Concord Pacific is moving forward with plans for 89 Nelson Street, a 51,381 SF site at the foot of the Cambie Street bridge, across the street from their 435-unit “One Pacific” project, currently under construction.  As part of the rezoning approval last year, they are required to obtain approval of a preliminary development permit.  Francl Architecture designed the project, which has an interesting design. The proposal includes:

• a 29-storey mixed-use building containing commercial use on the ground floor
• 588 residential units
• overall height of approximately 287.8 feet  for the north portion and 275 feet  for the south portion; and
• four levels of underground parking, containing 520 parking spaces with vehicle access from Expo Boulevard.

An existing C-2 zoned strip retail building at the corner of Oak Street and Laurier Avenue (one block North of King Edward) is proposed for redevelopment to allow a 4-storey building with retail uses on the ground floor and 11 residential units above, all over two levels of underground parking. Details for this 12,819 SF site include:

• Total density of 29,100 SF or 2.27 FSR (less than 2.5 max due to site restrictions)
• Top floor has two 2,000 SF units targeting downsizers
• Each unit gets two parking stalls
• Concrete construction with high quality interior and exterior finishes

The site was acquired by Xpec Oak Holdings Ltd. in 2014 for $7,900,000, or $271 per buildable SF based on the proposed density.

A rare 2.34 acre piece of land located at Oak Street and West 18th Avenue has sold to Wesgroup Properties for $46,200,000. The property, which contains frontage on both West 18th and most of West 19th from Laurel Street to Oak Street,  is currently zoned RT-2 and is improved with 17 low-density rental apartment duplexes built in the 1950’s.

The site had been speculated for future redevelopment for some time and was only recently identified by the City as a potential rezoning location under the Cambie Corridor Phase 3 planning review given it’s current 0.75 FSR zoning and its proximity to transit. The scope or timing of a potential rezoning application remains to be seen.