Here’s an update on one of Vancouver’s most unheard of projects. It’s an 18-storey residential tower on the site of what used to be the Legg Residence, a heritage mansion that was demolished in order to protect a tulip tree on the site.

The project started construction in 2014 after years of delays, and now appears to nearing completion of the exterior build.

courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/eL1TFc via @imageshack

courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/qXukw2 via @imageshack

courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/UGXXYs via @imageshack

courtesy mcminsen http://po.st/2ekvpc via @imageshack

Final plans have been approved for a project called The Burquitlam Capital, located on a triangular site at 509-513 Clarke Road in the Burquitlam area of Coquitlam. The project, by Magusta Development has received rezoning approval from CS-1 to C-7 Transit Village Commercial. Plans call for the development of a 23-storey tower including:

• 189 units
• 20 studios, 60 one-bedrooms, 68 two-bedrooms and 41 three-bedrooms
• four townhouse units fronting Smith Avenue
• 10,968 SF of commercial retail space along Clarke Road
• total density of 4.5 FAR (max under C-7 zone)

The site is located about half a block from a soon to be completed Burquitlam Evergreen Line Station.

Magusta acquired the land in July 2014 for $7,128,000, or about $42 per buildable SF.

Here is a promotional video for the project:

After holding preliminary open houses late last year to unveil the First Baptist Church redevelopment to the public and the media, Westbank has now submitted their formal rezoning application for the Bing Thom designed project at 969 Burrard St. & 1019-1045 Nelson Street. The specific details of the project have now been finalized for rezoning application purposes.

Major details of the proposal includes:

• • restoration of First Baptist Church;
  • new church ancillary spaces, including a 37-space child daycare, a gymnasium, a counselling centre and offices;
  • a new 8-storey building containing 66 social housing units, owned by the church;
  • a new 56-storey tower containing 294 market strata residential units;
  • a combined total new floor area of 559,925 SF.
  •  a total density of 10.79 FSR;
  • 497 underground vehicle parking spaces.

This rezoning application is being considered under the Rezoning Policy for the West End and the West End Community Plan.

As the building sits at an elevation of 167 ft above sea level, it will appear as one of the tallest buildings on the Downtown skyline, only slightly shorter than Shangri-la and Trump Tower.

Further detail on the rezoning application can be found here: http://former.vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/rezoning/applications/969burrard/index.htm