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Saturday, October 5, 2024

Granville Loops removal plan calls for four towers

The city’s plan to remove the Granville Loops adjacent to the bridge will see four new residential towers constructed, with a mix of market condominiums, social housing, market rental, retail and daycare space.

The City of Vancouver has posted the rezoning application for the removal of the Granville Loops and the creation of four separate development parcels. The plan for the removal of the loops has been in the works since 2010.

The circular ramps connecting to the bridge, also known as the loops, will be replaced by a new street network with extensions of Continental and Rolston streets south to Pacific Street, and a new connection of Neon Street to Granville Street with a signalized intersection.

New street network
New street network. Credit: City of Vancouver
Highlighted buildings are over 150 feet
Highlighted buildings are over 150 ft. high. Podium heights range between 30 and 70 feet throughout the area. Credit: City of Vancouver

The Granville Loops rezoning application includes four subareas (A, B, C and D):

Subarea A

  • 40-storey strata condominium tower (395 ft.)
  • 263,328 sq. ft. total floor area

Subarea B

  • 27-storey mixed-use tower adjacent to Pacific Street (275 ft.), and 12 storeys adjacent to Neon Street, with a 70-foot podium and street-level commercial-retail
  • 219,131 sq. ft. total floor area, consisting of:
    • 126,524 sq. ft. secured market rental housing, with balance of floor space as strata residential and commercial-retail space

Subarea C

  • 27-storey mixed-use tower adjacent to Pacific Street (275 ft.), and 12 storeys adjacent to Neon St with a 70-foot podium and street-level commercial-retail
  • 174,892 sq. ft. total floor area, consisting of:
    • 161,649 sq. ft. of social housing (50,000 sq. ft. of which is replacement of SRO housing that was in the demolished Continental Hotel)
    • 37-space, 5,000 square foot childcare facility

Subarea D

  • 40-storey strata condominium tower (395 ft.)
  • 262,822 sq. ft. total floor area

Video: View of development site from bridge, Maddox

Renderings: Granville Loops redevelopment plan

Overview of Pacific Street frontages
Overview of Pacific Street frontages. Credit: City of Vancouver
Gateway view through High Buildings (Vancouver House and 601 Beach)
Gateway view through High Buildings (Vancouver House and 601 Beach). Credit: City of Vancouver
Gateway view of Granville Loops Rezoning Area
Gateway view of Granville Loops Rezoning Area. Credit: City of Vancouver
Overview of Granville Loops area looking southwest
Overview of Granville Loops area looking southwest. Credit: City of Vancouver
Northeasterly Overview of Rezoning Concept
Northeasterly overview of rezoning concept. Credit: City of Vancouver

The city’s 2010 plan for the redevelopment of Granville Loops area called for a maximum tower height of 300 feet, however, since that time, five nearby sites have been redeveloped with gateway towers of 378 to 415 feet.

The city states that increasing the allowable building heights and density on the Loops site will allow for greater public benefits. Overall, approximately 243,000 sq. ft. of additional floor area is proposed over the 2010 plan, 100 per cent of which is to consist of additional social housing, rental housing and a childcare facility.

Video: Granville Loops redevelopment plan

The two closest residential towers to the site are The Maddox (300 ft.) and The Rolston (221 ft.) — both of which will have their views impacted significantly by the redevelopment of the Loops.

South of the Loops is the 601 Beach tower proposed by Pinnacle International, which is currently working its way through the development permit process. The 53-storey tower will measure 544 feet tall.

Site envisioned for new Vancouver Art Gallery

The parcels of land under the existing loops were once envisioned for other civic uses, including a new pool to replace the Vancouver Aquatic Centre at Sunset Beach. In addition, in 2013, local architect Tony Osborn of TOAD Design floated a concept to create a cultural “welcome mat” on the property, with an outdoor sculpture gallery and a new home for the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Granville Loops Vancouver Art Gallery
Rendering of a new Vancouver Art Gallery on the Granville Loops property, looking southeast, with The Mark tower on the left, and Vancouver House on the right. Credit: TOAD Design

Feedback on the Granville Loops rezoning can be submitted here.

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Peter Meiszner
Peter Meiszner
Peter Meiszner is an experienced journalist and media relations professional, based in Vancouver. As founder of urbanYVR.com, he has been reporting on urban development across the Lower Mainland since 2016, and has also served as vice-chair of the Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee. In October 2022, he was elected to Vancouver city council and is no longer actively reporting for urbanYVR.

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