The Independent by Rize Alliance is currently in the excavation phase. The 21-storey, 258 unit project at Main and Kingsway in East Vancouver was approved in late 2014 after a four year process which entailed a lengthy rezoning application process, at times contentious within the local community, and several revisions to the project.

From a marketing perspective, the project appears to have done quite well. Sales were launched in February 2015, and the project was substantially sold out within a few months.

Photo credit: mcminsen http://po.st/Nqc5eo via @imageshack

The City of Vancouver is currently holding open houses for the proposed redevelopment of Langara Gardens, a 21-acre apartment complex at Cambie Street and West 57th Avenue owned by Peterson Group in partnership with Concert Properties. Peterson acquired the property in 2009 for $157MM. In 2013, they began a process to create planning policy to redevelop the site, which in its present configuration is predominantly built out as lowrise and townhouse buildings.

Today, initial concept plans are being presented to the public. Some common concepts include:

• retention of the four existing apartment highrises
• new residential buildings varying in height
• retention and enhancement of existing retail
• construction of a new daycare

One of three concept plans

Another concept plan

Here is a brief construction update for Westbank’s much anticipated Vancouver House project; a 375-unit, 600,000 SF, 59-storey condo tower expected to be complete in 2018. The project is near sell-out with only a few units remaining.

Courtesy: mcminsen http://po.st/hdNfqi via @imageshack

Courtesy: mcminsen http://po.st/rtJB4I via @imageshack

A development application has been filed with the City of Vancouver for the former Terminal City Ironworks site, a 2.3 acre full city block in East Vancouver located at 1900 Pandora Street, with frontage on Franklin St., Victoria Dr. and Semlin Dr. The site, zoned I-2 industrial, was offered for sale in 2014 with Cushman Wakefield for $14.9M.

The history of the site, including its more recent use predominantly as a film shoot location, was reported by the Vancouver Sun earlier this year.

The current development proposal from Conwest Developments anticipates two new buildings including the following:

• a 4-storey wholesale/office building accessed off of Pandora St.
• a 3-storey wholesale building accessed of of Franklin St.
• one level of underground parking
• total building area of 202,262 SF
• total density of 2.06 FSR

The use and density are conditional under the zoning and therefore requires approval of the Director of Planning.

The architect for the project is Taylor Kurtz.