DEVELOPING STORIES

Click on any sign below to see details of current developments on that street.

BIDWELL STREET

Another example of a typographical error gone viral, Bedwell Bay, on Indian Arm, was misspelled on the map that Hamilton used to name West End streets.

Both the street and the bay are named in honour of Edward Parker Bedwell, who was the second master, under Captain Richards, of the survey vessel HMS Plumper (1837 - 1860) and was later master of its replacement vessel, the HMS Hecate, for which Hecate Strait is named.


735 Bidwell

[also 1728 Alberni]

NAME: TBC

DESCRIPTION: Two towers of 30 stories and 34 stories. These towers will both sit over a connected 5 story terraced podium in which they are proposing to put retail outlets and include a 24 space childcare centre.

HISTORY & CONTROVERSIES: In order for these to go up, 3 strata buildings (2 built in the 1980s, the third in 1993) of 88 units in total will have to come down. The engineers on the project are Glotman Simpson who also designed Vancouver House and thereby presumably know a thing or two about seismic requirements.

PRINCIPALS: Owner Bosa Properties. Developers Bosa Properties with Kingswood Properties. Architects designed by Heatherwick Studio (based in London, UK) with the IBI Group as the local architect of record Marketing Xxxx.

SPECS: The original application called for: Height East Tower - 105.23m / 345.24’. West Tower 117.30m / 384.8’. Rentals 0 units. Strata 401 units. Social Housing 0 units. They wish to include 499 car parking spaces, 3 commercial parking spaces, 2 childcare parking spaces and 853 spaces for bicycles. Completion as of February 2021, the project was still awaiting approval.

The latest application has decreased the number of Strata Units to 387, tossed out the idea of daycare space entirely, lowered the East Tower to 90.9 meters (298 feet) and decreased the podium height and thereby potential for retail space. The visual difference in the two proposals in striking.

LINKS:

https://shapeyourcity.ca/1728-alberni-st-and-735-bidwell-st

  • Price Tags / “Starchitect Coming to Improve Vancouver’s “Sterile & Boring” Tower Design” / February 16, 2021

  • Vancouver Sun / “U.K. architects design condos near Vancouver’s Stanley Park as tall, curvy trees.” / January 30, 2021

  • Vancouver Is Awesome / January 13, 2021

1188

NAME: 1188 Bidwell

DESCRIPTION: This new 22 story pet-friendly rental building bills itself as a “boutique high-rise” in the “mid-century international style.”

HISTORY & CONTROVERSIES: Perhaps not terribly controversial, but in addition to paying about 2500$ for a 1 bedroom suite, a prospective renter can also expect to pay 200$ a month for parking and an additional 150$ a month should that renter also require a storage area.

PRINCIPALS:. Developer Reliance Properties. Architects DIALOG. Marketing rennie.

SPECS: Height 22 stories / 72.6 meters / 238 feet . Rentals 108 units. Strata 0 units. Social Housing 0 units. Completion March 2020.

LINKS:

  • Urban YVR: May 6, 2020

  • https://pricetags.ca/2020/02/10/bait-and-switch-reliance-properties-leaves-1188-bidwell-street-returning-tenants-with-few-options/

  • https://www.buzzbuzzhome.com/ca/1188-bidwell