Two large-scale tower projects on the same block on the North Shore’s Marine Drive go to their respective municipal councils for final approval next week. The first is a rezoning of the former Earls Tin Palace site in West Vancouver. The other project, branded Park West, goes to District of North Vancouver council for development permit approval.

303 Marine Drive 

The formal rezoning application for the former Earls Tin Palace site at 303 Marine Drive in West Vancouver goes to council next week. The site is owned by Darwin Properties.

Darwin acquired the site in 2014 for $20,000,000. An initial rezoning application was filed back in 2015 but was delayed pending completion of the Marine Drive Local Area Plan which was finalized by council in 2017. The site borders the boundary with the District of North Vancouver, and sits close to another two tower proposal going to District for final approval next week called “Park West“.

The proposal for the site, which will be named “The Sentinel” is a 26-storey residential tower that includes:

• 133 total residential units
  • 91 condo units on levels 9-26 (plus 4 townhouses);
  • 42 rental units on levels 3-8;
  • 20 one-bedrooms; 100 two-bedrooms & 13 three-bedrooms
• A total density of 3.25 FAR;
• 201 underground parking spaces;
• A cash CAC payment of $7,344,140.

The application describes the project: “This important ‘gateway’ site presents a unique opportunity to mark the eastern boundary of West Vancouver with a building that contributes to the public realm at the pedestrian scale, and also to the significant distant skyline view as the north shore is approached from the Lions Gate Bridge by car, bicycle or by foot. The existing use on the site is an aging restaurant building and surface parking lot whose tenant will soon be relocating to a new development in Ambleside. This proposed residential development will be architecturally distinctive, and will compliment – and contribute to – the community amenity and infrastructureinvestments planned for the area.

This development will employ a modern, sophisticated and timeless approach to design and material selection that will ensure that this building is distinctive and appropriate to the north shore, and West Vancouver in particular. Landscape treatments and public realm design will enhance the pedestrian and cyclist experience, while the sculpting and lighting of the top of the tower will punctuate distant views of the building.”

The architect for the project is Chris Dikeakos Architects Inc.

The full development application can be viewed here: https://westvancouver.ca/sites/default/files/dwv/council-agendas/2018/apr/23/18apr23-6.pdf

1633 Capilano Road (Park West)

The Grouse Inn redevelopment seeks final development permit approval at District of North Vancouver council next week. The project, branded “Park West”, has been taking pre-registrations via it’s website.

The 2.6 acre site is is located at the north-west corner of Capilano Road and Marine Drive at the entrance to North Vancouver. The site includes a former vacant gas station site, and the existing Grouse Inn Hotel. It was originally rezoned back in 2014 for 280 units but has since been tweaked.

The project, by Pacific Gate Investments, includes two towers, one at 23-storeys and one at 19-storeys, and includes:

• 258 condo units;
• 94 one-bedrooms, 140 two-bedrooms, 24 three-bedrooms;
• a free standing restaurante
• a grocery store
• 10 small retail units;
• a total density of 2.50 FAR;
• 464 underground parking spaces on two levels;
• A community amenity contribution of $4,562,500.

The project is being promoted as a resort type project including a 4,800 SF outdoor pool and state of the art amenities.

The architect for this project is Rafii Architects.

A rezoning application has been submitted for the Harry Jerome Neighbourhood Lands, a 24 acre site at Lonsdale and 23rd in the Central Lonsdale area of North Vancouver. 

The City of North Vancouver sold the site to Darwin Properties in 2017 on a 99-year leasehold basis as part of an RFP related to a larger scheme to build a new Harry Jerome Rec Centre across the street. The City will use the proceeds from the lease to fund the construction.

After public consultation in late 2017, the rezoning application for the site is now moving foward to allow mid-rise multi-family and commercial uses and activities contributing to a pedestrian-scale village feel. Details include:

• Two 26-storey towers and four mid-rise buildings;
• 784 total units including strata and rental;
• 30 studios, 371 one-bedrooms, 340 two-bedrooms & 43 three-bedrooms;
• 21,400 SF of retail space;
• A total density of 2.28 FSR;
• Maximum tower heights of 243 feet;
• 829 parking stalls;
• A new 1.0 hectare public park stretching along Lonsdale from 21st to 23rd. 

There is also an alternate option which includes a taller tower, up to 32-storeys, and up to 840 total units for the site. Council will decide on whether to proceed with processing the currently presented option.

The architect and planner for the project is Perkins + Will.

Bosa Properties and Kingswood Properties have submitted their formal rezoning application for a site sold by our team at the Southwest corner of Barclay and Thurlow Streets in the West End of Downtown Vancouver.

The site at 1040-1080 Barclay Street is an assembly of three lots comprising a lowrise strata building and two older apartment buildings. The combined site totals 46,272 SF. It is located within a sub-area of the West End Community Plan that allows re-zoning for tall towers if social housing is included.

The proposal is for 643 units in two residential towers connected by a podium bridge with:

• 481 market strata units – including:
  • 40 studios, 167 one-bedrooms, 215 two-bedrooms, 37 three-beds, 12 penthouse units and 10 townhouses;
• 162 social housing units – including:
  • 25 studios, 52 one-bedrooms, 52 two-bedrooms and 33 three-bedrooms;
• a total density of 15.42 FSR;
• eight levels of underground parking with 626 vehicle parking stalls and 810 Class A bicycle parking spaces;
• building heights of 458 ft. (East Tower) and 449 ft. (West Tower);
• 4,500 SF of retail space located along Thurlow Street; and
• a 5,894 SF City-owned childcare facility.

The concept architect, Ole Scheeren describes the design rationale: “Located at the corner of Barclay and Thurlow Streets, the project is situated in close proximity to the greenery of Nelson Park, the liveliness of Robson and Davie Villages, and the bustle of the Central Business District, making it an appealing location for downtown living. The design takes its inspiration from the grain and scale of the horizontal villages and transforms it into a vertical village.

The architectural and urban composition reflects the smaller scale blocks and elements of the urban context, which are replicated into cubic modules and assembled to form two sculptural residential towers. With neighbouring buildings indicating a tendency towards singular vertical towers, the design of 1040-1080 Barclay generates a more articulated massing with moments of volumetric interest that brings small scale pockets of nature to urban residents. The articulated silhouette of the two towers engages the space of the city and stand as distinct landmarks that activate the skyline.”

This application is being considered under the West End Community Plan.

The architects for the project are Buro Ole Scheeren in partnership with Francl Architecture.