Shawn Stevens, Rize’s Superintendent for the renovation project at The Yale Hotel, is a detail man. Here is a picture of him standing on the 3^rd floor scaffolding, showing us the newly installed mansard roof atop the Yale.  Shawn’s our trouble shooter on site and knows everything about this heritage building even though we know he’s not 125 years old!

Back in 1888, balloon framing, a technique that suspends floors from walls, was the method of choice for The Yale. Since there was no warmth or shelter close by, the roof had to go up as quickly as possible. Vancouver can get very wet weather! Once you got that cover over your head, the cladding could start and floors could be hung at your leisure.

Evidence of balloon framing is found in the original framework. Wood studs at The Yale are super long, running from the ground all the way up to the 3^rd floor and roof. If you ever get to talk to a construction detective yourself, like I did, they can tell you if the work crews had their own mill on site (there were no logging trucks back then). The Yale boasts floor joists running 40’ long and in 3”x13” solid fir.

It’s always interesting to check in at The Yale Hotel for a tour and this time I even went home with a souvenir. Shawn gave me hand forged, square edged nails. Very cool.

We’ve sat down with Rize Development Manager Andy Tam to learn more about the new Terminal Offices.

Q: You’re involved in several Rize projects, both residential and commercial. What are the major differences between planning for a residential project and planning for a commercial one?

A: When planning for a commercial project, especially ones where a single tenant is taking all or almost all of the building, it is a total collaborative effort between the landlord and tenant in regards to the overall look, feel, functionality, and branding.

Q: In your opinion, what makes good architecture and design, and how do we see this at Terminal Offices?

A: Good architecture must not only inspire a visual response from the onlooker (hopefully a positive one), but also be functional for its intended purpose. While Terminal is aesthetically pleasing with its complementary blue and orange metal panels, which really differentiates it from the surrounding buildings, its well laid-out floor plates and central glass atrium stairs help provide its occupants with ample amount of natural light as well as ease of flow between floors and other parts of the building.

 Q: What are you most proud of about Terminal Offices?

A: How the team worked hard together to over come huge hurdles in the beginning of the project. Just for example, during excavation the site was like a swimming pool, where we had to employ numerous pumps and other methods to keep the site dry enough to continue excavation and shoring. It was later found out that an abandoned culvert, which was not on any civic drawings, was feeding water from False Creek directly into our site. I’m also proud, that despite the early handicaps, our building’s construction was completed on schedule.

Q: When is Terminal Offices scheduled to open? Any news you’d like to share to the public about this project?

A: Terminal is scheduled to open for business by the end of April. Terminal will be the new home for Columbia College, with over 600 full and part time students.

Q: Finally, what do you most enjoy about your role in BC’s development industry?

A: Buildings in BC in general are very tame and “cookie cutter” compared to other markets around the world. It is exciting to see companies like Rize push the envelope in building design in BC, while maintaining functionality in their project. I enjoy being part of this change.

The said prognosticator, known to her adoring fans as Latoyota, is famous for her earth-shattering prediction percentage. Among her recent successes? Predicting that the Canucks would face a goalie dilemma in 2013 — something almost no one saw coming!

The amazing Latoyota also bravely forecasted that Johnny Depp will make another pirate movie (he’s only made four so a fifth would be a real shocker). She also predicted that people would visit her website, latoyotapsychichotline.ca, after seeing a Georgia Straight ad and  — guess what? — they did.

Seriously though, you might have noticed a couple of ads we ran in the Georgia Straight this week.  Like the Rolston tower itself, our approach is unconventional, perhaps daring, perhaps silly, but it may make you smile.

What do you think of our ads? Let us know — we’re really curious.

Oh, and by the way, Latoyota is predicting that North Granville (the city’s growing Entertainment District) will soon be the hottest location in Vancouver real estate. And based on the number of people who visited the Rolston after seeing our ads, we wouldn’t bet against this prognosticator. If you’re curious what the buzz is all about, visit the Rolston show suite soon.

It was a busy year 1889. The Yale Hotel was built on a mud lined street named after Granville Leveson-Gower, who was the local British Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time. The Canadian Pacific Railway was designing a low–rising timber trestle across False Creek to give birth to Vancouver’s first Granville Street Bridge. This same year the Vancouver Fire Department got horses to pull their fire engine, no longer requiring their men pull it!

