Vancouver Developments [Archive]

mr.x

June 24th, 2006, 08:15 AM

The Province, Page A14, 23-Jun-2006

Aging roof at B.C. Place causes officials concern

By Kent Spencer

B.C. Place Stadium is refusing all contracts for events after 2010 until the fate of its aging roof is resolved, general manager Howard Crosley said yesterday.

"We have not been given any indication what is happening post-2010," Crosley said.

The building, which loses about $5 million annually, is run by the B.C. Pavilion Corporation, a Crown corporation.

The stadium, which marked its 23rd birthday Monday, will need a new roof soon because its original one is nearing the end of its life.

A service report dated last Feb. 21 noted that "no reserves are carried to replace the roof."

Crosley said a new roof -- in the same marshmallow style as the current one -- would cost $20 million to $30 million, but the "sky's the limit" if other designs are considered.

"The roof was predicted to have a lifespan of 25 years. At that time, it was a brand-new process and there was no real history to check for the life-span," he said. "It is one of those things to keep an eye on."

The roof is inspected every year and is in "good condition." Work is under way to cover the support cables.

The stadium was erected for $130 million in 1983. In the fiscal year 2004-05, the value of the building underwent a $75-million capital writedown "to reflect an impairment in value," the report noted.

Crosley said the "impairment" referred to the fact "the stadium hasn't been making a profit." He said its value today is in the $300-million-to-$400 million range.

Crosley does not think it likely the building will be demolished because, he says, it has not come to the end of its useful life.

And the alternative -- building another stadium in downtown Vancouver -- would not come cheaply.

"Finding the land and building a replacement facility would not be very easy," he said.

The downtown building is under contract to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Awards ceremonies will also be held inside the cavernous chamber.

In preparation for the Games, washrooms, kitchens and the scoreboard will be upgraded in 2009. The building will also undergo a "general cleaning," and access for the disabled will be improved.

The 60,000-seat stadium hosts 10 Lions games each year and numerous trade shows in the spring and fall.

Lions president Bobby Ackles said yesterday that he couldn't predict the stadium's future. The Lions' lease does not extend beyond 2010.

"Every time I see the premier, I tell him how important it is. It's a great building in a perfect location. There isn't a bad seat in the house," Ackles said.

But he noted the building needs "some upgrades to the lighting, sound system and concessions. It probably needs some work on the roof, but I'm not sure it needs a new roof," he said.

B.C. Place's white roofing material is designed to let in light, reflect heat and keep weight down. Called a "moon suit" because it is made of the same fibreglass fabric that astronauts wear in space, it can be supported by air pressure. The roof's weight is only one-30th as much as a conventional structure. Pound for pound, it is stronger than steel.

kspencer@png.canwest.com

mr.x

July 13th, 2006, 10:34 PM

Wholla!!!!!!!!! The skyline with everything completed in 2009:
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2572/skyline3mq.png

spongeg

July 13th, 2006, 11:05 PM

a change to a highrise in Port Moody - from the tri-city news

Proposed changes to the 114-unit apartment building at 3250 St. Johns St. in Port Moody aren’t sitting well with the owners who bought units based on a set of drawings and architectural plans.

Cheryl Semenuik, who owns the nearby Golden Spike Pub, purchased three units when they were originally offered but recently sold them — partly because she was offered the right price but also because of concerns about the project’s delays and changes.

“They were supposed to be completed this year... but now they won’t be completed until May 2007,” she said. “And a lot of the features we first bought the units for have been changed because of the project overruns.”

June 13, PoMo council considered Rempel Development Group’s variance permit application, which requested approval for a drop in building height from 16.5 to 15.25 metres — making the ceilings in each unit about eight feet high instead of nine — because of rising construction costs. The structure has already been built to the shorter height since, as city planner Tim Savoie pointed out, the change complies with existing zoning bylaws and didn’t require approval ahead of time

The application also asked for changes to the exterior finishes that would replace decorative brickwork with vinyl siding and change the cornices to siding and wood trim. Those changes require council approval before going ahead because they significantly alter the form and character of the project.

Council has deferred the decision twice as it waits for further information from the developer about the exterior changes. At its last meeting, councillors made it clear they weren’t pleased about the prospect of developers changing a pre-sold apartment building, with Mayor Joe Trasolini recommending council not approve the application.

Rempel Development representatives, who could not be reached for comment, were expected to appear at last night’s council meeting (after The Tri-City News’ deadline) to answer questions from council.

spongeg

July 13th, 2006, 11:07 PM

revitalizing Coquitlam's Mallairdville

A new report calling for the revitalization of Coquitlam’s French-speaking community is providing a launch pad for the city, area business owners and residents’ groups.

The report, commissioned by Societe Maillardville-Uni and funded by Industry Canada, makes a number of recommendations to attract Francophone/French businesses — and tourists — to Maillardville.

Among the key recommendations are:

• creating a festival zone;

• making the area more pedestrian friendly, with open plazas and bike routes;

• expanding Mackin Park;

• setting up a brand, promoting the area’s bilingualism; and

• starting an endowment to help and attract Francophone businesses, and creating tax incentives for businesses moving into Maillardville.

The report, prepared by the Karyon Group, is being used a starting point by the Mayor’s Task Force on Maillardville Commercial and Cultural Revitalization, chaired by Coun. Richard Stewart, a longtime Maillardville resident. The task force also includes representatives from the Heritage Coquitlam Society, Foyer Maillardville, Societe Maillardville-Uni, Place Maillardville, the Beedie Group, property owners and business people.

Al Boire, president of the Maillardville Residents’ Association, said while there’s “a healthy dose of skepticism” about yet another revitalization report for Maillardville, “the difference this time is that most of the stakeholders are at the table, acting in a very co-operative way.”

VanCity is planning to revamp its property at Nelson and Brunette, a merchants’ association is being formed and buildings are getting a fresh coat of paint. The community also doesn’t want to be left out of opportunities for upcoming events such as the 400th anniversary of Francophone settlement in Canada in 2008, the 100th anniversary of Maillardville in 2009 and the 2010 Olympic Games.

For the past 30 years, there has been a great deal of talk about Maillardville revitalization “and when all was said and done, there was a lot more that was said than done,” Coun. Stewart said, “so we need to move forward now.”

Already, the report has been discussed at several city committees; tonight (Wednesday), it will go before the Coquitlam Spirit of BC Community committee.

BC Premier Gordon Campbell also has his eye on the report and its outcome.

“We have had tremendous positive feedback,” said Barb Stegemann of the Coquitlam Tourism Office. “And the best thing about this is that it’s community driven.”

Still, Maillardville has its share of challenges, namely run-down buildings, crime — or the perception of crime — and a Hell’s Angel’s clubhouse on Brunette Avenue.

“There’s no question that there are going to be difficulties,” Stewart said. “But our task is not to say, ‘It can’t be done’ but, given the opportunities, how can it be done?”

“It’s a slow process, revitalization,” said property owner Gord Cartwright, of Woody’s Pub on Brunette. “What we want to do is to take our time to implement everything right.”

“What this needs is for the residents and the businesses and the city to work together, and that’s what’s happening now,” he said.

Meanwhile, as part of the Maillardville revitalization project, city council will consider Monday a proposal to allow on-street parking along Brunette, from Lougheed Highway to Marmont Street. The aim is to attract more customers to the area and to make the neighbourhood more pedestrian friendly.

Brunette Avenue, a bus route, sees about 19,000 cars a day.

from the tri-city news

mr.x

July 16th, 2006, 11:57 PM

Airport aquarium planned
INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL: Part of $4.5-million beautification scheme

Matt Carter, The Province
Published: Sunday, July 16, 2006

Starting June 2007, people passing through Vancouver International Airport might think they've accidentally wandered into a nature theme park.

After posting record profits in 2005, the airport authority is spending $4.5 million to beautify its international terminal.

The project includes thematic lighting, an indoor creek and a $3-million aquarium.

"We do know that it's very important for passengers that we get the ambience right. And we've always done very, very well with that over the years and we want to continue that trend," said Bob Cowan, the airport authority's senior vice-president of engineering.

One feature will be Creek Woman, a sculpture by B.C. artist Dempsey Bob.

"She's at the beginning of our creek, because we're actually creating a creek with real water," Cowan said. "On either side of the creek are landscaped areas. There's actually bridges across the creek.

"What we're trying to do is create a little bit of British Columbia right inside our terminal building."

The authority posted a $74.4 million profit in 2005, up from $44.5 million in 2004.

At the same time, the authority increased airport-improvement fees to $15 from $10 for North American flights. Revenue from airport improvement fees increased $29.6 million.

"It's been our policy for years to spend one to two per cent of capital costs on creating an experience," Cowan said. "Our building costs are very comparable to any [international airport] in the world."

Vancouver Aquarium staff will operate the aquarium, which will be 114 cubic litres, roughly the size of a tractor trailer.

It will house native B.C. species like sea anemones, moon jellyfish, rock fish and star fish, but no mammals, and will cost $250,000 per year to maintain.

mcarter@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2006

Overground

July 17th, 2006, 12:05 AM

Where exactly do you reckon they will put the aquarium?

mr.x

July 17th, 2006, 03:59 AM

Where exactly do you reckon they will put the aquarium?

It's part of the international terminal expansion, currently underway to be completed June 2007.

officedweller

July 17th, 2006, 08:05 AM

That's "aquarium" as in one big tank - not "aquarium" as in "facility".

mr.x

July 17th, 2006, 08:44 AM

114 cubic litres, roughly the size of a tractor trailer, is not that big.

spongeg

July 17th, 2006, 08:52 AM

it will be cool to see

i wonder if this extension will have an open house like thay had with the last big expansion - i totally missed that open house :(

Rhino

July 24th, 2006, 06:19 AM

This is the coolest thing I have ever seen YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/fade/fadepanorama9.htm
click 2003 once inside and watch the change ! at the bottom there is a slider bar too ! :)

spongeg

July 24th, 2006, 08:39 AM

samsonyuen

July 30th, 2006, 03:27 PM

From: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/07/29/BUGRBK7JOJ1.DTL&type=business
___________________________
Canada lessons can help S.F. clear Olympic hurdles
How Vancouver leaders spent seven years convincing community and outsiders that long-term benefits outweigh inconvenience
David Armstrong, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, July 29, 2006

San Francisco, which wants to host the 2016 summer Olympic Games, may want to take close notice of what Vancouver, British Columbia, did to win the 2010 Winter Olympics in the seven years it campaigned at home and abroad.

John Furlong, chief executive officer of Vancouver 2010, the nonprofit organization that put together the Canadian city's winning bid and will run the games, allowed that it was a long slog -- and that organizers had to sell their own community on hosting the games first.

From 1996, when Vancouver announced it was going for the gold, to 2003, when it won the rights from the International Olympic Committee to host the games, Furlong estimates his organizers attended 1,500 community meetings.

They dropped in on coffee klatches, bingo games and church socials to assure anxious Vancouverites worried about inconvenience from crowds and construction that the games could generate jobs, shine a flattering light on their city, and enrich British Columbia with sparkling sports facilities for long-term community use and upgrades of basic infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

Most Vancouverites now embrace the games, Furlong said, although some are concerned about environmental effects. The pristine coastal city has also begun to see economic benefits from hosting the Winter Games and the companion Paralympics, which will unfold in February and March of 2010, he said.

A construction boom has helped lift British Columbia's economy out of recession, Furlong said. Surging transpacific trade with China, which moves through the Port of Vancouver, has also helped, as has the prospering energy sector in the neighboring oil-rich province of Alberta, he said.

Major projects such as a rail line between downtown Vancouver and its international airport to handle Olympic-size crowds, and widening the twisty highway between seaside Vancouver and mountain-high Whistler, British Columbia, the resort town where many events will be held, have also inspired construction of housing, Furlong said.

Furlong spoke about the Olympics on Wednesday, the day San Francisco made it into the final three, with Los Angeles and Chicago, in its bid to be the U.S. standard-bearer for 2016. Furlong, enthusiastic but diplomatic, didn't handicap the race, but said San Francisco has a chance.

"San Francisco is on everyone's top 10 list,'' he said. "If they haven't been here, they want to see it. It has a wonderful reputation. Once you come here, you never forget. This is a splendid place.''

Furlong visited the Bay Area with a phalanx of Canadian officials to celebrate the opening of a Canadian consulate in San Francisco -- actually a reopening, as Canada had a consulate here until it was downsized to a trade office about a decade ago.

In addition to enjoying Vancouver's construction boom, Canada hopes for a windfall from tourists, especially visitors from California, said Michele McKenzie, president and CEO of the Canadian Tourism Commission, who visited San Francisco for the consulate opening.

McKenzie noted that a disproportionately high 20 percent of American visitors to Canada come from California. "This is the prime market for us,'' she said.

Canada's government and the provincial government of British Columbia are handling security for the 2010 games, which will cost about $1.6 billion to operate, according to Furlong. The construction budget is $520 million, up from an earlier estimate of $425 million.

What governments don't pay for, the organizing committee hopes to raise from corporations. Bell Canada, the nation's largest telecom operator, pledged $180 million, which Furlong says is the largest corporate sponsorship ever in either the Summer or Winter Games.

Vancouver's $1.6 billion total budget is modest compared with most recent and future Olympics. Its construction budget is less than half of that required to build sports venues in Turin, Italy, which hosted this year's Winter Games. Beijing plans to spend $1.6 billion just to run the 2008 summer games, with billions on top of that for citywide infrastructure improvements. London has budgeted $4.2 billion for city infrastructure improvements and an additional $3.6 billion to operate the 2012 summer games.

Noting that many winter sports facilities already exist in Vancouver and Whistler and that the winter games -- unlike the much-larger summer extravaganza -- don't require a 100,000-seat main stadium, Furlong said that should help keep the budget down for 2010.

Furlong said San Francisco, too, can adopt some of the marketing tactics Vancouver took for the Winter Games to land the Summer Olympics in 2016, emphasizing that San Francisco's cosmopolitan character is an important card to play.

He said the city should showcase the Bay Area's international character, emphasize the diversity of its population and underscore the range of non-Olympic attractions for visitors from around the world. That's just as important as having fine weather and high-quality sporting facilities in persuading international Olympics officials to bless your bid.

It worked for Vancouver, which, like the Bay Area, is a magnet for immigrants, said Furlong, himself an immigrant. A tall, trim, gray-haired executive, Furlong played Gaelic football and basketball in his native Tipperary, Ireland.

