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305 Main St (DP-2021-00795) development application

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The Development Permit Board approved the application on September 19, 2022, subject to conditions.  A Development Permit may be issued once all conditions have been satisfied. For more information, please see the Prior-to letter under "Application documents"

Revised application:

MA+HG Architects has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop this site with an 11-storey, mixed-use building. The proposal includes the following:

  • 118 units of Social Housing
  • Retail, school, office and community use theatre
  • An approximate floor area of 103,279 sq. ft.
  • An approximate height of 125 ft.

Under the site’s existing DEOD zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted. However, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board.

In response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we held an extended online question and answer (Q&A) period in place of an in-person open house for this project.



Original application:

MA+HG Architects has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop the following on this site:

  • A 11-storey mixed-use building
  • Including a total of 117 residential units, consisting of 70 social housing units and 47 market rental units
  • Other uses proposed include commercial retail, educational office and cultural theatre space
  • A floor space ratio of 7.0
  • One level of underground parking accessed from Cordova St.

In response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), an extended online question and answer (Q&A) period through a virtual open house platform was held from November 29 to December 5, 2021.


Revised application:

MA+HG Architects has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop this site with an 11-storey, mixed-use building. The proposal includes the following:

  • 118 units of Social Housing
  • Retail, school, office and community use theatre
  • An approximate floor area of 103,279 sq. ft.
  • An approximate height of 125 ft.

Under the site’s existing DEOD zoning, the application is “conditional” so it may be permitted. However, it requires the decision of the Development Permit Board.

In response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), we held an extended online question and answer (Q&A) period in place of an in-person open house for this project.



Original application:

MA+HG Architects has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop the following on this site:

  • A 11-storey mixed-use building
  • Including a total of 117 residential units, consisting of 70 social housing units and 47 market rental units
  • Other uses proposed include commercial retail, educational office and cultural theatre space
  • A floor space ratio of 7.0
  • One level of underground parking accessed from Cordova St.

In response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), an extended online question and answer (Q&A) period through a virtual open house platform was held from November 29 to December 5, 2021.


The Development Permit Board approved the application on September 19, 2022, subject to conditions.  A Development Permit may be issued once all conditions have been satisfied. For more information, please see the Prior-to letter under "Application documents"

Q&A is available from June 27 to July 3, 2022

Q & A replaces in-person open houses, which are on hold due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). 

We post all questions as-is and reply here within two business days. To find out when we reply to your questions, sign in or register.

To make a comment instead, use the comment form.

  • Share Was there a careful analysis and consideration or correlation of the transient nature of the neighbourhood and micro-units of social housing in the long run? How viable are these tiny units to support the underprivileged people living at the edge? Have there been studies showing improving signs for those small housing spaces to encourage healing or reduce stresses of urban living? Good neighbours are generous, how would the microunit inhabitants feel where their market housing neighbours have slightly more generous spaces than they do? on Facebook Share Was there a careful analysis and consideration or correlation of the transient nature of the neighbourhood and micro-units of social housing in the long run? How viable are these tiny units to support the underprivileged people living at the edge? Have there been studies showing improving signs for those small housing spaces to encourage healing or reduce stresses of urban living? Good neighbours are generous, how would the microunit inhabitants feel where their market housing neighbours have slightly more generous spaces than they do? on Twitter Share Was there a careful analysis and consideration or correlation of the transient nature of the neighbourhood and micro-units of social housing in the long run? How viable are these tiny units to support the underprivileged people living at the edge? Have there been studies showing improving signs for those small housing spaces to encourage healing or reduce stresses of urban living? Good neighbours are generous, how would the microunit inhabitants feel where their market housing neighbours have slightly more generous spaces than they do? on Linkedin Email Was there a careful analysis and consideration or correlation of the transient nature of the neighbourhood and micro-units of social housing in the long run? How viable are these tiny units to support the underprivileged people living at the edge? Have there been studies showing improving signs for those small housing spaces to encourage healing or reduce stresses of urban living? Good neighbours are generous, how would the microunit inhabitants feel where their market housing neighbours have slightly more generous spaces than they do? link

    Was there a careful analysis and consideration or correlation of the transient nature of the neighbourhood and micro-units of social housing in the long run? How viable are these tiny units to support the underprivileged people living at the edge? Have there been studies showing improving signs for those small housing spaces to encourage healing or reduce stresses of urban living? Good neighbours are generous, how would the microunit inhabitants feel where their market housing neighbours have slightly more generous spaces than they do?

    forgethow asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for reaching out with your questions regarding the livability of micro dwelling units for social housing residents. This proposal at 305 Main Street includes the replacement of existing Single Room Occupancy (SRO) rooms, with new micro dwelling units which are self-contained (include a sleeping area, living area, private kitchen, and bathroom). Most older buildings with SRO rooms are privately owned and operated, and provide minimal quality of housing: a room typically 100 square feet in area with a basic cooking setup (like a hot plate) and a shared bathroom in the hall. The replacement of the existing SRO units is in line with the City's policy is to replace these units over time with safe, secure, and self-contained dwelling units that are affordable to low-income singles. 