Just taking this short look at how much Vancouver has changed in the last hundred years, we feel both amazed and honoured that we can take a small part in keeping our heritage alive.

Rize Alliance landed the heritage work for The Yale Hotel as part of the rezoning of our adjacent Rolston project. Amongst the scope of conservation work required by the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Place in Canada, we are fortunate to have one of Vancouver’s finest consulting heritage architects on board.

Robert Lemon, MAIBC is a specialist in restoration, rehabilitation and conservation of heritage buildings. With almost three decades of experience with heritage conservation in British Columbia, Robert’s past projects include the award- winning rehabilitation of The Architecture Centre in Vancouver and the renewal of the downtown YMCA.

 ”The Yale Hotel is truly one of Vancouver’s great survivors and one of very few Second Empire style buildings around. Originally the Colonial Hotel and built in 1889 at the time of the first Granville Street bridge, its history parallels the building of the city, as CPR workers in the Yaletown area stayed here and made the saloon notorious. Its distinctive bell-cast mansard roof, arched windows and two tone brickwork make it a real landmark on Granville Street. A large extension was built in 1909 and later changes obscured the original storefront, but the building’s current rehabilitation is bringing back much of its original appearance. To respect the historic value of its changes over time, the restored storefront will share Granville frontage with the distinctive 1950′s neon “Yale” sign and its jazzy saxophone”. ~Robert Lemon

The Yale Hotel renovation is a huge undertaking that involves restoring its Granville Street facade to a glass storefront, fixing upper-level hotel rooms, and doing some seismic upgrading. With Robert as part of the team, we are confident that Vancouver’s home of rhythm and blues will be part of the city’s cultural landmark once again.

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more on this exciting project!

Our Project Manager John DeFazio gave me an informative tour of the brickwork at the Yale Hotel last week.

For those not familiar with the heritage renovation, the hotel is located at the corner of Granville and Drake and was originally built in 1889. At that time it was a simple wood framed, three storey building with rooms upstairs to house Canadian Pacific Railway workers.

Some 20 years later, more space was added onto the back to match its existing height.. The perimeter was framed entirely of brick with wood floors and walls. That was in 1909 — a hundred and four years ago!

As part of the range of incentives and protective measures set out by the City of Vancouver’s Heritage Program, Rize had to take down and restore some of the original bricks. Traditional methods of cleaning such as power washing or sandblasting were not permitted as some bricks had become brittle over time. Many of these bricks came over from Scotland in cargo ships as ballast so we can only guess how old they really are.

More recent photos from the Yale hotel renovations below.

Have you tried Burgoo, The Cascade Room, The Foundation, Chutney Villa, Pad Thai Cuisine, Athens Pizza, Sushiyama, Josephine’s, Solly’s, Indochine or Lucy’s Eastside Diner?

Here are three other favourites to consider.

Photo: SweetOnVeg

Do you have a vegetarian in the family? The Acorn has delicious vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free offerings. Try the Harvest — we hear this entrée uses fresh seasonal local vegetables.

Photo: Michael Kalus

Or how about visiting the Wallflower, a place “where Omnivores, Carnivores, Vegan, Vegetarian and Celiacs can all dine together in comfort”?

While there, take in the artwork adorning its walls. Each month, the Wallflower invites an artist to showcase their work at the restaurant.

Photo: The Whip Gallery Restaurant – Facebook page

Located on East 6^th Avenue just east of Main, the Whip is not your typical pub. Serving local and organic eats, craft beers and signature cocktails, the Whip also showcases local artists — perfect if you’d like a side of art with your yam fries.

Mount Pleasant offers some delightful and diverse dining options for casual or special occasions. Keep this hip community in mind when making your next meal plans! Visit the Mount Pleasant BIA website for a full list of businesses in the area.

Happy eating from everyone here at Rize Alliance!

“Piping of the Gremlins” is a Scottish tradition brought over by Matt Winkelman,  Project Manager of  Terminal, Rolston, Wave and Kingsway projects.

Let me tell you his story.