"The people of the world live in Vancouver -- as they do here,'' he said. "Wherever you're from, you'll have friends here. You have to emphasize that from the beginning.''

mr.x

August 3rd, 2006, 11:43 PM

OAKRIDGE REDEVELOPMENT OPEN HOUSE BOARDS - JUNE 2006

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9890/1oh8.png

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/3638/2yo2.png

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/1221/3ou9.png

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/8043/4sl1.png

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8903/5fe8.png

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/8595/6in6.png

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8277/7gv8.png

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9958/8ze9.png

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/344/9ft7.png

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/8853/10wd9.png

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/388/11rl8.png

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/860/12wp9.png

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4053/13tl4.png

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/1930/14cv0.png

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/871/15lt9.png

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/9279/16vh9.png

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/9633/17gn6.png

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/1407/18tk7.png

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9315/19av2.png

http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/1550/20mm9.png

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6978/21tl2.png

For more information, visit the city planning program website: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/commsvcs/currentplanning/oakridge/

spongeg

August 4th, 2006, 09:16 AM

Avalon Dairy to build plant in Burnaby

The 100-year-old Avalon Dairy, producers of B.C.’s first certified organic milk, is coming to Burnaby.

After planning its expansion for more than two years, it will soon be breaking ground on a new production facility at 7985 North Fraser Way in South Burnaby.

Gay Hahn, Avalon’s chief executive officer, said the move will free up space at its cramped quarters in a converted barn on Wales Street in East Vancouver, where the Crowley family has run the dairy since 1909. That will mean semi-trailers and delivery trucks will be a less familiar sight there, making it easier for retail customers to get their dairy products right from the old farm which now sits in the middle of a residential neighbourhood.

Of all the company’s products made at the 5,000-square-foot Wales Street plant, only the bottling of milk in Avalon’s famous old-fashioned glass bottles will remain after the Burnaby facility is built.

When the new 40,000-square-foot plant, a $10-million investment, is up and running in about a year, it will handle much of the milk packaging, and production of sour cream, yoghurt, and ice cream, the latter which is currently outsourced to a plant in Calgary.

Hahn expects to add five or six staff to its current complement of 23 staff as a result of the new plant.

She said Avalon chose the Burnaby site partly because it’s a new industrial park development but mainly for its location. “It’s close by to our [Vancouver] facility so we can haul things back and forth in a reasonable time.”

The company previously owned a plant in Abbotsford, Valley Pride (Avalon has retained the brand name), but sold because of transportation issues. Their trucks were going back and forth and the costs in fuel, maintenance and wages just got out of hand.

Hahn noted that Chilliwack officials were calling and offering Avalon incentives to build its plant there but “the time you spend commuting back and forth, it’s not worth it.”

Instead, last year Avalon spent $1.5 million on about two acres in the Big Bend area and hired Burnaby’s Beedie Group to construct its new plant, which is 10 times larger than the company currently needs, she said.

The extra space will allow the company to expand well into the future. When it became the first B.C. producer of certified organic milk in 1999, Avalon started out with 25 certified organic cows. Now it has 1,400, split between a farm in Aldergrove and about 300 acres of owned and leased pasture land on Barnston Island. The conventional milk it sells comes from dairy producers around B.C. That’s all a far cry from the six cows Jeremiah Crowley started out with in 1906.

Having its own ice cream production facilities will allow it to increase the number of flavours it makes. Avalon also produces organic milk for Dairyland and organic milk-based beverages for Happy Planet.

In addition to expanding its product line, the new plant will let it increase sour cream and yoghurt production by 15 per cent and milk production by 30 per cent. Currently, the Vancouver plant processes and packages 380,000 litres of organic milk and 100,000 litres of regular milk each month.

That increased capacity will allow it to carry out plans to begin exporting organic milk to Hong Kong, said Hahn, who noted the local Asian population is among its biggest clientele in Greater Vancouver. In Hong Kong, certified organic milk is becoming very popular for its health benefits and the fact it is produced under stricter regulations that call for no chemicals or pesticides and more humane treatment of the cows.

The Burnaby plant will also include a sandwich shop to serve the numerous employees of the growing business park and a retail outlet for Avalon products.

Avalon Dairy, at 5805 Wales Street in Vancouver, is celebrating its 100th birthday on Sept. 17 with a party from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring entertainment by Charlotte Diamond and Nearly Neil Diamond, tours of the dairy and a petting zoo, including at least one of its organic cows.

http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=41&cat=23&id=701047&more=

mr.x

August 20th, 2006, 04:56 AM

Recent photos of YVR Airport expansion:

http://www.pcl.com/media/files/Projects/22_BC_Region/2200428_1_300.jpg

http://www.pcl.com/media/files/Projects/22_BC_Region/2200428_2_300.jpg

http://www.pcl.com/media/files/Projects/22_BC_Region/2200428_3_300.jpg

Vanman

August 20th, 2006, 09:26 PM

It looks like something is finally happening at the long vacant Edmonds and Kingsway site beside the Royal Bank.There has been talk about this project for a while and it is supposed to be a 'gateway' to the neighborhood, whatever that means. Bosa bought the property about a year or two ago from the city of Burnaby under the condition that a new regional library be built for the city on the site.In exchange Bosa had been given approval to build condos/commercial space.

http://www.espritliving.ca/esprit.html

mr.x

August 21st, 2006, 07:22 AM

^ awesome.

officedweller

August 22nd, 2006, 09:36 PM

New renderings from the GBL Architects website.

I like the taller podium for the Homer (as well as for GBL's other downtown designs - L'Hermitage, Pure (Hornby St.) and the Onni project at Seymour & Nelson). The Homer will be 30 storeys over street level retail and 2 office levels. 235 residential units with a height of 300 ft.

Anyone know where the Surrey site is located? (the cap on the taller tower looks like West One):

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44e9cfa4a9033.jpg?1156173732

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44e62ddcb2c84.jpg?1155935708

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44e62ffd14169.jpg?1155936253

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44e63005008e9.jpg?1155936261

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44ea2ca57aa07.jpg?1156197541

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44998d8e75bee.jpg?1150913934

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44998cffefd07.jpg?1150913792

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44e9e6fe5fc5a.jpg?1156179710

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44e9e70cd7665.jpg?1156179724

mr.x

August 22nd, 2006, 09:37 PM

wow.......amazing.

officedweller

August 22nd, 2006, 09:48 PM

I'm thinking the Surrey site is at King George Highway and 107A Ave. based on the curve in the road in the rendering. That would put it on the east side of King George just east of Gateway.

http://map.web.mapquest.com/?e=9&GetMapDataDirect=Gme5diw%2ca%3a9u12%3b%40%245h%2d2w0r72%26%3d2l1%2dy5q672%26f%40nd0ta0%40z%26hzal10%24s0ab%3a9uy2%3bu%24nu67%7c%26a7aq%40%24%3a%26%40rw%21u10h67%3a%29ual%21r2lq67%3a%26%4025u6%40l%3b%40zauu%24%3a&rnd=6708

Note the triangular island:

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44e9e6fe5fc5a.jpg?1156179710

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/surrey/2004/syh2004_213.jpg

Overground

August 23rd, 2006, 01:12 AM

Wicked, four(or is that 3?) more towers for Whalley! Things are looking up especially with that nice little cluster around 108th.

Westcoast604

August 23rd, 2006, 01:57 AM

^ By the looks of it, the fouth tower would be a final phase to be built at a later date (most likely why it is faded out).

I like the design work on the glass of the lower facade with the large 107A text. This looks to be on the site of the existing RCMP Station and Surrey Post Office. Out of all the sites to re-develop in the City Centre, i'm suprised this is one of the first as the existing buildings on this site have maximum site coverage right up to the sidewalk (unlike the many strip mall/auto oriented stuff all around it).

So for Surrey proposals, we now have:

4 towers (107A Ave)
2 towers (Gateway)
5 towers (Infinity)
2 towers (Across the street from Infinity)
3 towers (Optima)
1 tower (D'cor)
1 tower (Across from D'core)
----------------------------

18 Towers in the works ranging from 18-39 storeys in height

NICE

zonie

August 23rd, 2006, 05:57 AM

Last couple days I've noticed they've started clearing part of that big piece of land in Richmond bounded by Garden City, Alderbridge, No. 4, and Westminster Hwy. That's going to be a convention centre plus some other stuff, isn't it?

lo0p

August 23rd, 2006, 07:50 AM

lo0p

August 23rd, 2006, 07:55 AM

spongeg

August 23rd, 2006, 08:54 AM

wow

that looks to be the site where that crappy hotel is

spongeg

August 23rd, 2006, 11:20 AM

oh i wonder where this is going in that little lot across from dennys? somewhere further up? there really isn't anywhere else it could go along austin

http://www.gbl-arch.com/database/img_44ea2ca57aa07.jpg?1156197541

spongeg

August 23rd, 2006, 11:20 AM

oops double post

Westcoast604

August 23rd, 2006, 09:17 PM

westcoast604 . .on skyscraperpage (i cant post on that site for some reason)u were asking what is being built across the street from optima .. i believe that is going to be a synthetic turf field at tom binnie park.

Thanks for the info!

WRT the tower list

4 towers (107A Ave)
2 towers (Gateway)
5 towers (Infinity)
2 towers (Across the street from Infinity)
3 towers (Optima)
1 tower (D'cor)
1 tower (Across from D'core)
----------------------------

Theres an additional 33 story tower at gateway (Where at gateway?)

a 22 and 25 story tower across the street from gateway (on 108th)

(Would these be directly across from the main station tower entrance? South side of 108th)

and a 26 story tower proposed on 138 street and 101 ave.

(These 2 streets dont intersect but its roughly right near the existing 21 storey "oddessey tower". I know the original proposal back in the early 90's was for 2 towers here but they only built one - could this finnally be the 2nd phase?)

lo0p

August 23rd, 2006, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the info!

WRT the tower list

4 towers (107A Ave)
2 towers (Gateway)
5 towers (Infinity)
2 towers (Across the street from Infinity)
3 towers (Optima)
1 tower (D'cor)
1 tower (Across from D'core)
----------------------------

Theres an additional 33 story tower at gateway (Where at gateway?)

a 22 and 25 story tower across the street from gateway (on 108th)

(Would these be directly across from the main station tower entrance? South side of 108th)

and a 26 story tower proposed on 138 street and 101 ave.

(These 2 streets dont intersect but its roughly right near the existing 21 storey "oddessey tower". I know the original proposal back in the early 90's was for 2 towers here but they only built one - could this finnally be the 2nd phase?)

http://www.surrey.ca/NR/rdonlyres/8625208B-E334-482C-B4E9-5B80E05CFAB4/0/JULY13_CITY_CENTRE_MAJOR_PROJECTS3.pdf

It looks like the 107a avenue project is going to take up the entire block from king george to east whalley ring road, and 108 to 107a.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/9958/777dp9.th.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=777dp9.jpg)

Westcoast604

August 23rd, 2006, 11:56 PM

lo0p

August 24th, 2006, 02:56 AM

Thanks, yeah i should have checked the map. I remember looking at it not too long ago and those projects werent on there; I guess they update it frequently.

The 107A project takes up that entire block yeah, it will completely transform that area.

The 26 storey tower at 101 & 138 is on the "oddessey tower" site so yeah, must be the 2nd phase of that project finnally. 10 years later....

Ive looked all over the map for #25 but cant find it, but its listed as

TWO, 36 STOREY APT. BLDG (698 UNITS, 1525 M² COMM SPACE) AND THREE STOREY 5,225m² COMMERCIAL BLDG.

I am pretty sure that it is refering to infinity towers 2 and 3 since those have been approved and is not listed with number 22, which only lists the first tower.

Which site is a tower going up beside dcor? Its not listed there. . is it going to be on the south side of 104? or the east side of 134?

thryve

August 24th, 2006, 05:29 AM

great thread guys!

vitc

August 24th, 2006, 08:01 AM

Ive looked all over the map for #25 but cant find it, but its listed as

TWO, 36 STOREY APT. BLDG (698 UNITS, 1525 M² COMM SPACE) AND THREE STOREY 5,225m² COMMERCIAL BLDG.

Thanks - I thought I was going nuts not finding it! :bash:

Looks like surrey is on the cusp of a major transformation! Unbelieveably beautiful. But we need OFFICE TOWERS there if it is truely to be consider a downtown.

Westcoast604

August 29th, 2006, 12:39 AM

I am pretty sure that it is refering to infinity towers 2 and 3 since those have been approved and is not listed with number 22, which only lists the first tower.

Which site is a tower going up beside dcor? Its not listed there. . is it going to be on the south side of 104? or the east side of 134?

It is listed as number 33, which is the D'Cor site. It is the 3rd phase of D'Cor.

lo0p

August 29th, 2006, 05:04 AM

It is listed as number 33, which is the D'Cor site. It is the 3rd phase of D'Cor.

So Dcor is building 2 towers? or just 1. I thought 33 referenced just 1 tower ...but you wrote:
1 tower (D'cor)
1 tower (Across from D'core)

Westcoast604

August 29th, 2006, 08:11 PM

D'Cor is building 1 tower - 21 storeys as listed. The tower across from D'Cor is at #8 on the list. It is listed as an application for a 400 seat church, but the 2nd phase of that project will include a tower, it is just not listed here. Sorry, I guess it is not directly across from D'Cor, but nonetheless, another tower to the list.

mr.x

August 31st, 2006, 02:37 AM

August 28, 2006 | Translink News Release
Would the last bus to leave OTC please turn out the lights?

One era ends and another begins over Labour Day Weekend, as the Oakridge Transit Centre (OTC), home of Vancouver’s trolley bus fleet for over half a century, retires from active service. For more than three generations of Vancouverites, the destination sign “41st & Oak” has meant that a bus is going home to bed. But over the long weekend, a convoy of trolleys and other buses will make the trip to their new home at the new multi-million dollar Vancouver Transit Centre in Marpole.

The transfer of the buses coincides with the largest overhaul of Coast Mountain Bus schedules and routes since TransLink came into being in 1999.

“This is truly an historic event,” says TransLink Chair Malcolm Brodie. “The Oakridge Transit Centre has been the headquarters for bus service in Vancouver since the very first trolleys arrived almost sixty years ago. TransLink’s plan to deliver more transit service throughout the Greater Vancouver region has involved buying more buses and increasing the fleet. Along with that expansion comes the need for newer and bigger facilities, like the new Richmond Transit Centre, which we opened in 2000, the new Vancouver Transit Centre now coming on line and our plans for a new and bigger operations centre on the North Shore.”

