Here’s an update on a project that has flown under the radar. It’s an 18-storey residential tower on the site of what used to be the Legg Residence, a heritage mansion that was demolished in order to protect a tulip tree on the site. The project was originally approved in 2011 but only started construction in late 2014.

Photo by Tom_Kelsch

1484 Martin Street Brochure

One of Metrotown’s premier development sites has sold. The site, located at Silver Avenue and Beresford, is comprised of two lots totaling 84,027 SF in size and is currently improved with two walkup apartment buildings. The site is currently zoned RS-3, but is designated for rezoning to Burnaby’s high-density residential zoning RM-5″S”.

The site at 6380-6420 Silver had been listed for sale earlier this year and was acquired by Belford Properties, who have sites in Burnaby and South Vancouver.

The potential rezoning allows over 420,000 SF of buildable area and will likely allow one or more large towers. The adjacent sites along Beresford have both recently been developed by Intracorp as tall towers – to the East is Metroplace, a 46-storey tower with 342 units completed in 2014. To the West is Silver, a 38-storey tower with 290 units nearing completion.

As was reported in the media late last week, two major rezoning inquiries are going before the City of Vancouver’s Standing Committee on City Finance and Services on Wednesday; one was expected and one was a bit of a surprise within the industry. The inquiry stage simply confirms Council’s approval to proceed to a formal rezoning application stage.

Sinclair Centre

• 1.54 acre site
• Proposal to increase the density and height for commercial uses
• 1,100,000 SF of office space for Federal Gov’t (up from existing 390,000 SF)
• A density of 17.0 – 20.0 FSR
• Max height of 350 ft due to view cones (29 storeys)
• Existing CD-1 zoning proposed to be amended

Excerpt from the Policy Report explaining the heritage aspect:

• the former Main Post Office (built in 1910) — Municipally Designated and Federally Recognized Heritage Building, listed as an ‘A’
• the R.V. Winch Building (built in 1911) — Municipally Designated and Federally Recognized Heritage Building , listed as an ‘A
• the Customs Examining Warehouse (built in 1913) — Vancouver Heritage Register, listed as an ‘A,’ and Federally Recognized Heritage Building , listed as an ‘A,
• the Federal Building/Post Office Extension (built in 1936) — listed as a ‘B’ (but not designated).
• In 1986 the four buildings were restored by the Federal Government. While the buildings were seismically upgraded, they would not meet today’s standards and some portions of the buildings received very modest upgrades

Post Office Site

• 2.98 acre site acquired by bcIMC in 2013 for $159 Million
• Rezoning to allow reuse and retention of the existing building, with new residential and commercial uses
• Existing Post Office building would contain retail, office, hotel, residential lobbies
  and the blank granite walls would be modified to provide for pedestrian-oriented at-grade retail
• New building above would contain office, hotel, and rental/condo housing
• View cones limit building heights between 225 feet and 285 feet

Comment from the Policy Report on the heritage aspect:

A rezoning application has been filed for a 12,500 SF C-1 zoned site at East 64th Avenue and Fraser Street for a 5-storey market rental building. The proposed rezoning would see the current C-1 zone go to CD-1 under the Rental 100 Secured Market Rental Housing Policy. The proposal is for a 5-storey mixed-use building that includes:

• 37 secured market rental units;
• commercial space at grade
• a building height of 52 ft. ;
• a density of 2.65 FSR; and
• 28 underground parking spaces.

The site sits just one block from the Super 8 Motel, which is in preliminary planning for a rezoning and redevelopment, including multi-family housing.