PCI Group has submitted their rezoning application for 3609-3687 Arbutus Street, a 33,000 SF site that they acquired earlier this year. The site is located on the West side of Arbutus between West 20th and West 21st Ave.

The five-lot, full block assembly is currently zoned RS-1 but is proposed to allow for the development of two 6-storey residential buildings including:

• 116 market rental units;
• 4 studios, 66 one-bedrooms, 32 two-bedrooms & 14 three-bedrooms;
• a total density of 2.53 FSR;
• a maximum height of 73 ft.; and
• 74 underground parking stalls and 227 bicycle spaces.

The proposal describes the design rationale: “The proposed site is approximately 264 feet long and slopes over 2m down from the south to the north along Arbutus Street, and over 1.5m down towards the west at the lane. In response, and as per the City’s advice, the project has been split into two buildings, with the north building lower than the south building. The offsetting of the buildings follows the slope of the site, reduces
the height, and minimizes grade changes between the sidewalk and the ground oriented units facing the street. In addition, a courtyard space has been created between the buildings with amenity rooms located on each side.

The buildings provide further massing relief by stepping back at Levels 5 and 6 to create a four storey emphasis and to mitigate shadow impact on adjacent properties. This also provides generous terrace space for the units on Level 5. The rooftops have amenity terraces complete with planting, children’s play spaces, urban agriculture, BBQ and seating spaces. At the street and the lane, masonry portals are used to define balconies and anchor the building with elements that align with the scale of the neighbourhood.”

The architect for the project is BHA Architecture.

The application is being considered under the Affordable Housing Choices Interim Rezoning Policy.

The full rezoning application can be viewed here: https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applications/3609-3687arbutusst/index.htm

BLDG Development (W. Laidler Sales Corporation) has submitted a revised application to the City of Port Moody for a site first pitched for a rental project in August 2019.

The 18,000 SF site is located at 148-154 James Road, just East of Moody Middle School. The 2019 proposal was for a 6-storey rental and condo building with 64 conventionally sized units and a density of 3.14 FAR.

The modified application would keep the 6-storey building form, but would include the following:

• 114 units (92 strata, 22 rental);
• 66 studios, 43 one-bedroom units & 5 two-bedroom units;
• Average units sizes of 359 SF for studios, 472 SF for one-bedrooms;
• a reduced total density of 3.0 FAR;
• 68 parking stalls.

In a unique model, the project would contain “a total of 22
rental units (for a period of ten years) and 92 strata units. Of these units, 11 rental units and 11 strata units would be reserved for lower income earners who earn less than $51,000 per year.

The 11 strata units would have a restriction on resale for two years. There would be no restrictions placed on the remaining 11 rental units.
Although a total of 11 rental and 11 strata units would be reserved for persons earning less than $51,000 per year, it is unknown at this time whether the rental rates or purchase prices would be reduced to an amount that would be considered as below-market or affordable housing. As a
reference, the BC Housing 2019 Housing Income Limits (HILs) rates would suggest a monthly rent of $1,288 for a one-bedroom or studio unit, but likely does not take into consideration the smaller micro dwelling style units, as proposed with this project.“

In addition, a pre-release of the units would be available for and marketed specifically to:

• persons earning less than $51,000;
• persons aged 65 years and older;
• persons with mobility challenges;
• families where two generations are seeking to reside in separate units in the same building; and
• persons who qualify for BC Housing’s Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER) program.

The architect for the project is Integra Architecture.

The project is at the Community Planning Advisory Committee and would require referral back to Council for approval.

Rize Alliance has submitted a rezoning application for 810 Kingsway, a 24,800 SF site currently occupied by Sammy’s Flooring.

The proposal for the site is a 6-storey rental building under the City of Vancouver’s Secured Market Rental Housing (Rental 100) Policy.

Details include:

• 103 market rental units;
• 31 studios, 36 one-bedrooms, 29 two-bedrooms & 7 three-bedrooms;
• 11,210 SF of retail space at grade;
• a total density of 3.62 FSR;
• a maximum height of 72 ft.; and
• 92 underground parking stalls and 193 bike spaces.

The application describes the design rationale: “The C-2 guidelines have informed building stepbacks along Kingsway and rear-yard setbacks towards the lane. The intersection of Kingsway and Prince Albert Street is oblique, creating a flat iron condition. At this prominent corner, we are proposing a six story element that folds away from the Kingsway frontage, providing a visual landmark as well as space for a landscaped, publicly accessible plaza.
The grade of the site slopes steeply down from Kingsway south along Prince Albert Street. This grade change allows us to insert two-level townhouses fronting the lane without raising the building height relative to Kingsway. The five, three-bedroom, two-level townhouses along the lane provide valuable ground-oriented rental units suitable for families. These townhouses help to create a transition to the single-family homes to the south while providing animation and passive surveillance along the lane.“

The architect for the project is Yamamoto Architecture.

A development application has been submitted to the City of Vancouver for permission to restore and retain the front façade of a fire damaged heritage “C” Building at 748 East Broadway, between Fraser and Prince Albert Streets.

The building suffered a fire in 2014 that destroyed much of the structure.

The plan for the redevelopment is a new 4-story mixed use building consisting of:

• 18 rental units;
  • 10 studios & 8 one-bedrooms;
• 2,171 SF of retail space;
• a total density of 2.98 FSR;
• a proposed height of approximately 45 feet; and
• two surface parking spaces, having vehicular access from the lane.

Under the C-2C zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.

The architect for the project is Stuart Howard.

Value Group has submitted a DP application to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop 2906 West 4th Avenue. The 5,774 SF site was part of two properties that were destroyed by fire in the summer of 2018.

A development application was submitted for the adjacent lot last spring.

The proposal for the former Topanga site includes a new 4-storey building with residential units above retail. Details include:

• 16 market rental units;
  • 13 studios and 3 one-bedrooms;
• 2 retail units totaling 2,700 SF;
• a total density of 2.37 FSR;
• a building height of 51 ft.; and
• all over 1 level of underground service and storage with 3 surface parking spaces and 1 loading space at the rear, having access from the lane.

Under the site’s existing C-2 zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.

The architect for the project is Formosis Architecture.

Value Group acquired the property in 2013 for $2,675,000.