Construction for The Exchange is now well above ground and becoming noticeable from street level.The construction had just reached the ground level back in December.

The 31-storey, 369,000 SF office tower is now over a year into construction, with completion slated for 2017. Aside from National Bank, there have been no major tenants announced for the building yet.

courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/WpSyw2 via @imageshack

courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/NI3oQY via @imageshack

courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/fsUIU5 via @imageshack

City of North Vancouver Council will be considering a draft Housing Action Plan (“HAP”) that has been prepared by CitySpaces Consulting.

The concept for the HAP was first brought forward in 2015 as a way to explore new housing policies to encourage more options and enhance affordability, with particular focus on renters, seniors and low to moderate income families.

Some of the specific policy and regulatory actions being proposed in the HAP include:

Family-Friendly Housing Policy

• Increase the number of family-friendly units within new multi-unit residential
  development projects
• Amend the Zoning Bylaw to require a minimum percentage of three or more bedroom units in all new multi-unit residential development.

Density Bonus and Secured Low-End of Market Rental

• To secure low-end of market rental units in new multi-unit residential development projects
• Update the Density Bonus and Community Benefits Policy to permit a 1.0 FSR density bonus to eligible rental housing in exchange for 10% secured low-end of market rental (10% below CMHC average)
• 100% purpose built rental not required to have low-end of market rental.

Housing on the Frequent Transit Network

• Encouraging the development of new rental housing and reducing construction costs for purpose built rental housing and non-market housing within close proximity to the Frequent Transit Network
• Reduced Parking Policy pilot project – 25% reduction for rental, 75% reduction for non-market if sites located within 400 metres of Frequent Transit Network.

Rental Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw

• Preserve the existing rental supply and improve livability of existing rental and social housing through a new Rental Housing Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw which would apply to new construction to be exempt from property taxes for up to 10 years depending on eligibility criteria

Fee Simple Townhouses

• Making townhouses more affordable and encourage movement of moderate-income households up the housing continuum and to alleviate pressure on the rental supply
• Create templates for Party Wall Agreements and Service Easement Agreements
• Explore areas to pre-zone for Fee Simple Townhouses

Explore Repurposing Bungalows

• Intensifying single detached lots while retaining neighbourhood scale and character; and reducing demolition waste and to bolster the existing coach house initiative
• Relocation of old bungalows to repurpose as coach houses
• Incentives for owners to repurpose bungalows

A copy of the full report can be downloaded here.

Here is a brief overview of rezoning applications going to City of Vancouver Council next week seeking approval to move forward to the final public hearing stage. While these proposals have been posted on this site before, their potential advancement to public hearing signals an intent by each proponent to move forward with their respective projects.

101 East 2nd Avenue

This application is for the new MEC location at 2nd and Quebec. MEC will be relocating from their existing West Broadway location when their lease expires.

The plan is for a 3-storey building totaling 45,262 SF of retail space and 16,350 SF of office and fitness space. The total density is 2.04 FSR. A CAC of $11.50 per SF is being charged.

288-388 West King Edward Ave

This proposal, by Mosaic Homes, is for a 4-storey, 56-unit condo building at the Southeast corner King Edward and Yukon. The site is a 5-lot assembly being rezoned under the Cambie Corridor Plan.

The proposed density is 1.76 FSR, and the CAC is based on the fixed rate of $55 per SF of net increased density.

4085 Ash & 619-633 West King Edward

Also in the same area as the project above, Aragon is planning a development on a 3-lot assembly at the Northwest corner of King Edward and Ash Street.

The plan for the 19,150 SF site is a 4-storey condo building with a total of 31 units. The total proposed density is 1.93 FSR and the CAC is $55 per SF.

Cressey‘s plan for a rental apartment building on a site at Commercial Drive and East 18th Ave includes relocation and restoration of a heritage house. The new 6-storey building on the site will have 101 much needed rental apartments. The total density for the project is 2.70 FSR. 37% of the units will be family-oriented. There is no CAC.

420 Hawks Avenue

Atira Women’s Resource Society originally made this proposal back in November 2014 and it has been the subject of some media attention recently amid some objection by the Strathcona Residents’ Association.

The plan has been revised since the original proposal, with 21 social housing units being proposed in a 7-storey building. A unique aspect of the building is that it will be constructed out of shipping containers. There is no CAC for this project.

753 Seymour Street

GWL’s plan to redevelop the parkade it owns next to 650 West Georgia (Vancouver Centre) became public with an application back in the summer of 2013.

The plan is for a 33-storey office tower, totaling 398,942 SF of new office space above the existing 6-storey parkade structure. The parkade could also be converted into an additional 65,000 SF of office space in the future. The total density of the project is 22.96 FSR. A CAC equivalent to $5 per SF is being paid as a contribution towards childcare facilities downtown.