The Breithaupt Block Phase III | 11 fl | U/C

[panamaniac]

As one would expect of a neighbourhood that has experienced some gentrification, no?

Absolutely, I just had no idea how much it would cost to take a developer to the Province. I would say that this fight they would never completely win. The city would have to be pretty short sighted to allow a few concerned citizens stopping Google doubling their work staff in the region. 

I am still not sure why people have such negative view when it comes to gentrification. Studies have shown that it benefits everyone in the neighborhood not just the wealthy home owners.Interesting article in the Atlantic if anyone wants to read.   https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/10/in-defense-of-gentrification/413425/

Also this was a vacant parking lot, its not like they were tearing down low income housing to build an office building.

Just to note, I have a generally favourable view of gentrification.  I understand that the privileged bring their privilege with them and do not hesitate to exercise it.  I find that perfectly normal.  In terms of the direct neighbours fending off a rather massive wall abutting their backyards, I was even somewhat sympathetic to this specific challenge, although I'm glad that a satisfactory compromise was reached.

[Momo26]

What was the compromise in this case? Coles notes version...

[westwardloo]

Just to note, I have a generally favourable view of gentrification.  I understand that the privileged bring their privilege with them and do not hesitate to exercise it.  I find that perfectly normal.  In terms of the direct neighbours fending off a rather massive wall abutting their backyards, I was even somewhat sympathetic to this specific challenge, although I'm glad that a satisfactory compromise was reached.

Yeah I can understand the the direct neighbours being concerned about a development in there back yard. and I do have sympathy. I do question if the direct neighbours were the people that took this to the LPAT. The person I spoke with lived in the " neighborhood" but nowhere near this development. I am also glad all that was compromised was a floor reduction/ no parking garage.

[kps]

What was the compromise in this case? Coles notes version...

Two things.

First, the original proposed main building (from this post) looked like this:

The final version (from this post) is shorter and makes up for it by being deeper, losing the parkette at Wellington & Moore, and having a boxier ‘tower’.


Second, the original proposal had a parking garage with ground floor retail along Breithaupt St.  That's gone.

[Rainrider22]

Tell me how was this a win again please?

[ac3r]

The original building wasn't even interesting in my opinion, it was just a plain glass facade. The final structure has a much more interesting design.

[westwardloo]

Tell me how was this a win again please?

Hahaha it wasn't a win. But in the her mind it was a win. So technically a win win for all. Other than the google employees who will have to walk to the parking garage across king.  I am sure google has kept the same floor space and reduced it by 1 floor. So no more parkette and the building is closer to the houses on Wellington.

[Momo26]

Why not underground parking? Building a brand new structure on an empty piece of land..go for 3 to 4 floors, ample parking, room to grow.

[taylortbb]

Why not underground parking? Building a brand new structure on an empty piece of land..go for 3 to 4 floors, ample parking, room to grow.

There is underground parking, but going that many levels down is expensive compared to current DTK land values.

[kps]

Why not underground parking? Building a brand new structure on an empty piece of land..go for 3 to 4 floors, ample parking, room to grow.

There is one level of parking (same as the building across the street). Apparently the water table is too high to go deeper.

[jamincan]

I'm surprised it's that high there - isn't it basically at the top of a hill?

[kps]

It's far from the top (which is at KCI) but Victoria is a good storey lower. How deep does 1 Vic go?

On the other hand, old maps show a reservoir on the site, so maybe it's a particularly wet location.

On the gripping hand, if they can't go down 5 or 6 levels to replace the garage, they need something else anyway.

[taylortbb]

It's far from the top (which is at KCI) but Victoria is a good storey lower. How deep does 1 Vic go?

On the other hand, old maps show a reservoir on the site, so maybe it's a particularly wet location.

On the gripping hand, if they can't go down 5 or 6 levels to replace the garage, they need something else anyway.

My understanding is that it's not a question of how deep one can go, but how deep it's worth it to go. You can go below the water table, but it makes construction more expensive with dewatering equipment, and then you need a 24/7 sump pump for the garage, and associated backup power supply. I remember reading that the Bauer lofts garage goes below the water table.

However, a bit of land for a parking garage tucked between two rail corridors, where it's not permitted to build most things, is probably a lot cheaper than dealing with the water.

[Rainrider22]

Looking ahead, I wonder if they will consider erecting another building and joining it to the new phase where the surface parking lot is once they require more floor space. I wonder if that will be considered a win for the resident who went to LPAT...

[ijmorlan]

My understanding is that it's not a question of how deep one can go, but how deep it's worth it to go. You can go below the water table, but it makes construction more expensive with dewatering equipment, and then you need a 24/7 sump pump for the garage, and associated backup power supply. I remember reading that the Bauer lofts garage goes below the water table.

Indeed, almost anything “can” be done. It would have been perfectly possible to build the entire LRT as a subway. It would probably cost $5 billion, but as an engineering problem it would have been fascinating, especially with the creek in Uptown.