Bosa Developments got the ball rolling this week on a conceptual high-density mixed use development at the Northwest corner of Lougheed and Willingdon in the Brentwood Town Centre area of Burnaby.

The “Brentwood West” site is approximately 3.27 acres (142,542 sq. ft.) in size and is comprised of seven individual parcels. One of the parcels (4488 Halifax Street) is vacant, three parcels (4430 Halifax Street, and 1801, 1925 Willingdon Avenue) are occupied by older low-rise office buildings, two parcels (both addressed 4461 Lougheed Highway) are occupied by older low-rise retail uses, and one parcel (1967 Willingdon) is occupied by a Petro Canada gas station.

The sites require a Community Plan Amendment and Conceptual Master Plan. Bosa owns the three parcels located at 4430, 4488 Halifax Street, and 1801 Willingdon Avenue. The remaining parcels are currently held by three separate owners.

The preliminary concept is a transit integrated mixed-use employment and commercial gateway into the Brentwood
Town Centre. The site is envisioned to be developed in four main phases, each having a unique identity and relationship within the site. It is anticipated that each phase would be brought forward as a single, or related grouping of site specific rezoning applications.

Upon completion, the approximately 3.27 acres (142,542 sq. ft.) site is envisioned to accommodate four mixed-use residential and commercial towers, two new public open spaces, a new street linking Buchannan Street to Lougheed Highway, and a range of public realm and infrastructure upgrades, including the achievement of the Town Centre Street Standards along the development frontages.

Phase 1 – Bosa owned sites at 4430-4488 Halifax Street – single condo tower over retail, with 6-storey non-market rental podium

Phase 2 – Bosa owned corner of Willingdon & Halifax – “signature” rental tower, with office & retail podium

Phase 3 – Corner of Lougheed & Willingdon – “landmark” condo & rental tower, with office & retail podium

Phase 4 – 1925 Willingdon – condo & non-market rental tower over, with office & retail podium

The overall permitted maximum density is 14.3 FAR, as per the following:

A pre-application has been submitted for the development of a vacant plot of land just South of the Schara Tzedeck cemetery, on the Western Edge of New Westminster, bordering Burnaby and just Northwest of the Queensborough Bridge. There is an existing enclave of single family homes directly south of the site, and the cemetery to the north and east.

The site at 2342 – 2346 Marine Drive is 23,500 SF and is a short walk to the 22nd Street Skytrain Station, though outside of any OCP designation to allow rezoning.

The proposal for the site includes a 30-storey rental apartment building that includes below market rental units. Details of the proposal include:

• 230 ‘near market’ & below market rental units
  • 185 rented slightly below market rents (10% below market rents)
  • 45 below- and nonmarket units (20% of units)
• 2,066 sq. ft. of ground floor retail;
• 3,180 sq. ft. childcare space;
• 4,574 sq. ft. community use space;
• a total density of 8.7 FSR.
• 246 underground parking stalls.

The application describes the project rationale: “As a not for profit organization, the board is looking to create an on-going source of revenue to service the organization for years to come. The best way forward to meet their objectives, and to service the community they are in is to create a development consisting of secured market rental and affordable rental housing. To that end, 20% of the residential units are to be designated as affordable rental units, or 46 units in the proposed design.”

The architect for the project is collabor8 Architecture + Design (BC) Inc.

The proposal is before the Land Use and Planning Committee, and will require further staff review before becoming a full application.

The Jim Pattison Group has acquired a 22,500 SF site at the Southeast corner of West Broadway and Balaclava Street in Kitsilano for $30,750,000. The site is zoned C-2C which allows a maximum density of 3.0 FSR; based on the existing zoning this price equates to $456 per buildable SF. There is no news yet on redevelopment plans.

A rezoning application has been submitted for a property at Templeton and Oxford in East Vancouver.

The proposal is to allow for the development of a 6-storey market rental building. The zoning would change from RM-3A (Residential) District to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District. The proposal includes:

• 36 market rental units;
  • 23 one-bedrooms, 9 two-bedrooms & 4 three-bedrooms;
• A total density of 2.40 FSR;
• A building height of 70 ft.;
• 18 vehicle parking spaces and 68 bicycle parking spaces.

The application is being considered under the Grandview-Woodland Community Plan.

The architect for the project is Stuart Howard.

I’m pleased to announce the sale of 7000 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby. This 14-acre site adjacent Sperling-Burnaby Lake Skytrain station represents one of the largest master plan residential development sites to transact in Metro Vancouver in recent years.

A large-scale transaction of this nature poses complexities and challenges, particularly when planning policy is not yet fully defined. We were able to leverage our skills and expertise to navigate the sale process and deliver for our client.

Congratulations to the buyer, Create Properties; it was a pleasure working with your team and we look forward to seeing this landmark project in the Bainbridge community come to life.

Please contact me for further details.