2-year build-out for 24-storey tower; demand will set timeline for other highrises
Christine Lyon
Other
THE District of North Vancouver has given the OK for the first of three highrises to break ground in the Seylynn neighbourhood.
On Monday, district council approved granting a development permit for a 24storey residential building. The tower is part of a multi-building development proposal east of Mountain Highway and north of Fern Street, which includes three highrises measuring 24, 28 and 32 storeys.
The first building, located at the southeast corner of the site, will have 201 residential units, 249 underground parking spaces and a four-storey podium element that will include amenity space, five townhouses, storage and bicycle parking.
Al Johnson, a senior associate at DA Architects + Planners, which designed the building, was on hand Monday to review the architectural character of the asymmetrical concrete, wood and metal structure.
“The character of the building is represented by a series of strong horizontals. Deep eyebrows and balconies serve as shading devices on the south side,” he said.
The building features a rooftop lantern, which Johnson said will disguise mechanical equipment and emit a warm light.
The 24-storey building was well-received by councillors, who have long debated the contentious development.
“I really like the lantern feature on the building and I think it’ll be quite a nice sight coming over the Ironworkers Bridge and also coming down Mount Seymour Parkway,” said Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn.
“I see this as a really great divergence from what we’ve come to expect in the Coal Harbour, Yaletown areas,” said Coun. Alan Nixon, who also complimented the building’s spacious balconies and wheelchair accessibility.
“I still have some reservations about the height,” said Coun. Mike Little, “but I think that the treatment that they’ve come up with is about as attractive as it could be for a project of this scale. I think the street-level experience is going to be really great on this project.”
Both Little and Coun. Lisa Muri expressed concern about the future potential for rooftop cellular antennas, which Little said have created an unattractive “castle turret effect” on top of other North Vancouver towers.
Staff said applicants hoping to install visible cellular antennas would have to first come before council.
The anticipated build-out of the first tower is two years. Keith Road will be extended in conjunction with this initial phase of construction. The timeline of the entire development will depend on the real estate market.
“Much of this will be driven by demand for the first tower,” said district community planner Michael Hartford. “If that sells quickly then I think it’s to be expected that the developer would move relatively quickly on the following phases of the project.”
The entire project includes 790 residential units. The development deal complies with the district’s green building requirements and includes an amenity package that completes the Lynnmour Connector Trail. The development must also include a childcare facility and approximately 1,000 square metres of commercial space.
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