Safeway on West Broadway in Kitsilano eyed for redevelopment
Another Safeway grocery store location in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood is being considered for redevelopment, reflecting the broader trend of transforming older large retail sites into higher-density, mixed-use projects to better meet the city’s evolving urban needs.
In its 2025 first quarter fiscal report released last week, Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) announced it has partnered with Vancouver-based developer Wesgroup Properties in four separate joint ventures to redevelop four Safeway grocery store locations in Metro Vancouver.
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Crombie has been incrementally optimizing the use of its acquired Safeway properties; in 2013, it acquired 68 of the chain’s locations in Western Canada for $1 billion.
Crombie’s partnership with Wesgroup is intended to “unlock embedded value within its development pipeline, advancing these projects through the entitlement, design, and approval process.”
Perhaps the most significant and potentially consequential joint venture is for the site of Safeway West Broadway — located on a two-acre lot of 2733 West Broadway, situated at the northeast corner of the intersection of Macdonald Street and West Broadway in Kitsilano. This 1986-built store, occupying an entire city block, recently underwent major renovations.
Safeway West Broadway at 2733 West Broadway, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
Safeway West Broadway at 2733 West Broadway, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
This large development site happens to be in the immediate vicinity of a future SkyTrain station on the planned Millennium Line extension to the University of British Columbia (UBC). It envisions a station for the intersection of Macdonald Street and West Broadway.
The provincial government has identified the UBC SkyTrain extension to be a priority project for advancement, and is currently in the process of performing a business case, which includes performing detailed technical studies.
Last year, geotechnical borehole drilling work for soil samples was completed along the entire rapid transit route.
TransLink’s recommended route and station locations for UBC SkyTrain, April 2022. (TransLink)
This Kitsilano location on West Broadway is not to be confused for PCI Developoments and LowTide Properties’ Safeway redevelopment at 2315 West 4th Ave. (at Vine Street), which was approved by the City’s Development Permit Board in April 2025.
Out of the four joint venture sites with Wesgroup, the Safeway West Broadway location is the only development site near a future SkyTrain station. As such, it would almost certainly be subject to transit-oriented development and other future densification policies enabling high-density residential uses.
“All costs will be shared equally between Crombie and Wesgroup. These partnerships further establish a stable revenue stream through Crombie’s development and management platform, delivering immediate cash flow through fee income across all four properties. Once entitlement is achieved, both parties will align on the optimal path forward, including timing and participation,” reads the quarterly fiscal report.
The other three locations in the partnership with Wesgroup are Safeway Collingwood at 3410 Kingsway (at Tyne Street) in East Vancouver, as well as Safeway Burnaby Heights at 4440 Hastings St. (at Willingdon Avenue) in Burnaby and Safeway Lynn Valley Centre at 1170 East 27th St. in North Vancouver District, which already has development plans.
In partnership with local developer Westbank, Crombie is also pursuing the very prominent redevelopment of the Safeway next to SkyTrain’s Commercial-Broadway Station, which will enter public hearing this week for Vancouver City Council’s review and approval.
Concept for the redevelopment of Safeway at 2315 West 4th Ave., Vancouver. (Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership/LowTide Properties/PCI Developments)
May 2024 concept: redevelopment of Safeway at 1780 East Broadway, Vancouver. (Perkins&Will/Westbank/Crombie REIT)
- You might also like:
- Possible redevelopment of Safeway on Kingsway in East Vancouver
- Rental housing redevelopment of West 4th Avenue Safeway in Kitsilano approved
- 479 homes and new retail proposed for Lynn Valley Safeway redevelopment in North Vancouver
- B.C. government completes first series of soil sample drilling for UBC SkyTrain planning
- Safeway redevelopment at Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain station nears Vancouver City Council decision
- Fresh St. Market to open on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano
- Jericho Lands development passes new hurdle to help First Nations secure construction financing