24-storey towers at Commercial-Broadway Station, 7,150 homes proposed in East Vancouver plan

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      The City of Vancouver has released a proposed plan to guide future developments in the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood.

      According figures released by the city, the plan will deliver some 7,150 new homes in 30 years.

      One of the sub-areas covered in the draft community plan is around the Commercial-Broadway Station, the busiest public transportation hub in the city and the Metro Vancouver region.

      This so-called Transit Station Precinct is bordered by Clark Drive, Nanaimo Street, East 12th Avenue, the Grandview Cut, and Broadway.

      The document provides for residential towers ranging in heights from 12 to 24 storeys at the Safeway site east of the station.

      The grocery location is expected to be redeveloped, and will feature a new civic plaza.

      “The plan envisions a mixed‐use community centred on a vibrant new urban plaza at the SkyTrain Station,” the plan states.

      The document also suggests mixed-use buildings of six to 10 floors near the station.

      In addition, the draft plan envisions new six-storey buildings on East Broadway, and rowhouses in selected areas. In traditional single-family residential areas, the document suggests duplexes and infill housing.

      In 2013, there was a public outcry against initial ideas by the city for the Commercial-Broadway Station.

      These included mixed-use towers of 27 to 36 storeys at the Safeway site. In areas near the station, high-rise buildings of 18 to 22 floors were also contemplated.

      Following community opposition to the emerging concepts for the entire Grandview-Woodland community at the time, the city convened a citizens’ assembly to provide non-binding recommendations.

      In June last year, the Grandview-Woodland Citizens’ Assembly delivered its report, which included suggestions for the Commercial Drive and Broadway area.

      Here’s how a portion of the report read: “We want to restrict the height at the Broadway-Commercial station intersection (SE corner) and south along Commercial Drive to eight storeys. We want to allow a maximum of 12 storeys on the east side of the site; however, the developments must have varied heights.”

      “The south side should not cast shadows over the plaza therefore we want to restrict buildings immediately to the south of the plaza to four storeys,” the report continued.

      Grandview-Woodland is bordered by Clark Drive, Nanaimo Street, East 12th Avenue, and Burrard Inlet.

      In addition to the Commercial-Broadway Station Precinct, the six other sub-areas in the neighbourhood that are included in the draft plan are Commercial Drive, Hastings Street, Nanaimo Street, Cedar Cove, Britannia‐Woodland, and Grandview.

      According to a media release by the city, the Grandview-Woodland plan will produce 1,400 market rental homes, 1,400 non-market homes, and 4,350 units of privately-owned residences.

      The city will hold public consultations on the draft community plan, starting on Wednesday (June 29) at the Maritime Labour Centre (1880 Triumph Street).

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