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.