The Brentwood neighbourhood will be home to Burnaby’s tallest tower after the second phase of the SOLO District development held its groundbreaking ceremony Saturday.

The project by Appia Developments will stand more than 550 feet tall, second in B.C. only to the Shangri-La in downtown Vancouver. The 55-storey building will have 48 “floors” due to some levels being double height.

Commercial units, including office space, will take up the first 14 floors, while 280 residential units will make up floors 15 to 48. A 5,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor amenity space for building residents, dubbed “Club 55,” will take up the rooftop.

A public preview of the new homes was held last Saturday with sales to start this weekend, on June 22.

Recent reports of a slowing real estate market and concerns about an oversupply of condos don’t concern Jim Bosa, president of Appia.

Read more: http://www.burnabynewsleader.com/news/212005321.html

Small-business owners want B.C.’s new Christy Clark government to intervene in the marketplace and limit rent increases on commercial properties. The proposed changes to the province’s Commercial Tenancy Act would kick in when leases for small-business owners expire and would be aimed at providing property rent stability for independent businesses.

The idea of rent control, however, has plenty of critics because it flies in the face of free enterprise.

“There are reasons to regulate commercial leases,” said Mary Brookes, who owns Sophie’s Pet Palace on Commercial Drive. “One is to protect small businesses who employ locally, use local suppliers and create jobs, which has spinoff benefits.”

Vancouver Island University geography professor Don Alexander, who has co-written papers on the concept of commercial rent control, agreed.

“Small businesses contribute an enormous amount to the local economy because the money circulates more than if it goes to a chain store,” he said. “Small businesses are a benefit to social well-being and possibly to environmental well-being, so there’s a rationale in not allowing these guys to be as scarce as hen’s teeth.”

From the press release:

VANCOUVER, June 19, 2013 /CNW/ – Holborn Group and TA Global Bhd. today confirmed plans to welcome the city’s first Trump development, Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver®. Situated on Georgia Street in Downtown Vancouver’s Coal Harbour, the premium $360-million Arthur Erickson-designed tower will include a world-class hotel and residences.

In addition to 147 guest rooms, the luxury hotel will include a Champagne lounge, signature restaurant, Trump Spa, and banquet and conference centre. It will also be home to Vancouver’s first pool bar nightclub. Above the hotel will be 218 stylish residences, offering residents spectacular views of the North Shore and beyond. When completed, the twisting tower will stand at 616 feet (63 storeys).

The original twisting design of the tower maximizes the window features and views in every suite, making each unit distinctive, with no two views exactly alike. Attention to detail and personalized service will further differentiate the development. Residences will range from 644 to 2,117 square feet with the penthouses between 3,500 and 4,400 square feet.

Official announcement regarding Trump International Hotel and Tower streaming live at 1:30pm today on CTV.

Pix by Built Form @ SSP