30-Storey Tower Proposed for West End Corner Site
A partnership between Strand Development and Intracorp has submitted a rezoning application for a 17,292 SF site at 1068-1080 Burnaby Street and 1318 Thurlow Street. The site is currently zoned RM-5A but has been redesignated within the West End Community Plan for higher density. The rezoning designation requires that 25% of the gross floor area is social housing. The site is currently improved with two older lowrise apartment buildings and a 12-unit strata building.
Our team sold this site just a few months ago.
The proposal is for a 30-storey residential tower that includes:
- 82 market residential units;
- 39 social housing units;
- 3 studios, 21 one-bedrooms, 71 two-bedrooms, 24 three-beds and 2 four-beds;
- a total density of 8.94 FSR;
- a building height of 290 ft.; and
- four levels of underground parking with 176 vehicle parking stalls and 160 bicycle parking spaces.
The building height and overall density (including social housing) was required to be reduced in order to accommodate an obscure urban design guideline that restricts any shadows from being cast onto the North Davie Street sidewalk at 4pm on the equinox dates.
The application is being considered under the West End Community Plan. The application describes the design rationale of the market housing component:
“The market housing component of the tower has been planned with large , spacious floor plans that provide generous and functional living spaces. All family oriented homes are anchored at one of the four corners of the tower by a large outdoor covered terrace; this outdoor space becomes the focal point of the living spaces within and maximizes access to natural light, outdoor living opportunities , and cross -ventilated air. Homes of this nature will fill the needs of families, urban professionals and downsizers equally well, and will help to foster an integrated community of unique, liveable homes.”
The architect for the project is NSDA Architects.