The first phase of Onni’s large scale mixed-use project known as Gilmore Place, goes before City of Burnaby council next week. The 12.9 acre site next to the Gilmore Skytrain Station in the Brentwood area of Burnaby was initially approved via master plan earlier this year, though requires further detailed rezoning applications for each phase of the project.
The Gilmore Place master plan represents one of the larger projects in Metro Vancouver currently, with over 2.5 Million SF of residential development and 1 million Sf of commercial space.
Phase 1 of the multi-phase project is the subject of this rezoning and includes:
- a 64-storey signature tower with 643 units
- a 51-storey tower with 510 units
- a 43-storey tower with 410 units
- 71,498 SF of residential amenity space atop the commercial podium
- 291,652 SF of commercial space in a large 3-storey podium
- large format retail and smaller CRUs as well as potential office and educational space on upper levels
- total density of 6.6 FAR
- connection to Skytrain station
- 1,720 total parking stalls
The application describes the design rationale:
“The proposed tower design complements the quality and timelessness of the commercial and public open space components advanced under Rezoning Reference #15-54. Tower I and Tower III are designed in tandem to support the signature tower at the corner of Gilmore Avenue and Lougheed Highway. Tower I and Tower III are the counterpoint to Tower II in the use of dark and light colours, drawing from a charcoal and white motif. The subject tower is distinct from the other two towers in that it breaks up the verticality by using offset balconies with fritted balcony glass in a zipper like pattern. The tower terminates in a large lantern element at the corner as a beacon element symbolizing the entry into the Brentwood Town Centre. At the 35th floor is a Sky Lounge the provides residents within the Phase I the opportunity to have social gatherings with unobstructed views to the west and North Shore Mountains.
Residential entries are clearly demarcated on the exterior of the building with floor to ceiling glass, metal and stone elements. Atop the commercial podium is an expansive residential amenity, complete with 71,498 sq.ft. of indoor amenity area with fitness facility (gym, yoga, running and spinning), movie theatre, games room, lounge, golf simulators, bowling alley, indoor and outdoor pools, steam room and sauna, half-court basketball court, three party rooms, four guest suites, indoor and outdoor children’s play area, study centre, kitchen facilities, karaoke room, outdoor dog run, pet wash area and extensive outdoor leisure and landscaped area.
Within Phase I the Gilmore Plaza provides an open air, but weather protected linkage between on-street bus service on Gilmore Avenue and the SkyTrain station, with access to convenience commercial, signature retail, and anchor tenants. The Gilmore plaza is also connected by a grand staircase to second level commercial and retail uses, with opportunities for direct connection to the SkyTrain ticketing level. Movement to the second and third commercial levels is also accommodated by several escalator and elevator banks to ensure universal access and inclusion. The upper commercial levels are characterized by larger format uses with smaller commercial uses at the ground level to engage passersby. The third level allows for more flexible uses including service commercial uses, medical dental offices and institutional uses such as education and training facilities.”
Onni acquired the site in a deal from Standard Life in 2014 for $110 Million.
The property was acquired in December 2015 by Starlight Properties, based in Toronto, for $160 Million. Located within the Lougheed Town Centre Plan area, the property’s value was partially based on the potential to add density, now the subject of a current rezoning application. The rezoning calls to use the RM4s and C1 zones as the basis for a redevelopment that includes four new residential buildings and reconfiguration of some of the existing buildings.
The site sits just one block West of Shape’s large scale mixed-use development “The City of Lougheed” currently in initial stages of development.
