Viva Grand Developments has applied to rezone a site that they own at Cambie Street and West 42nd Avenue, across from Oakridge Centre. The plan for the 31,194 SF site at 5812-5888 Cambie Street is to rezone from the existing C-2 to CD under the Cambie Corridor Plan to allow a 10 and 8-storey mixed-use development, including:

• a total of 117 residential units;
• 20 studios, 28 one-bedrooms, 50 two-bedrooms & 11 three-bedrooms
• 8 live work units at the lane;
• 6 commercial units at grade totaling 14,700 SF;
• 21,000 SF of office space;
• a maximum building height of 116 ft.;
• a total density of 5.22 FSR; and
• 215 underground vehicle parking spaces and bicycle spaces.

Viva Grand had acquired the site, currently occupied by single storey retail, in 2013 for $26,000,000.

The architect for the project is IBI Group.

The full rezoning package can be viewed here: http://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applications/5812-5888cambie/index.htm

A rezoning application has been submitted for a 90 x 110 ft, C-3A zoned site at 521-525 West 8th Avenue, just west of Cambie Street (across from Whole Foods). The site is currently comprised of two single-storey retail buildings, one of which is now vacant.

The proposal calls for a nine-storey office building with retail, and includes:

• 60,300 SF of office space
• 2,000 SF of retail space
• Office floorplates ranging from 6,400 to 9,015 SF
• A total density 6.91;
• A building height of 111 ft.;
• 88 parking spaces on 3 1/2 underground levels; and
• 35 bicycle parking spaces

Typical Tower Floorplan

This application is being considered under the Metropolitan Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan. The “Metro Core” plan policy has been in place now for almost ten years. The primary purpose the plan was to facilitate rezoning for commercial development, either by restricting residential use, or by allowing greater density for office uses. The site falls within the “Broadway Corridor Choice-of-Use Areas” which allow for increased commercial density by virtue of proximity to transit.

The architect for the project is Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership.

This application is the latest in a recent trend of rezoning applications for office buildings on sites under 10,000 SF which traditionally would’ve been viewed as too small to accommodate larger floorplates and parking requirements.

Here is a brief photo update on the construction progress for The Exchange, a 31-store, 372,000 SF office tower at the corner of Howe Street and West Pender Street in Downtown Vancouver.

Construction got underway in early  2014 with the reconstruction of the old stock exchange building at 475 Howe Street.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

Photo courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/kowrls via @imageshack

photo courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/UtQBDn via @imageshack

photo courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/kPoDm6 via @imageshack

photo courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/MDf3K3 via @imageshack

A rezoning application has been filed for a currently vacant site at 619 West Hastings Street for a new office tower. The 52 ft x 120 ft site is sandwiched between two office buildings, with the Royal Bank Building (675 West Hastings) located immediately to the West at Granville and Hastings. The proposal also includes the upgrade and heritage designation of the Royal Bank Building, also controlled by the same owner as the vacant lot.

The proposal for the vacant site is for a new 28-storey office building that includes:

• 150,837 SF of office space
• Typical floorplates of 5,400-5,800 SF
• Overall height of 330 ft.
• Density of 25.5 FSR
• Five levels of underground parking with 67 vehicle parking spaces
• Seismic upgrade and heritage designation of the exterior façade of the RBC Building at 675 West Hastings Street
• Structural concept including sharing of lateral force resisting system between the two buildings
• A light-well created between the two buildings to provide access to light and air for office occupants.

Current Site Condition

Typical tower floorplan

The application is being considered under the Rezoning Policy for the Central Business District (CBD) and CBD Shoulder, the Metro Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan and the Downtown (Except Downtown South) Design Guidelines.

The architect for the project is Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership. MCM is the preeminent local firm for new office projects in the Downtown core.

Bentall Kennedy has submitted their formal application for rezoning of the Downtown Canada Post site. The 2.98 acre site comprises a full city block at 349 West Georgia Street formerly occupied by Canada Post and bought by bcIMC in 2013 for $159 Million.

The proposed redevelopment is interesting in that it contemplates retaining the existing Post Office building and adding two residential towers and one office tower above with parking uses above grade in the podium.

Details include:

• Retention of heritage building and its conversion into a seven-storey podium containing retail along all street frontages, rental housing, office, and parking
• Adding three towers above podium, including 17 storeys of office, and 18 and 20 storeys of residential
• 427 rental apartments, 372 condo units
• 512,000 SF of office space
• 274,000 SF of retail space
• An overall density of 12.9 FSR
• Tower heights of 150 – 222 feet
• Six levels of parking with 1,474 parking spaces & 1,168 bicycle spaces
• A 49-space childcare facility

The site’s primary constraint is the view cones which limit the building heights.