August 1, 2012

Highrise towers near Rogers Arena get rezoning approval from council

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

Aquilini Developments is moving closer to the construction of three highrise towers near Rogers Arena in Vancouver, after city council recently approved rezoning for the project.

“I think it’s exciting because it’s an evolution of full-on private sector investment in the arena, which is something other cities would die to have,” said Vancouver City Councillor Geoff Meggs.

“Now, it has taken a step further and added a lot of additional jobs and rental accommodation, which is a good thing.”

Council approved an application made by Walter Francl Architecture on behalf of Aquilini Development and Construction Inc. to permit a mixed-use development, which includes a residential component with 614 units of market-based rental housing.

The residential component of the project has a total area of 37,919 sq. m.

These towers will remain as rental accommodation for the life of the building or 60 years, whichever is greater.

“This is the second largest development ever of designated rental in our city as a block,” said councillor Raymond Louie.

“This is a significant addition to the landscape of housing need we have in our city.”

According to a City of Vancouver report, the rezoning of Rogers Arena will pave the way for the construction of three towers.

The plan utilizes residual spaces adjacent to the arena.

The west and east towers will be integrated into the existing arena, with the south tower constructed south of the Georgia Viaduct, adjacent to Pacific Boulevard.

The West Tower is already under construction.

It was originally approved as an office tower, but will now become a mixed-use building.

The first 13 floors of the building would be a mix of office, retail and restaurant uses related to the arena.

The 14th to 25th floors will be residential units.

The East Tower will also be a mixed-use building.

The first five floors would be a renovation of the existing concourse area for the arena, with floors 6-14 comprised of office space.

The 15th to 28th floors will be residential units.

The South Tower will be a residential tower.

The overall total floor space proposed for the site is 100,678 sq. m.

The massing of each tower will utilize a triangular form, with broad faces oriented toward the arena, framing the arena with the tall tower forms.

The placement of the towers respects the minimum 80-foot tower separation guideline used in many areas of Vancouver.

The tower heights of 24, 28, and 32 storeys are the maximum heights permitted under the council-approved view cone from Cambie Street to the North Shore Mountains.

The 650,000-square-foot project includes 753 parking spaces and 216,000 sq. ft. of commercial space.

The company said the West Tower should be ready for occupancy by renters in the spring of 2014 and the second tower in the spring of 2015.

The triangular shaped residential and commercial towers are being built by the Aquilini family, owners of the Vancouver Canucks.

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