Bright, colorful pink and orange elephants greet shoppers as they enter the Japanese grocery store Konbiniya on Robson Street. These mascots can
be seen throughout Japan standing outside Sato
drug stores. The two characters have become so popular in Japan that many are now chained and locked to keep people from walking off with them. Sato-chan, the orange elephant hit the pavement
in 1961 while his sister Satoko-chan was introduced to the public in 1995. Throughout the years there have been many versions of these elephants, including some that talked or sang a song if you dropped a coin into them. These are the first I've seen in Vancouver.
Sometimes you come across a place that is just screaming to be photographed.
Grant Gustin and crew of the TV series The Flash prepare for a scene being filmed at Jack Poole Plaza in Vancouver today. Gustin plays the DC comic crimefighting superhero FLASH in the show.
Creating a slushy look, large industrial fans were working at full force blowing snow into the air. Santa had the task of crossing Granville Street repeatedly as cameras rolled supposedly filming a Pain Relief Ad.
One of the most frequently viewed posts on this blog is the posting about the sale of Fourth Church Of Christ Scientists at 2095 W43rd Ave in Kerrisdale.
Listed in 2012 for just under 6 million dollars it was acquired by Bogner Development Group Ltd. In February of this year a rezoning application was put forth and then withdrawn.
The application was for a 6-storey mixed-use building that includes:
- 56 secured market rental units;
- a building height of 19.2 m (63 ft.);
- a floor space ratio (FSR) of 3.25;
- commercial uses at grade; and
- 29 underground parking spaces.
In September, 2014 a Community Open House was held with a new proposal, this time for a 4-storey mixed-use building. No word yet on whether this application has been accepted.
- 17 residential units;
- a building height of 14.6 m (47.7 ft.);
- a floor space ratio (FSR) of 2.30;
- commercial uses at grade; and
- 27 underground parking spaces.
Came across the site Vancouver Vanishes on Facebook the other day. It gives a visual representation of homes being torn down on Vancouver's West Side. This property can be added to the list. Someone got creative in cutting down the trees and dumping them in the swimming pool. The house (pic below) that was demolished was listed for $2,750,000.00
Just one week after Granville Gardens on the corner of Granville and 49th Ave went up in flames, the extent of the damage is obvious. Although the exterior walls are still intact, much of the interior and roof has been destroyed. Workers were on site assessing the damage. This assisted living seniors complex was slated to open in November 2014.
A massive fire broke out at the corner of Granville and 49th early this evening. Granville Gardens, a new seniors residence was still under construction and expected to open in November 2014.
In September 2013, Burnaby City Council approved the redevelopment of the Brentwood Mall area. With the addition of 10 towers, this location will be transformed into a new urban hub, including up to 350 shops and restaurants, a 50,000 square foot grocery store and up to 4,200 residential units. The Brentwood Project will be built in several phases over the next 20 years
On paper it sounds amazing, but looking at the pictures it is apparent that the project is a nightmare for Brentwood Mall. With the lower parking lot being dug up, many businesses have closed including, BC Liquor Store, McDonalds and Starbucks. Pedestrians arriving by Skytrain now have to trek all the way to the entrance located near the old Zellers location. When I was at the mall, many businesses had Sale signs posted and there were few shoppers to be seen.
