The rezoning plan 508 Helmcken Street calls for a 36-storey tower, but
not everyone is pleased to have a tower encroach the edge of Emery
Barnes Park.
GBL Architects Inc. has applied to the City of Vancouver to rezone 508
Helmcken Street. The architectural renderings in GBL Architects
portfolio site show a drastic revision of the use of cladding on the
building façade. The massing model of the proposed site remains integral
to the rezoning application. An updated proposal has been submitted for
a 36-storey mixed-use building:
A total of 464 residential units
109 units as market rental
355 units as strata
Private pre-school and kindergarten
Revised version of the design shows building setback from the park by 12 feet
Image: GBL Architects
Image: GBL Architects
The intent of the building proposal is to provide social housing at
1077-1099 Richards Street, this is contingent to relocating the
residents of Jubilee House at 508 Helmcken Street, thus factors in the
public benefits of this rezoning application.
Neighbours in the community claim the city was not entirely transparent
about the proposed Emery Barnes Park tower. Locals grew weary over
concerns about new inhabitants in the busy park space.
According to the petition sent to City Council against rezoning 508
Helmcken, the developments are the product of a title swap agreement
between Brenhill Development and the city. This was made unclear during
the process of conveyance of the two properties.
Controversy ascended when a lawsuit against the city claims they would
allow the tower to be built on land entitled to social housing. The
lawsuit claims that forming the agreement with Brenhill Developments,
the city violated its own bylaws by withholding certain details about
rezoning the land.