Huge Oakridge redevelopment to head to public hearing
City council also asked to send two seniors- care home developments including the Casa Mia mansion
Vancouver city council is expected next week to send several contentious redevelopment proposals to public hearing, including the $ 1.5- billion redevelopment of Oakridge Centre and two private seniors- care developments.
The Oakridge redevelopment is the creation of a major town centre in Vancouver along the Canada Line, with 13 towers ranging up to 45 storeys in height. More than 2,900 residences are proposed, along with a major increase in stores and offices.
As part of the deal, the developers would build for the city a new civic centre, about four hectares of parks — much of it in the form of a water feature park on top of the existing Oakridge mall — 290 social housing units, a seniors centre, new library branch and daycare centre. Much of the public amenities wouldn’t be built until the end of the proposed 10- year phased construction of the 11- hectare site.
In June 2013, city council gave a preliminary thumbs- up to the proposal but wanted changes. The retooled plan is now being sent to public hearing for formal public comment. Neighbours have complained, among other things, about the proposed density, the height of proposed towers and crowding it would cause on the Canada Line.
Planners say the city will be owed $ 148.7 million in community amenity contributions, but Ivanhoe and Westbank will provide only $ 2.5 million of that in cash. Instead, they will directly cover the cost of building almost all of the public amenities.
Council is also being asked to send two seniors care facilities to public hearing.
One proposal calls for the heritage Casa Mia mansion at 1920 Southwest Marine Dr. to be rezoned from residential to comprehensive development in order to build a 62- bed, twostorey privately owned residential care home. The Spanish Revival- period mansion was built in 1932 by beer baron and rum- runner George C. Reifel. Under the redevelopment plan Casa Mia would be retained and given heritage protection.
Neighbours in the expensive neighbourhood have opposed the plan, which originally called for 126 beds. However, the proposal meets city objectives of encouraging retention of heritage buildings and also building more seniors’ housing.
West Point Grey Private Hospital is also proceeding with plans to double the size of its seniors facility at 2445 Cornwall Ave. It has proposed tearing down two adjacent residential buildings it bought, and expanding the number of seniors’ beds from 76 to 153. The Urban Design Panel also supports the proposal, although it recommended a reduction in building height in response to neighbourhood concerns.