'Chia Pet' condo tower proposed next to Joyce-Collingwood Station

Oct 15 2018, 8:20 pm

Another relatively significant project has been proposed for the area within the immediate vicinity of SkyTrain’s Joyce-Collingwood Station in East Vancouver. It will be one of the largest towers in the area, but it also aims for a higher standard of architecture that is usually atypical for proposals in the city outside downtown Vancouver.

A rezoning application has been submitted by Westbank to redevelop the YMCA building at 5055 Joyce Street – located near the northwest corner of the intersection of Joyce Street and Vanness Avenue, just across from the SkyTrain station and bus loop.

5055 Joyce Street Vancouver

Site of 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Westbank)

5055 Joyce Street Vancouver

Site of 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Westbank)

The 305-ft-tall, 32-storey building can perhaps be best described, in laymen terms, as a Chia Pet-like design, with planters dotting the entire tower exterior to create a unique green appearance.

Designed by local architectural firm Perkins + Will, there is also an industrious appearance to this tower. It has large balconies for each unit to the extent that the balconies significantly and fully protrude outwards and offer a scaffolding-like look. The planters are systemically installed into the balconies.

5055 Joyce Street Vancouver

Artistic rendering of 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Westbank)

5055 Joyce Street Vancouver

Artistic rendering of 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Westbank)

The proposal calls for 298 market homes, with the unit mix comprised of 146 one-bedroom units, 120 two-bedroom units, and 32 three-bedroom units.

Approximately 11,000 sq. ft. of retail and lobby space are slated for the ground level, and just 197 vehicle parking stalls will be provided within six underground levels.

As for amenities, residents will have access to a large rooftop amenity space, which also includes a large sign on the west facade that spells out ‘EAST VANCOUVER’.

5055 Joyce Street Vancouver

Artistic rendering of 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Westbank)

5055 Joyce Street Vancouver

Artistic rendering of 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver. (Perkins + Will / Westbank)

Westbank acquired the property from YMCA last year in a deal worth $55 million. The site is currently occupied by a 1992-completed, three-storey building with YMCA, a number of other office tenants, and Tim Hortons.

This proposal is Westbank’s second project for the area, which recently underwent a precinct master plan process that outlined how new density will be introduced around the SkyTrain station. The developer is also building 290-ft-tall, 30-storey building with 256 homes at 5050 Joyce Street.

Artistic rendering of 5050-5080 Joyce Street. (Westbank)

Image: City of Vancouver

Precinct plan for Joyce-Collingwood Station. (City of Vancouver)

Image: City of Vancouver

Precinct plan for Joyce-Collingwood Station. (City of Vancouver)

Image: City of Vancouver

Precinct plan for Joyce-Collingwood Station. (City of Vancouver)

See also
Kenneth ChanKenneth Chan

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