Brodie says the Oakridge Centre will remain in use for a while longer as the preparation site for TransLink’s fleet of 224 new low-floor electric trolleys, which will gradually replace the existing fleet over the coming year.

While the relocation will start early Saturday morning, Sept. 2, a parade of buses will leave Oakridge at noon. The event will be a parade in every sense, led by one of the original 1948 Canadian Car/Brill trolleys, which was part of the new fleet that was first to call the Oakridge Centre ‘home’ when it opened 58 years ago. Other vintage buses will also be part of the procession, along with one of the new generation New Flyer trolleys.

With the trolleys rounding the turn for the last time at 41st & Oak, the parade presents a delightfully visual and historic occasion. The route will follow 41st Ave. west to Oak, south on Oak to Marine Drive, then left on Hudson Street and into VTC. Transit buffs will find some excellent vantage points along the way: the most desirable photo location would be a spot at or near 41st & Oak, with OTC in the background.

The vintage buses that will be on display have been lovingly preserved for about 20 years by The Transit Museum Society (TRAMS), sponsored in part by TransLink and the Coast Mountain Bus Company. The vintage coach will be in the livery of the BC Electric Railway Company, which originally operated public transit in Greater Vancouver, and will be driven by Angus McIntyre, who operated the Brill buses when they were still in service. Angus is one of about 50 active Coast Mountain operators now beginning a “fourth generation” of trolley buses in Vancouver. In fact, he recently gained the distinction of having driven a vintage Brill for TRAMS, a current New Flyer trolley on the job and a new trolley in training on the same day.

spongeg

August 31st, 2006, 04:49 AM

neat

is that old site already pegged for condos?

spongeg

September 1st, 2006, 02:51 AM

Project possible for site
New Westminster city council will soon be dealing with a proposal for the former Saint Mary's Hospital site.

Embassy Development Corporation is proposing to build a new residential development on the site at 200 and 220 Royal Ave.

"That application will come forward to council very early in September," said Jim Hurst, senior planning analyst. "It is rezoning it to high density residential. We are ready to go forward with that one."

According to Hurst, the floor space remains the same but the form of the project has changed from what was previously presented to city council.

"There has been a redesign from the original design," said Embassy president Ryan Bosa. "Originally it was two towers. We are now looking at three towers."

The original plan for the site called for two 32-storey towers containing 370 apartments, 29 two- and three-storey townhouses and 38 units in a four-storey lowrise building.

"There was some concern the two towers would be too tall," Bosa said. "We went to three shorter towers."

The three towers will range in height from 25 to 27 storeys. Townhouses, including some stacked townhouses of four storeys, will surround the site along Merrivale, Cunningham and Agnes streets.

According to Bosa, the project will also include about 55 units for seniors' housing, mostly along the Royal Avenue side of the project. It has yet to be determined who will manage the units, but the city will retain an interest in the units.

In addition to seniors' housing, the development will also include 3,500 to 5,000 square feet of space for a day-care centre.

The initial proposal called for 437 units, but the new proposal recommends 534 smaller units.

"We can only ask for so much per unit," Bosa said. "We have gone down in size."

Bosa said the market has changed a lot in the two years since the project first went to council.

"We made smaller units. The density is the same," he said. "The market has changed so much. _ Construction costs have gone up nearly double in the past four years."

While the previous designs included larger units, the new proposal contains units averaging 1,000 square feet in size. Bosa said that's still larger than many units currently being built elsewhere.

"There will be a mix," he said of potential owners. "Typically we have had quite a number of downsizers. For this market, I think there will be a lot of first-time buyers."

The project will include greenspace walkways, some that are open to the public and others not intended for public use. Embassy continues to work with the city on a public art component to the project, which could commemorate the site's long history as Saint Mary's Hospital.

By the time Embassy took ownership of the site, Bosa said there was nothing salvageable from the hospital. All that remained was concrete and rebar.

"We even tried to remove the tiles," he said. "We were going to offer something to residents involved in the hospital. They crumbled off. It was too difficult to salvage."

http://www.royalcityrecord.com/issues06/085106/news/085106nn1.html

spongeg

September 1st, 2006, 09:32 AM

a pic of Legacy in burnaby - its rising quickly now - it seemed to take forever to get the bottom levels done

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/august2006.jpg

officedweller

September 1st, 2006, 09:02 PM

Pic of Yaletown Park from yesterday:

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7784/pic118august312006smallny4.jpg

FallenSoldiers

September 1st, 2006, 09:36 PM

Here are some pictures I took yesterday walking around downtown.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/IMG_0208.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/IMG_0209.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/IMG_0210.jpg

Tilt your head;)
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/IMG_0212.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/IMG_0213.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/IMG_0214.jpg

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/IMG_0215.jpg

http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/th_IMG_0216.jpg

officedweller

September 3rd, 2006, 04:42 AM

Nice pics.
Is there glass going in on the Melville's sail yet? It almost looks like there's - CLEAR glass going in. Hopefully not. Plus, the mullions on the sail and the windows below don't blend in with each other. Could be nasty looking...

mr.x

September 3rd, 2006, 04:42 AM

credits to Delirium:

here's some pics of vita. not sure if i like these... but i guess it's better than a parkade.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/vita21.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/vita1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/vita.jpg

and a new condo planned for highgate village in burnaby from bosa

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/Image4.jpg
http://www.espritliving.ca/esprit.html

Rhino

September 3rd, 2006, 10:24 PM

very nice

spongeg

September 4th, 2006, 12:44 AM

where in highgate village will that be going?

officedweller

September 4th, 2006, 08:55 PM

Walked into the display centre for VITA - those "spires" on the top look ridiculous - hopefully they'll disappear by the time it's built. I almost want this project to fail. With the high prices, I wonder how it will sell. Nice finishings though.
1 bed + flex 517-638 sq ft $299,900-$424,000
1 bed + den 747-749 sq ft $492,900-$554,900
2 bed+flex 722-1,121 sq ft $489,900-$799,900
subpenthouse 2 bed+flex 1,091-1,122 $1,039,900-$1,289,900
penthouse 3 ed 1,748-1,820 $2,200,900

zonie

September 5th, 2006, 01:45 AM

It really is those antennae (and the top block thing - is that what's known as a mechanical penthouse?) that make it look so horrible. Otherwise, it'd just be mediocre.

Vanman

September 7th, 2006, 09:30 PM

where in highgate village will that be going?

Esprit is not going up at Highgate Village, it is going up at the corner of Kingsway and Edmonds which is about a block east of Highgate.Bosa is the devloper for both projects and that is why it advertises Highgate Village on the Esprit website.

FallenSoldiers

September 8th, 2006, 02:20 AM

I was able to get a snap shot of the shan gri la today. I was in a real hurry to get to class so I could only snap this one picture. I apologize for the fence being in the way. but as you can see work is going very steadily now.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n85/mrhabitat/IMG_0393.jpg

FallenSoldiers

September 8th, 2006, 02:25 AM

Oh and the shangri la webcam is back up and running as of today.

http://lvl.verttech.com/camera/1-1-1.jpg

I will bring my camera to work tommrow and I can probbaly get a shot of the empty lot which used to be the ICBC.. sooon to be skytrain station.

mr.x

September 9th, 2006, 02:10 AM

^ awesome!! about time the webcam works! and i look forward to those pics!

Plans for Port Royal get bigger

http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals/uploads/burnaby/.DIR288/060907-Ferry.jpg
Diane Zarola, of the Aragon Group, looks out from the new dock that could become the berth for a new ferry service linking the $500 million Port Royal development in Queensborough with the New Westminster waterfront.

By Michael McQuillanNewsLeader
Sep 07 2006

A riverfront walkway, acres of parks, a ferry dock, a 22-storey apartment tower and 1,000 homes are part of what’s planned for one of the largest residential developments in the Lower Mainland.

On Tuesday morning, The Aragon Group updated its plans for the Port Royal development. The Vancouver-based company now wants to increase the height of the residential tower from 15 storeys to 22. The developer still needs to get New Westminster council approval for the change in height.

Aragon is committed to building innovative housing on the 50-acre site, located on the eastern edge of Queensborough. That includes cluster homes and freehold row homes. Both are new concepts to the Lower Mainland and have been promoted by the Greater Vancouver Regional District in its Liveable Region Strategic Plan.

Cluster houses – also called court yard homes – are four detached houses grouped around a common court yard and driveway. Not only can this style of housing make better use of land, it also increases the neighbourly feel. Cluster homes are more common in the eastern United States and California.

Freehold row houses are more affordable because homeowners do not have to belong to a strata, even though the homes are attached.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Aragon to build in this community,” company president Lenny Moy said at a press conference held in the Port Royal development. He also said the development, now in its second stage, is one of the most challenging the company has ever undertaken.

Aragon has had to invest heavily in basic infrastructure for the undeveloped site and build a bridge over railway tracks that circumvents the property. Soil stability has also been a concern and the developer dealt with that by pile driving and preloading.

Both Moy and architect Doug Ramsay said the riverfront location makes Port Royal unique and an important aspect of the development. They’re trying to take advantage of that by building a walkway that surrounds the community and runs alongside the river. They also designed the development so each unit has a view of the river.

New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright said one day a passenger ferry system could run from Westminster Quay Public Market to Port Royal. Aragon has already built the ferry dock on the Queensborough side.

While Aragon has been praised for its innovative housing ideas, the proposed 22-storey apartment tower is not without its critics. James Crosty, president of the Quayside Community Board, said the tower needs more study and public consultation before it goes before city council Sept. 18 for a first reading. Aragon first brought the development variance before council this summer.

“There needs to be more public notice than that,” he said. “This development just sprung up on council and the public.”

The tower was originally part of the Port Royal proposal but was planned for 170 feet. Aragon is asking to build the tower 46 feet higher than the current zoning allows. It’s expected include 164 units and is being built at the eastern-most tip of Lulu Island. Aragon said it will be a “beacon” for the Port Royal community.

Quayside residents are also concerned the tower will block views, said Crosty, who described the tower as a “obelisk in the middle of nowhere.”

Residents living on lower floors facing the Fraser River in Quay buildings will also lose their privacy when the proposed tower is built, he said.

Aragon officials estimates the nearest Quayside building will be about 1,000 feet, or 305 metres, across the Fraser River from the Port Royal tower.

The company is holding an open house today (Thursday) to present its latest plan to the public. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Inn at Westminster Quay Hotel.

mr.x

September 9th, 2006, 02:11 AM

Royal City adds 1,000-home community
22-storey condominium tower part of Aragon's Queensborough plan

Wendy McLellan, The Province
Published: Wednesday, September 06, 2006

The sleek condominium tower could fit into any urban centre, but it will dominate the skyline in Queensborough.

Set at the river's edge, where the Fraser River splits into the south and north arms, the 22-storey tower is part of a huge new development on 20 hectares of former industrial lands at the eastern end of New Westminster's Queensborough area.

Although highrises have been in the area's official community plan for at least two decades and zoning for residential development includes as many as six highrises, the tower planned at Port Royal is the first.

It is also the only tower in the $500-million development by the Aragon Group and is higher than the maximum set out in the permit.

Aragon's request for a height variance of about 12 metres will go before New Westminster's city council Sept. 18.

The new residential community includes 1,000 new homes in various forms with riverfront walkways along two sides.

The tower is the last phase of the development, which is expected to be completed in about six years.

"When I first saw this land, I thought, 'Wow, what a place.' It is so beautiful," said Aragon president Lenny Moy. "It's south-facing, surrounded by river. What more could you ask for in a community you can put your imprint on?"

The development includes traditional single-family homes, garden apartments, lofts and the residential tower as well as courtyard homes and row houses. The row houses, which are attached freehold townhomes, rather than strata-titled, are a very recent style of housing for B.C., although they are common in eastern Canada.

The courtyard homes, which are more familiar to Californians, have four single-family homes sharing a common courtyard driveway with the garages tucked behind the houses.

Moy said the site, bordered by a railway that connects to Annacis Island, was a challenge to prepare for construction. After two years of preparation, construction is underway on the first two phases of the development and the sales office officially opens later this month.

Jim Hurst, New Westminster's senior planning analyst, said that Aragon's request for a height variance for its single tower has the support of the city's design panel, which decided a slimmer profile and extra height will give the tower a more attractive look for what will become a landmark on the property directly across the river.

But some residents of the developments along New Westminster's waterfront are less enthusiastic about the tower.

"This has been a green peninsula -- just grass and trees," said James Crosty, president of the Quayside Community Board, which represent nearly 2,000 strata unit owners.

"We knew it wasn't going to last, but this is right in your face. It's very artistically designed, but it's the height. And it's right at the closest edge of the river."

wmclellan@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2006

spongeg

September 9th, 2006, 02:28 AM

Esprit is not going up at Highgate Village, it is going up at the corner of Kingsway and Edmonds which is about a block east of Highgate.Bosa is the devloper for both projects and that is why it advertises Highgate Village on the Esprit website.

ah yes i know that corner - just across from RONA and Value Village

its been empty for years

Vanman

September 9th, 2006, 09:40 PM

ah yes i know that corner - just across from RONA and Value Village

its been empty for years

No kidding! When they first cleared that site quite a few years ago a hotel was proposed with commercial space but then the city decided they needed extra land for the reconfiguration of the intersection of Kingsway and Edmonds and the site has sat vacant ever since.

Even though I am quite excited about this project I kind of wish Bosa wasn't the developer.Although they have a good grasp of how to create livable density they are building too many square, beige/gray painted concrete towers in the suburbs.The qaulity of the buildings are excellent but I think they could change things up a little bit (ie.use a different architect).

On another note the huge lot that value village sits on is zoned for high density residential development

spongeg

September 9th, 2006, 10:56 PM

ah thats good

that value village parking lot is a huge waste of space

here are some vids of gastown through to coal harbour etc.

watch 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv-1kb0UHOM)

watch 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv-1kb0UHOM)

watch 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuZPil10V-s)

mr.x

September 10th, 2006, 12:47 AM

^ nice vids.

Vita an opportunity for tower residency across from the Orpheum

Rebecca Osler
VancouverSun

Saturday, September, 09, 2006

The VSO likes the sound of Vita. ‘Everything about this project is positive and will be a boost to residents of and businesses of and visitors to the area,’ it told city hall.

