The City of Vancouver is considering new guidelines for height and density that would impact approximately 40 properties around Marine and Cambie in South Vancouver that have potential for social housing or commercial/industrial development.

The area has been the subject of guidelines under both the Marpole Community Plan and Cambie Corridor Plan; however, more recent decisions by Council have directed staff to review the area for new guidelines. These decisions include:

• In February 2020, Council directed staff to consider rezoning enquiries and applications for social housing sites around the Marine Drive Station area beyond the heights envisioned in the Marpole Community Plan to address Council’s affordable housing priorities (PDF).
• In October 2020, Council also supported intensification of job space in key areas, including Marine Landing, through the Employment Lands and Economy Review (ELER) (PDF). Intensive employment sites in Marine Landing that deliver 100% job space projects with a multi-storey light industrial space may be considered for greater heights and/or densities than identified in the Marpole Community Plan and Cambie Corridor Plan.

The new analysis of the areas planning guidelines will provide new direction for building heights, densities, public realm improvements, built form and urban design, public amenities and upgrades to utilities and public transportation.

A full FAQ page is located here for further background: https://shapeyourcity.ca/marine-landing-review/widgets/61466/faqs

It is expected that a report will go to Council in Spring 2021.

The full review page is located here: https://shapeyourcity.ca/marine-landing-review

The formal rezoning application has been submitted for the Heather Lands, a 21-acre site located just West of Cambie Street, between West 33rd and West 37th. The site is jointly owned by Canada Lands Company,  the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation (the “MST Nations”).

A comprehensive planning program was initiated for the site in 2016 and concluded in 2018, now the details are being revealed for submission to City Council in the rezoning application.

The proposal is for a master-planned redevelopment of the site, built in five phases, with buildings between 3 and 28 storeys, a childcare facility, a school, a park and public open space, office space, retail space, and a cultural centre. This proposal includes:

• approximately 1,672 condo units;
• approximately 400 rental units, including 100 moderate income rental units;
• approximately 540 social housing units;
• A maximum building height of 304 ft.;
• 62,287 SF of retail space;
• 62,994 SF of office space;
• A 22,549 SF Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh (MST) Cultural Centre;
• A 74-space childcare facility;
• A new Conseil Scolaire Francophone (CSF) French elementary school (on leased land);
• 4 acres of park and open space.

The application describes the design rationale: “The proposed new Heather Lands neighbourhood reflects the shared aspiration of CLC-MST to transform the Heather Lands into an inspiring, progressive and sustainable new neighbourhood that generates the best possible economic and social benefit for MST Nations’ members, local communities, and the country. It also clearly reflects the vision laid out in the Heather Lands Policy Statement: “the vision for the new community is to create a sustainable new neighbourhood that will be a place to welcome and connect all people and cultures, and to share the traditions, culture and values of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.”

The application is being considered under the Heather Lands Policy Statement approved as part of the initial planning process.

The architect for the project is Dialog.

Bonnis Properties has submitted their formal application for 526 Granville Street, a 6,000 SF DD zoned site located on the East side of Granville between West Pender and West Hastings.

The site is currently improved with a 3-storey heritage commercial building.

The proposal for the site is a 24-storey office building that includes:

• 123,193 SF of office space;
• 2,573 SF of retail space at grade;
• A total density of 20.98 FSR;
• A building height of 335 ft.;
• retention of existing heritage facade;
• Payment -in-lieu parking spaces and 95 bicycle parking spaces.

The application is being considered under the Downtown Official Development Plan.

The architect for the project is Perkins + Will.

A redevelopment plan for the Telus Boot site includes 4 high-rise residential towers above mixed use podiums, with retention of the iconic building and significant densification of the site.

The preliminary rezoning application was submitted this week by PC Urban for a major redevelopment of 3777-3791 Kingsway, the 6.6 acre site which is home to the iconic “Telus Boot” building. The building, also known as Brian Canfield Centre, is located at Kingsway and Boundary Road in the Metrotown area of Burnaby.

The existing building is a 22-storey, 690,000 SF L-shaped office building built in 1976 as the headquarters for BC Tel (now Telus), although it no longer functions as the company’s head office. A large portion of the overall site is improved with surface parking ripe for development.

Under the Metrotown Downtown Plan, the site is now designated for high-density mixed-use development.

The preliminary plan outlined in a report going to city council next week describes the following concept:

• a high-density mixed-use infill development including new office, residential and retail space;
• retention of the 21- storey “Telus Boot” building;
• removing other existing structures on site;
• four high-rise towers atop mixed-use podiums with activated street frontages along Boundary Road & Kingsway;
• improved site circulation and underground parking;
• open space amenities.

Further details including concept massing, renderings and an architect will be revealed in a future report as the application progresses.

A 50% interest in the property was last sold to a fund managed by Crestpoint Real Estate in 2014 for $86,500,000. H&R REIT had previously acquired the entire property for $150,000,000 in 2006.

A revised rezoning application has been submitted for Oakridge Vancouver, the 28-acre mall site that is currently under construction.

The full rezoning of the site took several years to complete, with full approval granted in 2018. The first phase is now under construction.

The new proposal seeks to increase building heights for the remaining phases above those approved in 2018, with up to 9 additional storeys per building. The proposed changes also include changing building form such as tower floor plate size; converting some condo density to rental; and adding new office space.

The majority of the site that is affected by the proposed rezoning is outside of the scope of the first phase of construction, which is projected to take four years to complete.

Overall details include:

• 775 new housing units, including 319 additional market rental units and 94 moderate income rental units;
• 377,260 sq. ft. of new office space;
• Increase in overall density from 3.71 to 4.10 FSR;
• Increase maximum heights for Buildings 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and the northeast office building;
• No changes to buildings 1, 3, 4 & 8 (First two approved phases).

One of the more significant changes is to Building 5, previously a 43-storey condo building, which will now be converted entirely to market rental housing with 52-storeys and 587 units. The tower will be 477 ft. in height making it the tallest all rental tower in Vancouver.

A full summary of the proposed changes is outlined in the application (summarized below):

Revised renderings:

Details of the rezoning application can be viewed here: https://shapeyourcity.ca/650-w-41-ave