PC Urban  has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop a site at the Northeast corner of West 5th and Alberta in Mount Pleasant for a new 4-storey commercial/light industrial building. The project includes

• 23,590 SF of Wholesale uses on the first storey and mezzanine;
• 47,325 SF of General Office uses on the second through fourth storeys; and
• two levels of underground parking with 95 spaces
• one Class A and two Class B loading spaces

Under the site’s existing I-1 zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted; however, it requires the decision of the Director of Planning.

This proposal continues a trend of mixed industrial and office buildings at higher densities in Mount Pleasant following zoning changes in 2014.

A rezoning application has been submitted for a 90 x 110 ft, C-3A zoned site at 521-525 West 8th Avenue, just west of Cambie Street (across from Whole Foods). The site is currently comprised of two single-storey retail buildings, one of which is now vacant.

The proposal calls for a nine-storey office building with retail, and includes:

• 60,300 SF of office space
• 2,000 SF of retail space
• Office floorplates ranging from 6,400 to 9,015 SF
• A total density 6.91;
• A building height of 111 ft.;
• 88 parking spaces on 3 1/2 underground levels; and
• 35 bicycle parking spaces

Typical Tower Floorplan

This application is being considered under the Metropolitan Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan. The “Metro Core” plan policy has been in place now for almost ten years. The primary purpose the plan was to facilitate rezoning for commercial development, either by restricting residential use, or by allowing greater density for office uses. The site falls within the “Broadway Corridor Choice-of-Use Areas” which allow for increased commercial density by virtue of proximity to transit.

The architect for the project is Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership.

This application is the latest in a recent trend of rezoning applications for office buildings on sites under 10,000 SF which traditionally would’ve been viewed as too small to accommodate larger floorplates and parking requirements.

A rezoning application has been filed for a currently vacant site at 619 West Hastings Street for a new office tower. The 52 ft x 120 ft site is sandwiched between two office buildings, with the Royal Bank Building (675 West Hastings) located immediately to the West at Granville and Hastings. The proposal also includes the upgrade and heritage designation of the Royal Bank Building, also controlled by the same owner as the vacant lot.

The proposal for the vacant site is for a new 28-storey office building that includes:

• 150,837 SF of office space
• Typical floorplates of 5,400-5,800 SF
• Overall height of 330 ft.
• Density of 25.5 FSR
• Five levels of underground parking with 67 vehicle parking spaces
• Seismic upgrade and heritage designation of the exterior façade of the RBC Building at 675 West Hastings Street
• Structural concept including sharing of lateral force resisting system between the two buildings
• A light-well created between the two buildings to provide access to light and air for office occupants.

Current Site Condition

Typical tower floorplan

The application is being considered under the Rezoning Policy for the Central Business District (CBD) and CBD Shoulder, the Metro Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan and the Downtown (Except Downtown South) Design Guidelines.

The architect for the project is Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership. MCM is the preeminent local firm for new office projects in the Downtown core.