Feedback on downtown Vancouver mall redevelopment accepted until August 28

On July 27, the group advising the City of Vancouver on major development projects endorsed a plan to remove the rotunda and public square of a downtown shopping mall.

The Urban Design Panel voted 7-1 in favour of a proposal by Cadillac Fairview to replace this section of the Pacific Centre mall with a three-storey retail building.

City hall is accepting comments from the public until August 28.

The public square is one of the areas downtown where visitors can take a short break and relax outdoors. It has benches, and a number of cherry blossom trees.

The development application filed by Perkins + Will Architects Canada stated that Cadillac Fairview is “reimagining” the rotunda at the northeast corner of West Georgia and Howe streets as part of  a “multi-phase refresh and updating of the Pacific Centre Mall complex”.

According to the application, the revitalization of the mall included the introduction of luxury brand store Holt Renfew, and the replacement of the Sears store with fashion retailer Nordstrom.

The proposed three-storey retail building will have an outdoor restaurant at the top floor.

According to the application, Cadillac Fairview is “creating a world class high-end retail centre in the heart of Vancouver”.