9638 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Ah, yes. You know, it wouldn’t surprise me if Abstract had its eyes on it. They’ve got three active projects in that immediate area already.

[Kapten Kapsell]

Ah, yes. You know, it wouldn’t surprise me if Abstract had its eyes on it. They’ve got three active projects in that immediate area already.

Given the site's history as a gas station, it will be interesting to see what soil remediation requirements will be in place for this spot to be redeveloped...

[Mike K.]

Right, it was indeed. This could be a long-term play, for sure. And that’s only after the soil is excavated and remediation efforts are completed. It can take quite a few years to get the green light to build.

[Rob Randall]

Pam Madoff was on CBC this morning talking about how this specific style of architecture is fast disappearing. She said that if this building was in Palm Springs it would have already been given heritage designation.

 

It's the type of station depicted in paint and photographs by the world-famous artist Ed Ruscha:

 

Tate.orghttps://www.tate.org...e-stations-1963

 

[aastra]

What did some wise guy say? That Victorians can be so selective re: the buildings they value as versus the buildings they don't care one bit about?

 

I'm more interested in yet another example of long lost urban texture on the right side of the pic.

 

And if some other wise guy suggests relocating the overhang and angled windows closer to the corner and building something new behind it, you just know the heritage defense force would be crying foul.

[G-Man]

I actually agree with Ms. Madoff on this I would love to see the building preserved. We have been on a modernist destruction blitz for a decade in this city.

[aastra]

I'd like to see it preserved as well, I'm just saying its preservation need not impair the redevelopment of the site. We're talking about Victoria, after all. Surely this isn't going to be the site where people start enforcing a strict standard?

 

 

She said that if this building was in Palm Springs it would have already been given heritage designation.

It's the type of station depicted in paint and photographs by the world-famous artist Ed Ruscha:

 

What did she have to say about the Johnson Street Bridge?

[Nparker]

...I'm just saying its preservation need not impair the redevelopment of the site...

I'd be curious to see how the existing structure could be preserved intact while still creating a profitible development on the site.

[aastra]

It depends on what they're planning and what our expectations are. If they want to build something big then they could relocate the overhang and the bit under the base of the overhang to be much closer to the corner. If they want to build something not so big then they could leave the overhang and the bit under the overhang as is and build from the very back corner of the property out to the Cook Street sidewalk and/or from the very back corner of the property out to the View Street sidewalk.

 

I'm assuming we aren't going to apply a super strict standard on the preservation of the entirety of the service station building as is, bays and all. But maybe that's a big assumption when you consider how bizarro Victoria's heritage preservation mission has been.

[Rob Randall]

Pam said on the radio this morning someone commented to her that they could put the new development on stilts or something, anything to preserve the old building.

 

I don't like the idea of incorporating it into a new development since it's the overall look and shape of the Phillips 66 stations that is appealing, not any fine details or materials.

[Nparker]

Pam said on the radio this morning someone commented to her that they could put the new development on stilts or something, anything to preserve the old building.

 

I don't like the idea of incorporating it into a new development since it's the overall look and shape of the Phillips 66 stations that is appealing, not any fine details or materials.

OMG stilts.   

That's the thing. Any new development on this site is going to destroy the integrity of the original mid-century design. Either save it intact or demolish it, but please-oh-please don't compromise using the Northern Junk method.

[Mike K.]

It’s pretty safe to assume it’s destined to go. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be relocated.

[thundergun]

I don't like the idea of incorporating it into a new development since it's the overall look and shape of the Phillips 66 stations that is appealing, not any fine details or materials.

 

Move this to the top of an existing building for a pretty sweet rooftop bar.

[Mike K.]

Ok, now that’s an idea.

[Rob Randall]

It’s pretty safe to assume it’s destined to go. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be relocated.

 

It's a metal pole attached to a slanty roof attached to a bunch of cinder blocks. What's to move?

[Mike K.]

That makes a pretty good case for it being bulldozed.

[aastra]

How's this for a compromise? Encase the whole thing inside the glass lobby of a new building. You're welcome.

[Rob Randall]

That's the stilts idea. Are you Pam's friend she was talking about?

[aastra]

No stilts. Just an ordinary building with a large room on the ground floor that contains this building. And a couch and maybe a plant.

[Nparker]

...Just an ordinary building with a large room on the ground floor that contains this building. And a couch and maybe a plant.

As long as the couch and the plant are indicative of the era of the existing building.