Telecommunications giant Telus has submitted a rezoning application to the City of Vancouver for a large 26-storey multi-family rental tower in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

The proposal aims to transform the existing Telus Central Office utility facility at 354-380 East 10th Avenue into a mixed-use redevelopment that would mostly comprise the multi-family component.

The redevelopment, being pursued in partnership with Ledcor Property Investments under Telus Living, aligns with the City’s Broadway Plan, the companies contend in their development application. The proposed building is slated to include 230 rental units, with 20% of the floor area allocated to below-market housing.

Additionally, the site would feature commercial spaces at street level and a smaller telecommunications facility replacing the current structure.

“The proposed units will offer a high quality of life, aligning with the goals of the Broadway Plan while accommodating the necessary infrastructure upgrades,” Telus and Ledcor state in the development application.

Plans call for the 258-foot-tall tower to include a five-story podium and a rooftop amenity space, contributing to a total floor-space ratio (FSR) of 8.61. Telus and Ledcor are seeking a slight variance from the Broadway Plan’s recommended floorplate size of 6,500 square feet.

The second floor is designated for 11,100 sf of office space, while ground-level retail and restaurant spaces will span 5,600 sf, pending city council approval.

The project will also incorporate sustainability features, such as a waste-heat recovery system that repurposes heat from Telus’ telecommunications operations for space and water heating, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

The redevelopment is slated to occur in two phases. First, a new four-storey Telus utility building will be constructed on the western portion of the site to accommodate the company’s ongoing transition from copper to fiber-optic infrastructure. Once operational, the existing facility will be decommissioned and demolished, making way for the multi-residential and commercial tower on the eastern parcel of the property.

The city’s tenant relocation and protection policy will apply to this project, ensuring assistance for eligible renters affected by the redevelopment. The location benefits from its proximity to the future Mount Pleasant SkyTrain Station, making it a transit-oriented development, says the development application.

If approved, the project will contribute to Vancouver’s growing need for rental housing while maintaining Telus’ long-standing presence in the area with a modernized utility facility.

Pictured: Proposed Telus mixed-use project in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood

Rendering: Telus/City of Vancouver/Arcadis/