The VAG is Getting a Re-Design

The plaza in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery has always been a popular gathering place in Vancouver … but never an especially convenient one.

For starters, there’s a big fountain in the middle of it that eats up lots of the available space. Scraggly trees offer some leaf cover but create a claustrophobic feeling. And then there’s all that bark mulch on the ground, which no one has ever liked.

These shortcomings and more are addressed in a new plaza redesign proposal currently being considered by the city. The plan, submitted by Nick Milkovitch Architects, calls for completely opening up the plaza and creating an airy, European-style public setting. It’s minimal, straightforward and quite possibly exactly what the site needs. 

The fountain is gone and so are most of the trees – and the difference (at least in the artist’s renderings) is amazing. The plaza looks huge and inviting: a natural spot for public gatherings, festivals and demonstrations. Meanwhile the art gallery building itself looks positively regal, freed from the clutter that currently surrounds it.

Best of all, that ugly mulch has been replaced by handsome stone pavers, which cover the entire plaza from edge to edge.

Other touches create a more convivial spot to stop and linger. Along Hornby Street, plans call for keeping the existing trees and adding two more rows, creating a mini “forest” in the heart of the city. The new proposal also features something in short supply at the current plaza: benches. Wooden benches will be placed along the edges of the plaza, while two long benches will run through the Hornby Street “forest.”

I pulled this off Inside Vancouver. You can read the rest of the article here:

Another Sweet Time-Lapse of Vancouver

Can't get enough of Daniel Chen's time lapses. Really captures a lot of what living here is all about.

Expo 86. Remember That?

Sure looks different today.

Another Happy Customer

Another Happy customer has just purchased their first place right Downtown Vancouver and they are really happy about.

JUST SOLD 701 - 618 Abbott three bedroom, two bath Penthouse with beauty views of Science World and a zen private park. A professional couple looking for some downtown digs. "Pretty Sweet" was all they had to say.

Congrats you two. 

Good Resale Value VS. Poor Resale Value

Good

1. Kitchens. Updating a tired old kitchen is one of the wisest methods, and a tried and true one, of increasing the value of your home. When planning a kitchen remodel, and making design decisions and selections for plumbing fixtures, appliances, cabinets and countertop materials, you should determine whether you are prioritizing your own design aesthetic or the return on your investment.
Either priority is perfectly acceptable, but you should understand which is your priority, or strike a balance between the two that you can feel good about. 

2. Adding living space. A straightforward addition of a new living room space is typically a very good investment.
Newly added square footage equals increases your home’s value. There are certain costs that will be associated with your addition regardless of the size. New square footage will require the demolition of existing exterior walls, a new foundation, a new roof, new exterior siding and probably new windows. Square footage that can be used is value added.

3. Curb appeal. You have heard not to judge a book by its cover, but smart money recognizes the cover’s value. Your front elevation is more than just a first impression. It’s the only impression available to just about all of your home’s potential buyers.
Simply cleaning out overgrown brush and making a few new planting additions to your landscape can go a long way toward improving curb appeal at a very low cost.
Repainting is another low-cost, high-impact improvement. Costlier changes such as changing out old windows or an aged entry door are things that potential buyers will notice and value. Even more extensive front-elevation remodels, such as added dormers and front porches, can prove wise from an investment standpoint.

4. Master suites. Sorry, kids. Home buying decisions are in the hands of adults, and grown ups care about the environment where they sleep. Updating a master bedroom or remodeling and adding a new master suite is money well spent. The buyers will picture themselves living in their private space, and it’s of quantitative value when they like what they see. 

5. Bathrooms. Home buyers notice bathrooms, and although all the bathrooms are important, a priority should be placed on the powder room and master bath, followed by a guest bathroom and any other secondary baths (the kids don’t need to know).
Cosmetic changes are safer from an investment standpoint than modifications involving changed layouts or minor additions, which can result in inefficient expenses.

Bad
1. Kids’ spaces. No, this is not straight from the Grinch himself. Yes, if your kids have a climbing wall, the fantastic addition will probably lead to hours of fun, increased strength and perhaps even a sense of accomplishment for your kids. It’s a fine idea, and like a pool slide, might even be a childhood dream come true.
But there is no assurance your home buyer will feel the same way. That rock climbing wall, which my own kids would flock to, might actually represent a negative value to a buyer who sees this space as his man cave. 

2. Pools. Backyard pools are loved by millions, and while this appreciation is well founded, they should be constructed for their many virtues that are not investment related. A pool might increase the value of your home but is unlikely to pay for itself, as some buyers will perceive the pool as a negative maintenance expense.

3. Wine rooms. Some of the coolest remodels are the least savvy from an investment perspective. Unless your buyer is a huge wine person you can alienate potential buyers. 
Original designs rarely appeal to everyone, so when adding spaces to a home you know you will sell, consider how personal it is and if others will feel as strongly as you do. Adding a built in wine rack is a lot less costly solution.  

4. Removing features. Do not remove features for investment reasons. If you never use the fireplace in your basement, removing it might make perfect sense to you and your family. Just make sure you understand that the next homeowner might wish it were still there, and the money you spent demolishing the fireplace and reworking the space will not be reclaimed.

5. Minor additions. Adding a few square feet... The reason is simple. If you bump out a bedroom wall by a few feet, you might make that bedroom much more comfortable. That benefit alone might make it worthwhile in your circumstance. But the cost of all the added elements, including foundation, roof, framing and drywall, will result in only a small gain in square footage.  
Say your 2,400-square-foot, three-bedroom home becomes a three-bedroom home with 2,440 square feet. It’ll be unlikely that you’ll recover the cost of the addition.

Just think about it.