The Changing City

With all the major development and construction projects that have been announced for Vancouver over the past few years, we thought it would be interesting to take a step back for a moment, to think about how they will eventually come together in the not-too-distant future.

For instance, consider that within four years' time, locals and visitors alike will be able to ride the Canada Line between the newly-expanded airport terminal and downtown Vancouver in just 25 minutes.

The Robson, Yaletown, False Creek South, and Broadway/City Hall stations will be regular subway stops for thousands of commuters, while the proposed downtown streetcar would run along the southern shores of False Creek, connecting Granville Island to Waterfront station.

The new convention centre will be completed by 2008, while the central residential and commercial district of the Southeast False Creek neighbourhood will also be done, once construction of the Olympic Village is finished by late 2009.

If the Whitecaps stadium goes ahead on the Gastown waterfront, new development will flood into that area as well.

In addition to these major projects, at least 62 new buildings (if not more) will have risen within the downtown core over that same period.

Among them will be several landmark structures, not least of which will be the Shangri-La and 1133 West Georgia (if the latter goes ahead) - two buildings that will undoubtedly transform the Vancouver skyline, not only through their design, but by raising it to new heights as well.

Other notable buildings that will potentially become architectural favourites include the Flatiron, Jameson House, the Erickson and the Grace Residences.

There are also a few major developments that will either transform old neighbourhoods, or create entirely new ones. The Woodwards project in Gastown naturally comes to mind, as well as the Firenze, Espana and Spectrum/Costco buildings going up nearby International Village.

Coopers Quay along the shores of False Creek will also bring as many as five buildings to that new neighbourhood. There's another cluster of buildings going up in the Triangle West district, just north of Coal Harbour - the Melville, the Ritz, Cielo and the Flatiron, among others.

Some truly major changes for Vancouver over the next few years, which will unquestionably transform the city that we know today.

Any other major projects that we've missed?  Got some early ideas as to which building will be your favourite? Feel free to add your comments below.

Comments

[Jerry Faust]

Pinnacle International is also developing the Sapphire in Triangle West (corner of Pender and Bute). Their marketing materials call it the "Sapphire at Coal Harbour"- I suppose Coal Harbour has more cachet than Triangle West?

[North Shore]

Burrard Inlet will be significantly transformed, not only because of the terminus of RAV, Whitecap Stadium, and the new convention center -- but also because of an expanded Seabus fleet which will take people across the water to the proposed new National Maritime Museum in North Van's Lower Lonsdale, at the old Versatile Shipyards Site.

[Gary]

Any recent news on the proposed 80 floor structure for Vancouver?