Bosa Properties and Kingswood Properties have submitted their formal rezoning application for a site sold by our team at the Southwest corner of Barclay and Thurlow Streets in the West End of Downtown Vancouver.

The site at 1040-1080 Barclay Street is an assembly of three lots comprising a lowrise strata building and two older apartment buildings. The combined site totals 46,272 SF. It is located within a sub-area of the West End Community Plan that allows re-zoning for tall towers if social housing is included.

The proposal is for 643 units in two residential towers connected by a podium bridge with:

• 481 market strata units – including:
  • 40 studios, 167 one-bedrooms, 215 two-bedrooms, 37 three-beds, 12 penthouse units and 10 townhouses;
• 162 social housing units – including:
  • 25 studios, 52 one-bedrooms, 52 two-bedrooms and 33 three-bedrooms;
• a total density of 15.42 FSR;
• eight levels of underground parking with 626 vehicle parking stalls and 810 Class A bicycle parking spaces;
• building heights of 458 ft. (East Tower) and 449 ft. (West Tower);
• 4,500 SF of retail space located along Thurlow Street; and
• a 5,894 SF City-owned childcare facility.

The concept architect, Ole Scheeren describes the design rationale: “Located at the corner of Barclay and Thurlow Streets, the project is situated in close proximity to the greenery of Nelson Park, the liveliness of Robson and Davie Villages, and the bustle of the Central Business District, making it an appealing location for downtown living. The design takes its inspiration from the grain and scale of the horizontal villages and transforms it into a vertical village.

The architectural and urban composition reflects the smaller scale blocks and elements of the urban context, which are replicated into cubic modules and assembled to form two sculptural residential towers. With neighbouring buildings indicating a tendency towards singular vertical towers, the design of 1040-1080 Barclay generates a more articulated massing with moments of volumetric interest that brings small scale pockets of nature to urban residents. The articulated silhouette of the two towers engages the space of the city and stand as distinct landmarks that activate the skyline.”

This application is being considered under the West End Community Plan.

The architects for the project are Buro Ole Scheeren in partnership with Francl Architecture.

The Planning Policy Statement for Langara Gardens has been released for consideration by Vancouver City Council. The 20.8 acre site was acquired by Peterson Group in 2009. Peterson later partnered with Concert Properties in 2015, after which a formal planning effort to redevelop the site with City of Vancouver planning got underway, with open houses and town hall meetings over the next two years.

Langara Gardens is located west of Cambie Street between 54th and 57th Avenues and was initially developed as a rental apartment property, with three towers and later a fourth tower in the 1980s. The site is currently improved with 605 apartment units and some retail space and is built to a fairly low density equivalent to a single family zoning (approx. 0.78 FSR). A large majority of the site is currently built as lowrise townhouses which is the focus of the redevelopment effort. The existing rental towers will be maintained.

The site at Pearson Dogwood, directly south, is proposed for the same density and will get underway with rezoning of the first phase shortly.

The vision for the property has included retention of the four existing apartment highrises while adding new residential buildings and various new services and amenities. “Langara Gardens will continue to be primarily residential, with a mix of housing opportunities for a variety of households, ages and income levels. A key element of the planning program is to maintain or replace the 605 existing rental housing units on a one-for-one basis.”

Details of the policy statement which will guide future rezoning applications for the site include:

• a maximum overall site density of 2.80 FSR (on gross site area);
• a total of 2,540,000 SF of development (about 2,100 units total);
• 11 towers (including existing four towers to be retained);
• All 605 existing rental units retained or replaced;
• Building heights from 3 to 28-storeys;
• 20% of net new floor area as affordable housing (approx. 430 units);
• Redesign and upgrade of existing retail space (approx. 25,000 SF);
• A new 69-space childcare facility;
• A new 1-acre City-owned park;
• A financial contribution towards a potential future station at 57th Ave;
• A community amenity contribution(s) to be determined/negotiated.

Park and Open Space Concept

Building Heights

The next step will be a site specific rezoning that will include further details such as exact units counts and building layout and design.

