HomeDiagramsDatabaseMapsForum About
     

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > Canada > Alberta & British Columbia > Vancouver > Downtown & City of Vancouver


    The Independent at Main in the SkyscraperPage Database

Building Data Page   • Vancouver Skyscraper Diagram

Map Location

Reply

 
Thread Tools Display Modes
     
     
  #121  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 5:14 AM
renthefinn's Avatar
renthefinn renthefinn is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 1,646
Don't know what the kerfuffle is all about... close enough to downtown for a big building imo...
__________________
'I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions -- but I don't always agree with them.'
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #122  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 7:14 AM
invisibleairwaves's Avatar
invisibleairwaves invisibleairwaves is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 638
Quote:
Originally Posted by renthefinn View Post
Don't know what the kerfuffle is all about... close enough to downtown for a big building imo...
But it's also about two or three long-side blocks away from a handful of SFHs, so....highrises looking down into backyards!
__________________
Reticulating Splines
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #123  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 12:38 PM
Jebby's Avatar
Jebby Jebby is offline
........
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 3,305
Quote:
Originally Posted by invisibleairwaves View Post
But it's also about two or three long-side blocks away from a handful of SFHs, so....highrises looking down into backyards!
I guess those SFH's will just have to be redeveloped.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #124  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 2:04 PM
dreambrother808 dreambrother808 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 3,998
I have no issue with the development but I do feel that this is a case where they could have shortened the high-rise so as to appease community concerns. I guess the issue there is losing out on high-rise views and the prices they can charge for them.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #125  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 4:22 PM
PaperTiger's Avatar
PaperTiger PaperTiger is offline
scared of rain
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Gastown
Posts: 526
Quote:
Originally Posted by dreambrother808 View Post
I have no issue with the development but I do feel that this is a case where they could have shortened the high-rise so as to appease community concerns. I guess the issue there is losing out on high-rise views and the prices they can charge for them.
They did, from 26 to 19.

What seems to be lost in all this was that the site is specifically identified for a taller building. The existing zoning allowed 13 stories, they are building 19, that seems reasonable to me.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #126  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 4:28 PM
mezzanine's Avatar
mezzanine mezzanine is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,998
Quote:
Originally Posted by invisibleairwaves View Post
But it's also about two or three long-side blocks away from a handful of SFHs, so....highrises looking down into backyards!

But that's also the case in places like metrotown or highgate in Bby. or even west-end style houses next to downtown high-rises.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #127  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 4:29 PM
WarrenC12 WarrenC12 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: East OV!
Posts: 21,617
Quote:
Originally Posted by PaperTiger View Post
They did, from 26 to 19.

What seems to be lost in all this was that the site is specifically identified for a taller building. The existing zoning allowed 13 stories, they are building 19, that seems reasonable to me.
Yes, exactly. The proposal is reasonable. We need to think 50+ years ahead when new projects of this size are undertaken.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #128  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 4:34 PM
Prometheus's Avatar
Prometheus Prometheus is offline
Reason and Freedom
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Vancouver/Toronto
Posts: 4,015
But it's not like this site sits at the intersection of three busy, commercial, arterial roadways, a shopping mall, and a future subway station. Oh, wait, it does.

Forget 50 years, this development will be perceived as undersized and shortsighted within 20.

Last edited by Prometheus; Apr 18, 2012 at 4:47 PM.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #129  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 5:05 PM
SpongeG's Avatar
SpongeG SpongeG is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Coquitlam
Posts: 39,106
i wonder if these are the same residents who whined and got the billboards taken off the other tall building almost across the street from this one...
__________________
belowitall
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #130  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 5:09 PM
jlousa's Avatar
jlousa jlousa is offline
Ferris Wheel Hater
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,371
The problem is the building decreased in floors only, even though it went from 26 to 19 floors it only decreased in height by 2.5 stories as they increased the heights of the floors. If the building were a true 19 floors it would've been easier to swallow. Again the problem isn't the increased density, the area was willing to allow significate density and the plan they for the area calls for intensification, the issue here is the massing.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #131  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 5:29 PM
mezzanine's Avatar
mezzanine mezzanine is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,998
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlousa View Post
Again the problem isn't the increased density, the area was willing to allow significate density and the plan they for the area calls for intensification, the issue here is the massing.
But I'm unsure what that means. Do you have links to the issues of the proposed massing?

Would be more accurate to say that the issue is the 'asthetic appeal of the planned' massing?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #132  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 5:44 PM
flight_from_kamakura's Avatar
flight_from_kamakura flight_from_kamakura is offline
testify
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: san francisco and montreal
Posts: 1,319
Quote:
Originally Posted by galeforcewinds View Post
I guess those SFH's will just have to be redeveloped.
haha, yes!
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #133  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 6:36 PM
itinerant's Avatar
itinerant itinerant is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 230
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlousa View Post
the area was willing to allow significate density and the plan they for the area calls for intensification, the issue here is the massing.
I would much rather have seen the developer bring down the height of the podium along Kingsway and Broadway so the street-wall wasn't so imposing (4 or 5 'real' storeys at most), and move a taller very slender tower (30 storeys or more) to the SW corner of the site at 10th and the laneway with a setback to allow for street-level townhomes. Perhaps create a wide at street-level opening to the interior of the block on the approach to the tower at centre-rear, and passthru to 10th to make the interior of these blocks more permeable to the public and foot/bicycle traffic.

