Plans sink for luxury floating spa barge in Vancouver's False Creek
The expansion of a luxury floating spa to Vancouver has hit choppy waters after its proposed location in False Creek fell through.
HAVN Saunas, a wellness destination in Victoria’s inner harbour, made the announcement on social media on Saturday, just a few months after it found a World War II-era barge it wanted to transform into its mainland location.
“We officially got nowhere to put the barge,” HAVN posted online. “Sorry, Vancouver.”
HAVN Saunas
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“The location at False Creek Plaza of Nations is falling through. We’ve been working on a lease contract for three and a half months and it went south and deal’s off. And we’re cancelling our development permit.”
HAVN’s development permit application shows its proposed Vancouver location as the same dock currently used as a stop for both the Aquabus and False Creek Ferries services.
According to the now-cancelled application, the barge would measure 150 ft. in length and 34 ft. in width. The Vancouver floating spa would be able to accommodate about 200 to 300 guests per day.
“If you’ve got a rich uncle who owns a marina, tell him to call us,” added HAVN, which also clarified in its post that it was not the City of Vancouver’s doing but “more of a private deal just falling off.”
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Fans of HAVN shared their disappointment at the Vancouver location’s failure while also offering suggestions for other destinations that the floating wellness barge could anchor.
“Sucks to be Vancouver — they don’t know what they’re missing,” said one commenter. “We’ve been to HAVN in Victoria numerous times. It’s a spectacular experience.”
“That’s a real shame, but there are better locations,” added another. “Would love to see this (on the) North Shore or Coal Harbour. Anywhere on one of the islands?”
HAVN Saunas
Vancouver city councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung also chimed in, encouraging the owners to contact her to see if a solution could be worked out.
“Love to hear more about what space you need,” said Kirby-Yung in a comment, “And what locations you may have already tried in Vancouver. Would love to see you in our city.”
Longtime Plaza of Nations property owner Canadian Metropolitan Properties was recently sold to Northchild, which intends to propose a substantially larger redevelopment of the area with new mixed uses. This is made possible by Vancouver City Council’s decision in July 2024 to amend the protected mountain view cones enabling additional building height. Sites in Northeast False Creek benefit from the recent view cone relaxations.
With files from Kenneth Chan