Full details on the planning policy statement can be viewed here: http://council.vancouver.ca/20180313/documents/p1.pdf 

A development application has been submitted for a site on West 41st Avenue in Kerrisdale, just West of East Boulevard. The site at 2074 West 41st Avenue is currently improved with an older 2-storey retail and apartment building. 

The plan for redevelopment of the 13,100 SF C-2 zoned site is a new four-storey concrete mixed-use building, consisting of:

• Retail on the ground floor;
• Offices on the 2nd and 3rd floors;
• A 7-room hotel on the 4th floor;
• A total density of 2.50 FSR;
• A common garden and green roof on the rooftop level;
• three levels of underground parking having vehicular access from the lane.

The application describes the design rationale: “The architecture is classic, in recognition of the history of Kerrisdale and its image as an upscale community. The building is generally symmetrical. The exterior materials include manufactured stone facing, metal windows, architectural detailing and a masonry balustrade on the fourth level patio facing West 41st. Canvas awnings above the first level retail add interest and delight.”

The site was sold to Canada Golden Land Holdings in 2016 for $18,000,000.

The architect for the project is Rositch Hemphill Architects.

Rezoning and OCP amendment applications have been submitted for the Northmount Medical Centre site, located at 123-145 East 13th Street in the Central Lonsdale area of North Vancouver. The site is directly across the street from Onni’s recently completed Centreview project, and just East of Wesgroup’s The Prescott, completed a few years ago.

The one acre site, currently improved with two older medical office buildings, one at 4-storeys and the other at 9-storeys, sold in 2017 to the Millenium Development for $43,500,000. The site is one of only a handful that will allow taller buildings in the Central Lonsdale area.

The proposed redevelopment includes:

• an 18-storey tower on the Eastern side of the site;
• a 7-storey midrise on the Western side;
• 162 residential units;
• 1 studio, 61 one-bedrooms; 53 two-bedrooms and 34 three-bedrooms;
• 18,331 SF of ground floor retail;
• 31,718 SF of office space on the 2nd and 3rd floors;
• a total density of 4.95 FSR;
• a total building height of 187 feet;
• 279 underground parking stalls;
• a total community benefits package of $6.4 Million.

The architect for the project is Chris Dikeakos.

A proposal has been submitted to the City of Vancouver to restore and revive the Hollywood Theatre. 4184 Investments Ltd. has applied for a development permit to add a 6-storey residential building while restoring the adjacent theatre building. The combined site area is 16,743 SF and the site is zoned C-2C which allows a density up to 3.0 FSR and 4-storeys.

The Hollywood Theatre building was originally built in 1935 and closed in 2011 after the building was finally sold by the Fairleigh family. There have been various community efforts to save the theatre since that time.

 The current proposal includes the following:

• • 40 condo units – “The Hollywood Residences”;
  • 6 studios, 13 one-bedrooms, 16 two-bedrooms & 5 three-bedrooms;
  • 4,423 SF of new ground floor retail space;
  • A total density of 3.19 FSR;
  • Building height of 67 ft.;
  • A restored theatre building;
  • Two levels of underground parking accessed from the lane with a total of 47 parking spaces.

Within the application, the owners provide an overview of the plan for the new theatre: “We will re-introduce The Hollywood Theatre back into Vancouver’s consciousness by creating and operating a beautifully renovated, state-of-the-art performing arts centre dedicated to bringing the creative arts to the local community.

As well as live entertainment ticketed events such as live music performances, live theatre, movie screenings, tech events and corporate and private functions we welcome local community producers, non-profit organizations and special interest groups wishing to hold their event at the Hollywood Theatre. This will also include hosting special free to-the public events produced by local producers.”

Full details on their proposed operating plan can be viewed here: http://development.vancouver.ca/3133wbroadway/documents/perspectiveoperatorsbusinessplan.pdf

Under the site’s existing C2-C zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board. The full development application can be viewed here: http://development.vancouver.ca/3133wbroadway/index.htm

The architect for the project is Marianne Amodio Architecture Studio, Inc.