3804 replies to this topic

[aastra]

 

why so plain and monotonous? i swear architects start with bland just so they get to make a new set again later in the process.

 

Hey, HP2 looked really good at the start and has gone backwards since.

 

For this one I'd say they should distinguish the top floor somehow. I always say that, but it's so fundamental. Ground floor should be the ground floor, middle levels should be the middle levels, top floor should be the top floor. The pedestrian engages and relates with the ground level, the middle levels define the overall appearance and personality of the building, and the top level provides some completion/resolution to the design.

 

Every proposal should have to provide an answer to the question: Why would somebody bother to take a picture of this building?

 

Also, What contribution does this building make to the city's architectural inventory? If every other building on the street falls down after an earthquake, would anyone (other than the people inside) be happy that this one was still standing? That sort of thing.

[Nparker]

...What contribution does this building make to the city's architectural inventory? If every other building on the street falls down after an earthquake, would anyone (other than the people inside) be happy that this one was still standing? 

Based on the current aesthetics, hopefully View Towers would be thrown on top of this in a major quake. I am not sure what the south side of the 900 block of View Street ever did to deserve the buildings it has and at least one that it may get in the future.

[Rob Randall]

Also, What contribution does this building make to the city's architectural inventory? If every other building on the street falls down after an earthquake, would anyone (other than the people inside) be happy that this one was still standing? That sort of thing.

 

"Where is the heritage architecture of the future" as Pam so often said.

[Kapten Kapsell]

From Burnside Gorge Community Association:

On the agenda:
PC Urban is proposing a 5 storey residential rental building at 43-55 Gorge Road East, consisting of 170 units. The building is made up of 9 studio, 102 one bedroom, 54 two bedroom, and 5 three bedroom rental units. There is a proposed retail space and plaza on the ground floor at the corner of Gorge Road and Irma Street possibly with a coffee shop. The project includes un- derground parking and bike storage and a proposed common area roof top deck space.

The community meeting is Monday August 12. I imagine this building will have a large footprint in order to get over 150 units into a 5 storey structure (with first floor retail).

This proposal has now gone into Dev Tracker in the form of a rezoning application.and development permit application.  I expect we will see renderings of this large proposal shortly...

[Kapten Kapsell]

Plans are now up on Dev Tracker for the Gorge and Irma rental development. Unit count is down slightly to 155 units and some retail is also planned. 109 parking stalls are included; almost half of the units are larger sized (2-3 bedrooms).

[Mike K.]

That’s alright!

[Nparker]

Beats the heck out of the View & Vancouver proposal.

[shoeflack]

There a proposal up on Dev Tracker for the old Legion site at Nanaimo St. and Summit Ave. for a car storage parkade-type facility. No real indication of who is behind it...any ideas? From what this would cost, it sounds like it could be a GAIN project.

 

[Rob Randall]

^A consortium of local car dealers? Looks like it. No hint of any retail component. Strictly car storage with controlled door access, unlike a public parkade.

[laconic]

BMW is losing their site at Esquimalt and Harbour Road if that be development goes through.

[shoeflack]

The application letter indicates "car dealerships in the immediate area" and the car in the plans is a Benz...plus again, what dealership other than GAIN could afford something like this. A safe storage area for Audi's, Benz's, Volvo's, etc.

 

They're calling it three-stories, but in reality it's 5 levels of parking (including basement and roof).

 

The City desperately needs another one of these...too bad this one is for new, unsold cars only.

[Victoria Watcher]

how is city council going to react to this?  a multi-level storage facility for brand new luxury cars.  yowza!

[shoeflack]

how is city council going to react to this? a multi-level storage facility for brand new luxury cars. yowza!

I dunno. GAIN has a pretty good relationship with the city. They haven’t had many problems with the other many developments they’ve completed.

That being said, I do expect a request for 20% of spaces to be held for affordable cars. Your Ford Fiestas, Toyota Yaris’, Kia Rios, etc.

[Victoria Watcher]

can we have a number set aside for rentals? at the prevailing welfare rate for car parking? what about other “supports”? safe tire inflation site? where motorists can inject their tires with whatever substance they want no questions asked. but while there the motorists can get information and referrals to other safer consumption options like nitrogen.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 November 2019 - 08:17 PM.

[Mike K.]

They Carson group is also planning some sort of an expansion of their existing parkade near the Porsche dealership just into the Saanich border next to the new office they built.

[Jackerbie]

how is city council going to react to this?  a multi-level storage facility for brand new luxury cars.  yowza!

 

Looks like a Development Permit, so the question of land use is off the table. The variance gives them a little bit of negotiating room but ultimately anything Council pushes for will be lipstick on a pig.

[Mike K.]

The letter written to council lacks the typicaly soft touch of proposal seeking a more involved approvals process. It's actually a breath of fresh air, to have the architect explain in basic terms what's going to happen and why.

 

I did find it funny that bicycle parking is also included.

[Rob Randall]

^If it's a LEED building bike parking is easy points without doing anything expensive or effective. I'm not joking.

[Jackerbie]

^ Not including it would require a variance, and would you want to ask CoV Council to vary the required bike parking?

[Rob Randall]

^ Not including it would require a variance, and would you want to ask CoV Council to vary the required bike parking?

 

No, you simply don't install them in the first place. Look at Dominion Rocket or Village Walk. The City only noticed when they got bombarded by citizen complaints.

 

Village Walk on OB Avenue basically told the City to screw your variance. In fact, if someone could swing by there today and check if the rack is back at the entrance that would be great.

Edited by Rob Randall, 12 November 2019 - 10:35 AM.