A couple of rezoning applications make their way to public hearing next week. Public hearings are generally the last hurdle for proponents before formal enactment and development permits. Two projects going to council next week highlight some minor changes to previously proposed projects:

988 West Broadway

This 10-storey office tower project was originally approved way back in 2011, and finally went forward in 2015. The project, by BlueSky Properties, was rezoned under the Metro Core plan to allow a 5.22 FSR density, and site clearing began in late 2015.

Changes: An amendment is being requested to suit the needs of a “prospective tenant”. The original plan had been to have a common area space on the top floor. The plan now calls for the common area space to be located on the 2nd floor, with the top floor being expanded for a tenant’s use.

• Density increase from 5.22 to 5.52 FSR (heritage density is being purchased + public art contribution)

Amended proposal with additional 10th floor space

1575 West Georgia

This Coal Harbour proposal by Bosa Properties was originally unveiled in 2014. The site is currently improved with a 3-storey office building, and a small city-owned surface parking lot.

The project is moving forward with only small revisions as a result of staff recommendations and public feedback, with a one-storey reduction in height, a reduction in the unit count from 184 units to 175 units, and a reduction in density from 10.83 to 10.59 FSR.

Height context perspective. Note concept tower heights for 1500 West Georgia (Bosa) and 1550 Alberni (Westbank) and 1400 Alberni (Wall). Concept tower heights are also included on Cardero at Georgia and Alberni corners.

A strip retail centre at Burrard Street and West 3rd Avenue in the Kitsilano area of Vancouver has sold for $15,000,000, which equates to $414 per buildable SF. The site is zoned C-3A and is 12,076 SF. Existing tenants in the property include Starbucks and Allwest Insurance. There is no information available at this time about any future redevelopment plans.

A development application has been submitted to redevelop a single-storey retail building on four lots on Victoria Drive near East 54th Avenue. The plan for the C-2 zoned site at 7151 Victoria drive is for a 4-storey woodframe mixed use building that includes:

• 25 rental apartment units
• four retail CRU units (5,082 SF)
• total density of 2.50 FSR (25,674 SF)
• 35 parking spaces on two levels of underground parking

The architect for the project is GBL Architects.

After much industry speculation, the Denny’s property has sold to a group led by local developer Anthony Pappajohn. The purchase price was $26,250,000, which equates to $467 per buildable SF for the 18,750 SF C-3A zoned site. Denny’s lease expires in April 2018, creating near term redevelopment potential.

The site had been listed for sale in late 2015 by Jones Lang Lasalle without an asking price and garnered significant interest given it’s location.

C-3A zoned properties on or near Broadway have been attracting a lot of attention due to the zone’s attractiveness with residential entitlements to 3.0 FSR. Likewise, many buyers view the long-term upzone potential in this area as an attractive feature.

Decorus Developments has filed a rezoning application for a C-1 zoned strip retail property at the corner of Broadway and Renfrew in East Vancouver. The plan for the site at 2894 East Broadway calls for rezoning from the existing C-1 to allow a new rental apartment buildings that includes:

• A new 4-storey building
• Commercial use at ground level;
• Total of 37 secured market rental units on the 3 upper storeys;
• A height of 46.4 ft.;
• A density of 2.65 FSR.

This application is being considered under the Secured Market Rental Housing (Rental 100) Program.