Opinion: Proposed Vancouver tower could create a new downtown landmark

A Daily Hive Vancouver opinion piece argues that Holborn Group’s proposed redevelopment of the Hudson’s Bay parkade block could give downtown Vancouver a major new landmark. The site is bounded by West Georgia, Seymour, Dunsmuir and Richards streets and sits beside CF Pacific Centre, Granville Station and Vancouver City Centre Station.

The proposal includes a 68-storey, 315-metre hotel tower that would become Western Canada’s tallest building if completed. Designed by Henriquez Partners Architects, the tower would have a diagrid exterior inspired by glass sponge reefs and a glass dome at its top. It is planned to contain 920 hotel rooms, more than 70,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, including three large ballrooms, and an observation deck above 305 metres.

The author contends that the observation deck could become a major downtown visitor attraction. The concept calls for paid entry for out-of-town visitors and free access for Vancouver residents, secured through a legal agreement on title and the site’s zoning if the rezoning is approved.

The broader parkade redevelopment would also include two mixed-use residential and commercial towers, with 1,546 homes in total: 1,270 market strata homes and 276 secured purpose-built market-rental homes. Plans also call for more than 40,000 square feet of street-level retail and restaurant space, a public plaza and additional access to Granville Station.

Off-site, the developer proposes a 25-storey social-housing tower at 388 Abbott St. near Woodward’s, with 237 social-housing units, 37 childcare spaces and ground-floor cultural and/or commercial space. The building would be transferred to the City of Vancouver upon completion. City staff have estimated the public-benefits package across the two sites at about $305 million, including the social-housing tower and a $20-million contribution for downtown public-realm improvements.

The article is an opinion piece advocating for the project. It notes the proposal’s scale will draw scrutiny and says the project remains subject to the city’s planning and rezoning process.