Renovation of Vacant Downtown Building to Include Retail, Office & Apartment Uses
A development application has been filed to rehabilitate a vacant commercial building in the Crosstown area of Vancouver. The existing 4-storey commercial building at 41 West Pender was previously used as a warehouse for a nearby department store and has been vacant for several years.
This proposal is to add two storeys of woodframe secured rental residential to the existing building, while maintaining office and retail uses in teh existing building. The
current zoning (DD-C2) allows for 5.0 FSR, with an additional 1.0 FSR permitted if all Residential is Secured Market Rental. The existing lot is 50 x 120.
Details include:
- 5,872 SF of retail uses on ground floor;
- 18,515 SF of office use on levels 2-4;
- 9,511 SF of residential uses on 5 & 6;
- 16 market rental units (all studios);
- an amenity roof patio;
- a building height of 97 feet;
- a total density of 5.65 FSR (including Transferable Heritage Density);
- two parking stalls accessed from the lane.
Under the site’s existing DD zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board.
The application describes the building program: “The existing building is a hybrid of concrete, concrete block, steel frame with solid wood joists with concrete topping. The facade is cast in place concrete, front and back, with composite masonry block firewalls. This solid building has good potential for renovation which is not only sustainable but can allow for its occupation in shorter timelines than full demolition and rebuild. The Structural Engineers were consulted from the outset and have provided the parameters of what is and what is not possible with existing structure.
For the proposal to be feasible the renovation hinges on retaining the bulk of the primary structure and adapting the fabric to meet the new use and codes with new shared stair and elevator core. The two levels of residential need to be constructed of light wood frame.”
The architect for the project is Metric Architecture.