Downtown Vancouver Updates II

[madog222]

13 storey hotel proposal at 80 Powell. This is former rail line ROW.

They've gone straight to a DP with no rezoning. The current zoning allows building heights up to 22.9m but allows the director of planning to increase the maximum.

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=272276746

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by madog222

13 storey hotel proposal at 80 Powell.

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=272276746

This was going to be a conversion of the heritage building into a hotel - I assume now they are going to do some facadism (or will it be the parking lot next door that is excavated?).

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by csbvan

This was going to be a conversion of the heritage building into a hotel - I assume now they are going to do some facadism (or will it be the parking lot next door that is excavated?).

I would think it's a tower on the parking lot, behind the heritage building. The whole thing was sold relatively recently, and the heritage building is one of the oldest left in the city. (Fun fact, it's said to be the first building in the city to have an elevator installed).

[madog222]

Originally Posted by csbvan

This was going to be a conversion of the heritage building into a hotel - I assume now they are going to do some facadism (or will it be the parking lot next door that is excavated?).

The address attached to the permit, 80 Powell, is the diagonal property west of the heritage building, 211 Columbia, that's being used as a parking lot as you said. Both properties were purchased together in 2023.

I wasn't aware the site was already excavated.

[csbvan]

Ah that makes sense - it's the parking lot that is subject to the application. If the buildings were sold together, I wonder if there will be incorporation of the two?

As for excavation, sorry that was confusing. Nothing is excavated. I meant to say "that is to be excavated". The permit notes that there will be underground parking.

[madog222]

Ok, got you. Yeah, I assume they would be operated together.

[Zepfancouver]

Originally Posted by Skali

Looks like you took this photo shortly before the accident that seriously injured one of the workers raising the crane!

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/08/21/vancouver-west-end-crane-worker-injured/

Looks like things went much better for 1332 Thurlow St. tower crane lift today.

Image by me - timestamp 20250924_122156 (I'll add a photo to this post tomorrow of its completed raised heght)

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by madog222

The address attached to the permit, 80 Powell, is the diagonal property west of the heritage building, 211 Columbia, that's being used as a parking lot as you said. Both properties were purchased together in 2023.

I wasn't aware the site was already excavated.

211 Columbia and 80 Powell Street Downtown
Vancouver $11,500,000
Buyer: Living Balance Investment Group
Seller: Cypra Developments Ltd.

https://www.avisonyoung.ca/documents/d/vancouver/avison-young-bc-investment-review-h2-2023

Their portfolio

http://livingbalance.ca/our-buildings/

They've been accused of being slumlords in the past

https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/protesters-target-west-van-developers-home-2920315

EDIT: they're doing hotel usage in the top levels of the heritage building

Primary Location: 211 COLUMBIA STREET, Vancouver, BC V6A 2R5


Specific Location: 211 Columbia St - Hotel use (levels 2 and 3)

Address number assigned as per approved plans for Fire and Emergency response. The address number is to be posted to the building and to be visible from the street in accordance with the Building By-law prior to final inspection.


Work Description: Interior alteration and change of occupancy of levels 2 and 3 from general office to Hotel use (19 rooms) in the existing Provincially Designated Heritage commercial building on this site. Scope of work includes changing unit 70 from office to hotel storage and laundry.

Structural upgrade waived by S Schwebs.


Type of Work: Addition / Alteration

https://plposweb.vancouver.ca/Public/Default.aspx?PossePresentation=Guest&PosseObjectId=261752923

[jollyburger]

I don't think this was posted but Marcon posted an updated application in January on the West Pender/Richards hotel project

A revised application was submitted following feedback from the community and staff review. The general form of development remains the same with revisions to the heritage retention of the Lumbermen’s Building to be façade-only instead of the entire building and adjustments to the density, massing and setbacks of the building. Changes include:

A floor space ratio (FSR) of 20.86;
586 hotel units; and
168 vehicle parking spaces

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/516-534-w-pender-st-and-509-richards-st

It got referred to a public hearing on Sept 16

https://council.vancouver.ca/20250916/documents/rr11_000.pdf

It's more of a complete tower block facing Richards now compared to the original proposal thanks to the gutting of the heritage building.



