Redevelopment of Main & 19th Site Includes Heritage Retention, 36 Units

A development application has been submitted for the ‘Bryant Block’ at the Southeast corner of Main & 19th in Vancouver.

The 14,477 SF, C-2 zoned site is presently occupied by a used car sales parking lot at the corner, and a 3-storey mixed use brick building on the south side. The brick building, named “Bryant Block” was constructed in 1911, and includes Baker’s Dozen Antiques on the ground floor.

The site sits directly North of Landa Global’s Main & Twentieth condo project, nearing completion.

The plan for redevelopment of this site is to retain, alter, add and convert the existing building into a larger 4-storey mixed-use building. The proposal includes the following:

• 36 residential units;
  • 15 studios, 4 one-bedrooms, 12 two-bedrooms & 5 three-bedrooms;
  • including three townhouses.
• 5,363 SF of retail space (in 5 CRUs);
• a total density of 2.43 FSR;
• building height of approximately 52 feet; and
• a total of 56 parking spaces and a total of 78 bicycle space on site.

The application describes the design rationale: “Due to the character significance of the existing building, it was agreed with staff to retain the west wall of the building, repair the existing brick cladding and restore / replicate missing elements as per historic documents (cornices, brackets, signage).

The building consists of two different massings: the existing volume with resorted character at the SW corner, and a contemporary expressed volume wrapping around it. On west and south sides, the two massings are separated by deep recessed glazed bays, in order to emphasize the distinct appearance of the historic building.

The significant elements of the existing facade will be restored or reconstructed are per archive photos and similar existing elements in the area from the same age: brackets, cornices, dentils. The returns of the brick facade will be a different colour brick. A “secondary” cornice will also be returned on the sides.

The new building has very clear lines and colours, having a strong presence at the corner and at the same time not competing with the retained building. The 4th floor is extending over the existing building, but it is well recessed back and has no roof overhang at the overlapping portion in order to “disappear” when viewed from the street. “

Under the site’s existing C-2 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 Rositch Hemphill.