Downtown Vancouver Updates II

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

I think the "windows to the floor" ones are the units with Juliette balconies?

https://council.vancouver.ca/2021070...hea5report.pdf

Got it, thanks!

[officedweller]

450 West Georgia
from Changing City Updates.

Definitely not a Save-on-Foods aesthetic (so unlikely them).


https://changingcitybook.wordpress.c...eorgia-street/

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

450 West Georgia
from Changing City Updates.

Definitely not a Save-on-Foods aesthetic (so unlikely them).


https://changingcitybook.wordpress.c...eorgia-street/

Safeways like that kind of glass atrium look..

[urbanight93]

very weird spot to place a pharmacy/grocery store given the proximity to Citymarket, IGA, London Drugs and H-Mart. It may only make sense if London Drugs vacates the Granville location for renovations.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

The Scotiabank lights are on right now maybe they're doing work on the signs.

West facing Scotia Tower logo still has a bunch of dark tubes.

[hollywoodnorth]

Originally Posted by urbanight93

very weird spot to place a pharmacy/grocery store given the proximity to Citymarket, IGA, London Drugs and H-Mart. It may only make sense if London Drugs vacates the Granville location for renovations.

not according to the genius we call W. T. LEUNG ... according to him there is and I quote "The new retail development will help address a critical service gap in the area by introducing essential retail offerings, including a grocery store and a pharmacy, to support the growing residential population in downtown"



W. T. LEUNG ARCHITECTS INC.
Nov 10 th, 2025.
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
450 WEST GEORGIA STREET
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
DESIGN RATIONALE FOR DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATION
1. INTRODUCTION
Located in the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown District (DD), 450 West Georgia Street is prominently positioned
at the southeast corner of the intersection with Richards Street. The site is framed by two significant office
developments: Telus Garden to the west and the 400 West Georgia office tower to the east—both of which were
rezoned to CD-1 to accommodate their respective forms of development.
The proposal envisions a two-storey retail building that aligns with the permitted land uses under the Downtown
Official Development Plan (DODP). The building will contribute to the active commercial streetscape and
reinforce West Georgia Street’s role as one of Vancouver’s primary cultural and business corridors.
The site is highly accessible by a range of sustainable transportation options. It is located just two blocks from
both the Canada Line and Expo Line SkyTrain stations and is directly served by multiple bus routes along West
Georgia and Richards Streets. Additionally, the City of Vancouver has identified Richards Street for a future two-
way separated bicycle lane, which will further enhance active transportation connectivity to the site.
The new retail development will help address a critical service gap in the area by introducing essential retail
offerings, including a grocery store and a pharmacy, to support the growing residential population in downtown
Vancouver.
As part of its commitment to sustainable development, the project incorporates a range of environmental
strategies that align with the City of Vancouver’s Green Building policies. These include energy-efficient
systems, low-carbon material selection, and compliance with the City’s Zero Emissions Building Plan and
Embodied Carbon Guidelines—ensuring that the project delivers lasting environmental and economic value.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

not according to the genius we call W. T. LEUNG ... according to him there is and I quote "The new retail development will help address a critical service gap in the area by introducing essential retail offerings, including a grocery store and a pharmacy, to support the growing residential population in downtown"

I think we already covered that the submission was rehashed from a years old one and not updated.
... it talks about the FUTURE Richards St. bike lane.
So you can't attribute it to the existing state of the area.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think we already covered that the submission was rehashed from a years old one and not updated.
... it talks about the FUTURE Richards St. bike lane.
So you can't attribute it to the existing state of the area.

You think they’d have put a little more effort into the submission then.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I think we already covered that the submission was rehashed from a years old one and not updated.
... it talks about the FUTURE Richards St. bike lane.
So you can't attribute it to the existing state of the area.

Waiting for someone to bring it up in five years..

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

You think they’d have put a little more effort into the submission then.

I think this forum is the only people who read that text.

Staff looks at the data table and drawings

[urbanight93]

I guess i'm curious about how the numbers pan out for the developer. It would be one thing if the space was already existing and someone wanted to lease or even if there were any indication that this was for a type of retailer that is an anchor (thinking urban-format Ikea or something of the sort) who signed a multi-year deal.

Time will tell.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by urbanight93

I guess i'm curious about how the numbers pan out for the developer. It would be one thing if the space was already existing and someone wanted to lease or even if there were any indication that this was for a type of retailer that is an anchor (thinking urban-format Ikea or something of the sort) who signed a multi-year deal.

Time will tell.

The development application says it's for grocery store or drug store. One rumour says it's both, with the grocery above the drug store, but no specific companies have been confirmed.

There seems to be more interest from grocery brands in expanding in the Metro Core. There have been no grocery stores close to Granville and Broadway for many years, and now we have both a City Market and a FreshCo. There's a grocery store proposed on Robson between Safeway and Whole Foods with no indication (yet) of who might operate there. Presumably Austerville are only going ahead with this because they have a leasing deal, so it will be interesting to see if it's a relocation of an existing store, or more competition.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The development application says it's for grocery store or drug store. One rumour says it's both, with the grocery above the drug store, but no specific companies have been confirmed.

I wonder which would have more shoplifting, upper or lower?

[hollywoodnorth]

WHOLE FOODS is opening a new Downtown Toronto Flagship .... so my gut tells me it could be them >> https://retail-insider.com/retail-in...ronto-project/


BUT if I was to bet it would be on a new London Drugs Flagship to replace Granville. anyone want to bet a Costco Hot Dog as per forum rules?

[officedweller]

If Whole Foods is opening a store a stone's throw from its owner's (Amazon) offices at The Post and at Telus Garden:
- it's admitting it missed the chance to open in The Post itself; and
- would it be counting on employee loyalty or maybe some type of employee discount?

[officedweller]

Park Place
By me today.

[officedweller]

Royal Centre

By me today

The columns look pretty spindly.
May have looked better with beefier or double columns.

The limestone or precast on the retail space looks messy - maybe it needs to be sealed?
Surprised that the windows do not fill the entire window bays (maybe space for signage?)

I see a "Rexall" sticker there for the mall entrance (Rexall is just below).














Hopefully the Royal Centre sign isn't RBC blue.


https://www.royalcentre.com/


https://sitings.ca/property/royal-ce...da-restaurant/


https://sitings.ca/property/royal-ce...da-restaurant/

[jollyburger]

The Rexall expanded into a neighbouring unit as well.

The pavilion glass looks like it has some ugly maple leaf frosted graphics on it

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRfJQG4CdVF/

Inside the lobby:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRNd8UsDZOC/

I don't think the Urban Design Panel liked the limestone on the original corner proposal so maybe they went with a darker concrete to match the tower.

https://vancouver.ca/files/cov/1055wgeorgiast.pdf

[officedweller]

I noticed the maple leaves, even from across the street. They are probably there to distract from bird poop and real leaves and dirt on the canopy.

The white carrera marble looks nice, but I think it's over used these days to get the modern sterile look.

The restaurant pavilion would have looked better as a black or dark gray box.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I noticed the maple leaves, even from across the street. They are probably there to distract from bird poop and real leaves and dirt on the canopy.

The white carrera marble looks nice, but I think it's over used these days to get the modern sterile look.

The restaurant pavilion would have looked better as a black or dark gray box.

At least there's a possibility someone else will design the corner redevelopment if they ever do that.

Just noticed in the UDP:

Moreover, canopy also has leaf-patterned glass panels which can cast interesting patterns on the plaza to further animate the space through moving light/shadow.