Despite the roaring scooters and sleek cars, one of the greatest pleasures of Italy's legendary La Dolce Vita ("the sweet life") is using the mode of transportation below the waist.

Whether it's strolling the expansive vias of Rome or hanging out fountainside in a piazza, Italians take full advantage of pedestrian delights.

Symphony Place, a two-tower project right across from the Orpheum, aims to deliver that genre of sophisticated urban living to downtown Vancouver. "Vita," the first 29-storey concrete highrise, is currently in preview mode and will open for sale Sept. 16. "Dolce," the second movement, will follow sometime in the future.

"You're literally steps away from The Orpheum for the symphony, Yaletown for dining and Robson," says Michael Bosa of Solterra Development Corp.

"We're going to provide the quality and sophistication level that you'd probably find in Coal Harbour and bring it to the cultural and arts district," he says.

Bosa explains that Vita will provide an elite, central option for city dwellers who have perhaps outgrown Yaletown's overt hipness and yearn for a more mature approach to nightlife. For instance, the symphony.

"There's a need for culture in this city . . . people that bought or rented [in Yaletown] in their twenties, now they're in their 30s, 40s and 50s and there's an appreciation for something like that," he says.

Situated between Richards and Seymour streets and bordered by Smithe, the site currently holds a duo of three storey parkades. Symphony Place will demolish the old structures and replace them with a building that incorporates residential, commercial, office and retail space.

According to city documents, an ample number of short-term public parking spaces will be maintained to support the Granville Street entertainment district and The Orpheum.

In fact, according to a report to council, which is available through the city's website, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra wrote a letter supporting Symphony Place. Specifically, they wrote: "everything about this project is positive and will be a boost to residents of and businesses of and visitors to the area.

"Adding hundreds of residential units (occupied by potential patrons) just across the street from the theatre will be of benefit to the VSO and every other organization that utilizes The Orpheum."

Adorning the parkade will be Vita's public art contribution of four 120-foot panels of decorative glass designed by Lutz Haufschild, an installment Bosa says "will probably be the biggest public art glass piece in Vancouver."

As well, Bosa says the building is set back off Smithe to allow for plentiful outdoor seating.

"I'd say the goal is cafes and restaurants," he says. "Come and have a coffee before you go to the symphony or come for dinner and drinks after."

It's a plan that the VSO also applauds.

"The proposed ground-level amenities will make coming to the concerts even more pleasant for our hundreds of thousands of audience members annually," they wrote in the letter.

Inside, the light-filled apartments offer modern design features such as seamlessly integrated rift white oak, walnut or wenge wood veneer faced cabinetry that extends to the Liebherr refrigerators and Fisher Paykel drawer dishwashers.

Another highlight worth noting is that in the two-bedroom models, the second bedroom is separated from the main living areas not by the typical solid doors, but by sliding partition glass doors. The design provides flexibility for the homeowner who doesn't always need an additional bedroom but likes having options.

"If you want to use it as a bedroom, it's private. If you want to use the space to extend your living area, you can use it as a dining room, or you can use it as a den," suggests Bosa.

Solterra's upfront approach to upgrades means that most everything in the display suite - including Kohler tiles in the shower, a pantry wall in the kitchen and an Italian commercial faucet - comes standard. There is one exception: buyers can upgrade the carpet in the master bedroom for hardwood floors.

In the case of pasta or gelato overindulgence, Vita's fifth floor amenity area provides the antidote.

There, residents will discover not only the basic gym, but a yoga/stretch area and "virtual spinning" bay, where stationary bikes will be aligned with screens that simulate the experience of cycling outdoors. A terrace, indoor/exterior children's play areas and an outdoor hot tub round out the communal offerings.

© The Vancouver Sun 2006

mr.x

September 11th, 2006, 02:53 AM

Vita - New downtown landmark looks sweet
Jeani Read

Province

Sunday, September, 10, 2006

http://www.lestwarog.com/admin/uploads/article/moreimages/1711.jpg

Who knew? With all the talk of Vancouver's centre moving east, the actual centre of the city is also due for a little Renaissance.

But when you think about it, it's obvious: between Yaletown and the downtown core sits that big old middle area we keep ignoring, yet that is currently undergoing lots of renewal. Developments like Robson & Richards, L'Hermitage, eventually the old Capitol 6 building and now, Vita, where the selling point is yes, the sweet life. Just like the website says. No surprise that after this first tower is sold, the second tower will be called Dolce.

Symphony Place, the name of the completed project, will be "at the heart of all that rejuvenation," says Chris Norton, vice-president of Maverick Real Estate, Symphony Place marketing. "It will connect everything up."

What Solterra, the developer, wanted to do is create a landmark in the way that the library is, says Norton. "Nobody has to tell you the address of the library, you just know where it is."

Even more dramatic, says Norton, is that Symphony Place is planned to become a gateway to downtown. Located on the land best known for being two parking lots -- right across Seymour from The Orpheum -- it will feature a 120-ft. coloured Cadenza art-glass wall that will reflect traffic lights in a spectacular way.

Two towers joined by porte-cochere to impart a sense of grandeur, plus a four-storey office podium, will create a real landmark, and the location makes pretty well the whole city walkable, says Norton. Restaurants and boutiques are planned along Smithe to make it fun and pedestrian-friendly. Where will people park to attend The Orpheum now? In a specially designed parkade inside the office podium. Voila!

Interiors at Vita have been planned with every square inch and every design detail in mind, so much so that you almost want to use Maverick's marketing term "tower residences" instead of "condos" for the homes. From state-of-the-art Kohler shower tiles that spray water without visible fixtures, to Euro-sized and designed kitchen appliances that look like cabinets, to art-glass walls that slide to maximize space, Solterra has taken "all those little things in life, all those small details, and made them better," says Norton.

Even the dishwasher rocks: it's a Fischer-Paykell dish drawer that's like a big pot drawer with regular wash capacity, which also looks like cabinetry. Kitchen? It may be the centre of the action but really, when you look around, design central, too.

Lots of amenties at Vita: indoor and outdoor play areas for kids, since more and more condo dwellers are staying downtown even after they start families; a club room with a big-screen TV; an outdoor hot tub and a large gym with a difference. Instead of regulation stationary bikes, there will be a virtual spinning area with a big programmable screen so you can make a boring ride into a visit to, for example, the hills of the Napa Valley or any number of other scenic spots that will give a good workout.

At Vita, every courtesy is being shown the already enthusiastic potential buyers. No lineups or bracelets here, says Norton. People can visit the presentation centre time and again to look over what will be a big investment. These previews continue through Thursday, but sales won't start until Saturday. A civilized attitude?

Priceless.

QUICK FACTS

VITA AT SYMPHONY PLACE

What: 146 condominiums in downtown Vancouver

Where: 565 Smithe St. (site)

Developer: Solterra

Sizes: 503 sq. ft.-1,820 sq. ft.

Prices: $299,900 to $2.2 million

Open: Noon to 8 p.m. daily except Fridays at 897 Richards St. (presentation centre)

Info: 604-676-8828, www.thesweetlife.ca

© The Vancouver Province 2006

zonie

September 11th, 2006, 05:14 AM

Looks much better in this rendering. Antennae are still stupid though.

Plumber73

September 11th, 2006, 06:52 AM

I like the base of it, although I can't really see the ground floor. The towers look like typical Vancouver condos to me. Nothing mind blowing.

mr.x

September 11th, 2006, 06:55 AM

I like the base of it, although I can't really see the ground floor. The towers look like typical Vancouver condos to me. Nothing mind blowing.

i agree. anyway, here's the 120 foot Cadenza art glass wall on the building:
http://www.glassfocus.com/cadenza/cadenza_ELE.jpg
http://www.glassfocus.com/cadenza/cadenza_model.jpg

Westcoast604

September 12th, 2006, 12:44 AM

I happen to like the antenna on top.

DrT

September 13th, 2006, 06:19 PM

300K for 500 sf --- ouch!
Love the glass wall art though, very unique and interesting to look at with the changing reflections.

mr.x

September 14th, 2006, 01:54 AM

^ $300,000 for 500 square feet?!!!!! O_O

image credits to PopYourColla.

Spectrum:
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos2434/3/58/58/2/83/0/83025858311_0_ALB.jpg

L'Hermitage:
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos2434/3/58/58/2/84/0/84025858311_0_ALB.jpg

Those new Concord buildings on False Creek, and you can see a bit of the future Olympic village site.
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos2434/3/58/58/76/41/0/41765858311_0_ALB.jpg

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos2434/3/58/58/17/62/0/62175858311_0_ALB.jpg

WinnipegPatriot

September 28th, 2006, 05:28 AM

Plumber73

September 28th, 2006, 05:48 AM

Anyone know how much of the Woodwards Building will be kept. I am looking at pictures on flickr, and it look slike the whole friggin thing is being demolished. WTF can the developers not retain the whole structure?I don't know details. Just that the original Woodwards building, which I think is at the south east corner of the site, is the only part that holds any great heritage value. The rest of the structure, only some outer walls are being kept. It was more of a hodge-podge (sp?) of add-ons anyway. Not really pretty in my opinion. I think they're doing the right thing.

spongeg

September 28th, 2006, 07:02 AM

it was a hodge podge of buildings sort of like the army and navy down the street seems to be

jlousa

September 28th, 2006, 12:30 PM

Only the Southeast corner of the building is being keep, the rest will be imploded this saturday at 08:00 for whoever wants to watch. It also looks like we will see the return of the Woodwards Food Floor in the restored section when completed in mid 2009. I have lots of details on this developement, I acutally picked up 2 units in it.

WinnipegPatriot

September 28th, 2006, 01:16 PM

OK, so obviously there are absolutely no interior elements being kept. What a shame.

Plumber73

September 29th, 2006, 02:23 AM

That one building at the southeast corner is being kept, the rest is just shite. What could possibly be of interest in the interior of that monstrosity? Better to start over and put in new floors/walls, electrical, plumbing, HVAC... with the latest building codes. Trust me, renovating something like that would be hell... and I'd imagine limits what the designer can do. Keeping the outer walls will have the most impact, saving an interior wall does nothing unless it was blessed by Jesus or something.

Plumber73

October 1st, 2006, 08:33 AM

Well, I guess I'm wrong about the walls being saved. Not sure where I got that from. Looking at some pictures of what's left of the original building though, it really is just a shell of it's former self.

mr.x

October 7th, 2006, 02:58 AM

from the Sun today.

For three years the producers of three of the city’s most prestigious, popular and long-standing festivals — Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver International Children’s Festival and Vancouver Folk Music Festival — have worked together towards the goal of a shared facility to anchor their operations.
An agreement in principle for a proposal for a Vancouver Festival Centre has been selected by CBC/Radio-Canada and approved by city council.
This accomplishes the broadcaster’s search for a community partner to occupy 8,500 sq. ft. of community-use space in the redevelopment of its Vancouver production centre at 700 Hamilton.
Redevelopment plans also call for a 4,000-sq.-ft. performance studio with an outdoor stage, according to a news release.

Plumber73

October 7th, 2006, 04:08 AM

^^ Nice!

Anyone know what's going on with all the open space in the False Creek flats area? Seems like the owners are just sitting on it. I see huge open lots on the south side of Terminal, and there's that vast area near the bus/train terminal.
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/22/vch2006391cz7.jpg

spongeg

October 7th, 2006, 05:22 AM

i think thats where they want to relocate st pauls hospital - if its the green are you are looking at

i know the city rezoned almost all that area has "technology" based land and as such the .com thing died before a planned tech town was even started and so they lost some kinds of industry that could have gone there - i think they may have changed the zoning since than

there is a third building going up on terminal though - where the paint store is now - it will be demolised for the third one

i read once that the big lots along terminal ave. are zoned for or are awaiting car dealerships

mr.x

October 7th, 2006, 05:24 AM

lol, the False Creek Flats would be the perfect location for 2028 Summer Olympic Facilities and Athletes Village.

mr.x

October 8th, 2006, 08:14 AM

Renovations at Granville Station to cause only temporary inconvenience

Please note: at a date yet to be confirmed (likely October or November) the older portion of Granville Station, including the satirway from Seymour Street, and corridor adjacent to The Bay, will be temporarly closed for ceiling and lighting upgrades. Al passangers will be required to use the new entrance for a period of three to four weeks when the station becomes fully operational.

spongeg

October 9th, 2006, 08:34 AM

does anyboy remember this now demolished place?

http://www.vancourier.com/issues01/08201/photos/top7%20-pic.jpg

officedweller

October 10th, 2006, 12:28 AM

Shortlived restaurant on the site of Emery Barnes Park - never went there.

spongeg

October 10th, 2006, 05:47 AM

i was watching an old video i made in like 1996 and the city looks so different than

its kind of weird

officedweller

October 17th, 2006, 11:49 PM

A large construction crane has been erected down the middle of the old Capitol 6 theatres building - presumably to assist in the demolition.

Rojo

October 18th, 2006, 04:29 AM

Last summer when I went to Vancouver, I heard something about build a soccer stadium over the railways near Sea Bus Station or Water Front Station. What do you know about it?

mr.x

October 18th, 2006, 04:47 AM

Last summer when I went to Vancouver, I heard something about build a soccer stadium over the railways near Sea Bus Station or Water Front Station. What do you know about it?

From Wikipedia:

Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium is a proposed open-air soccer facility in Vancouver, British Columbia. Located above the railroad tracks on the Downtown Vancouver waterfront (the Gastown neighbourhood), it would house the Vancouver Whitecaps men and women's soccer clubs.

The $70-million stadium would have an initial capacity of 15,000, which would be expandable to 30,000 seats, possibly replacing the aging BC Place Stadium, current home of the BC Lions. This stadium would be a large upgrade over Swangard Stadium, the Whitecaps' current field.

In addition to the Vancouver Whitecaps soccer clubs' matches, the stadium could be host to international soccer matches, rugby matches and tournaments, tennis and beach volleyball tournaments, and open-air musical events and concerts such as the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The stadium would have close access to many modes of public transportation, including the SkyTrain, SeaBus, West Coast Express, and buses.

http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_soccer.jpg
http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_conert.jpg
http://www.whitecapsnewstadium.com/data/upload/renderings_aerial_map.jpg

Note that this is not the stadium design, but renderings of the conceptual design (location of the stadium).

spongeg

October 18th, 2006, 07:56 AM

is it me or in the last rendering did they totally leave out the wall centre?

mr.x

October 18th, 2006, 08:02 AM

is it me or in the last rendering did they totally leave out the wall centre?

