Vancouver developer pitches 43- and 39-storey towers next to Commodore Ballroom

One of Vancouver's most historic venues will be spared despite changes being made to a massive downtown development proposal.

The developer that owns Vancouver’s historic Commodore Ballroom has submitted a new plan for the future of the building and its neighbours.

Bonnis Properties submitted a revised rezoning application to the city earlier this month, and documents related to the plan were published on the Shape Your City website Wednesday.

After previously cancelling its plans to build a 17-storey office tower as part of a mixed-use redevelopment of 800-876 Granville St., the developer is now calling for two towers – situated on either side of the Commodore – with 500 rental homes, 100 hotel rooms, five levels of retail, restaurants and entertainment and 15,000 square feet of social housing to replace the 73 vacant rooms at the State Hotel SRO.

“The vision for 800 Granville is to create a vibrant, 24/7 hub,” Bonnis Properties said in a news release announcing its proposal Wednesday.

The plan would ensure “complete preservation of the iconic Commodore Building,” including the ballroom, the retail units and the bowling lanes, the developer said.

Four other heritage buildings on the block – the Service Building (800 Granville St.), the Cameron Block (810 Granville St.), the Clancy Building/Allen Rooms (816 Granville St.) and the State Hotel/Norfolk Rooms (876 Granville St.) – would have their facades retained and rehabilitated, but not their interiors.

“This is a pivotal moment for our 800 Granville project – and for the future of Vancouver’s entertainment district,” said Kerry Bonnis, co-owner of Bonnis Properties, in the release.

“We have always been committed to honouring the rich history of the Commodore Ballroom and making sure its legacy continues for years to come. Now is the time to bring our vision to life in order to support the revitalization of this significant area in the downtown core.”

Not mentioned in the developer’s release, but highlighted on the Shape Your City page, is the fact that the proposal far exceeds the height and density limits currently in place for the block, according to the city’s Downtown Official Development Plan.

The city plan restricts developments in that part of downtown to a height of 27.4 metres (90 feet) and a floor-space ratio of 3.5.

Bonnis Properties proposal would see a 43-storey north tower and a 39-storey south tower, rising to heights of 137.5 and 120.4 metres (451 and 395 feet), respectively. The floor-space ratio would be 14.5.

In its revised rezoning rationale for the project, the developer acknowledges the existing limits and notes it has had “a number of highly collaborative working sessions” with Vancouver planning staff “to ensure there is a level of alignment” with the city’s ongoing Granville Street planning process.

According to the Shape Your City page, the proposed hotel rooms would be part of the development’s north tower, near Granville and Robson streets.

Commercial uses would be found on levels one through five, with hotel rooms on levels six through eight and residential rental units above that. The social housing component of the project would be part of the south tower, near Granville and Smithe streets.

A question and answer period on the revised application will be held from April 30 through May 13.