A development application has been made for an RM-4 zoned site at the corner of Victoria Drive and Frances Street in the Grandview-Woodlands area. This site are was not identified for increased density in the any version of the Grandview Woodlands Community Plan. The project calls for the following:

• one three-storey and one four-storey multiple dwelling building containing a total of 15 apartment units
• a total density of 1.43 FSR or 17,006 SF (RM-4 allows 1.45 FSR)
• a total of 17 underground parking spaces

Further, the City is requesting that the site dedicate about 7’ of land along Victoria Drive for possible future reconfiguration of the street to provide dedicated bike lanes. It is noted that further assembly was not feasible.

More info can be found here: http://former.vancouver.ca/devapps/pc649victoria/index.htm

A rezoning application in North Vancouver provides a glimpse of what’s to come in the City North Vancouver’s apartment zones and offers some ideas for other municipalities struggling with issues surrounding housing affordability and densification in existing older apartment areas.

The application for 1549 St. George’s Avenue is seeking renovation and expansion of the existing two-storey walkup apartment building built in 1957. The property is located in the Central Lonsdale area and is zoned RM-1 with an OCP designation of Residential Level-5 (allows 1.6 FAR). The proposal includes:

• Full renovation of existing two floors
• Addition of new third and fourth floors
• Increase from 13 units to 29 units
• Total density of 2.06 FSR
• 0.46 FSR bonus in exchange for rental (under 2015 OCP guidelines)
• Tenant relocation plan including first opportunity to move to nearby building of same owner
• Reduction in parking requirement by the equivalent of 9 stalls

More info: http://www.cnv.org/attach/2015%2001%2026%20item%2010.pdf

Details about the new ‘Media Facade’ on the Telus Gardens office tower are emerging and it seems like it will be a distinctive feature. The screen is located on the west façade, between the 16th and 18th floors, and is approximately 26′ x 40′. It is only visible in one direction from both Georgia and Seymour Streets.

Here’s a description from the application:

“A simple and proven technology of back projection onto a retractable screen will provide a glare-free static image or full motion video. At dusk the screen descends, and the façade transforms.

When the performance is over, the screen ascends and the office tower is back to business. Content will be a mix of public art (including community messaging) and tenant exposure with the City of Vancouver reserving the right for special event programming.”

More details here.