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The proposed rezoning of 2538 Birch Street from a 16-storey tower to a 28-storey skyscraper was the subject of a community open house today (June 27th), from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Holiday Inn (711 West Broadway).

City staff were expected to be attending the open house, which is sponsored by a group calling itself the Fairview/South Granville Action Committee.

The corner property in question was previously addressed as 1296 West Broadway and was the location, for over 40 years, of Vancouver’s first Denny’s restaurant.

Is this precedent-setting tower too tall for Fairview?

The latest concept rendering of the 28-storey tower designed by the IBI Group for 2538 Birch Street. IBI Group/Jameson Development Group

According to CityHallWatch, a 16-storey, 49.68-metre tall apartment tower with 153 market rental units was approved for 1296 West Broadway on January 16, 2018.

Six months later the developer—Jameson Development Group—sought to receive amended approval to increase the contained housing to 158 secured market rental units.

This development application (DP-2018-00425) is still in active consideration.

At the same time the developer has submitted a radical rezoning application for the site under the new address of 2538 Birch Street.

View of the south side of 1100 and 1200 blocks of West Broadway showing how the proposed 28-storey tower would dwarf its neighbours. IBI Group/Jameson Development Group

This would see a 28-storey, 83.51-metre tall skyscraper, containing 248 secured rental units, including 53 designated under the Moderate Income Rental Housing Pilot Program (MIRHPP) for moderate income households (earning between $30,000 and $80,000 per year).

MIRHPP is a limited-time, 18-month pilot program, open to a maximum of 2- project rezonings, which expires at the end of June. It was enacted by Vancouver city council in November 2017 to encourage the development of secured rental housing with 20 percent of floor area designated for moderate income households.

More information on both the open house and the proposed rezoning is available at the Fairview/South Granville Action Committee’s website: www.28floors.com.