Retail and real estate analysts believe large retailers such as Walmart or Target could start pushing for construction of a new mall on either of two downtown blocks that are ripe for redevelopment.

Canada Post’s sale in January of its long-time Vancouver headquarters to BC Investment Management Corp. (BCIMC) has opened up the block bounded by Georgia, Homer, Dunsmuir and Hamilton streets.

Two blocks east is Larwill Park, which is owned by the City of Vancouver and bounded by Georgia, Cambie, Dunsmuir and Beatty streets.

The Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) is hoping to convince the city at a meeting, likely to be held in early March, that it should be given the site – which some estimate to be worth $200 million – to build a new $300 million gallery.

The Tri-City News – Proposal years ahead of a (possible) station.

A company wanting to build a mid-rise housing complex near a future Evergreen Line station in Coquitlam may be offering a development that’s too small — and too soon.

Epix Developments is proposing to construct a six-storey building with 80 apartments and ground-floor commercial space at Falcon and Runnel drives on a vacant lot about 800 m from the Ioco station in Port Moody and two blocks north of a potential future Falcon Drive station.

Epix spokesperson Brad Marko told Coquitlam’s council-in-committee on Monday his company is also working with OK Tire to include its adjacent Falcon Drive property.

Read more: http://www.tricitynews.com/news/191895921.html

Richmond Review – New proposal floated for Bayview lot.

A new development plan is being floated for a site kitty-corner to Steveston’s fishing fleet.

Once home to Towns Netting and Marine Supplies, 3531 Bayview St. could soon be the site of a three-storey mixed-use building.

3531 Bayview St

On Tuesday city council’s planning committee considered a rezoning proposal to allow for ground-floor retail and six homes over a partially in-ground parking structure.

Read more: http://www.richmondreview.com/news/191920631.html

Richmond Review – Strip mall could give way to city’s tallest towers.

A No. 3 Road strip mall known as Time Square could become the site of Richmond’s tallest buildings.

Towers in City Centre can be built to a maximum of 47 metres (150 feet), but Townline Homes is mulling a project whose buildings would exceed that limit.

City staff are now urging council to approve a study of higher buildings—something envisioned in the new Official Community Plan. Any increase, however, requires the backing of the Vancouver Airport Authority and Transport Canada, which also must study the idea.

6560-6700 No. 3 Road

“The federal study would determine if and where an increase may occur, and the safety implications for the airport and city. If Transport Canada allows an increase, it is the city who would determine how high the increase would be,” noted Terry Crowe, the city’s manager of policy planning.

Read more: http://www.richmondreview.com/news/191920261.html