MichaelAugust 12, 2009 13:25 EST

Millenium Development has been insolvent since 2007 , why the City gave this Project to an
insolvent Developer , when there were many other
International Developers only the City knows the
Athletes Village will be built but what will be
left will be a ghost Village.

DesAugust 21, 2009 19:32 EST

An observation and a question:

For someone with such a long history in the region and who's played such a pivotal role in helping to shape Vancouver, for Paul Merrick to see primeval forest and pre-contact natives when cruising Hastings around Main is really quite an intriguing statement.

And when did they widen the Lions' Gate?

Johnny BurnabyOctober 04, 2009 15:08 EST

A widened Lion's Gate Bridge, a stunningly unobservant view of the East Hastings milieu, and laying claim to a legacy on False Creek that includes mouldy buildings and huge public indebtedness ... these are the things of a monumental legacy for a monumental ego. But let's measure the man by his works: am I alone in thinking that Cathedral Place is, architecturally, a huge step down from the Georgia Medical-Dental? The roof line mimics the Hotel Vancouver but in doing so subtracts something of the latter's originality. The giant nurses on the corners used to be in the sightlines of the leering gargoyles across the street — that's been lost in this up-ended shoebox with a faux copper crown. And the CBC building ... Britannia Beach Mines South? Is that an inviting structure? One that's meant to make the public love the public broadcaster? Or a fortification against public opinion? And let's get one thing straight: "living above the store" doesn't count from 40 metres up. It's still alienation of public from private space. Finally, what's with Koepke? No room for critical thinking or challenging the grand old man? I call b.s. on this article.

Not a Fan of MerrickOctober 18, 2009 16:20 EST

"you can put thirty storeys on top of that if you want,” he says. “Instead, they put this big, ugly plug between the city and the water, and rendered its edges uninhabitable and unusable."


Sounds like he's never actually been to the convention centre at all. There is a ton of space and its all very accessible, with the ability to be used as public market, festival venue, concerts, all connected the very busy Seawall. I love just spending a few hours there.

It does not block the view of the water for the rest of the city, it wonderfully displays the mountains and water, without pretending its not part of an urban environment.

The design is contemporary (rather than Merrick's own sentimental decor, cliches) with green roofs that capture people's imagination.

I think the convention center is the best public space in the city right now.

Sounds like he just wanted more private development high rise condos ala Coal Harbor.