One Wall is hidden right behind TD Tower.....look closely at TD.

EastVanMark

October 18th, 2006, 10:40 PM

Rojo

October 20th, 2006, 04:47 AM

I like the stadium, and good view to North Vancouver and mountains.

spongeg

October 26th, 2006, 05:39 AM

Ottawa chips in for theatre renovation in Vancouver

Vancouver -- The ground will soon break under Canada's first LEED-certified arts centre thanks to a $2.4-million infusion of cash from Ottawa..

In January, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre will begin construction on the first phase of a $13.5-million revitalization project that aims to turn the venerable yet decrepit theatre into a green performance space, constructed to the latest standards in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. LEED is a U.S.-based standard for environmental design.

The first phase of the project, designed by Proscenium Architecture + Interiors, will transform the VECC's parking lot into a new multipurpose rehearsal space with administrative offices. The second and third phases, hoped to be completed for the 2010 Olympic Cultural Festival, will include a seismic upgrade of the main auditorium, new seating, improved backstage facilities, plus a new lobby and state-of-the-art 120-seat studio theatre.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061025.NOTE25-7/TPStory/TPEntertainment/Theatre/

officedweller

October 27th, 2006, 03:21 AM

New Capitol model pics from the Model Shop website.
I don't know of any projects to the north of the site (on the corner with the framing shop - so I assume the building shown there is just hypothetical?)

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X048/X048-1.htm

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X048/X048-1.jpg

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X048/X048-2.jpg

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X048/X048-3.jpg

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X048/X048-4.jpg

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X048/X048-5.jpg

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X048/X048-6.jpg

Not as elegant as the old model, below.

The stepped north face has been replaced with one bulky protruding part and the protruding part on the south side has been severely reduced in size (so as to be ineffective - the protruding balconies on L'Aria on Robson with its precast cladding look better). The colouring looking pretty drab - like Shaw Tower or West One.

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X024/X024-4.jpg

Here's a reminder of the context with Dolce and Vita in the foreground:

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X024/X024-3.jpg

http://www.modelshop.bc.ca/porty2/file/X000/X024/X024-2.jpg

officedweller

November 3rd, 2006, 07:39 AM

Anyone know about this project listed at the Bing Thom website on Harwood Street in the West End?

**********
Harwood
Situated on an established street in the West End of Vancouver, this project involves the introduction of a new 18 storey residential tower to a site containing a 100 year old heritage house and a large tulip tree believed to be the tallest deciduous tree in Western Canada. Recognizing the importance of the house and tree to the neighbourhood, the design was developed in such a way they could be preserved. The project must sensitively integrate high-end condominiums in the high-rise tower with rental apartments in the rehabilitated heritage house. To make the project viable, BTA is involved in negotiating a Heritage Revitalization Agreement with the City of Vancouver that will see additional density provided to offset the economics of preserving the house and tree.

http://www.bingthomarchitects.com/admin/uploadedImages/1159394055.9559.jpg

http://www.bingthomarchitects.com/admin/uploadedImages/1159394147.6311.jpg

http://www.bingthomarchitects.com/admin/uploadedImages/1159394217.0124.jpg

Vanman

November 8th, 2006, 12:32 AM

This thread is brutally slow!

mr.x

November 15th, 2006, 07:13 AM

Here's 1409 West Pender:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Misc/SouthElevation.jpg
http://www.lestwarog.com/1409pender/images/9.jpg
http://www.lestwarog.com/1409pender/images/aerialmap-s.jpg

Rojo

November 18th, 2006, 05:16 AM

Every week you have a different project, I want to return to see the new projetcs in Vancouver.

mr.x

November 18th, 2006, 08:50 PM

Some drawings of the YMCA development, credits to Delirium:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/s45.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/gj.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/oct2gon/y1.jpg

mr.x

November 20th, 2006, 01:09 AM

CAPITOL THEATRE SITE READY

Province

Sunday, November, 19, 2006

http://www.lestwarog.com/admin/uploads/article/moreimages/1937.gif

The former Capitol 6 theatre site at Granville and Robson is set to become the tallest residential address in the area

CAPITOL RESIDENCES

Wall Financial's 43-storey tower rise at Granville and Robson, where once a renowned Wurlitzer organ entertained Vancouver's theatregoers.

This fall, Peter Wall of Wall Financial Corp. is giving the legendary Capitol 6 theatre site on Granville and Robson streets a new lease on life, respecting this historic property with a majestic 43-storey skyscraper. To become the area's tallest residential address, The Capitol Residences will add a vibrant new dimension to this already energetic neighbourhood.

Wall and longtime marketing friend Bob Rennie, of Rennie Marketing Systems, will soon unveil plans for Capitol Residences, an elliptical tower designed by Howard Buigham Hail and being developed by majority partner Wall Financial along with Rob Macdonald of Macdonald Development Corp.

"Peter Wall has great respect for the history of the site and its significance to the city," says Rennie. The intention with Capitol Residences is to put this property back on the map as a Vancouver landmark. Plus, in a time when there are so few residential development sites in the downtown core, we wanted to take advan*tage of the amazing location."

Most Vancouveritcs associate the site as the home of the aging Capitol 6 theatre, but the property has a far longer history than its life as a six-screen Famous Players multiplex. It was originally the home of the Capitol Theatre, a live theatre and music house with its own orchestra and a renowned Wurlitzer organ, reputed to be the largest of its kind in Canada at the time. The theatre was demolished in the early 1970s and replaced with the Capitol 6 multiplex, which closed its doors only recently after more than 30 years in operation.

Now, with Capitol Residences, Wall Financial is intent on rejuvenating the site to its original grandeur. According to Rennie, the 372 apartments in Capitol Residences will appeal to a wide range of buyers. Those seeking larger homes will likely be attracted to the spacious, well-appointed condominiums on the upper floors of the tower, with features including airconditioning, high-ceilings and expansive views. Rennie stresses that there will also be plenty of apartments in Capitol at affordable prices from the 30th floor down, ranging from 550 to 1,100 square feet and which still offer the penthouse quality and finishings for which all Wall projects have become known.

As a nod to its musical origins, Capitol will feature a music school on the ground level: Peter Wall, a long‑ time supporter of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, has committed to building a total of S20-million in cultural amenities, including a 6,497-square-foot extension of the Orpheum Theatre stage, a 14,514-square-foot rehearsal room and tie 24,005-square*foot music school. The commitment is the result of the largest culwral-amenity density bonus in the city's history.

The Capitol Residences sales preservation centre at 757 Seymour Street is scheduled to open by the end of November. For more information, phone 604-688-0819

DrT

November 20th, 2006, 06:40 PM

Re: Capitol Residences
Mr. Wall is a great developer and does excellent projects. I am happy that he has taken on this ambitous project. It will really change the character of that segment of Granville for the better. "The Hudson", which he just finished a few blocks north on Granville, is an outstanding building.
The article states that there will be "plenty of apartments at affordable prices". By my calculation, each apartment has to be sold for an extra $54,000 to make up for the $20 million amenity giveaway. I don't know what Mr. Wall paid for the land, but I am pretty skeptical any of these units will be "affordable". I would be surprised if many units sell for under $1,000/ft.

spongeg

November 21st, 2006, 06:32 AM

Wall Financial's 43-storey tower rise at Granville and Robson, where once a renowned Wurlitzer organ entertained Vancouver's theatregoers

isn't it on seymour though? :nuts:

mr.x

November 21st, 2006, 07:27 AM

isn't it on seymour though? :nuts:

it's on both Seymour and Granville.

officedweller

November 21st, 2006, 09:29 PM

The Granville "link" won't be part of the project. So it is only on Seymour.

Rojo

November 22nd, 2006, 04:52 AM

I want the last one for my city!!!

spongeg

November 22nd, 2006, 07:52 AM

cause there is no room left on the granville portion of the old theatre

unless they are counting the puma store

officedweller

November 23rd, 2006, 01:46 AM

alta-bc

November 26th, 2006, 12:45 AM

Some drawings of the YMCA development, credits to Delirium:

__________________

Where is this building supposed to be built? Is it to go where that abandoned half built building is on Georgia St. between Thurlow and Bute? If not, what is going to happen to that abandoned building? It's been like that for a very long time.

vancvrman

November 26th, 2006, 09:31 PM

This is in answer to your question about the abandoned half-building on West Georgia between Thurlow and Bute.

A Development Permit Application was recently posted on the site. The application shows that the building that will be going up there is a 57-storey mixed use tower.

Information available on the Web shows that the application is now complete and is scheduled to be heard by the Development Permit Board on December 18, 2006.

The posted Development Permit Application shows that the address of the site is 1153 West Georgia.

mr.x

November 26th, 2006, 09:43 PM

This is that "half-building" you're all talking about, now known as 1153 West Georgia:
http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/05/454783.jpg

alta-bc

November 27th, 2006, 05:16 AM

Wow, 57 floors, that's pretty tall. Any more info on that? I haven't heard anything about, usually for a building that tall in Vancouver there would be a big splash, kind of like for the Shangri-La.

So where is the YMCA development supposed to go?

officedweller

November 27th, 2006, 09:15 AM

The YMCA project is the redevelopment of the existing YMCA on Burrard Street.

This thread has pics of most of the current developments in Vancouver:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=105008

spongeg

November 28th, 2006, 01:23 AM

The Puma store isn't on the Capitol 6 site - it is a couple of doors south of it.
The Capitol 6 part on Granville has not yet been demolished.

BTW - the fencing is down from in front of those new stores - and the sidewalk has been poured the same red colour as in front of the Commodore Building.

the theatre was demolished a while back

there is new construction right next to where the after hours club is - which was right next to famous players

capital 6 is on the otehr side of the street isnt it? now some empire theatre chain

vancvrman

November 28th, 2006, 02:43 AM

To alta-bc:

This is further to your comment about media coverage of the announcement of the proposed construction of a 57-storey building at 1153 West Georgia.

Actually, partly because this site has been an eyesore on West Georgia for the past 15 years, a story about the proposed 57-storey tower did appear on television on the local evening news.

Also, an illustrated story about the tower appeared in the Vancouver Sun on June 7, 2005. The newspaper story featured a striking photograph of Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson posing next to a scale model of the proposed tower.

alta-bc

November 29th, 2006, 06:25 AM

Thanks vancvrman, it will be nice to see that eyesore replaced, especially with a building that will be 5 times taller than the one there right now!

officedweller

November 30th, 2006, 02:06 AM

the theatre was demolished a while back

there is new construction right next to where the after hours club is - which was right next to famous players

capital 6 is on the otehr side of the street isnt it? now some empire theatre chain

Here's a pic I took the other day. The Seymour side of the Capitol 6 is currently being demolished. The Granville side can STILL be seen in the pic - look for the sloping glass roof across the alley from the Seymour side.

The former Cineplex Granville 7 is now the Empire Theatres.

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/1748/pb280364croppedam1.jpg

spongeg

November 30th, 2006, 03:00 AM

the sloping part is the old covered walkway across the alleyway though isn't it?

there is nothing left on granville street itself...?

maybe someone can walk and take a pic from where fluevog shoes is... across the street

alta-bc

November 30th, 2006, 05:05 AM

So they are using a crane to "demolish" the building? Looks like they are taking it apart piece by piece. I'm guessing the steel is worth a lot of money.

It is an interesting view, you can see where the individual movie theaters were. I saw a lot of movies there over the years, I always liked the view from the lobby area right outside the theaters.

officedweller

November 30th, 2006, 06:17 AM

The sloping part is WEST of the alley - it fronts Granville Street. I've marked the storefronts on this old pic - you can clearly see the Capitol 6 sign north of two storefronts, then the Commodore.

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2613/untitledwn2.jpg

I think Capitol 6 No. 1 had a screen that was bigger than even the new multiplex screens.

Vancouverite

December 4th, 2006, 07:53 AM

Arthur Erickson is designing 57 storey tower on Georgia St. Here is a link to the story on PacificMetropolis http://www.pacificmetropolis.com/2006/12/more_on_1133_we.html

See the link below for a picture of the original model with Erickson standing aside.
http://pacificmetropolis.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/1133_west_georgia.jpg

The tower is still being refined and I personally like the version Erickson is standing beside more than the new elevation. They seem to have curved the walls in the new version while the previous one were flat as they twisted. I met Arthur Erickson about a month ago at a workshop for SouthEast False Creek. He has been brought on board to design the community centre for that project.

Rhino

December 4th, 2006, 09:12 AM

Hey , there it is !

alta-bc

December 5th, 2006, 01:25 AM

I went to this website mentioned above, http://www.pacificmetropolis.com
Interesting resource on Vancouver urban development. I notice this site has some "bite" to it; this is the opening paragraph on the new Costco downtown:
"Much to the joy of the morbidly obese, the new downtown Costco store finally opened this past weekend, putting bulk food items within easy waddling distance of most Vancouver condominiums."
Unfortunately this is quite true, I was there recently and did notice a higher proportion of "morbidly obese" people.
I do wonder if Costco will offer slightly smaller bulk options, because a lot of these new condos are geared towards single people or couples, like TV Tower's 439 sq.feet suites.

officedweller

December 5th, 2006, 08:52 PM

As mentioned on the SSP forum, the Telus Atrium on Seymour St. has a huge LCD screen (like the ones on Granville St.). Not sure who'll be viewing it - it's about halfway up the atrium - but there are lots of office windows on the south side facing into the atrium.

officedweller

December 6th, 2006, 12:52 AM

New planning Report regarding Bay Parkade and Dunsmuir House site has been prepared in response to:

A rezoning inquiry has been received for the Bay Parkade and Dunsmuir House sites, proposing a primarily residential development that would retain and renovate the heritage “B” Dunsmuir House to preserve all or most of its 167 SRA units. It proposes to provide FSR 2.0 commercial.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20061212/documents/tt3_BayParkade.pdf

Report Recommendations:

THAT Council instruct staff that any rezoning to be considered for the Bay Parkade and Dunsmuir House site should reflect the Recommended Directions described in the report below, which are in summary:

• Provision of a minimum FSR 5.0 commercial floor space, including at least one major office tower;

• Retention and renovation of Dunsmuir House as Single Room Accommodation,
affordable to low-income singles, with the possible transfer of the site to City
ownership;

• Market residential space as a bonus to cover the cost associated with retaining and up-grading Dunsmuir House;

• Additional market residential space, as may fit into an appropriate form of
development, which may or may not be density transferred from other heritage sites; and

• Provision of other appropriate public benefits, subject to project viability.