EDIT: Here's the amended rezoning application

The recent building condition assessments of the Lumbermen’s
Building have concluded that retaining the entire structure is
not feasible. As a result, the focus has shifted to preserving and
restoring the building’s heritage facade. This revised development
scheme responds to staff comments by addressing Staff’s form of
development comments with respect to setbacks. Additionally, it
creates a more sustainable and efficient building. By prioritizing the
facade, the project aligns better with City policy and urban planning
goals, all while ensuring the site’s historical value is maintained

It is our opinion from reviewing the Lumbermen’s site conditions
and the building’s existing lateral and gravity systems, that seismic
upgrades and increased capacity to address the change of use are
significant enough in scope and magnitude too make a full building
retention impractical and that a facade only retention may be the
most reasonable path forward.

It is our opinion that compliance would require the removal and
replacement of major building systems. In addition, a complete
reconfiguration of floorplates would be needed to introduce an
additional exit stair and expanded core for the firefighter/accessible
elevator, with associated loss of useable floor area.

https://rezoning.vancouver.ca/applicatio...509-richards-st/application-booklet1.pdf

[officedweller]

I'm not keen on the brick colour.
Compared to the trendy entrance areas, the brick colour above seems to weigh down the building (make it more drab).
It would have been nice to have something to perk up the area.

[mcj]

Wonder who will occupy the two full plate floors of offices on top, hotel management I guess?

[urbanight93]

Information about the facade only heritage retention was posted on here at the time i remember. Thanks for bringing it up though. I don't understand the new tower floorplate. The rooms facing each other into the U will barely get any light. I agree with regards to the brick colour. Would be nice for the green tile to make its way up the tower.

I'm noticing that Toronto proposals are moving away from the drab black/white/grey motifs and into using colours and greater texture. Too bad these likely won't see the light of day anytime soon due to the current state of the market.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by mcj

Wonder who will occupy the two full plate floors of offices on top, hotel management I guess?

If it's not for Marcon you assume it's for some kind of higher end tenant since they could easily use those floors for more rooms. There's a lot of BOH office space on the 5/6th floors. Not sure how much space they have at Park Place.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by mcj

Wonder who will occupy the two full plate floors of offices on top, hotel management I guess?

Level 27 is marked Guest Services and has a patio.
I figure it's an amenities level.
Level 28 is marked office and could be Marcon's corporate offices?

Originally Posted by urbanight93

... I don't understand the new tower floorplate. The rooms facing each other into the U will barely get any light. ...

The walls facing each other are solid walls. Primary windows are on other walls in those units.
Only the units at the "bottom," of the "U" have windows - so there's no overlook issue, but yes, limited light (at least on the lower levels).

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Level 27 is marked Guest Services and has a patio.
I figure it's an amenities level.
Level 28 is marked office and could be Marcon's corporate offices?



The walls facing each other are solid walls. Primary windows are on other walls in those units.
Only the units at the "bottom," of the "U" have windows - so there's no overlook issue, but yes, limited light (at least on the lower levels).

There's a restaurant and pool and level 27? It's shown in the landscape plan.

28/29 are the offices.

[Zepfancouver]

Originally Posted by Zepfancouver

One year to the day is a coincidence, working in the area this morning, Apr 15, 2025


https://makeagif.com/i/WXzmeo

Every lintel on the window openings has a fairly good matching, did the architech design the name plate half dark stone and the other half light colored stone
It's already bugging me. I'd be trying to scratch away my OCD everytime I would walk under that lintel

[img]...jpeg[/img]

Working a Co-Op Living building on West Cordova St. today, walk a couple of blocks for a look at progress at Salvation Army new Harbour Light facility.

Pics by Me

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

There's a restaurant and pool and level 27? It's shown in the landscape plan.

28/29 are the offices.

Thanks.
I missed 29 - I was looking at the comparison pages.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Zepfancouver

Working a Co-Op Living building on West Cordova St. today, walk a couple of blocks for a look at progress at Salvation Army new Harbour Light facility.

Pics by Me

Great proportions and design. Looks a bit art deco.

[gaviscon]

It doesn't look bad but it does kinda contribute to the neighbourhood's drab and damp cityscape...

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by gaviscon

It doesn't look bad but it does kinda contribute to the neighbourhood's drab and damp cityscape...

What does damp mean