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8-36 W Cordova St and 15-27 W Hastings St rezoning application

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The City of Vancouver has received an application to rezone 8-36 West Cordova Street and 15-27 West Hastings Street from HA-2 (Historic Area) and DD (Downtown) Districts to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District under the Downtown Eastside Plan. The proposal is for mixed-use development as follows:

8-36 West Cordova St (“Cohen Block”)

  • 11-storey building with commercial and office uses;
  • Approximately 264,047 sq. ft. of office space;
  • Approximately 18,380 sq. ft. of ground‑floor commercial space;
  • A building height of 48.7 m (159 ft.);
  • A floor space ratio (FSR) of 8.77; and
  • 211 vehicle parking spaces and 164 bicycle spaces.

15-27 West Hastings St (“Samuel Tower”)

  • 19-storey building with commercial and residential uses;
  • 127 secured market rental units and 62 below market units;
  • Approximately 5,042 sq. ft. of ground‑floor commercial space;
  • A building height of 54.8 m (179 ft.);
  • A floor space ratio (FSR) of 9.49; and
  • 74 vehicle parking spaces and 419 bicycle spaces.

The Cohen Block is located in the Gastown sub area of the Downtown Eastside Plan. The proposal requests rezoning consideration of height in excess of the existing policy. The Gastown sub-area allows a maximum height of 22.9 m (75 ft.).

The Cohen Block includes a number of heritage properties, and as such, the City’s Heritage Program and Heritage Policies apply. The application proposes primarily façade-only retention for the Cohen Block (Vancouver Heritage Register Category ‘A’ and ‘B’).

The Samuel Tower is located in the Victory Square sub area of the Downtown Eastside Plan. The proposal requests consideration of height in excess of the existing policy. The Victory Square sub-area allows a maximum height of 32 m (105 ft.).

Application drawings and statistics on this webpage are posted as-submitted to the City. Following staff review, the final project statistics are documented within the referral report.


The City of Vancouver has received an application to rezone 8-36 West Cordova Street and 15-27 West Hastings Street from HA-2 (Historic Area) and DD (Downtown) Districts to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) District under the Downtown Eastside Plan. The proposal is for mixed-use development as follows:

8-36 West Cordova St (“Cohen Block”)

  • 11-storey building with commercial and office uses;
  • Approximately 264,047 sq. ft. of office space;
  • Approximately 18,380 sq. ft. of ground‑floor commercial space;
  • A building height of 48.7 m (159 ft.);
  • A floor space ratio (FSR) of 8.77; and
  • 211 vehicle parking spaces and 164 bicycle spaces.

15-27 West Hastings St (“Samuel Tower”)

  • 19-storey building with commercial and residential uses;
  • 127 secured market rental units and 62 below market units;
  • Approximately 5,042 sq. ft. of ground‑floor commercial space;
  • A building height of 54.8 m (179 ft.);
  • A floor space ratio (FSR) of 9.49; and
  • 74 vehicle parking spaces and 419 bicycle spaces.

The Cohen Block is located in the Gastown sub area of the Downtown Eastside Plan. The proposal requests rezoning consideration of height in excess of the existing policy. The Gastown sub-area allows a maximum height of 22.9 m (75 ft.).

The Cohen Block includes a number of heritage properties, and as such, the City’s Heritage Program and Heritage Policies apply. The application proposes primarily façade-only retention for the Cohen Block (Vancouver Heritage Register Category ‘A’ and ‘B’).

The Samuel Tower is located in the Victory Square sub area of the Downtown Eastside Plan. The proposal requests consideration of height in excess of the existing policy. The Victory Square sub-area allows a maximum height of 32 m (105 ft.).

Application drawings and statistics on this webpage are posted as-submitted to the City. Following staff review, the final project statistics are documented within the referral report.

​The Q&A period has concluded. Thank you for participating.

The opportunity to ask questions through the Q&A is available from October 18 to October 31, 2023. 

We post all questions as-is and aim to respond within two business days. Some questions may require coordination with internal departments and additional time may be needed to post a response.

Please note that the comment form will remain open after the Q&A period. The Rezoning Planner can also be contacted directly for any further feedback or questions.

  • Share What justification is being used to request above 70' under the Victory Square plan and above the 100ft exception for social housing? on Facebook Share What justification is being used to request above 70' under the Victory Square plan and above the 100ft exception for social housing? on Twitter Share What justification is being used to request above 70' under the Victory Square plan and above the 100ft exception for social housing? on Linkedin Email What justification is being used to request above 70' under the Victory Square plan and above the 100ft exception for social housing? link

    What justification is being used to request above 70' under the Victory Square plan and above the 100ft exception for social housing?

    Mikr B asked 10 months ago

    The developer and architect considered Downtown Eastside Plan’s Victory Square sub-area policy. Since the proposed site is located on the edge of the sub-area, and there are several tall towers in close proximity to the subject site, the developer proposed a height above policy to offer more rental housing and more deeply affordable units while keeping the scale of the tower in line or below the existing urban context.

  • Share Can you clarify how the the 62 units of below market units that are proposed for 15-27 West Hastings will be allocated? What is the process to obtain a below market unit? What is the definition of below market unit for this specific building? Will Atira or similar organization be involved in managing these units? Thank you on Facebook Share Can you clarify how the the 62 units of below market units that are proposed for 15-27 West Hastings will be allocated? What is the process to obtain a below market unit? What is the definition of below market unit for this specific building? Will Atira or similar organization be involved in managing these units? Thank you on Twitter Share Can you clarify how the the 62 units of below market units that are proposed for 15-27 West Hastings will be allocated? What is the process to obtain a below market unit? What is the definition of below market unit for this specific building? Will Atira or similar organization be involved in managing these units? Thank you on Linkedin Email Can you clarify how the the 62 units of below market units that are proposed for 15-27 West Hastings will be allocated? What is the process to obtain a below market unit? What is the definition of below market unit for this specific building? Will Atira or similar organization be involved in managing these units? Thank you link

    Can you clarify how the the 62 units of below market units that are proposed for 15-27 West Hastings will be allocated? What is the process to obtain a below market unit? What is the definition of below market unit for this specific building? Will Atira or similar organization be involved in managing these units? Thank you

    Andrea M Potter asked 10 months ago

    The developer proposes that 48 of the units will be rented at rates that are 80% of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) average rates for the downtown eastside. They are targeted at households with annual incomes between $55K to $84K. The other 14 units would be rented at the shelter component of income assistance, which is currently $500/month, targeted at households with annual incomes around $20K. BC indigenous Housing Society has been identified as the operator of the 62 units. Should Council approve this project, and should construction proceed, Interested renters should contact the developer or the BC Indigenous Housing society to express interest in renting a unit.

Page last updated: 01 Nov 2023, 09:21 AM