West Van sells land to spur redevelopment of full city block
Grosvenor plans a comprehensive development that would provide link to waterfront
A key West Vancouver property has been sold to a local developer to bring new life to Ambleside, provide a connection to the district’s waterfront, and likely help fund the construction of a new police station.
This week’s sale of districtowned lands in the 1300- block ( south side) of Marine Drive to Grosvenor of Vancouver — which allows the company to move ahead on developing an entire city block — was unanimously approved by council after receiving more than 200 public submissions on the proposed agreement.
“This is a significant site, the gateway to West Vancouver,” Grosvenor’s senior development manager, Michael Mortensen, said Thursday. “It’s one of the nicest waterfront sites in the region [ and] we take very seriously our responsibility for planning and developing an outstanding development.
“We’d like to better connect Ambleside Village to the waterfront and create some outstanding public space that people can enjoy.”
Mortensen said the deal, which would transfer ownership of 49,000 square feet of district- owned land, completes Grosvenor’s acquisition of the 85,525- square- foot, 183- metre block, which is now home to the district’s police department.
He said the purchase price is tied to the densities ultimately approved by the district for the mixed- use development and that it could generate $ 37 million for the municipality. Grosvenor would also contribute an additional $ 8 million to $ 10 million in community amenities.
Mortensen couldn’t put a dollar figure on the over- all value of the development project, because it’s too early in the process.
According to the district, the approval has not confirmed the height, density, form or design, but allows Grosvenor to return with a development application within six to nine months.
In 2011, Grosvenor held a series of Ideas Fairs to get public feedback, and will now prepare rezoning plans for a comprehensive redevelopment of the full block, consulting West Vancouver citizens and business owners.
According to a district news release, council will launch a new public process to advance the public safety building project.
The money solicited through the sale to Grosvenor will go into the district’s endowment fund, of which part or all of it could be used to build the new police station.
The existing police station can remain on the site for 4 ½ years; after rezoning is approved, it’s estimated that building a new facility on district land would cost $ 39.5 million.
Mayor Michael Smith said the Ambleside project is a good deal for the community and that the council vote enables a full public consultation to take place.
“This is a real opportunity for West Vancouver. We get to sell a piece of land with a 50- yearold building on it that needs to be replaced.
It allows us to put the money into the endowment fund to possibly help fund the new public safety building. And it will re- energize that block of Marine Drive. It will create a lot of tax revenue, a lot of new housing and exciting new retailers.
“It’s now up to Grosvenor to sell all of us, including council, on what they’re proposing. They’ve done a good job so far.”
Smith anticipates the new police station would likely be built beside city hall on an unused plaza above a parking structure.
Mortensen said if rezoning is approved, Grosvenor – which is working with architect James Cheng on the project — will be in a position in 2013 to begin early marketing and pre- construction for a development encompassing two mid- rise buildings, likely seven or eight storeys high, with a pedestrian covered space, or galleria, that includes shops, restaurants and cafes at street level and condos above.
“It will be a very active, vibrant and [ include] a third space for all residents of West Vancouver.”
Mortensen said the first phase of the project would be completed in late 2015, and the second phase wrapped up two years later.
Grosvenor has already built a temporary art greenway on the site it’s hoping to incorporate into the final design.