Grosvenor is seeking to upscale its previously approved bus depot redevelopment project in Vancouver’s Oakridge district with the installation of hundreds of new apartment units.

The United Kingdom-based developer has submitted a revised rezoning application for its 14-acre Mayfair West project on the former Oakridge Transit Centre site, nearly doubling the planned residential density from about 1,600 homes to approximately 3,000. The proposal would increase the project’s floor area to about 2.5 million square feet from approximately 1.5 msf and raise the floor space ratio from 3.98 from 2.36.

Grosvenor had unveiled its plans for the first phase of Mayfair West under the original plan in December 2023 but later chose to upscale the project. A key feature of the revised plan is a major expansion of purpose-built rental housing. The proposal calls for about 1,400 secured rental homes, including 1,238 market rental units and 158 below-market rental units, compared with 180 market rental units in the 2020-approved plan. Strata condominium units would rise modestly to 1,231.

The revised design would increase the number of residential towers to 11 from five, with building heights ranging from 16 to 33 storeys. Retail and restaurant space would more than double to about 53,000 sf, while the site’s seven acres of public open space, including a two-acre central park, would largely be retained. Grosvenor would also transfer a parcel to the City of Vancouver for a future 17-storey social housing tower with 361 units.

“These updates are essential to ensure that the project remains economically viable over what will be a multi-phase, multi-year buildout,” said Grosvenor in its new development application.

The revised proposal follows a series of density increases approved or proposed for major developments surrounding Oakridge. City council previously approved greater residential density for the Oakridge Park redevelopment, while revised plans have also increased housing at the Heather Lands and Langara Gardens projects, Daily Hive noted. A revised proposal for the nearby Jewish Community Centre redevelopment also seeks substantially taller towers and a significant increase in purpose-built rental housing.

Vancouver architect James Cheng designed the master plan approved by the city in 2020. Toronto-based Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA), an award-winning, Toronto-based architect firm continues to partner on the project with Arcadis (formerly IBI.) 

Grosvenor said the proposed revissions will advance the city’s housing priorities and the “broader vision of a complete sustainable community” by expanding the rental-housing component, dedicating land for social housing, relocating amenities for better integration and refining the massing to reflect current urban-design best practices.

“Mayfair West will emerge as a flagship new neighbourhood in Vancouver: Dense yet livable, inclusive yet aspirational, and a model for how large urban redevelopment sites can deliver on affordability, sustainability and quality of life,” concluded Grosvenor in the development application.

Pictured: Grosvenor’s future Mayfair West mixed-use redevelopment project in Vancouver.

Rendering: Grosvenor

Old Story

Grosvenor has unveiled plans for the first phase of its massive Mayfair West community in Vancouver’s Oakridge area.

The company has submitted a development permit application to the city for the initial projects. The property is located on the southwest corner of West 41st Avenue and Oak Street. If all goes according to plan, the first phase will include two towers that rank as the approved master plan’s tallest structures, at 23 and 20 storeys respectively.

Grosvenor intends to develop 460 residential units, including a mix of condominium, market and affordable rental housing in the opening stanza.

Vancouver architect James Cheng designed the master plan, which was approved by the city in 2020. Grosvenor said Toronto-based Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA), an award-winning, Toronto-based architect firm, has been engaged to move the project forward and will join forces with Arcadis (formerly IBI), as the architect of record for the project. 

The master plan aims to convert the the currently vacant 14-acre site into a new 1.5 milliom-square foot mixed-use community, said Grosvenor. Mayfair West will consist of approximately 17 buildings that range in size from four to 26 storeys and provide about 1,600 homes to be constructed in phases over the next decade.

“This includes a mix of homes for sale and rent that will cater to various income levels, including 330 social housing units and 45 moderate-income rental housing units,” said Grosvenor in a news release.