The Molnar Group has submitted a rezoning application for a 47,674 SF site at the corner of Hull Street and East 20th Avenue in East Vancouver.  The plan for the lots at 3560-3570 Hull Street and 2070-2090 East 20th Avenue is to rezone from the existing RS-1 to permit a 3.5-storey development containing townhouses, an apartment and a retained heritage house.

The proposal includes:

• 70 secured market rental units
• 41 3-bedroom townhouses, 28 one-bedroom apartment units, and one 2-bed heritage house);
• A total density of 1.53 FSR;
• A maximum height of approximately 50 ft.;
• Relocation and designation of an existing heritage house at 2088 East 20th Avenue; and
• 82 underground parking spaces.

This application is being considered under the Affordable Housing Choices Interim Rezoning Policy. The rezoning policy is relatively unknown even among the development community; it allows for higher densities for “affordable” rental or social housing on or near arterial streets. In this case, the large single family lots helped facilitate the proposal.

The architect for the project is Wensley Architecture.

Molnar acquired the site in July 2016 for $13,375,000, or $183 per buildable SF based on the application.

Wesgroup has acquired the Chevron at 1008 West 41st Avenue (Southwest corner of Oak and 41st) for $12,249,400. The 135′ x 130′ (17,500 SF) site is currently zoned C-1 commercial, but can be potentially rezoned to allow greater density for rental housing.

Wesgroup also acquired the adjacent building and lot to the South at 5775 Oak Street earlier this year for $16,350,000.

The two sites combined would create a consolidated lot 35,980 SF in size.

A development application has been submitted to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop a 50′ x 122′ site in Chinatown with a new 8-storey mixed use building. The site is located mid-block on the North side of Keefer Street between Main Street and Gore Avenue. The existing building on site is a single-storey retail building that is vacant.

Details of the proposed development include:

• 29 residential units;
• 23 one-bedrooms and 6 two-bedrooms
• 2,838 SF of ground-floor retail space
• 12,022 SF of office space on the 2nd and 3rd floors;
• a total density of 5.35 FSR;
• 20 parking stalls on two underground levels accessed via car elevator.

Under the site’s existing HA-1A zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board.

The site sold in June 2016 for $6,350,000 or $194 per buildable SF based on the application.

The architect for the project is Mallen Gowing Berzins Architecture.

Here is a brief update on a project in the West End that is a partnership between Bosa Properties and Central Presbyterian Church. The property was rezoned in 2014 to allow a new 22-storey building that includes 168 units of market rental apartments and 45 units of non-market rental apartments, as well as retail space, a new church and a preschool.

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

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

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

photo courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/VAXF7t via @imageshack

A development application has been submitted to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop a new industrial/office building at 2250 Yukon Street, at the Northeast corner of Yukon and 7th in the Mount Pleasant area of Vancouver. The building will be a custom build office for Fast + Epp Engineers.

The plan calls for a 4-storey mixed-use commercial/industrial building containing:

• Wholesale Class B on the ground floor and partial second floor;
• General Office use on the second floor to fourth floors;
• a total density of 3.00 FSR (15,958 SF)
• an overall building height of approximately 60 feet; and
• one level of underground parking providing 10 spaces and one at grade parking space, having vehicular access from the lane.

Under the site’s existing I-1 zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.

The application describes the design rationale: “The building shell will be constructed making maximum use of sustainable prefabrication technology that Fast+Epp has been developing over the past 25 years. The floor and roof structure will consist of prefabricated hybrid timber-steel panels with fully integrated mechanical and electrical systems. The ceiling structure of the single level parkade will consist of precast hollow core panels. The firewall at the east side will consist of pre-cast concrete panels. We anticipate the entire building shell above the parking walls will be constructed within a 4-week period, thereby minimizing neighbourhood noise and minimal traffic disruption from concrete trucks.”

The site was acquired in December 2016 for $3,800,000 or $238 per buildable SF based on the application. It has been occupied by an auto-repair shop “Wilf’s Transmissions” since it was built in the mid-90’s.

The development planner for the project is Schmidt & Associates Development Planning Ltd.