A new mixed-use development could replace seven single-family homes along a 319-foot stretch of West 49th Avenue, just west of Columbia Street, in Vancouver’s Cambie Corridor.
The application by GBL Architects proposes a four-storey residence with commercial spaces at grade and 92 residential suites on floors two to four. Two levels of underground parking would be accessed from the rear lane, providing 101 residential and 39 commercial spaces.
The rezoning of the site is proposed under the Cambie Corridor Plan, which encourages the construction of new developments to create a walkable, mixed-use urban environment. Spanning 37,496 square feet, the site is long and slim at 313 by 113 feet and sits at the intersection of West 49th Avenue and Columbia Street, directly across from Langara College.
Given the site dimensions, the architects paid careful consideration to the shape and design of the proposed building to improve street interaction and aesthetic appeal. A mix of colours, materials and textures add further visual interest and break up the long stretch of façade along West 49th Avenue. A large sweeping roofline ties everything together and highlights the rooftop amenities, landscaping and green roofs.
“The overall massing of the building has been strategically broken in an asymmetrical fashion to give the impression of a diverse and eclectic retail street, with variation in the height and length of the street-facing retail frontages,” reads the design rationale. “Using the building articulation, these breaks also signal entrances and areas of interest along West 49th Avenue.”
If approved, the building would house 92 units consisting of two studios, 50 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom suites. Eight commercial spaces would be available at grade with an average unit size of 1,912 square feet.
In the neighbourhood, sales continue at Oakridge by Westbank and QuadReal, while registration is open at 42nd & Cambie by Vivagrand Developments.