    In order to ensure these replacement units are designed in a way that meets the needs of tenants, the City of Vancouver has a set of guidelines called the ‘Micro Dwelling Policies and Guidelines’, which include design requirements for micro dwelling units that ensure natural light and well ventilated spaces, and quality internal unit design features including higher ceilings, and minimum dimensions for some spaces to ensure good functionality and livability. These guidelines have been developed over time, and been informed by independent design research, best practice review from other jurisdictions, and Vancouver pilot projects and post-occupancy analysis on tenant experience. The city also has requirements for buildings to include indoor and outdoor amenity spaces within the building so residents have additional social living spaces. 

    The not-for-profit organization who will be the operator for these units is also involved in the building design process, and so are able to give guidance from their experience and expertise as to what unit design and amenity space will best meet their needs of the tenants.

    social housing,single room occupancy,micro dwelling
    social housing single room occupancy micro dwelling
  • Share It’s a lovely presentation. But… 1. The Imperial is a great music venue with the best sound system in town. It would be a shame to lose it. Will the current owners/operators of the Imperial be involved in the new venue space? 2. Your computer-generated street views left out the homeless people and addicts that occupy the sidewalks all around the area. How is a lovely new building going to contribute to the problem of treating and housing the needy in the community? on Facebook Share It’s a lovely presentation. But… 1. The Imperial is a great music venue with the best sound system in town. It would be a shame to lose it. Will the current owners/operators of the Imperial be involved in the new venue space? 2. Your computer-generated street views left out the homeless people and addicts that occupy the sidewalks all around the area. How is a lovely new building going to contribute to the problem of treating and housing the needy in the community? on Twitter Share It’s a lovely presentation. But… 1. The Imperial is a great music venue with the best sound system in town. It would be a shame to lose it. Will the current owners/operators of the Imperial be involved in the new venue space? 2. Your computer-generated street views left out the homeless people and addicts that occupy the sidewalks all around the area. How is a lovely new building going to contribute to the problem of treating and housing the needy in the community? on Linkedin Email It’s a lovely presentation. But… 1. The Imperial is a great music venue with the best sound system in town. It would be a shame to lose it. Will the current owners/operators of the Imperial be involved in the new venue space? 2. Your computer-generated street views left out the homeless people and addicts that occupy the sidewalks all around the area. How is a lovely new building going to contribute to the problem of treating and housing the needy in the community? link

    It’s a lovely presentation. But… 1. The Imperial is a great music venue with the best sound system in town. It would be a shame to lose it. Will the current owners/operators of the Imperial be involved in the new venue space? 2. Your computer-generated street views left out the homeless people and addicts that occupy the sidewalks all around the area. How is a lovely new building going to contribute to the problem of treating and housing the needy in the community?

    singdude asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for taking the time to comment on the development application at 305 Main Street. The application provides several much-needed amenities, including housing and educational space, as well as the identified cultural space. Staff recognize the discrepancy between the Imperial Theatre and the proposed community cultural space, and understand that the retention of live-music performance venues such as the Imperial Theatre is critical to Vancouver cultural community. However, the City has limited ways to support retention or replacement of cultural spaces or cultural uses when they are part of development permit applications. Within this one proposed development, there are significant barriers to achieving all of the identified community amenity priorities.

     

    Recognizing the cultural heritage value of the Imperial Theatre, staff have recommended that the proposed 2,600 sf cultural space be designed to accommodate a range of performing arts, including live amplified sound and music presentation, and should encourage live music as part of regular programming. At this time, the operator of the space has not been identified, and should the project be approved, the applicant would be required to work in partnership with the City to engage with the arts & culture and music community, develop a fair and transparent process for the proposed community ownership model of the cultural space, and a community use agreement be included to the satisfaction of the Managing Director of Cultural Services.

    cultural space
    cultural space
  • Share Can we designate this building as historical? Vancouver keeps losing its history and it makes me so sad on Facebook Share Can we designate this building as historical? Vancouver keeps losing its history and it makes me so sad on Twitter Share Can we designate this building as historical? Vancouver keeps losing its history and it makes me so sad on Linkedin Email Can we designate this building as historical? Vancouver keeps losing its history and it makes me so sad link

    Can we designate this building as historical? Vancouver keeps losing its history and it makes me so sad

    Darryl Smith asked over 2 years ago

    Thank you for taking the time to comment on the development permit application for 305 Main Street. The applicant has proposed the demolition of the existing buildings, which are not protected by a designation by-law, in order to secure the viability of new social housing as enabled by the Downtown-Eastside / Oppenheimer Official Development Plan. The applicant has requested staff consideration of the community benefit of providing social housing against the economic challenges retention of the existing buildings may place on the proposed redevelopment. With due consideration being given to this rationale and the applicable regulatory framework staff are continuing to assess the application towards a future decision at the Development Permit Board. 

    heritage
    heritage