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Non-profit housing developer New Commons is eyeing the corner of Burrard and Davie for intensification, proposing a 17-storey social housing project to be built using mass timber construction. The application to rezone 1190 Burrard Street was submitted on December 13 and also proposes a new 13,427-square-foot home for LGBTQ community centre QMUNITY, currently housed at 1170 Bute Street.
The ZGF Architects-designed development would provide 139 rental homes—to be operated by the McLaren Housing Society of BC—with a minimum of five percent fully accessible to wheelchairs. A number of design principles for the project have been created to guide the project through to completion. Submitted materials indicate Passive House certification as an objective. The development team will also explore ways of expediting construction, including "off-site prefabrication of repeatable components."
The project's unit mix is broken down into 72 studios, 18 one-bedrooms, 30 two-bedrooms and 19 three-bedrooms. A total of 34 parking spaces and 276 bicycle spaces have been proposed. An outdoor amenities area on the seventh level would provide over 4,000 square feet of space for residents to unwind in. Additional amenity spaces inside will total 2,400 square feet.
A two-storey podium highlighted in rainbow colours will contain the QMUNITY space, plus an additional 3,727 square feet of commercial area on the ground floor. The building would replace a low-slung commercial structure currently occupied by Cash Money and a hair salon.
A community open house for the project will be held on January 20 from 5 PM - 8 PM at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Georgia Room (1110 Howe Street). City staff will join the applicant team to answer any questions.
Additional images and information 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 space provided at the bottom of this page.
