state of the triangle

in case you haven't noticed, the denny triangle is beginning to fill out her trousers. there's density galore these days and still more to come! 08 has topped and its blue-rimmed hat is nearly almost complete, olivian seems near topping out(?!), the aspira at 1823 Terry is 6 floors above ground, 818 Stewart is looking nearly habitable, west 8th is topped and about half/most of the floors have concrete and, the 1918 8th elevator shaft has just reached the cosmo roof deck.

[photo credit: sellen construction web cam]

there are a couple of new development issues that engaged citizens might want to consider attending. the first, and most exciting is the denny triangle park acquisition meeting, next Wednesday, September 10th, at 6:30 pm. the proposed land to be acquired is the triangular piece bounded by 7th, westlake, and lenora, but the meeting will be held at Cornish College, 1000 Lanora st. parks department folks will give a presentation about the status and gauge community interest in the project.

although the denny triangle neighborhood association will likely be in attendance, i would encourage local residents to attend. this association has been active in the neighborhood for many years, however their interest is strictly commercial and their actions are mostly pro-developer. not surprising given that the chair is (and has been for many years), Lyn Krizanich of Clise Properties, Inc, and the vice-chair is Ed Danyluk of Imperial Parking.

the other project worth mentioning is a DPD design review of Schnizter's final phase in developing the 9th & Virgina block. this is the smallest piece of their office tower arsenal but it's also the last opportunity to make comments and take stock of all the departures from code they have been granted with promises to compensate in the watermark replacement building. for example, the records show some shady (vague, ambiguous, minimal accountability) trading of tower heights, FARs, etc. among the three building proposals. this likely plays into why the watermark replacement will be tiny by comparison to the other two buildings on the block, 818 and 1918. this design proposal is to replace the 5-story Watermark building with an 11-story office building.

the DPD design review is Tuesday, September 23, 5:30pm at City Hall