Cadillac Fairview’s controversial proposal to redevelop Pacific Centre and remove a public plaza has drawn criticism and sparked concern that too many public spaces in downtown Vancouver are being removed.
The mall owner wants to build a 25,614-square-foot, three-storey addition to its shopping centre, at the northeast corner of Howe and West Georgia streets. The city’s urban design panel supported the move in a 7-1 vote on July 27, and the project now needs only city staff’s final approval.
City council does not need to vote to approve the redevelopment because a past council rezoned the site to accommodate extra density in late 2006, in exchange for the Vancouver City Centre Canada Line station to be built on what was Cadillac Fairview property.
Now former chief city planners and others in the development industry, such as consultant Michael Geller, oppose the way Cadillac Fairview plans to use that extra density.
“For some time, I’ve had a concern that, as we densify our downtown, instead of adding new public spaces, we’re losing them,” said Toderian UrbanWorks principal Brent Toderian, who was director of city planning between 2006 and 2012.
“A few such proposals came in when I was chief planner, and I didn’t support them.”
Other public plazas that are owned by developers and have either recently been redeveloped or are in the development process include the domed plaza at 601 West Hastings, the plaza and fountain at 1500 West Hastings Street, and a plaza on Alberni Street mid-block between Burrard and Thurlow streets.
“Plazas add delight,” said Geller. “They give you a place to just relax. They provide a bit of a respite for people to sit down in the downtown and, if nothing else, to have their lunch.”
The proposal has some supporters.
Retail analyst and Retail Insider Media owner Craig Patterson likes the design. He called the plaza “an underutilized piece of real estate on one of the most prominent corners of the city.”
The public has until Aug. 28 to give feedback to the city and if the city gets inundated with responses, it may hold an open house, said Anita Molaro, the city’s assistant director of urban design.
For the full story, visit Business in Vancouver.
