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Work has started on a rental complex at Commercial Drive and 18th Avenue. Developed by Cressey Development Group and designed by Yamamoto Architecture, this complex will add much-needed rental stock to a market experiencing record low vacancy rates.
The site was a result of a multiple-lot assembly, and is subdivided into two sub-areas. Sub-area #1 will contain a four-storey, and a six-storey building, with 110 secured market rental units, consisting of 31 studios, 38 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom, and 11 three-bedroom units, and will have 71 underground parking spaces, and 138 bicycle spaces. Amenities will include a children's play area, an outdoor dining space, garden plots, an amenity room, landscaping, and retention of some of the existing mature trees on site.
Sub-Area #2 will contain the Conrad Myers house, which was relocated from 3365 Commercial Drive, and set to be converted into two market residential units, plus a two-unit infill townhouse structure in the rear of the lot. In total, the sub-area accommodates four market housing units, (all three-bedroom) as well as 10 underground parking spaces and 10 bicycle spaces. The house at 3365 Commercial Street was built in 1911 for Conrad Myers; the site and the house haven't changed much in over a hundred years. After the proposal was approved, the house was added to the Vancouver Heritage Register.
This development caused significant controversy with local residents who were upset by the loss of mature trees, and increased density, and has gone through several revisions since the original proposal in March 2015. The first revision was submitted in June 2015, and called for an increase of the site area from 33,730 square feet to 35,110 square feet, resulting in a reduction in the proposed density from a floor space ratio of 2.55 to 2.45, and an increase in parking stalls from 64 to 74. The second revision was submitted in December 2015, and called for a reduction of units from 118 to 114, massing changes to the rental building, reduced size of the infill building on the heritage site, and a change in the underground parking ramp location.
Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
