29-storey tower with Marriott hotel and rental housing approved for Yaletown | Daily Hive

May 2025 revised concept for the mixed-use tower with a Marriott hotel at 888-896 Cambie St., Vancouver. (McKinley Studios/Nonni Property Group)

Major changes are set for the northeast corner of the intersection of Smithe Street and Cambie Street at the northern end of the Yaletown district of Downtown Vancouver, after Vancouver City Council unanimously approved a mixed-use tower for the site — containing a major hotel and a sizeable infusion of secured purpose-built market rental housing.

In a public hearing earlier this month, City Council provided the green light for the rezoning application for 888-896 Cambie St., enabling a new 280-ft.-tall, 29-storey, mixed-use tower.

The project is spearheaded by Vancouver-based developer Nonni Property Group (NPG) and designed by architectural firm McKinley Studios.

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During the deliberations in the public hearing, ABC city councillor Mike Klassen emphasized that the location is highly appropriate for a major hotel development, given its close proximity to the stadiums, the entertainment district, restaurants, retail, and nearby major companies such as SAP and Amazon, and as a measure to help address Vancouver’s immense hotel room shortage.

The site is also within a short walking distance from various SkyTrain stations.

888-896 Cambie Street Vancouver Marriott NPG hotel

Site of 888-896 Cambie Street, Vancouver. (Google Maps)

Existing condition:

Site of 888-896 Cambie Street, Vancouver. (Google Maps)

Future condition:

888-896 Cambie Street Vancouver Marriott Yaletown hotel May 2025

May 2025 revised concept for the mixed-use tower with a Marriott hotel at 888-896 Cambie St., Vancouver. (McKinley Studios/Nonni Property Group)

Currently, the site is occupied by the three-storey, Horie Block Building constructed in 1928 and the two-storey, Stanley Brock Building built in 1944, both entirely used for commercial purposes. Records show the three-storey building changed hands a few years ago in a deal worth $17 million.

“We’re taking a dead zone, to be frank, with antiquated office buildings and empty office buildings and many storage that has social issues and indeed crime, and replacing it with a new building that is mixed use with hotels and residential rental. We’re positively impacting the City of Vancouver’s tax base, as well as revenue from the hotel that’s taxable,” said Gino Nonni, CEO of Nonni Property Group.

Klassen commented, “The proposal also helps to revive and strengthen this part of the city with more activity at street level and more people supporting nearby businesses throughout the day and evening.”

The first 13 floors will be used for the Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, which is a brand that creates individually curated hotel properties that take into account the location’s character. This will be a 4.5-star property.

There will be 246 traditional short-stay guest rooms, along with the active ground-level uses of a major restaurant/lounge destination of over 13,000 sq. ft. and a cafe.

As well, hotel guests will have access to indoor and outdoor amenity spaces on the eighth level, including a wrap-around covered outdoor patio on the floor plate’s perimeter and an indoor fitness gym and spa.

The developer has secured a 25-year franchise agreement with Marriott International, with the hotel set to be operated by Hotel Equities.

“Marriott is thrilled to collaborate with NPG and mindfully grow our portfolio in the important and dynamic market of Vancouver,” said Paul Cahill, Chief Operating Officer for Marriott International’s Canadian division.

“We believe that developments like this Autograph Collection hotel are important to fulfilling a currently under-served travel demand in the area, and we look forward to working with NPG to welcome guests to the property.”

May 2025 revised concept for the mixed-use tower with a Marriott hotel at 888-896 Cambie St., Vancouver. (McKinley Studios/Nonni Property Group)

Between levels 14 and 29, there will be 165 secured purpose-built market rental homes, with a unit size mix of 75 studios, 60 two-bedroom units, and 30 three-bedroom units.

The 14th floor will be entirely dedicated for shared residential amenities, including another wrap-around covered outdoor patio on the floor plate’s perimeter that encloses indoor amenities such as a fitness gym, spa, and lounge.

During the public hearing, when asked, Nino explained that incorporating a below-market rental housing component would not be financially possible.

“The cost of these developments and the cash flow take years before it’s stabilized and imposing an affordability requirement on the rental would render the project not feasible,” said Nino.

“It’s below the return requirements that one would need for something of this nature. It’s unique in the sense that it’s both hotel and apartment, so it’s an expensive building to build.”

Nino also shared that at the very earliest, the project could reach completion in about five years, with the aim of starting construction in 2028. The hotel and supporting restaurant/lounge components could generate about 160 full-time jobs.

Now that the rezoning application has been approved, the developer will pursue the development permit and building permit applications.

In February 2025, Daily Hive Urbanized shared the pre-rezoning application preliminary design concept for the project, featuring a 30-storey tower 225 traditional short-stay guest rooms, ground-level destination restaurant/lounge uses, 165 secured purpose-built market rental homes, and 9,000 sq. ft. of office space.

When the rezoning application was submitted in May 2025, some use and density changes were made, specifically an increase in the number of hotel rooms, the removal of the minor office space component, the reduction of one floor, and a slight increase in the project’s overall floor area reaching 444,000 sq. ft. — establishing a floor area ratio (FAR) density of 19.5, meaning the total building floor area is more than 19 times larger than the size of the 15,700-sq.-ft. lot.

At that rezoning application submission juncture, major architectural design changes were also made — especially the retention and preservation of the exterior facade of the mid-block Stanley Brock Building.

Furthermore, the project will salvage the heavy timber materials inside the Horie Block Building for reuse in the hotel lobby as “forest columns,” which will be visible from Smithe Street. However, the exterior facade of this other building at the intersection corner will not be retained.

May 2025 revised concept for the mixed-use tower with a Marriott hotel at 888-896 Cambie St., Vancouver. (McKinley Studios/Nonni Property Group)

Overall, the tower’s architecture is highly contemporary, with a West Coast warm minimalist aesthetic, combining sleek glass surfaces with a grid-like framing that gives it a more refined character. Its design emphasizes strong vertical lines and a layered, sculpted form, where stacked volumes and recessed sections break up the mass of the building, so it feels less boxy.

There will be eight underground levels, providing back-of-house hotel operations and storage space, 133 vehicle parking stalls, and 342 secured bike parking spaces.

Recent City policies encourage mixed-use hotel and residential developments with greater density and height, as a measure by the municipal government to help catalyze more hotel projects to support tourism and the economy.

The project saw the expressed support of Destination Vancouver and the Yaletown Business Improvement Association.

“As Vancouver continues to welcome the world, new hotel developments are essential to support our growing $9-billion visitor economy, create jobs, and strengthen our accommodations offering,” said Royce Chwin, president and CEO of Destination Vancouver.

“Investing in hospitality infrastructure ensures we remain a competitive world-class destination while delivering lasting benefits to our community and businesses alike.”

May 2025 revised concept for the mixed-use tower with a Marriott hotel at 888-896 Cambie St., Vancouver. (McKinley Studios/Nonni Property Group)

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