A development application has been submitted by Aoyuan Canada to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop the Southwest corner of Granville and 7th for a new residential above retail development. The site is currently improved with older retail buildings, including the corner building, now vacant, and previously occupied by EQ3 Furniture for several years.
The plan for the 17,982 SF, C-3A zoned property is for a new 8-storey building that includes:
- 41 market residential units;
- 16 one-bedrooms, 16 two-bedrooms and 9 three-bedrooms;
- A total density of 3.30 FSR:
- 7,776 SF of retail space at grade;
- 48 underground parking on two levels accessed from the rear lane.
The application describes the design rationale: “The proposed form of the building responds to the Granville Street setbacks and View Cone 20-2014 to maintain the corridor view to the North Shore while also respecting historical built form on Granville Street. The building is comprised of three forms stepping up and away from the commercial street along Granville to the eight-storey high portion of the building along the west property boundary.
Retail spaces at street level are shaped as separate units to follow Granville’s street character and break the building proportion to a pedestrian scale. The design of the store frontages and entries sloping up the street will encourage an active and engaging street. Stone cladding will be used on Granville to give a warm and grand look to the stores.”
Under the site’s existing C-3A zoning, the application is“conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board.
The architect for the project is IBI Group.
