800-876 Granville St rezoning application

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The City of Vancouver has received an application to rezone 800-876 Granville Street from DD (Downtown) District to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District. This proposal is non-compliant with respect to the policies noted below. We are seeking your feedback.

The proposal is to allow the development of a 17-storey mixed-use commercial building over four-partial levels of underground parking accessed from the lane. This proposal includes:

  • A building height of 79.3 m (260 ft.);
  • A floor space ratio (FSR) of 13.58;
  • A floor area of 60,527 sq. m (651,503 sq. ft.)
    • Retention of the Commodore Ballroom and Lanes (VHR category 'A');
    • Retention of the façades of the State Hotel at 876 Granville Street (VHR Category 'C') and three other heritage properties on site;
    • Approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of retail-in the first three storeys;
    • 50,000 sq. ft. of restaurant and cultural space at level 4 including a performance venue to be dedicated to the City;
    • Approximately 470,000 sq. ft. of office space; and
  • 98 vehicle parking spaces and 363 bicycle parking spaces.

The site is located in sub-area 'K1' of the Downtown Official Development Plan (DODP). The application requests consideration of height and density in excess of the existing policy. Sub-area 'K1' allows a maximum height of 27.4 m (90 ft.) and a maximum density of 3.5 FSR. Amendments to the Official Development Plan would also be required to enable this project.

The rezoning site includes a number of heritage properties, and as such, the City's Heritage Program and Heritage Policies apply. The application proposes primarily façade-only retention for four heritage properties on site, along with the complete retention of the Commodore Ballroom.

The site includes the State Hotel at 876 Granville Street, which is a registered Single Room Accommodation (SRA) building containing approximately 73 vacant units. The building is subject to the City's Single Room Accommodation By-law.

Application drawings and statistics on this webpage are posted as-submitted to the City. Following staff review, the final project statistics are documented within the referral report.





The City of Vancouver has received an application to rezone 800-876 Granville Street from DD (Downtown) District to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District. This proposal is non-compliant with respect to the policies noted below. We are seeking your feedback.

The proposal is to allow the development of a 17-storey mixed-use commercial building over four-partial levels of underground parking accessed from the lane. This proposal includes:

  • A building height of 79.3 m (260 ft.);
  • A floor space ratio (FSR) of 13.58;
  • A floor area of 60,527 sq. m (651,503 sq. ft.)
    • Retention of the Commodore Ballroom and Lanes (VHR category 'A');
    • Retention of the façades of the State Hotel at 876 Granville Street (VHR Category 'C') and three other heritage properties on site;
    • Approximately 100,000 sq. ft. of retail-in the first three storeys;
    • 50,000 sq. ft. of restaurant and cultural space at level 4 including a performance venue to be dedicated to the City;
    • Approximately 470,000 sq. ft. of office space; and
  • 98 vehicle parking spaces and 363 bicycle parking spaces.

The site is located in sub-area 'K1' of the Downtown Official Development Plan (DODP). The application requests consideration of height and density in excess of the existing policy. Sub-area 'K1' allows a maximum height of 27.4 m (90 ft.) and a maximum density of 3.5 FSR. Amendments to the Official Development Plan would also be required to enable this project.

The rezoning site includes a number of heritage properties, and as such, the City's Heritage Program and Heritage Policies apply. The application proposes primarily façade-only retention for four heritage properties on site, along with the complete retention of the Commodore Ballroom.

The site includes the State Hotel at 876 Granville Street, which is a registered Single Room Accommodation (SRA) building containing approximately 73 vacant units. The building is subject to the City's Single Room Accommodation By-law.

Application drawings and statistics on this webpage are posted as-submitted to the City. Following staff review, the final project statistics are documented within the referral report.




The virtual open house and Q&A has concluded. Thank you for participating.

The opportunity to ask questions through the Q&A is available from March 27, 2023 to April 16, 2023.

We post all questions as-is and aim to respond within two business days. Some questions may require coordination with internal departments and additional time may be needed to post a response.

Please note that the comment form will remain open after the virtual open house time period. The Rezoning Planner can also be contacted directly for any further feedback or questions.

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    Will the raised podium with the open spaces result in increased noise for the residents of 833 Seymour, especially since the plan is to use the facilities throughout the day and night for entertainment and social activities?

