Vancouver city council has approved Crombie REIT and Westbank’s application for a massive redevelopment of a Canada Safeway store in the Commercial Drive area.

The approval came after the partners made several revisions to the planned project, including a switch entirely to purpose-built rental housing from strata-ownership units.

As part of the revisions, New Glasgow, N.S.-based Crombie and Vancouver-based Westbank decided to offer rental apartments exclusively instead of strata condominiums.

The companies will construct 1,044 residential suites including 940 market-rental units and 104 below-market ones across three towers standing 44, 38 and 37 storeys. A new, larger Safeway store will be included in the mix.

In addition, the project will contain 74,000 square feet retail spaces, including restaurants and a city-owned childcare facility. Amenities will include a mid-block public plaza.

Architects in Chicago-based Perkins & Will’s Vancouver office are designing the project.

Image: Crombie REIT/Westbank/Perkins & Will