A two-storey commercial building on West Broadway in Vancouver’s Fairview area could be redeveloped into a 26-storey, mixed-use residential and commercial tower.
Last year, Unicorn Properties and W.T. Leung Architects submitted a rezoning application to redevelop 1668 West Broadway — a mid-block property located near the southwest corner of the intersection of Fir Street and West Broadway. This site is located roughly one block west of SkyTrain’s future South Granville Station.
The existing building, constructed in 1989, houses a variety of businesses. Over much of its history, a major upper-level commercial unit has changed hands among several Asian cuisine restaurants — up until recently, it was home to Feel City BBQ.
Site of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
Site of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
Site of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
Under the prescriptions and stipulations of the municipal government’s Broadway Plan, the proposal calls for a 265-ft-tall tower, containing 208 secured purpose-built rental homes, with 166 market rental units and 42 below-market rental units. The unit size mix is 109 one-bedroom units, 22 one-bedroom units with a den, 57 two-bedroom units, and 20 three-bedroom units.
A few of the rental homes will be situated on the second level, sharing a floor with common indoor and outdoor amenities for residents and 4,800 sq. ft. of commercial office space. Additional shared indoor and outdoor amenities for residents are found on the third level.
About 8,200 sq. ft. of retail/restaurant uses on the ground level will activate the building’s West Broadway frontage.
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
A total of 119 vehicle parking stalls will be provided within three underground levels, and five car share stalls will be situated in the laneway.
Altogether, this project will generate about 162,000 sq. ft. of total building floor area, establishing a floor area ratio density of a floor area that is 8.6 times larger than the size of the 18,750 sq. ft. lot.
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)
Concept of 1668 West Broadway, Vancouver. (W.T. Leung Architects/Unicorn Properties)