    JoLi asked 12 months ago

    Thank you for your question and raising your concerns. Noise impacts will be considered in the review of the rezoning application. The applicant team provided a response related to noise impacts from performance venues for a previous question which is applicable: 

    Noise emanating from the Commodore Ballroom (which is a live performance venue with diverse acts) and from the new performance venue which will have a similar diversity of live performances has been addressed in a number of ways:

    1. Commodore Ballroom (Level 03)
      1. Addition of new exiting and loading functions which allow for greater acoustic separation between the Ballroom and adjacent commercial spaces;
      2. The structural truss that spans over Commodore Complex is acoustically isolated from the 4th floor promenade and its programmatic functions. This, combined with the interstitial mechanical space will mitigate noise transfer from the Ballroom and the Bowling Lanes (Level 01). 
    2. New performance venue (Level 04)
      1. Acoustic isolation to mitigate noise through its construction – both structure borne as well as ambient.
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    Given the size of this project, what is the level of confidence that tenants can be found to fill all this retail, restaurant, and office space? With the impending Nordstrom space opening up, and the failure to attract tenants to the smaller proposed office building behind this project, I am concerned about the viability of such an ambitious project. I love the idea, but not sure there's a solid business case for it.

    Darbygb asked 12 months ago

    Thank you for your questions and concerns, they will be considered in the review of the application. Regarding the confidence that tenants can be found for the retail, restaurant and office space the applicant team has provided the following response: 

    The proposed project is approximately 650,000 sq. ft. of floor area which is not a lot to get absorbed/rented/occupied; especially when the design/building can be adapted to many commercial uses and most importantly meets and exceeds the highest demand requirements (i.e. being at the center of the downtown core at a location where business/office, shopping, entertainment, restaurants, arts & culture venues and major transit all intersect). The location is basically a highest demand / limited supply scenario.

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    The public cultural spaces on level 4 would be above the level 1 Commodore nightclub, am I correct? If so, what has been done with design to plan for no loud noise being heard at ate night cultural performances?

    LisaM asked 12 months ago

    The applicant team has provided the following response regarding noise:

     

    Noise emanating from the Commodore Ballroom (which is a live performance venue with diverse acts) and from the new performance venue which will have a similar diversity of live performances has been addressed in a number of ways:

    1. Commodore Ballroom (Level 03)
      1. Addition of new exiting and loading functions which allow for greater acoustic separation between the Ballroom and adjacent commercial spaces;
      2. The structural truss that spans over Commodore Complex is acoustically isolated from the 4th floor promenade and its programmatic functions. This, combined with the interstitial mechanical space will mitigate noise transfer from the Ballroom and the Bowling Lanes (Level 01). 
    2. New performance venue (Level 04)
      1. Acoustic isolation to mitigate noise through its construction – both structure borne as well as ambient.
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    The Notice of Zoning Application for 800-876 Granville St. indicates that it is non-compliant with respect to the Downtown Official Development Plan and Heritage Policies. How, specifically, is this rezoning application non-compliant?

    Brian Brewer asked 12 months ago

    The rezoning application is currently under review; however, identified below are some high-level areas of policy non-compliance with respect to the existing policy framework. 

    The rezoning site is currently zoned ‘DD (Downtown) District’ and falls within the Downtown Official Development Plan (DODP) area. Under the DODP, a height of up to 90 ft. and a density of 3.5 FSR can be considered at this location. The rezoning application submitted for 800-876 Granville St requests consideration of a height of 260 ft. at a density of 13.58. The rezoning site also falls under the current direction within the Granville Street (Downtown South) Guidelines which are used in conjunction with the DODP for approval of uses or discretionary variation in regulations within the 800 to 1200 blocks of Granville Street. The general intent of these guidelines is to create a distinct urban character for Granville Street as an entertainment district for the city and as a pedestrian-oriented shopping area for Downtown South; to ensure a high standard of livability for residential projects and for the area as a whole; and to ensure high quality development. 

    The Vancouver Heritage Program (VHP), adopted in 2020, sets out guiding principles, vision, goals and directions to further integrate heritage conservation within citywide planning. Under the VHP and the associated Heritage Polices a site occupied by a protected heritage property should not be considered for rezoning if the proposal would result in demolition, severe alteration, replacement of original building structure, or with façade only retention. A heritage property on a rezoning site must be preserved, must be seismically upgraded, and a high level of retention and conservation should be proposed. Legal protection of the heritage resource is required. Façade-only retention is generally not considered to be an appropriate heritage conservation procedure. 

    Please note that the rezoning application is under review and more detail on policy deviations may be determined. The rezoning review process includes consideration of Council-approved plans, policies, and guidelines as well as input from the public, advisory committees, and other City departments. The result of the review is a report for City Council that analyzes the application, summarizes the feedback received, and recommends to refer an application to a public hearing and whether to approve or refuse the application. The report may also set legal conditions and design requirements for approving an application. 

Page last updated: 06 Jul 2023, 11:04 AM