City of Burnaby councillors and administrators have endorsed a plan to redevelop a landmark Telus office tower as part of a massive residential development project.

Located at the corner of Boundary Road and Kingsway across from Central Park, the property is known as the Telus Boot due to its distinctive boot-like shape. Toronto-based H&R REIT is seeking to build five towers on the site over two phases. The development is known Central Park Commons.

City council gave initial approval to the project in December, the Burnaby Now reported. The project passed first reading after city administrators recommended that the site be rezoned for residential use.

According to a city staff report, plans call for two market rental apartment buildings standing 31 and 38 storeys to be constructed in the first phase. The second phase is slated to include three strata high-rise residential buildings.

All of the buildings are slated to sit atop podiums that contain non-market rental housing units and commercial/retail spaces with underground parking. Vancouver-based Arcadis IBI Group said on Instagram that it is serving as the project’s design architects and master planners.

The firm said it is working with local developer PC Urban Properties.

Image: Centralparkcommons.ca