The latest development application for Oakridge Vancouver has been submitted and it outlines the plan for the renovation of the existing, stand-alone office buildings on West 41st Avenue, as well as the main pedestrian entrance to the renovated mall and park.

Details include:

• renovation of the existing office building including seismic upgrades and new building envelope with curtain-wall glass;
• minor envelope upgrades to the Terraces residential building;
• new transit plaza gateway with covered canopy;
• new main mall entry with exterior facing retail;
• connection to the new 9-acre rooftop park.

The application by Henriquez Parnters architects describes the overall rationale: ” Located at the transit hub of the Cambie Street-West 41st Avenue intersection, DP-3a is the principle project access point for Canada Line users, bus riders and pedestrians. DP-3a’s location marks the project’s symbolic “front door.” This prominence is celebrated with a Transit Plaza that accommodates flexible programming for informal gathering, community events and performances. Elevated above the plaza is a large sculptural canopy that marks the entry to the public park and retail development beyond. Plants on the Northeast Office’s exterior lead visitors towards the park’s upper levels. At grade, the Transit Plaza leads retail visitors towards the mall’s grand, ceremonial doors. “

Here is the office tower as it exists today:

The full application can be viewed here: https://development.vancouver.ca/650w41stav/index.htm

A development application has been submitted to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop a 25 ft. lot in the Downtown Eastside at 436 East Hastings Street. The site is currently improved with an older single storey commercial building.

Plans for the 3,050 SF site show a new 7-storey building that includes:

• 22 affordable studio units, including:
  • 8 units of market rental housing;
  • 14 units of social housing;
• 1,113 SF of ground floor retail;
• a total density of 5.0 FSR;
• 1 car share space.

This application is being processed through the Social Housing or Rental Tenure (SHORT) program. Under the site’s existing DEOD zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board.

The architect for the project is Wilson Chang.

A development application has been submitted to the City of Vancouver for a new market rental building on a site at 731-743 East Broadway, located mid-block between Fraser Street and Prince Albert Street, on the north side of Broadway. The site is 12,093 (122′ x 99′) and is zoned C2-C.

The proposal anticipates rehabilitation and heritage designation of the existing building at 741 East Broadway, owned and occupied by Raymar Realty. Also planned is a new 5- storey mixed-use building to the West. Overall, the proposal includes:

• 45 market rental units;
  • 29 studios, 3 one-bedrooms, 12 two-bedrooms and 1 three-bedroom;
• 3,198 SF of retail space;
• 1,695 SF of restaurant space;
• a total density of 3.00 FSR;
• a maximum building height of approximately 63.42 ft; and
• 1 level of underground parking with 20 stalls accessed from the rear lane.

The application describes the design rationale: “The first step in generating the design was establishing the basic relationships on the site. The primary criteria was that the existing Heritage asset at #741-745 E Broadway be retained as completely as possible. All major “character defining” elements would need to be retained & restored, and in some cases reconstructed. The goal in developing the massing of the new portion of the development was to create a complementary, non-competing contemporary structure which would emphasize the prominence of the Heritage asset on the streetwall. Thus. the new development is set back from the face of the Heritage structure – a ~9’ indent in the street wall creates a “forecourt” in front of the new development, and allows us to retain the three-dimensional reading of the Heritage building when viewed from E Broadway.”

Under the site’s existing C-2C zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.

The architect for the project is Gair Williamson Architects.