A popular area for tourists in downtown Vancouver, right on the perimeter of Stanley Park overlooking Lost Lagoon, could see the addition of a major hotel tower.
Local developer Marcon Developments has submitted a new rezoning application to redevelop 2030 Barclay Street in the West End into a 329 ft tall, 29-storey hotel tower with a combination of short-term and long-term accommodations.
This would replace the 1959-built, four-storey Rosellen Suites At Stanley Park hotel, which has 27 themed hotel suites.
According to the developer, the penthouse unit of the existing Rosellen Suites was frequented by Hollywood star Katharine Hepburn in the 1960s, and it was subsequently named after her and remains decorated in the style of the Hollywood Golden Age. The current hotel operator has been running this property since 1986.
Site of 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
Existing condition:
Site of 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
Site of 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
Future condition:
2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
This new hotel tower would contain a total of 292 guest suites, entailing 65 short-term stay rooms from levels 23 to 28 and 227 serviced hotel apartment suites from levels 2 to 22.
According to an early 2023 report by local tourism bureau Destination Vancouver, it is estimated that Metro Vancouver needs an additional 20,000 hotel rooms: 10,000 within Vancouver and 10,000 in other parts of the region. The shortage is expected to start during the peak season in 2026 within Vancouver and then extend to other times of the year and other areas of the region in the following years.
It is also important to note that this shortage is likely more severe now, as these hotel room shortage estimates were made before the provincial government’s new policies limiting short-term rentals, such as Airbnb.
The developer’s focus on providing a significant number of serviced hotel apartment suites is directly intended to meet the growing demand for such accommodations due to the growing restrictions on short-term rentals.
Topping the tower at level 29 would be an expansive indoor and outdoor amenity space for hotel guests, including an outdoor swimming pool facing south toward English Bay, a lounge facing westward towards Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains. This rooftop amenity level would also offer food and beverage services.
Additional amenity spaces would be found within the second level, such as a fitness gym and co-working spaces.
The ground level would be dedicated for a restaurant and bar, with a patio facing Barclay Street.
2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
29th-floor rooftop layout with swimming pool; 2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
“The proposed development pays particular attention to incorporate common West End architectural components such as formal expressions of horizontality and verticality in the facade treatment, prominent entrances, and landscaped setbacks and gardens, to create a contemporary building that is compatible with the neighbouring buildings constructed earlier,” reads the design rationale by Henriquez Partners Architects, adding that the tower’s design is inspired by the trees growing in Stanley Park.
City of Vancouver staff have indicated that this proposal does not align with existing municipal government policies for the site.
However, the proponents note that their project aligns with the broader principles and objectives of the City’s West End Plan, including strengthening an “urban frame” around the urban areas of the downtown peninsula and reinforcing the dome-shaped skyline. As well, this project would generate a significant net gain in tourist accommodations capacity without displacing any residential spaces, and it aligns with Vancouver City Council’s recent policies directing City staff to catalyze more hotel room supply.
Also, this tower at its proposed height would intrude into protected mountain View Cone 20, emanating from the intersection of West Broadway and Granville Street. In July 2024, City Council approved sweeping changes to the decades-old view cone policies across Vancouver, including narrowing the width of View Cone 20 to enable more housing, hotel, and job space opportunities in the West End. However, it appears that the reframed View Cone 20 still directly impacts the project site, with its borders crossing through the city block.
2024 changes to View Cone 20 emanating from the intersection of Granville Street and West Broadway. (City of Vancouver)
Domed skyline contribution; 2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
2024 hotel tower concept for 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)
This 29-storey hotel tower project replaces Marcon Developments’ previous 10-storey market residential building project for the site, which was pursued in a development permit application in 2018 and approved in 2022.
Four underground levels beneath the hotel tower would accommodate 74 vehicle parking stalls.
The total building floor area would reach about 191,000 sq ft, establishing a floor area ratio density of a floor area that is 14.7 times larger than the size of the 13,000 sq ft lot.
Marcon Developments is also collaborating with Henriquez Partners Architects on the rezoning application to redevelop the parkade at 516-534 West Pender Street (located near Harbour Centre) into a 32-storey hotel with 578 guest suites.
Cancelled 2018 concept for a 10-storey market residential building at 2030 Barclay Street, Vancouver. (Henriquez Partners Architects/Marcon Developments)