These suggestions would be a shift in density for sure, by giving much more height with less mass near the ground. This IS skyscraper page after all.

I do not see any reason to make any part of this project emulate the character of a tallish-for-the-time building a block away. Like the Sun tower and Marine Building downtown, I'd prefer to be able to see the old buildings with defining character prominent in the skyline and vicinity, but this should be handled better than slapping on some complementary surface finishes and trying to match heights at the street.

My two cents.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #134  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 6:43 PM
jlousa's Avatar
jlousa jlousa is offline
Ferris Wheel Hater
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,371
The massings are the the forms the buildings will take, an FSR of 5 could've been accomplished in 5 floors with total site coverage. Obviously that wouldn't work here nor would it be acceptable.
Rize could've gone with a 4 storey podium block along Watson with a break midblock near the current driveway. Along Broadway they could've gone with a 4 story thick podium rising to 6 storys as it moved east away from Watson and having a 10 storey slim tower pop up at the corner of Kingsway set back a bit from Broadway so not to cast shadows. At 10th and Kingway they could still have a 17 storey tower that fits within 150ft not the current 225ft proposed for 19floors. The above proposal would still housing an FSR of 5 provide conncetions thru the site from Kingsway,Watson and 10th, keep the Watson st character intact and have semi public space in the centre, the only loss would be of the big box retail, which isn't wanted by the residents nor is it in the community plan.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #135  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 6:56 PM
s211 s211 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: The People's Glorious Republic of ... Sigh...
Posts: 8,093
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpongeG View Post
i wonder if these are the same residents who whined and got the billboards taken off the other tall building almost across the street from this one...
Wasn't it the city that was all wound up about the signs? Don't remember it being a "community" issue.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #136  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 8:44 PM
officedweller officedweller is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 38,232
The billboard was City bylaw issue (enforcement zeal) - mind you, the original no billboards bylaw (and removal of neon years ago) was probably NIMBY inspired.

WRT big box, let the market decide what will work.
What if MEC or Whole Foods (big boxes in eco disguises) wanted to move to the location? Would they complain then?

The funny thing is that people talk about about maintaining the prominence of the Lee Building. I'll bet that the Lee Building was to be "typical" and not a tall landmark for the area (look at the big Post Office that was built for the area - the area was supposed to grow big). It would be cool to see the fork/triangle at Kingsway & Main developed with a true flatiron building of at least 10 storeys.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #137  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 10:20 PM
logan5's Avatar
logan5 logan5 is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Mt.Pleasant
Posts: 6,848
Quote:
Originally Posted by jlousa View Post
the only loss would be of the big box retail, which isn't wanted by the residents nor is it in the community plan.
Where is the big box located? There are supposed to be small retail along Broadway, according to the Rize open house boards, so I assume there is a large retail space along Kingsway?
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #138  
Old Posted Apr 18, 2012, 11:58 PM
SFUVancouver's Avatar
SFUVancouver SFUVancouver is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,380
Quote:
Originally Posted by logan5 View Post
Where is the big box located? There are supposed to be small retail along Broadway, according to the Rize open house boards, so I assume there is a large retail space along Kingsway?
With the grade change the small CRUs of retail would front onto Broadway while the large, full-floorplate CRU would enter from near the corner of Kingsway and 10th.

From what I recall, the developer has a MOU with a Capers/Choices-like co-operative which wishes to open a grocery store in the large retail space. Bear in mind that in the next 5 to 10 years Kingsgate Mall will likely be redeveloped and its pretty much inevitable that the redevelopment will include a grocery store, so in time there would be two across the street from one another. If the Cambie and Broadway area can support a Save on Foods on 7th, a Whole Foods on 8th, and a Safeway on 12th and Ash, and the No Frills on Broadway at Alberta, then I'm certain Mount Pleasant will be able to support two grocery stores across the street from one another and the Marketplace IGA further south on Main at 14th.
__________________
VANCOUVER | Beautiful, Multicultural | Canada's Pacific Metropolis
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #139  
Old Posted Apr 19, 2012, 12:24 AM
logan5's Avatar
logan5 logan5 is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Mt.Pleasant
Posts: 6,848
A grocery store along Kingsway doesn't seem so bad. Far better than a Canadian Tire or a Wal-Mart, which I associate more with "big box" retail.

Thanks for the info.
Reply With Quote
     
     
  #140  
Old Posted Apr 19, 2012, 12:32 AM
jlousa's Avatar
jlousa jlousa is offline
Ferris Wheel Hater
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,371
It was rumoured to be East Van Food Co-op but it came out during the council meetings that there is no mou signed nor does the Co-op have funding in place.
Reply With Quote
     
     
This discussion thread continues

Use the page links to the lower-right to go to the next page for additional posts
 
 
Reply

Go Back   SkyscraperPage Forum > Regional Sections > Canada > Alberta & British Columbia > Vancouver > Downtown & City of Vancouver
Forum Jump


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 1:44 PM.

     
SkyscraperPage.com - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.