The three-city-block-long retail village of West Point Grey could see an economic vitality boost from a new mixed-use rental housing and commercial redevelopment.
Third Space Properties and Integra Architecture have submitted a new development permit application to the City of Vancouver to redevelop 2555 Discovery Street.
This site is at the northwest corner of the intersection of West 10th Avenue and Discovery Street, providing the eastern bookend for the West Point Grey retail village. It is also situated just north of the Shell gas station.
Currently, the property is occupied by a 1980-built, three-storey building with a medical clinic and pharmacy on the ground level and 20 strata residential units within the upper levels.
The developer is looking to turn this site into a six-storey building with 69 secured purpose-built market rental homes within the upper levels, including 14 studio units, 29 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units, and four three-bedroom units.
Site of 2555 Discovery Street, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
Existing condition:
Site of 2555 Discovery Street, Vancouver. (Google Maps)
Future condition:
Concept for 2555 Discovery Street, Vancouver. (Integra Architecture/Third Space Properties)
Concept for 2555 Discovery Street, Vancouver. (Integra Architecture/Third Space Properties)
There will also be about 6,200 sq ft of retail/restaurant spaces, providing active street frontage uses for the retail village along West 10th Avenue.
Two underground levels will contain 60 vehicle parking stalls — including 13 stalls for commercial uses — and 122 secured bike parking spaces. The total building floor area will reach about 53,100 sq ft, establishing a floor area ratio density of a floor area that is 3.5 times larger than the size of the 15,174 sq ft lot.
After the major mixed-use redevelopment of the Safeway site on the western end of the West Point Grey retail strip, this project for 2555 Discovery Street will be the retail village’s second largest and tallest redevelopment since the 1995 completion of the seven-storey Point Grey Place condominium and retail building with TD Bank, which provides the western bookend for the retail village next to the Safeway site.
Concept for 2555 Discovery Street, Vancouver. (Integra Architecture/Third Space Properties)
Concept for 2555 Discovery Street, Vancouver. (Integra Architecture/Third Space Properties)
Concept for 2555 Discovery Street, Vancouver. (Integra Architecture/Third Space Properties)
Concept for 2555 Discovery Street, Vancouver. (Integra Architecture/Third Space Properties)
This project could provide the retail village with a much-needed boost from both an increased number of residents and the new active storefronts for the street.
As previously reported by Daily Hive Urbanized, the West Point Grey retail village — previously a bustling commercial hub — has been in decline since the early 2000s. This downturn coincided with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the nearby University Endowment Lands developing major retail, restaurant, and service hubs on or near campus. Over the past 25 years, these student-focused commercial developments have only expanded, reducing the need for students and staff to leave campus for such amenities.
Once UBC’s de facto retail village due to its proximity, the West Point Grey retail village was previously the closest commercial hub to the campus.
As well, the retail village has also seen a decline in recent decades due to the dwindling number of families in the surrounding residential neighbourhood.
The future redevelopment of the Safeway site into two towers up to about 20 storeys in height with nearly 600 secured purpose-built rental homes and new commercial uses, including a new replacement 37,000 sq ft grocery store, would also provide the retail village with a significant boost.
Furthermore, the development site of 2555 Discovery Street is also significant for its transit-oriented development location, as Discovery Street is expected to become the primary north-south pedestrian thoroughfare link between West Point Grey retail village and the massive Jericho Lands redevelopment just to the north. Discovery Street will also be the “gateway” pedestrian route to reach SkyTrain’s future station on the Jericho Lands as a part of the future UBC SkyTrain extension.
General potential area of the subway station footprint of the Jericho Station on the Jericho Lands. (City of Vancouver)