GWL Realty Advisors plans to develop approximately 400 more multi-family rental units in Vancouver’s West End.

The development site includes 1555 Robson Street with the neighbouring 1525 Robson. The consolidated site is located directly across from GWLRA’s new Chronicle 128-unit apartment tower.

Previously, Toronto-based GWLRA planned to build about 200 units at 1525 Robson, which the company acquired in 2023. But GWLRA has revised its plans and decided to build an additional 200 suites at 1555 Robson as part of a new project combining the two addresses, Geoff Heu, GWLRA’s vice-president of development for Western Canada.

The company acquired 1555 Robson through a court-ordered sale process earlier this year.

“This will be the one of the few rental projects along the Robson corridor and will bring additional life and animation to the area,” said Heu.

The project will proceed through the city’s development-approval process during the rest of 2024, and construction is slated to begin during the second half of 2025.

“GWL had a development-permit application in progress for a 193-unit residential tower and were working through the entitlement process with the city prior to acquisition of 1555 Robson,” said Heu. “But that application has been put on hold while we redesign for a consolidated project on the larger site.”

Plans call for the two towers to sit atop a two-storey podium comprising 40,000 square feet of retail spaces that will improve the streetscape, he added. GWLRA envisions a potential grocery store and a host of smaller-scale, pedestrian-oriented shops.

The company hopes to build on the success of the Chronicle, which is the first new purpose-built rental tower constructed on Robson in decades.

The Chronicle also contains a retail component that includes a Running Room store and Fuwa Fuwa Japanese pancake house that is preparing to hold a grand opening.

“The scale of the building and the evolving context of the neighbourhood allowed us to position it as a boutique, hospitality-themed rental project, which achieved some of the highest rents in the city during its lease-up,” said Heu.

He said GWLRA has focused on securing development opportunities in the West End because of the area’s older rental-housing stock and city paramaters that incentivize market-rental projects. GWLRA was attracted by the area’s parks and beaches and the vibrant community’s diversity, walkability and high population density.

GWLRA targeted the Robson corridor for development projects due to those aspects and the district’s close proximity to the adjacent the central business district.

“Continued development in the West End will support a renewed rental inventory and diversify the profile of renters in the area while bringing up the average household incomes of the neighbourhood,” said Heu. “This, in turn, will support local business as well as provide renewed retail spaces along the commercial corridors, which further amenitizes the location for residents. 

“We anticipate this renewal will have a positive impact on the success of the already popular retail corridor along Robson Street.”

Pictured: Future rental-apartment towers slated for 1525 and 1555 Robson Street in Vancouver

Rendering: Courtesy of GWL Realty Advisors