A major Vancouver-based developer has big plans for northeast False Creek—provided the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts are demolished first.
The seismically questionable viaducts, which would require hundreds of millions of dollars for upgrades or replacement beyond 2032, are the biggest obstacle standing in the way of 5,000 new homes to be built by Concord Pacific Developments Corp. in its planned “Concord Landing” district.
Vancouver city council voted to remove the viaducts almost 10 years ago. Although they are still standing, Concord Pacific’s recent update to its development plan is expected to finally trigger removal of the elevated roadways serving motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.
Although the first phase of Concord Landing is at least five years away, the developer is going full steam ahead, with an initial rezoning inquiry made to the City of Vancouver a week ago, to be followed by a formal rezoning submission.
“We have been working on this rezoning plan since the view corridor policy … came down in July,” said Peter Webb, senior vice-president of development with Concord Pacific.
“At this point, we have submitted our materials as a rezoning inquiry. The significance of this submission is that it will bring the city and province together to work on the business framework, at which point the public consultation will follow with a rezoning application.”
Concord Pacific acquired the roughly eight-hectare site for Concord Landing in 1988 as part of the whole 83-hectare parcel known as Concord Pacific Place, stretching from the Granville Bridge to Science World.
The original official development plan (ODP) led by the City of Vancouver was completed in 1990. A new plan was drawn up in 2018 with more discussion regarding the removal of the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts. About 17,000 Vancouverites weighed in on the second plan in 2018.
Now, Concord Landing is envisioned for the developer’s last 15 or so per cent of the Expo lands, which it has developed over the years with seven other Concord neighbourhoods in the area. The most recent, Concord Central, was completed in 2019 and consists of two large buildings: The Arc and One Pacific in northwest False Creek, totalling more than 1,000 homes.
When completed, Concord Landing would feature about 5,000 homes, as well as a large green space matching the green space adopted in the 2018 ODP. The proposed development would also feature between 50 and 100 small commercial units, mostly between 500 and 1,000 square feet in size.
The company said it believes Concord Landing would create a new focal point along the waterfront, with the downtown core to the northwest, and Science World and the Olympic Village to the south. Georgia Street would come down to grade, connecting Stanley Park at the far end of the downtown peninsula to the waterfront at northeast False Creek.
In addition to anticipated delays due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when the site may be used for staging, the biggest hurdle remains the viaducts. They complicate the development by cutting through where the district’s buildings would be. More than 12 buildings of varying scale and shape are planned.
Scrapping the viaducts would open up the land underneath. The developer said removing them sooner rather than later will mitigate costs and conserve capital. New city infrastructure and street networks are already planned for the area as part of the entire budget for removal.
To help pay for the viaducts’ demolition and related streetscape planning, the city has allocated Concord Pacific’s contribution of $110 million, a sum paid toward a six-site deal in northeast False Creek in 2024. Another source is the Plaza of Nations’ $100 million in community amenity contributions from its rezoning in 2018, which could grow if greater density is sought by new owner Northchild Group.
“We are excited about the renewed focus on removing the seismically challenged viaducts, a pivotal step in developing this [last] neighbourhood,” said Terry Hui, Concord’s president and CEO.
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