5. Recommended Directions

Initial staff analysis indicates it would be possible to accommodate about FSR 10.0 on this
site, including (for example) a major office tower, major hotel, and two residential towers,
as well as Dunsmuir House itself. Thus, it appears that it is possible to negotiate a rezoning
that could meet both City and the inquirer’s objectives.
Considering all these factors, staff are proposing that Council endorse a set of Recommended
Directions to guide any rezoning on this site, the chief among which is to require the provision
of the full FSR 5.0 commercial that is permitted by the site’s DDODP zoning.

The height limit on the site is about 291 ft. set by a view cone over most of the site (the normal
height limit in the DDOPD is 300 ft.).

officedweller

December 6th, 2006, 01:10 AM

And a report on 1133 West Georgia to redistribute hotel space in the tower to the former palm court (now two-level podium) and convert the former hotel space in the tower to residential space.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20061212/documents/ph4.pdf

The proposed additional floor area would be utilized within the existing form of development
for the site approved at public hearing in 2005. Building height will not be altered by
approval of this request, and floor-to-floor heights within the tower will not be reduced. In
the development application now in review, the number of storeys is proposed to be
increased from 56 to 57, but this is due solely to a large mezzanine floor in the hotel now
proposed to be enlarged and numbered as a conventional floor.
The opportunity to develop additional floor area within the approved form of development
results from a staff conclusion communicated to City Council at public hearing that a
proposed on-site public amenity not be pursued. A glass, enclosed public atrium or pavilion,
referred to as the ‘Palm Court’, had been contemplated for the west portion of the site but
was eventually not supported by City staff due to cost, and operation and programming
difficulties, relative to other neighbourhood and City priorities.
The double-height pavilion space which was retained in the form of development approved at
public hearing is now proposed to accommodate two floors of hotel functions, including a
restaurant on the main level and meetings rooms on the second level. It is also proposed that
the extent of double-height space on the ground floor of the tower be reduced, through some
expansion of the mezzanine floor. The proposed shift of hotel functions and floor area from
the tower’s lower floors enables the hotel portion of the tower to be reduced by two floors
[approximately 706 m² (7,600 sq. ft.) each], and the development of two residential floors
instead.

spongeg

December 6th, 2006, 05:37 AM

there is a rezoning sign up in burnaby at the corner of beta and lougheed - where a speedy auto currenty is and some junky used car lots

it will probably go through - but all i could read was it wants to become retail, commercial and residential

officedweller

December 14th, 2006, 11:48 PM

The DPB report is up for 1153 West Georgia.

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/dpboard/2006/pdf/1153WestGeorgia.pdf

Height to top of roof slab of uppermost habitable floor: 584 ft.
Height to top of mechanical appurtenance: 600 ft.

Sounds like the plaza has been reinstated to allow the twisting tower to hit the ground (rather than hitting the roof of the podium).

There's an interesting description of the curtain wall and the structural column layout. From what they say, the curtain wall will be silicone based (like One Wall Centre?), so that more recent rendering (the one removed from the MCMP website) could be out of date. I've never seen structural glass fins being used in residential condo construction in Vancouver before (you see them in office building lobbies, etc.). Sounds expensive....

Building Envelope
The building envelope of the tower consists of a high performance curtain wall system that incorporates integrated solar control and venting. Primary solar control in the three major twisting facades of the tower is achieved by varying tints of high performance glazing. Each tint responds to the specific solar needs and orientation of each of the three triangular facades – north facing, east and predominantly west facing in each case. The three minor facades that open onto the twisting balconies located at the corners of the tower utilize a single high performance glazing system similar in performance to the north elevation, with the addition of the balcony to provide shade in these locations. The slight variation in exterior material will provide a high level of energy efficiency and occupant comfort, whilst speaking to the sustainability goals of the project. Exterior curtain wall expression is comprised of a silicon joint system with an intermediate glass fin to provide a stiffener element within the twisting curtain wall façade without obstruction of the view.

Opening Windows & Vents
Opening windows are located in bands in a two-floor alternating pattern and are integrated into the overall curtain wall character by the use of frameless glass opening lights. Venting is organized by a horizontal slot vent near the floor line, which is integrated into the curtain wall. Tower residential layout has been organized to eliminate spandrel glazing in the three main twisting façades of the project. !!!!!!!

Structure
Many structural systems were analyzed during design development of the proposal and a radial column system was chosen as having the least impact on internal layout and views. This radial system consists of two column types within the radial pattern. One column type is vertical and is positioned within the triangular floor plate at locations that are not impacted by the twisting geometry of the tower. The second set of columns are in locations that are impacted by the twist and lean in towards the centre or away from the centre so that they establish a constant relationship with the external skin of the building as it twists from the base to the cap. The leaning sets of columns are in structural balance and so do not impact any net torsion into the structure. Column sizes diminish vertically but maintain a constant relationship to the curtain wall the full height of the tower. A tuned mass dampener system at the top of the tower will be employed as part of the structural system.

Vancouverite

December 15th, 2006, 10:58 PM

The Hotel Georgia is going to get a major renovation and a new 150M, 48 story residential/office tower will be built where the parking garage now stands.

Render: http://pacificmetropolis.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/801_west_georgia_ii_3.jpg
Pacifc Metropolis' coverage: http://www.pacificmetropolis.com/2006/12/new_hotel_georg.html

I like the tower design and its sustainability features; solar panels on the south face, geothermal heating/cooling, and presumably high performance glazing throughout.

zonie

December 16th, 2006, 08:32 PM

Just off the northeast corner of Kingsway and Willingdon today, I noticed they were in the process of demolishing that single family home (that was converted to a church or something). Maybe it's to make way for that seniors tower that was proposed before.

officedweller

December 19th, 2006, 02:37 AM

The UDP minutes are up for the Hotel Georgia - non-support. EDIT - Sunny over at SSP e-mailed the planning department which has corrected the website - it now reads: SUPPORT!!

699 Howe Street/801 West Georgia Street
DE: 410870
Use: 50-storey residential/hotel tower and rehabilitation of portions of the Georgia Hotel
Zoning: CD-1
Application Status: Complete
Architect: IBI/HB and Endall Elliot
Review: First
Delegation: Alan Endall, Jim Hancock, Hilde Heyvaerts, Robert Lemon, Kim Perry
Staff: Ralph Segal/John Ward

EVALUATION: NON-SUPPORT (8-2) EDIT - Sunny over at SSP e-mailed the planning department which has corrected the website - it now reads: SUPPORT!!

Introduction: Ralph Segal, Senior Development Planner introduced this application, a redevelopment of the Georgia Hotel, which is a heritage site and includes the completion of the seismic upgrading to the hotel. To the north of the hotel is the 100 foot site on which a 47 floor building is proposed. A rezoning on this site was approved in 2002 with a scheme designed by Bing Tom. This application received development approval but was not built. The current project is for a 512 foot tower. The previous zoning did allow for 531 feet however the applicant will be not pursuing the full height. The applicant is asking for 17.9 FSR for the whole site including the Hotel Georgia of which 9 FSR will be commercial use. The remaining proposed 8.9 FSR of building density is residential use. The project is within the density parameters of the original rezoning. The redevelopment of the hotel is also part of the applicant. The Panel adjourned to the context model where Mr. Segal completed his presentation.

The Panel’s input sought on the following:

Overall architectural quality;
Architectural excellence of the tower, including its top, given its height and prominence;
Streetscape character on Howe Street, including the porte-cochere;
Response to sustainability objectives; and
Improvements and renovation to the Hotel Georgia heritage building and landscaping
Mr. Segal took questions from the Panel.

Applicant’s Introductory Comments:
Allan Endall, Architect, further described the project using the context model noting the redesign of the tower and its relationship to the Hotel Georgia. He described in detail the porte-cochere where the entrance to the hotel as well as the office/residential tower will be located. He also described the restoration plans for the Hotel Georgia.

Robert Lemon, Heritage Architect, described the conservation and restoration proposed for the Hotel Georgia. He noted that the Heritage Commission would also be looking at the project. The guest rooms will be resized and the ballroom will be rebuilt bringing back the historical details. The Howe Street lobby and entrance will be returned to its original configuration and the original revolving door will be reinstated on Georgia Street.

Jim Hancock, Architect, further described the design of the tower including the use of motorized blinds on the south west side of the building which will be powered by photo-electrical cells. He also noted that the building is to be heated geothermally. He described the location of the loading dock at the end of the porte-cochere, noting that a series of water jets will be on during the day as a water fountain and shut off when delivery trucks come into the loading bay.

Kim Perry, Landscape Architect described in detail the landscaping plans for the fourth floor roof terrace on the Hotel Georgia. He noted the mosaic pattern on the ground plane, the exterior fireplace and the water garden as well as the infinity pool. He added that the water from the pool will cascade over the east edge and will be seen from the guest rooms on the third floor. He noted that the standard treatment is being maintained on Georgia Street but that the sidewalks will be replaced. He added that they are working with Engineering to add street trees and a new canopy on the Howe Street side of the Hotel Georgia.

Hilde Heyvaerts, Lighting Designer, described the materials and colour palate being planned for the tower. She also described the type of windows and the LED lights being used on the edges of the tower to highlight the tower.

The applicant team took questions from the Panel.

Panel’s Consensus on Key Aspects Needing Improvement:

The top of the tower needs to be resolved with greater simplicity;
The glazing system on the tower façade should be clarified in response to the different orientations and simplified in its expression and
Work with City Staff to improve the design and finishes in the public realm.

Related Commentary: The Panel supported the application.

The Panel complimented the applicant and stated that many of the features were better than the previous scheme for the site. Most of the Panel agreed that the resolution of the whole tower was an improvement and much better integrated into the site and into the neighboring Georgia Hotel and that it had earned its density through the design.

Most of the Panel felt the design at the top of the building was not yet satisfactorily resolved, noting that it would benefit from further simplification . The bottom of the tower and its relationship to the Hotel Georgia, seemed to be better resolved than the top of the tower. Several members of the Panel said they would like to see a stronger sense of play between the hotel and the tower. The Panel agreed that the relationship of the tower to the Hotel Georgia was thoughtfully and skillfully executed and appreciated the hotel being preserved and brought back to its former glory.

The Panel felt that further design development might reduce the size of the balconies. They didn’t believe the balconies would give much sun shading and they felt the cantilevered expression of the balconies got weaker near the top of the tower.

Most of the Panel appreciated the lighting consultants work and thought the night lighting would enhance the character of the Hotel Georgia but the Panel had mixed feelings about the lighting design elements proposed on the tower and thought further testing should be done to verify its effectiveness.

The Panel agreed that the porte-cochere was very well done and congratulated the architect on bringing natural light into the area. The Panel liked the pool area and the way the bottom of the pool shows as a “skylight” over the porte-cochere area. They felt it would be a lovely arrival area for the Georgia Hotel and the tower. Several members acknowledged the loading bay and thought it was well designed.

Several members of the Panel encouraged the applicant to bringing elements of the porte-cochere design out onto the street. Materials from the porte-cochere should be incorporated into the Howe Street and the lane public realm finishes. The Panel agreed strongly that the applicant work with Engineering and Planning Staff to improve the public realm as this is one of the most important corners in Vancouver. The Panel liked the landscape plan for the project and felt the roof top garden plan and would present itself well to the surrounding buildings.

The Panel liked the floor plan design and its response to the HSBC building. They agreed that the suites were very livable. Most of the Panel agreed that the applicants design responded well to sustainable design criteria.

Applicant’s Response:
Mr. Endall thanked the panel for their comments.

*****

The Homer was also narrowly approved at the same meeting. Reading the minutes sounds like half the UDP liked the old Homer design better. It also sounds like they added a turret style lantern to the top of the tower (ugh).

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/udp/2006/minutes/dec6.htm

Vancouverite

December 19th, 2006, 04:16 AM

I am surprised the panel turned it down considering the positive character of their comments in the minutes. It must have been the top of the tower and its relation to the street that was a deal breaker. I am also surprised they are not pursuing the maximum height allowed for the lot. I would think a few more stories would make them millions and only have a minor impact on the design and logistics of building the tower.

I've been to a number of UDP meetings and the panel it often quite difficult to read. Projects that I thought were crap gained ringing endorsements and others that I thought were great going into the panel were watered down coming out.

Never the less, the Delta group seems pretty keen to get this project done right and an extra round through the UDP is not the end of the world for such a high profile project and one tied into two other major projects they are undertaking in the city. As I understand it they are building a new Coast Hotel on West Hasting St. and closing and renovating the current Coast Hotel on Denman into high-end condos. Simultaneously they are doing this Hotel Georgia project. The Delta Group is financed by a heavy weight Singapore development consortium that wants to get into the Vancouver market while the getting is good. Deep pockets.

officedweller

December 19th, 2006, 11:46 PM

The Hotel Georgia is at the maximum height for the site. Bing Thom's tower was allowed to go 20ft higher under a variance from City Council - but that was a very contentious City Council meeting. The variance would also have been specifc to the Bing Thom tower and its 8ft x 8ft x 20ft tall glass box "finger". There were no habitable floors or mechanical floors above the view cone limit.

They've got the same team for the Hotel Goergia as they did for the Carina and Callisto (IBI/Hancock Bruckner) - so the quality should be there - esp. if they want to sell it at $1200-1500 per sq ft!!

Vancouverite

December 20th, 2006, 03:49 AM

I just read the minutes officedweller linked to and it appears to me to be a 8-2 vote in support of the 699 Howe/801 West Georgia St. application.

1. 699 Howe Street/801 West Georgia Street
DE: 410870
Use: 50-storey residential/hotel tower and rehabilitation of portions of the Georgia Hotel
Zoning: CD-1
Application Status: Complete
Architect: IBI/HB and Endall Elliot
Review: First
Delegation: Alan Endall, Jim Hancock, Hilde Heyvaerts, Robert Lemon, Kim Perry
Staff: Ralph Segal/John Ward

EVALUATION: SUPPORT (8-2)

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/udp/2006/minutes/dec6.htm

officedweller

December 20th, 2006, 07:03 AM

I just read the minutes officedweller linked to and it appears to me to be a 8-2 vote in support of the 699 Howe/801 West Georgia St. application.