It was 15 years ago, when Matt was but a wee lad earning his stripes with his old Superintendent. They were working on a project that was having more than their share of challenges. “I know what this place needs!” the old guy growled, and he rang up a bagpipe player for help. “You see” he explained, “it’s gremlins that cause all these problems, they make trouble every time you look away and there’s only way to stop them. They got these big ears and they can’t stand any noise, so we have to chase them out!” You had to be there to see for yerself, but the bagpipe trick worked and everything from that time on went smooth as the River Tay.

When Matt grew up and became his own man, he tried twice to forgo the bagpipes on a project.  Much to his dismay, water lines burst and water from the sprinkler system ran down the walls like rain to fill all the electrical conduits in the building.  On the second project, soap was poured into the water feature and 6 ft high suds filled the street corner intersection. Those little scoundrels!

If you ever bump into Matt, ask him if he’d dare try to keep the bagpipes away from a project of his again.  And funny, he’s not even Scottish!

Ancient Chinese wisdom states a Snake in the house is a good omen because it means that your family will never go hungry.

The Snake is the sixth sign and the most enigmatic, intuitive, refined and composed of the 12 Animal Signs represented by the Chinese Zodiac.  People born in the Snake year live adventurously, appreciate beauty and display exceptional taste. Each animal year is affected by a five–year cycle of characteristics, namely the five elements of Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth.

This year we celebrate the Water Snake, which is exceptionally good with their finances and will always have money flowing their way. Creative and intelligent, the Water Snake also loves to take risks.

For those who wish to celebrate Chinese New Year, go out and spend time with family and friends, forgo work and have a good time! For a full list of Chinese New Year Festivities in Vancouver, Surrey, and Richmond, we recommend checking out Tourism Surrey’s 45 in Forty Five blog for some ideas.

Gung Hay Fat Choy from everyone here at Rize Alliance!

A few of those offended went so far as to visit the sales team down on Granville Street, but left on very good terms and with a newfound appreciation of the Rolston’s style. So Vancouver, if we offended, we apologize! If we amused, which is never a bad thing in dreary Vancouver winter, we are happy to have done so.

Have a look at some photos below, and we invite you to check out the Rolston at our presentation centre (#140-1265 Granville Street) and see what the fuss is about! Visit the Rolston’s website for more info.

What do you think? Can, or should, architecture in Vancouver be “sexy”?

 Shopping and downtown amenities are just steps away from the Rolston.

The Chinese buyer has caused a slowdown in new home sales in Vancouver, contributing to a soft market.

In his first blog post for the Huffington Post BC, Rize Alliance CEO Will Lin shares some insights on why Chinese investors disappeared — and why they might be back sooner than later.

As Will explained in the post, the Chinese government introduced a policy in 2009 that was meant to cool investor speculation in China’s real estate. This policy stipulated that buyers could purchase their first home with 30 per cent cash down, but if they bought a second property, a whopping 60 per cent down payment is required.

The policy worked. Prices in major cities such as Beijing dropped by 30 to 40 per cent, effectively halting the investor market in the country.

But in reality,  the People’s Republic of China cannot afford to have the real estate industry stall. Real estate accounts for 11% of the country’s GDP — or up to 25% if you include related industries like appliances and furniture.

The People’s Republic of China has a new leader in Xi Jinping and historically every change in leadership brings new policies to create its own legacy. Will believes that with this leadership change, major changes in the country’s mortgage-lending policies are on the horizon.

Will is not alone in his belief that China’s economic policies and performance influences Vancouver’s real estate marketplace. Bloomberg recently published a chart highlighting the relationship between Vancouver real estate and China’s economy, establishing a direct correlation between the two. As the graph below shows, when China’s GDP rose, so did Vancouver’s real estate prices. Bloomberg predicts that Vancouver’s real estate prices should also soon rise, if the trend holds. Today’s news that China’s economy is once again booming is good news for Vancouver’s real estate industry.

Photo clipped from Bloomberg article

If Will is right — and Bloomberg’s chart suggests that he is — Vancouver homebuyers should keep an eye on China’s economic policies in addition to what is happening in Canada.

To learn more, please visit Huffington Post BC.