to open Dec. 12 with other stores opening up by the end of December.

Other openings are expected to occur in February with the Landmark Cinemas and bus loop scheduled to be up and running in April.

http://www.newwestnewsleader.com/news/134499203.html

McPaul · #**618** Posted **Dec 16, 2011, 1:36 AM**

So...

Subway, a&w, insurance and dental.. All open eff. Today.

Movators are installed and operational (all but one)

And the best part is that I can get out in front of the subway by exiting at P4 of my building. Never having to get wet.

McPaul · #**619** Posted **Dec 22, 2011, 7:16 AM**

Hmm... I missed these openingss somehow

Limina spa, flight center, cibc are now open.

Royal bank and extreme pita shouldbe open shortly.

Also, the entrance is in place from the overpass.

SpongeG · #**620** Posted **Jan 9, 2012, 1:06 AM**

I made a stop there today snapped a few pics - it's quite dark but nice in here, will be nice to see it filled up, hopefully it attracts people, seemed most were just passing through or shopping at safeway, the theatre will be a great draw once it opens

the pics - all by me

old overpass integration is nice or better for walkers to the station

the much hated side - at least there will be trees

embedded lighting