1. 699 Howe Street/801 West Georgia Street
DE: 410870
Use: 50-storey residential/hotel tower and rehabilitation of portions of the Georgia Hotel
Zoning: CD-1
Application Status: Complete
Architect: IBI/HB and Endall Elliot
Review: First
Delegation: Alan Endall, Jim Hancock, Hilde Heyvaerts, Robert Lemon, Kim Perry
Staff: Ralph Segal/John Ward

EVALUATION: SUPPORT (8-2)

Sunny over at SSP e-mailed the Planning Department and they corrected it - it used to say "Non-Support".

Hmmm.... so I wonder how much it will change before the DPB?

************

UDP Minutes are up for 833 Homer. It passed as well.

http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/udp/2006/minutes/nov22.htm

officedweller

December 22nd, 2006, 11:50 PM

Top of Bentall V today - slightly blurry - still not very tall:

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/3601/pc220386ke2.jpg

wiki

December 24th, 2006, 02:26 AM

several great proyects for vancouver

vancvrman

January 1st, 2007, 06:54 PM

A Development Permit Application has finally been posted on that partially-excavated lot in downtown Vancouver at the intersection of Howe and Davie.

The address on the posted application is 1205 Howe. The application calls for a 15-storey residential tower with a 6-storey podium, townhouses on the Howe Street side, retail at grade on Davie, and 4 levels of underground parking.

According to City of Vancouver information on the Web, the Development Permit Board is scheduled to consider the application on March 26, 2007.

That empty, weedy Howe Street lot has been a downtown eyesore for years. It will be nice to see it finally cleaned up.

zonie

January 2nd, 2007, 09:18 PM

Building on Kingsway and McKay (with a Staples at ground floor) starting up vertical phase II - Dec. 29, 2006
http://s91751882.onlinehome.us/pub/29-12-06_1011.jpg

Centrepoint - June 22, 2006
West lot:
http://s91751882.onlinehome.us/pub/22-06-06_1148.jpg

East lot:
http://s91751882.onlinehome.us/pub/22-06-06_1147.jpg

Dec. 29, 2006
West lot:
http://s91751882.onlinehome.us/pub/29-12-06_1117.jpg

East lot:
http://s91751882.onlinehome.us/pub/29-12-06_1116.jpg
If you squint through the bluriness, you can see an escalator wrapped in white plastic in the bottom-left. I'm guessing this is for skywalk users. Special bonus: the two tented leaky condos in the background.

Dylan Leblanc

January 2nd, 2007, 09:55 PM

hey nice thanks!

EastVanMark

January 3rd, 2007, 12:34 AM

Top of Bentall V today - slightly blurry - still not very tall:

http://img304.imageshack.us/img304/3601/pc220386ke2.jpg

Ya, beautiful building but as usual, NOT TALL ENOUGH. The original concept almost 10 years ago now, called for a completely different design and 45 floors. It was supposed to be Vancouver's tallest office-only building. Wonder what happened?

spongeg

January 3rd, 2007, 03:37 AM

kingsway will be quite the drive in a few years

Rhino

January 6th, 2007, 02:30 AM

whats going on with the biggie in Surrey ?

oh , I like these pics of Surrey , man Im board.
http://www.aibc.ca/pub_resources/aibc_outreach/awards_popup/lieutenant_medal/2004/surrey.jpg
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/5/56/Sfusurrey.jpg
http://www.rada.bc.ca/images/homepage_scc.jpg
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3797/3380078is.jpg
http://www.luluk.com/Images/tulips/updates/June9location2Douglas.jpg

Plumber73

January 6th, 2007, 06:22 AM

^^ What biggie? Those pics really give you a false sense of what Surrey is all about... :)

Overground

January 6th, 2007, 07:25 AM

I think he means that tall one that was proposed or talked about months ago. That 80 floor behemoth thing whatever it was, I forget.

mr.x

January 6th, 2007, 08:21 AM

I think he means that tall one that was proposed or talked about months ago. That 80 floor behemoth thing whatever it was, I forget.

That, "King George Tower", was cancelled. Instead, the're building two towers....i believe one is something like 40 storeys and the other is something like 32 storeys.

Overground

January 6th, 2007, 08:39 AM

So that's in the lot north of the station right?

Still nice sizes for a growing skyline in Surrey anyway.

Rhino

January 7th, 2007, 06:14 AM

yes thats what I was talking about.

officedweller

January 14th, 2007, 07:50 AM

It's a lot like Electric Ave.

Pic of the Yaletown Park park:

http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/3634/p1130387sg4.jpg

Mode (the townhouses look good - the corner at Smithe not so good):

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8295/p1130388ti0.jpg

officedweller

January 17th, 2007, 07:05 AM

Here are a load of scans from the DPB report for 1133/1153 West Georgia:

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/8381/untitled0an2.jpg

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/3326/untitled1og6.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7586/untitled2nu1.jpg

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5412/untitled3ba0.jpg

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8882/untitled4ui5.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/7763/untitled5ag8.jpg

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1728/untitled6ld0.jpg

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3418/untitled7zs0.jpg

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/5403/untitled8sc0.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/3015/untitled9op2.jpg

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8059/untitled10es6.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8326/untitled11is8.jpg

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3012/untitled12pi5.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/7906/untitled13zx8.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7018/untitled14tu8.jpg

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/6030/untitled15mt1.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7434/untitled16qd8.jpg

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2895/untitled17as3.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/38/untitled18bl7.jpg

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/7230/untitled19ay1.jpg

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6569/untitled20wl4.jpg

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/8404/untitled21ww1.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/5576/untitled22ud2.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/3150/untitled23jz5.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5562/untitled24yy3.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/9265/untitled25tu5.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1849/untitled26sg8.jpg

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/1174/untitled27it3.jpg

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1888/untitled28hr1.jpg

mr.x

January 20th, 2007, 01:13 AM

Translink cameras going digital
Jan, 17 2007 - 11:40 AM

VANCOUVER/CKNW(AM980) - Translink has signed a 1.8 million dollar contract with a Scottish company to convert its 880-surveillance cameras to digital.

The program actually converts the analog images into high-quality digital video, so costly new cameras won't have to be purchased.

DrT

January 20th, 2007, 01:36 AM

WinnipegPatriot

January 23rd, 2007, 02:48 AM

Does anyone think we will see a shift in the designs of proposals for Vancouver? Rather than the typical "Vancouver style" buildings, would anyone else here like to see something different? This gives a nod to the 70s, I guess, but I love the height, and the sleekness....not to mention a touch of black would be a nice addition to Vancouver's glass forrest!

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/159-chrysler_trump_esb1_23march02.jpg

How about...

http://www.clarett.com/images/skyhouseblock.jpg

http://www.300nlasalle.com/_img/featureImg.jpg

http://www.condohotelcenter.com/images/elysian-tower.jpg

Plumber73

January 24th, 2007, 03:21 AM

Those look like commercial buildings. That black building looks big and mean, not something I'd like to see. I guess as soon as a big commercial building goes up, you'll see something resembling those examples.

vancvrman

January 24th, 2007, 05:13 AM

An update on the TV Towers project in downtown Vancouver on Robson Street.

Excavation for the north tower, going up at the corner of Robson and Hamilton Streets, appears to be complete. Today, on the Hamilton Street side of the excavation, they installed the construction crane.

Excavation on the site for the south tower is still underway.

spongeg

January 24th, 2007, 05:50 AM

there is a "Black" building at coal harbour...

http://www.urbanvancouver.com/images/sat_jul_17_2004_090414_pm-807_640x480.jpg

WinnipegPatriot

January 24th, 2007, 04:01 PM

I forgot about that one--I just did not have the time to research it. I would love to see something similar, only much taller to peek through the walls of pastel glass condos.

I am a fan of Shaw Tower, only I wish it was darker; Fairmont's Pacifc Rim Hotel will look almost identical to Shaw...I wish we would see some contrast!

officedweller

January 25th, 2007, 11:24 PM

Malcolm Parry had a blurb on the New Holt Renfrew in today's Sun. Opening is 2 months behind and scheduled for the end of May 2007.

He also mentioned the architects - Janson Goldstein of NYC, which leads me to the Holt Renfrew renderings.....

http://www.jansongoldstein.com/update/hr.htm

http://www.jansongoldstein.com/update/hr/hr3.jpg http://www.jansongoldstein.com/update/hr/hr2.jpg

http://www.jansongoldstein.com/update/hr/hr4.jpg http://www.jansongoldstein.com/update/hr/hr5.jpg

http://www.jansongoldstein.com/update/hr/hr7.jpg http://www.jansongoldstein.com/update/hr/hr6.jpg

KevD

January 26th, 2007, 12:30 AM

Does anyone think we will see a shift in the designs of proposals for Vancouver? Rather than the typical "Vancouver style" buildings, would anyone else here like to see something different? This gives a nod to the 70s, I guess, but I love the height, and the sleekness....not to mention a touch of black would be a nice addition to Vancouver's glass forrest!

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/159-chrysler_trump_esb1_23march02.jpg

I agree with you. I hate how a lot of Vancouver's buildings all look the same. That black building you are talking about is the Trump World Tower and was built in 1999. I love it. So sleek and simple. It's beautiful...

DrT

January 26th, 2007, 01:32 AM

Re: Holt Renfrew
Nice find officedweller. Thanks for the update on this one.
Little difficult to visualize the materials for the facades, but i'm sure they will do it right. Has alot of street presence which I like.

mr.x

January 26th, 2007, 01:42 AM

looks awesome.

officedweller

January 26th, 2007, 01:45 AM

The facade is supposed to be a glass curtain wall of of "slumped" glass - cast glass. You can see on the interior shot (with the wood floor) that you can see through the exterior wall to the trees on Granville Street - even through the "slumped"/frosted part. Should look all lit up at night time on the street.

*****************
Glass canopy at Plaza of Nations to come down

Thursday, January 25 - 03:50:00 PM Reshmi Nair

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The glass canopy at Plaza of Nations has kept thousands of people dry as they've taken in several events at the site - but that's all going to change.

Serious safety issues including extensive rusting and corrosion have forced the company that owns Plaza of Nations to tear down the temporary structure.

The glass canopied outdoor amphitheatre has been the only one of its kind in Western Canada. The owner and the City both say they are committed to creating a long-term, permanent, covered venue.

alta-bc

January 26th, 2007, 04:03 AM

Is the entire Plaza of Nations complex being torn down or just the glass canopy itself?

mr.x

January 26th, 2007, 04:04 AM

Is the entire Plaza of Nations complex being torn down or just the glass canopy itself?

Just the glass canopy.

officedweller

January 30th, 2007, 11:47 PM

Holt Renfrew glass is up on the Granville side. You can see the clear glass (no slumping) and the slumped glass backed by (hopefully) translucent panels.
I suspect that the slumped glass without the backing will get a backing added. The orange is just tarps.

Dunsmuir side:
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/9800/p1300443smallir6.jpg

Granville side:
http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/15/p1300444smallsk1.jpg

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/8555/p1300445smallzq6.jpg

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9193/p1300446smallbf7.jpg

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/2048/p1300447smalllk2.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/1977/p1300448smalljpgnz2.jpg

DrT

February 1st, 2007, 02:05 PM

Great looking glass facade on Holt Renfrew. Very warm and inviting. Adds a touch of modernity to the many older building on that part of Granville without being gaudy or overpowering. I love it.
Thanks for posting officedweller.

officedweller

February 1st, 2007, 09:41 PM

No problem.
The one heritage facade remnant that used to be on that part of the building is being moved to the Howe St. side of the building.

spongeg

February 2nd, 2007, 07:11 AM

here is the corner of broadway and cambie where the station will be

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/DSC01535.jpg

here is Avedon

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/DSC01547.jpg

here is the future site of Williams-Sonoma

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/DSC01545.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/DSC01548.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v62/spongeg/DSC01550.jpg

thryve

February 2nd, 2007, 10:54 PM

Please keep us updated on the Holt Renfrew location--- looks like it's going to be REALLY sharp. That glass looks amazing!

Do you guys know when the Fairmont Pacific Rim is going to start construction? It's funny-- I usually only think of old hotels like the Hotel Vancouver or the Royal York in Toronto when I think of Fairmont.

officedweller

February 2nd, 2007, 11:18 PM

On Holt's - Will do.

Fairmont Pac Rim has a crane up already (not much excavation because it's between viaducts).
Webcam here: (that's the convention centre expansion to the right across the street)

http://24.84.34.55/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?camera=1&dummy=1168401729359&compression=40&resolution=CIF

http://24.84.34.55/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi?camera=1&dummy=1168401729359&compression=40&resolution=CIF

thryve

February 5th, 2007, 01:38 AM

I think the Pacific Rim hotel should have its own thread in the World Forums Construction Updates. (The Shangri-La has one already.)

officedweller

February 16th, 2007, 08:16 PM

Holt Renfrew Vancouver pics Feb 16th, 2007.
Almost looks too much like an office building now.

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6712/p2160461qx6.jpg

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5673/p2160462jf4.jpg

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8251/p2160463mj9.jpg

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/2790/p2160465at9.jpg

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/9929/p2160466jg8.jpg

Vancouverite

February 17th, 2007, 10:07 PM

That certainly is an interesting type of glazing. I'm looking forward to seeing how it looks when lit.

On a different note, work on the Bosa "Citi" mixed-use development near the Brentwood Skytrain station in Burnaby is coming along. Earth movers and preliminary excavation is underway with a sewer pipe exposed. The site will eventually be home to an mid-rise office building and a high-rise apartment building with retail and townhouses at grade.

Westcoast604

February 20th, 2007, 01:05 AM

Shangri-La Pics taken February 18th
(photo credits to raggedy)

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7191.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7202.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7226.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7242.jpg

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g296/raggedy13/Downtown%20Chinatown/100_7269.jpg

WinnipegPatriot

February 20th, 2007, 01:15 AM

I am so eager to see that beauty completed; Fairmont's new hotel, too!

A 70 storey office tower would be nice!

Trey

February 20th, 2007, 01:06 PM

so thats the start of that 62 storey building eh?
last time i saw pics on it it was still an excavation site, they've definatly built alot since then, what looks to be like 13 floors.

DrT

February 21st, 2007, 02:13 AM

Re: Shangri-La.

Great progress. Coming along nicely.
I am a bit concerned that some of the glass curtain wall panels in the podium look alot like the Shaw Tower. I hope it doesn't turn out to have that washed out pale blue/green color as the Shaw overall.

officedweller

February 21st, 2007, 09:43 PM

I hope it doesn't turn out to have that washed out pale blue/green color as the Shaw overall.

