McCarthy Properties have submitted a Master Plan Concept to the City of Burnaby for the redevelopment of McCarthy Plaza, a full city block property on Kingsway in the Metrotown area.

The 3.83 acre site is comprised of four parcels, occupied with a number of older lowrise retail and medical/office buildings, collectively known as the Plaza 5000 complex.

The McCarthy Plaza site is located within the Metro Downtown Neighbourhood of the Metrotown Downtown Plan area which designates site for high-density mixed-use residential development under the RM5s Multiple Family, RM5r Multiple Family Residential District, and C3 General Commercial Districts.

The preliminary concept includes three mixed use towers above podiums to be built in four phases, as well as a new North-South public street “McCarthy Way”. The overall project will include approx. 1.8 Million SF.

Phase 1 includes a 70-storey signature landmark tower that includes:

• 820,000 SF;
• 425,000 SF of residential including 160,000 SF of rental in the lowrise.
• 500 total residential units;
• retail and office space;
• substantial amenity space including daycare space, meeting spaces; gardens, bowling alley, fitness centre, basketball court and first nations art gallery.

The second and third phase anticipate a 54-storey mixed-use tower, and a 45-51 storey tower respectively. Phase 3 includes options for residential or commercial uses. Phase 4 includes a smaller lowrise commercial building.

The formal rezoning application for the project is expected in early 2023 and will include concurrent applications for the overall master plan and Phase 1 of the project.

The architect for the project is Dialog.

Bocci, a local lighting design and manufacturing company, has submitted a development application for construction of a new headquarters building located on East Georgia Street, across from Woodland Park in East Vancouver.

The proposal envisions a 7-storey concrete headquarters including manufacturing and office space, as well as a ground floor restaurant space. The site is 17,150 SF in size.

The project includes:

• 35,000 SF of manufacturing space;
• 13,500 SF of office space;
• 3,300 SF of restaurant space;
• amenity space including exhibition space;
• A building height of 100 ft.;
• A total density of 2.99 FSR;
• Parking and loading having vehicular access from the lane.

The application describes the design: “The floors above street level would include an interconnected glass atelier, studio, office, warehouse, production facility, prototyping area, and archive. The perimeter of the building features a series of balconies that provide our employees with access to natural ventilation, light, and green areas. These green areas cascade up to a forested roofscape, extending the visual greenspace of Woodland Park.

This development will make use of a newly-refined technique wherein concrete is poured over a fabric formwork. This formwork would describe the building’s vaulted internal spaces and transition through to the exterior balconies, revealing complex forms visible from the building facade.“

Under the site’s existing I-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 Mallen Gowing Berzins Architecture (MGBA) Inc.

A development permit application has been submitted by Dundarave Beachside Limited Partnership for an assembly of six commercial properties totaling 43,765 SF in the Dundarave Village area of West Vancouver.

The site at 2452-2496 Marine Drive is located at the Southeast corner of Marine Drive and 25th Street. It is currently occupied by a Shopper Drug Mart and several other single-storey retail tenants.

The proposal is for a new three-storey building that includes:

• 55 condo units;
  • 20 one-bedrooms, 27 two-bedrooms & 8 three-bedrooms;
• 12,000 SF of retail space;
• 10,000 SF of office space;
• a total density of 2.29 FSR;
• a plaza and parkette at Marine Drive and 25th Street
• an improved pedestrian connection at the east end of the site
• 122 underground parking spaces;
• 110 bicycle storage spaces.

The architect for the project is IBI Group.