Development

Details Emerge for Onni’s Pearson Dogwood Project

Details have emerged regarding the rezoning of the Pearson Dogwood site at 500-650 West 57th Avenue, as the full rezoning application has now been released. Onni‘s proposed plan for the 25-acre site at Cambie and 57th is for a large-scale mixed-use development that will include:

a total density of 2.8 FSR
3,097,262 SF of building area
2,170 total units
5 phases
residential use consisting of: market units, rental units and affordable units
building heights between 3 and 28-storeys
replacement housing for George Pearson Centre
a replacement facility for the Dogwood Lodge
retail and commercial space
a community health centre
a YMCA facility with a 25-metre pool and a therapeutic pool
a 69 space child care facility
a 2.5 acre City park
an urban farm
a potential future transit station

The application describes the rezoning rationale: “The proposed site master plan embodies the principles of Complete Community planning, intertwining health, recreation, retail, and employment uses with housing diversity and affordability.

At the heart of the development is an extensive park and open space system, which includes: a new 2.5 acre City Park (to be designed later through a City-led process); a 1 acre urban farm; the large Pearson Plaza; the High Street Commons, a north-south open space that ties the Pearson Dogwood site to Langara Gardens to the north; and the Cambie Walk retail plaza, which extends from the central open space area to the proposed transit station at 57th Avenue and Cambie Street.

In addition, the open space network is complemented by diagonal pathways through the development blocks in all four corners of the site, providing excellent porosity and movement to and from the proposed transit station to the northeast, the Cambie Corridor, and schools and recreation facilities to the west.

Housing affordability and diversity will be a hallmark of the Pearson project, integrating a variety of people with differing incomes and abilities throughout the site. Affordable and accessible housing units will be included in multiple buildings across the site, with almost half of the replacement units for Pearson residents included in phase 1. In addition, a new 144- bed Complex Residential Care facility will be developed for residents with significant health care needs.

In addition to affordable housing, market housing will include a significant number of larger units (2 and 3 bedrooms), appropriate for families with children. Opportunities for improving affordability of market units will be explored, which may include providing units with modest finishes.”