A commercial building currently housing the offices of a Canadian packaging and supply company could be razed to make way for a six-storey mixed-use residence with 40 rental units.
The proposed development by Tatla Development Ltd. and RH Architects Inc. is located on the south side of Kingsway in the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood, just east of Kingsway and Rupert Street. Rezoning for the site has been approved for residential use as part of the Rental 100 program. The City of Vancouver initiative encourages the construction of purpose-built, market rental buildings for affordable to moderate income households.
Surrounding structures consist of an under construction apartment building to the west and an existing, recently restored townhouse development to the east. The site is well serviced by transit with several bus lines running along Kingsway, and is also within walking distance to a major shopping district with grocery stores, banks and cafes.
Designed by RH Architects Inc., the development would house five storeys of rental suites above one level of retail and commercial spaces, fronting Kingsway. The complex would consist of a six-storey structure at the front and a three-storey section at the rear. The top floor would be set back along Kingsway to soften the impact of the overall building mass on neighbouring properties.
The exterior facade would have strong horizontal design elements consisting of grey metal panels that also act as guardrails at the base of the balconies. White fiber cement panels would be used in the setbacks from the balconies, creating a lighter aesthetic while adding some contrast to the horizontal bands. The dark-trimmed balcony guardrails that frame the glass panels would also form an important design element to the front facade.
“The elevation along Kingsway uses the guards as a strong horizontal design element at level two and are repeated on every level,” reads the design rationale. “This creates a rhythm along Kingsway and provides additional privacy for the tenant’s balconies.”
At the centre of the project would be a private, landscaped courtyard for residents to enjoy, accessed through a main floor amenity space. Other amenities include underground parking for both commercial and residential use and a bicycle parking area.
Apartment sizes would range from 391 to 1,036 square feet and feature layouts with up to three bedrooms. Approximately 40 percent of the units would be dedicated to family-sized floorplans with two or three bedrooms, complete with private storage space within the home.
Other new construction developments in the neighbourhood include 5427 Joyce Street, Acorn and Joyce.