Shaw is a very drab gray - not blue/green.

officedweller

February 24th, 2007, 07:57 PM

New Air Photos - dated Jan 30th - including this one of SE False Creek. The stupid little island will pinch the creek right where the dragon boat races start line is located.

http://www.globalairphotos.com/gallery/BC/Vancouver/Downtown - plus new pics in "Central" and "South"

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_049.jpg

Nice overview of Canada Line:

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/vancouver/2007/vch2007_122.jpg

Check out this pic of the new BCIT aerospace campus on Russ Baker Way. Cool how close Aberdeen Centre is across the river. You can also see some Canada Line columns near Sea Island Way.

http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/richmond/2007/rhh2007_029.jpg

Downtown Richmond. New projects to the upper left of the shot.
http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/richmond/2007/rhh2007_050.jpg

Brentwood area - Burnaby:
http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/burnaby/2007/byh2007_032.jpg
http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/burnaby/2007/byh2007_024.jpg

alta-bc

February 26th, 2007, 12:53 AM

Apparently the Gilmore station design was kept simple in order to allow a future development to be built over top or around it. The station sits on an otherwise empty lot right now as seen on the last picture. ^^

mr.x

February 26th, 2007, 01:16 AM

spongeg

February 26th, 2007, 02:57 AM

yes the architect built it so a building could be tied into the station - there are plans to eventually build an office building over top of the station

As the station is expected to be incorporated into a new commercial complex, the wood and metal frames were designed to be easily disassembled and then reconfigured, maintaining the artistic intention of the station and accommodating any future alterations to the SkyTrain line or development around

alta-bc

February 26th, 2007, 03:02 AM

yes the architect built it so a building could be tied into the station - there are plans to eventually build an office building over top of the station

Are there any actual plans for this site, or is this still just a vision?

officedweller

February 26th, 2007, 09:26 AM

yes the architect built it so a building could be tied into the station - there are plans to eventually build an office building over top of the station

Not sure if it would be above the station, so much as abutted and interconnected to the station mezzanine.

spongeg

February 27th, 2007, 01:46 AM

maybe - i thought i saw once that they invisioned something like the van city building at main street

mr.x

March 4th, 2007, 08:58 PM

YVR has a new logo:
http://members.shaw.ca/clauf.upload/yvr.png
http://www.yvr.ca/images/home_photo3.jpg

And a new website is in the works, to be launched later this year.

Overground

March 5th, 2007, 11:08 AM

Finally! Remember we were complaining about the logo, or I was ages ago. I think I even emailed them with some ideas...lol.

I really like this and notice they've gone with the blue and green and they dropped the red leaf, thank god. It seems blue and green is here to stay in Van for awhile, not like it really went away, but the Canucks will announce on Aug 1 that their new colours will stay blue and green. I like!

DrT

March 5th, 2007, 02:26 PM

Update: Capitol Residencies go on sale. Didn't see this posted.

New downtown condo tower takes centre stage
THOMASINA GORDON
Globe and Mail Update

Interiors at the Capitol Residences reflect a contemporary design scheme, with flat-panel kitchen cabinetry, marble flooring and polished steel highlights.

Developer Peter Wall has managed to tie together both cultural and residential pursuits in a unique high-rise condominium project which opens for sale tomorrow.

The Capitol Residences aims to merge the classic grace of the site once occupied by the Capitol Theatre, a silent-film era movie palace, with contemporary design. It will also accommodate an expansion of the neighbouring Orpheum Theatre, home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, which will extend into the lower levels of the 43-storey tower, expanding the stage and creating new rehearsal rooms for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and visiting performers. Capitol Residences will also house a new community music school.

Bob Rennie, whose Rennie Marketing Systems is promoting the site, says the project will re-energize a once vibrant downtown neighbourhood that had fallen silent since the close of the Capitol 6 multiplex, the modern movie house that had replaced the old Capitol Theatre.

"When the Capital 6 Cinema was moved to Paramount Place it really left a large dead zone in an area that was once so filled with activity," says Mr. Rennie. "The Capitol Residences have replaced that with over 360 new homes and home owners," he says, a residential influx that will bring back the old glamour and bustle.

The project also capitalizes on an unusual height allowance. While the city of Vancouver has generally limited residential high-rises to between 16 and 30 storeys, Capitol Residences will rise 43 floors, offering rare unobstructed views stretching beyond the city lights to include water and mountain vistas. The Capitol Collection suites which occupy floors 31 to 43 — including five two-level "sky homes" — will command the most sweeping views across Stanley Park, False Creek and English Bay.

This project continues a chain of development in Vancouver for Mr. Wall, who previously brought to fruition the popular Electric Avenue condominiums, The Hudson and its live/work suites and The Yaletown Park Towers.

Like Electric Avenue, Capitol Residences will provide a co-op automobile network for residents and a host of other amenities such as concierge service, a landscaped terrace, meeting rooms, a billiards lounge and a fully-equipped fitness centre.

The interiors, designed by BYU Design, mirror the theme of classic sophistication and contemporary chic with marble flooring, flat-panel kitchen cabinetry, polished granite countertops, GE stainless steel appliances, American Standard bathroom fixtures and energy-conserving roller shades.
With 210 units priced under $500,000 and front row seats to downtown Vancouver's theatres, galleries, dining and shops, both Mr. Wall and Mr. Rennie are expecting a brisk opening tomorrow.

"With limited residential sites in this area of downtown, the Capitol Residences offer a rare and sought-after commodity," says Mr. Rennie.

CAPITOL RESIDENCES

Developer: Wall Financial Corp.
Price: $360,000 to $1.3-million
Square footage: 600 to 2,400
Sales Centre: 757 Seymour Street. Open daily from 12:00 until 5:00
Contact: 604-688-0819

mr.x

March 8th, 2007, 02:13 PM

whoooo! a vancouver banner!!

mr.x

March 9th, 2007, 02:23 AM

Just trying something new......from now on, new posts about developments and construction in the GVRD should be made by making a new topic rather posting it here in this topic.

Just trying something new to see if it'll help discussion get going. This is why this topic has been unpinned.

Westcoast604

March 9th, 2007, 08:27 AM

Frenze with Sprectrum in the background - February '07

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/3147/dsc01533xw5.jpg

Pomaria - March '07

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2150/dsc01569si0.jpg

New part of the seawall now open at George Wainborn Park - March '07
There is some new "seawall-front" retail/cafe space at the bottom of this building:

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3271/dsc01574do1.jpg
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/2751/dsc01576sb4.jpg

zonie

March 28th, 2007, 07:48 AM

Central Park Tower - Vertical Phase II (March 14, 2007):
http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4774/centralparktowerphaseiiem0.jpg

Project at Hastings and Rosser (not a highrise) (January 8, 2007):
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/5377/hastingsandrosserprojectr0.jpg

thryve

March 30th, 2007, 07:26 PM

Holt Renfrew updates, anyone? :P

Citystyle

April 1st, 2007, 11:49 AM

Was this designed for Vancouver? If so who designed it?

http://www.canadianarchitect.com/common_scripts/xtq_images/86139-56117.jpg

nova9

April 1st, 2007, 09:13 PM

I believe that is an Arthur Erickson design intended for a project on Georgia St. Most likely adjacent to the Shangri-La where that unfinished concrete building has been sitting for years. I think it's called right now, 1133 W. Georgia.

No comments on its similarities to a certain building in Sweden (?) please. LOL.

mr.x

April 2nd, 2007, 01:34 AM

^ ummmm....the Turning Torso lol.

sudburyboy

April 17th, 2007, 10:38 PM

how tall is that?

officedweller

April 17th, 2007, 11:21 PM

I think it's 600ft to top of mechanical penthouse.

mr.x

April 19th, 2007, 02:52 AM

The automatic washrooms are being installed. Here is the one at the SkyTrain Station at Main Street:

http://pacificmetropolis.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/17/vancouver_public_toilet_2.jpg

zivan56

April 19th, 2007, 06:48 AM

Kind of close to the road. It also seems to be blocking a good portion of the sidewalk...

emperorXIV

April 19th, 2007, 06:55 AM

its in line with the guideway support, with the entrance on the side. unfortunately its on the east side of the street and the majority of transit users use the west side. a couple of trees would be nice.

spongeg

April 19th, 2007, 07:01 AM

there is a park next to it

but i can imagine some people dodging traffic to get to it

odd placement - but i think tehy took into consideration perhaps that the west side has condos and no one would want a toilet just outside their building

emperorXIV

April 19th, 2007, 07:12 AM

why not a toilet they've already got a starbucks. i know its beside a park, i suggest trees to disguise the thing.

Plumber73

April 21st, 2007, 10:39 PM

You mean use the Starbucks toilets as public ones for anyone off the street? Not going to happen. I believe the Starbucks washrooms are normally locked - you need to ask for a key. This one most likely would...

If you disguise it, people won't know it's there. This location doesn't seem too bad to me. As someone pointed out though, it does appear it could get in the face of pedestrians. Maybe that's the idea.

Overground

May 20th, 2007, 07:32 PM

In regards to the public loo at Main St Stn. it's probably the best location as it's right next to the station and the park where plenty of the usual 'park visitors' need a toilet facility. It's mainly there for those people than anyone else.

I found an interesting article that I don't think has been posted anywhere about the Woodwards project. The residential suites will be wired to the hilt with “extreme Internet”.

"....more than 500 suites to be built at the historic Woodward’s site in downtown Vancouver. Per the deal, MetroBridge will be installing an unheard of 100 Mbps access in every suite.....

The exceptionally high capacity connection will allow residents to watch HD TV over IP, video conference, download entire movies in minutes, and easily set up a Voice over IP (VoIP) service as well. In addition, WiFi (News - Alert) service will be available at speeds up to 54 Mbps around the building perimeter and in “Club W,” the rooftop level common area. All of these areas will be ready for wireless VoIP as well."

http://www.tmcnet.com/news/2006/04/20/1591768.htm

Vanman

September 8th, 2007, 09:25 PM

So I've wanted to post these pictures at SSP for awhile now but since it has gone to shits here goes.
Vancouver
Tower at Kingsway and Main (name?)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01140.jpg

King Edward Village
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01143.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01141.jpg

Burnaby
Central Park tower
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01148.jpg

Centerpoint
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01150.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01151.jpg
New pedestrian bridge u/c linking Metrotown with Centerpoint
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01152.jpg

Highgate Village
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01154.jpg

Esprit
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v643/vannmann/DSC01158.jpg

mr.x

September 8th, 2007, 10:09 PM

^ thanks for the pics.

I guess we're reviving this topic after a long sleep.

Vanman

September 8th, 2007, 11:14 PM

^I was wondering why this thread hadn't already been stickied. I had to search 5 pages back for it.

mr.x

September 9th, 2007, 06:12 AM

^I was wondering why this thread hadn't already been stickied. I had to search 5 pages back for it.

We decided to go with posting new topics for Vancouver developments as a way to get more activity in the forum, so we abandoned the developments forum.

jlousa

September 10th, 2007, 04:46 AM

I miss SSP,

Anyways Richards on Richards will go on sale Spring/08 it's being redeveloped by Tri-power.

spongeg

September 10th, 2007, 06:09 AM

ah we were talking about dicks on dicks last night wondering when it would be gone

there is a luv affair/graceland reunion of sorts being held there later this month

apparently its only used for special events now - not a regular night club anymore

themovement

September 10th, 2007, 08:42 AM

Nice pics Vanman, that first one is 1 Kingsway - its the new Mt. Pleasant Civic Centre which will also contain rental apartments in the 10-story tower. And King Edward Village is finally coming along nicely - I live right across the street from it and unfortunately don't have a camera so I couldn't snap it...

officedweller

September 10th, 2007, 11:47 AM

Thanks for the pics!

Vanman

September 10th, 2007, 06:52 PM

Skymaster

September 11th, 2007, 01:20 AM

We decided to go with posting new topics for Vancouver developments as a way to get more activity in the forum, so we abandoned the developments forum.

Mr. X is their anyway u can give us an update photo on the living shangri la on it's own thread. It's been a week. Also, the thread is sort of dying down.

mr.x

September 11th, 2007, 08:43 AM

Mr. X is their anyway u can give us an update photo on the living shangri la on it's own thread. It's been a week. Also, the thread is sort of dying down.

naw, the latest pictures were by Vanman taken on Sept: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=457154&page=4

OettingerCroat

September 11th, 2007, 08:48 AM

is it true that Vancouver is the 3rd most densely settled city in all of north america? :eek: wow...

nova9

September 11th, 2007, 09:40 AM

is it true that Vancouver is the 3rd most densely settled city in all of north america? :eek: wow...
I believe (and someone correct me if i'm wrong) that it is just the West End (a neighbourhood in Vancouver FYI, oettingercroat) that is most dense after NYC and (______), ah I'm blanking. Not sure if it applied to the entire city since not the entire city is populated with beautiful vertical paradises.

mr.x

September 11th, 2007, 08:32 PM

1,080 building permits in city backlog
About 220 issued since Vancouver civic strike began on July 23

Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun
Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2007

New building construction is slowing to a virtual halt in Vancouver with only a trickle of permits coming from a strike-bound city hall.

City of Vancouver managers have only issued about 220 building permits from the stack of some 1,300 that were on file when CUPE Local 15 walked off the job on July 23, David McLellan, deputy general manager of community services, said in an interview.

The city has not accepted any new applications for building permits since the strike began, although McLellan said some 500 additional permits for trade work have also been handed out. He expects the backlog of applications that is building will be considerable.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we received 300 [applications for single-family-dwelling construction] in the first week we open up again," McLellan added, whenever that might be.

City and union officials were heading back to the negotiating table Monday.

There are 10 managers in the community-services department working through the permits in the system with priority given to those that are simple to complete, or where builders are in "life-or-death or go-broke" situations, according to McLellan.

Bigger projects that already have building permits are able to use certified professional engineers to conduct building inspections, Maureen Enser, executive director of the Urban Development Institute said.

Builders, however, are racking up losses. Some companies paying construction crews to essentially sit idle out of fear they'll lose experienced tradespeople in the hot job market. And additional interest charges on construction financing are increasing while projects sit idle.

"That's where you're profit gets eaten up," Bill Eden, president of the Eden Group of Companies said in an interview.

Eden estimates he is losing $50,000-$75,000 a month on a condominium project at Oak Street and 43rd Avenue that needs a building permit. At another project located at East 11th Avenue and Sophia Street where he is waiting for the city to install water and sewer services, the losses are in the order of $300,000 per month.

depenner@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Sun 2007