City approves downtown housing plan

Summary#

At the July 27, 2026 public hearing, Vancouver City Council carried a motion approving in principle changes to the Vancouver Official Development Plan and site-specific zoning for two downtown sites. The stated purpose is to allow the proposed developments; approval in principle is not final permission to build, and the City is not required to enact the by-laws.

  • At 500 Dunsmuir Street and nearby Richards, West Georgia and Seymour streets, the plan allows three towers: a 68-storey hotel/commercial building and two residential towers of 79 and 68 storeys, with 1,546 homes and ground-floor commercial space. The maximum height would be 315 metres and the maximum floor area 281,000 square metres.
  • At 388 Abbott Street, the plan allows a 25-storey residential building with 237 social housing units, a childcare facility, and ground-floor commercial and/or cultural space. Its maximum height would be 85 metres and its floor space ratio (building floor area compared with site area) 16.2.
  • The Official Development Plan land-use designations would change to allow high-rise mixed use at both sites. The first site would be rezoned from Downtown District to a Comprehensive Development district (site-specific zoning); 388 Abbott would be rezoned from its existing CD-1(732) zoning to a new CD-1.
  • The decision approves a permit, subject to conditions, to demolish 167 designated single-room accommodation rooms at 500 Dunsmuir. It also supports removing the Randall Building’s heritage designation while protecting its Georgia Street façade.
  • The new zoning and related by-laws depend on conditions being met. The decision says it creates no legal rights for the applicants and does not require the City to enact the by-laws.

What it means for you#

  • People seeking homes: If the projects proceed, they would provide 1,546 homes at the larger site and 237 social housing units at 388 Abbott. The supplied materials do not state the tenure or affordability of the 1,546 homes.
  • People using single-room accommodation: Demolition of 167 designated rooms at 500 Dunsmuir is approved subject to the new zoning being enacted, a development permit being issued, and the owner entering into a Housing Agreement.
  • People concerned about heritage: The whole Randall Building at 535–565 West Georgia Street would lose its heritage designation; the Georgia Street façade would be designated as protected heritage property.
  • Businesses and the public: The decision also approves changes to sign and noise-control rules for the new CD-1 districts, subject to enactment. It does not itself authorize construction.

Money#

No cost information is in the available material.

  • The decision gives no estimate of City spending, revenue, or costs to build or operate the projects.
  • The motion says costs of meeting rezoning conditions are at the property owner’s risk. The conditions themselves are not included in the supplied material.

What is unclear#

  • The supplied material does not give the conditions that must be met before the zoning by-laws can be enacted, or the details of the Housing Agreements.
  • It does not say what affordability, tenure, or other requirements would apply to the 1,546 homes at the larger site.
  • It does not explain how the 167 single-room accommodation rooms would be addressed beyond requiring a Housing Agreement.
  • The material reports 104 pieces of correspondence in support, 164 opposed, and three on other aspects, but does not give the reasons those people provided.
  • The decision is not final zoning permission: the by-laws and permits still need to be brought forward, and the City is not bound to enact the zoning by-laws.

Case for#

  • A possible case for the decision is that it would allow a large number of homes in the downtown area, including 237 units identified as social housing.
  • The 388 Abbott proposal also includes a childcare facility and space for commercial and/or cultural uses.
  • The larger site would include hotel and commercial space as well as homes, rather than residential use alone.

Case against#

  • One concern is the loss of 167 designated single-room accommodation rooms. The supplied material does not explain how or whether replacement accommodation would be secured.
  • The Randall Building would lose its designation as a whole, with protection proposed only for its Georgia Street façade.
  • The proposed towers include buildings up to 315 metres and 79 storeys. The supplied material does not include the public’s specific concerns about height or other effects.
  • More correspondence opposed the application than supported it: 164 pieces opposed and 104 supported. The reasons for those positions are not provided.