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The City of Vancouver has unanimously approved an application to rezone 2165-2195 West 45th Avenue and 2205-2291 West 45th Avenue from a One-Family Dwelling District to a Comprehensive Development District. The proposal for the two sites was submitted by Dunbar Ryerson United Church and co-developer Wall Financial, with building designs by Endall Elliot Associates, and landscaping by PWL Partnership Landscape Architects Inc. The proposal includes heritage designation and rehabilitation of the Dunbar Ryerson United Church, as well as construction of community spaces, social housing, and market residential buildings.
The project consists of two sites on the north side of 45th Avenue at Yew Street. The west site is 33,178 square feet and is occupied by the Dunbar Ryerson United Church, the church rectory and two single-family houses. The east site is 32,293 square feet, and currently includes the church hall building, a gym, and a single-family house. Both sites are owned by the Trustees of the Congregation of Ryerson United Church. To the north of the site is a mix of apartment buildings ranging in height from three to 12 storeys and to the east, west and south are single-family houses.
The Dunbar Ryerson United Church on the west site will be restored and seismically upgraded, and the sanctuary will be improved for enhanced music performance. The church was built in 1927, and had some restoration work done in 1963. It is well-known for its acoustics. A new, five-storey building will include a new community activity centre on floors one through three, and 32 units of social housing on floors one to five, consisting of six two-bedrooms, 13 one-bedrooms and 13 studio units.
The east site of the development will feature an eight-storey strata building, with a proposed area of 79,802 square feet, as well as 2.5-storey townhouses along 45th Avenue, and a four-storey podium along the north adjacent lane. This portion of the development will contain 40 units consisting of 19 three-bedrooms, 16 two-bedrooms and five one-bedrooms.
For transportation, the project includes parking for 140 cars and 71 bicycles. The site is also within a short walk of two bus routes, and once built, the Arbutus streetcar. It is near many shopping and recreation options on 41st Street and Arbutus Street, as well as the Kerrisdale Community Centre, and a library.
Not surprisingly, this proposal faced strong opposition from the local residents, who cited familiar concerns: loss of green space, increased traffic and disregard of the neighbourhood context.
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