Largest townhouse redevelopment yet proposed for Vancouver's Cambie Corridor

Feb 18 2020, 4:41 pm

A new development application calls for the single largest townhouse and rowhouse project on Vancouver’s Cambie Street Corridor to date. And it is slated to be the first major townhouse project of many for its immediate area.

Simcic Uhrich Architects is calling for nine blocks of a variety of two-storey and three-storey buildings, replacing seven single-family dwellings at 628 West 28th Avenue — between Ash Street and Heather Avenue, located immediately east of BC Children’s Hospital and one block west of Cambie Street.

The multiple structures allow the project to address the severe slope of the site. None of the buildings exceed a length of 27 metres.

628 West 28th Avenue Vancouver

Site of 628 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver. (Simcic Uhrich Architects)

628 West 28th Avenue Vancouver

Site of 628 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver. (Simcic Uhrich Architects)

This redevelopment will create a total of 62 stacked homes, with a unit mix of 24 one-bedroom units, 10 two-bedroom units, and 28 three-bedroom units.

These new homes will be arranged into five varying configurations, with some home types accessed from a large internal courtyard while others are accessed from the street.

628 West 28th Avenue Vancouver

Artistic rendering of 628 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver. (Simcic Uhrich Architects)

“The individual buildings are further broken down by individually rotating each townhouse by three degrees and by allowing the ground floor level for each block to step down with the sloping site. This allows for a strong expression of distinct units which is further emphasized by the use of different shades of brick, and colour elements at the entrance canopies,” reads the design rationale.

“All units are accessed either directly from the street, or have their main entrances at the courtyard via a private patio.”

628 West 28th Avenue Vancouver

Artistic rendering of 628 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver. (Simcic Uhrich Architects)

628 West 28th Avenue Vancouver

Site of 628 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver. (Simcic Uhrich Architects)

A single underground level accessed from the laneway creates 63 vehicle parking stalls and 145 bike parking spaces.

Altogether, the project calls for 54,847 sq. ft. of total floor area, creating a floor space ratio density of 1.19 times the size of the 45,989-sq-ft lot.

Bright yellow highlights the rezoning from single-family residential to townhomes. Click on the map for an enlarged version. (City of Vancouver)

Kenneth ChanKenneth Chan

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