232 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

Ack!!! The last thing downtown needs is another lifeless public space.

[aastra]

I'd much rather have a 4-6 story building with a small footprint as versus an empty lot.

[aastra]

Methinks it's the smaller developments on odd lots that can really make things interesting, by introducing something unexpected. Granularity and variability. The streetscape will look and feel much more genuine when there are some odd ducks in the mix. Too many large developments that occur at roughly the same time can make things seem sterile and over-planned. You get too much of the same design trends and too much of the same materials. The big Yates Street projects are going to be flirting with this possibility in a big way.

 

This is another one of those things the CoV should be incentivizing. Wherever larger developments are becoming the norm (as they currently are in Harris Green), try giving incentives for smaller ones in order to break things up. There are a few properties in Harris Green where smaller lowrise projects would be a great fit, not just in terms of visual interest and walkability but also with regard to concerns about blocked views, shadowing, proximity between large buildings, etc. Win win.

[todd]

Ack!!! The last thing downtown needs is another lifeless public space.

I see vibrancy.

[todd]

Was a beautiful established hedge, sad to see.

Edited by todd, 16 June 2022 - 02:34 PM.

[Redd42]

Corners are perfect places for a space for a few trees, a few benches and possibly a sculpture. Much more human than just buildings out to the sidewalk every where. Another example is the corner of Tyee and Bay in Vic West.

[Nparker]

Corners are perfect places for a space for a few trees, a few benches and possibly a sculpture. Much more human than just buildings out to the sidewalk every where. ..

The corner plaza outside Save-on-Foods at Pandora & Vancouver is a perfect example of how this works in theory, but has little real world appeal. 

[aastra]

Off topic, but I heard a rumour the Pandora Green was going to be officially renamed to "Chopped Liver Park". The centrepiece of the renamed park would be a statuary display featuring famous literary characters: Griffin (from the H.G. Wells novel), Harvey the rabbit (from the Jimmy Stewart movie), Sue Storm (from the Fantastic Four comics), etc.

[freedom_2008]

[Nparker]

I see they've added some spraycrete and other reinforcements to the area behind the salon.

[Mike K.]

Neat! Thanks freedom.

Yes, good catch on the spraycrete.

[MarkoJ]

[Nparker]

For such a large site, the excavation seems to be progressing quite quickly here. I wonder if much blasting will be necessary?