ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

                                           Date: May 27, 1997
                                           Dept. File No. AMH
                                           CC File: 5311-1

   TO:       Vancouver City Council

   FROM:     Director of Land Use and Development

   SUBJECT:  Strata Title Conversion:  73 Water Street


   RECOMMENDATION

        THAT the application to convert the building at 73 Water Street
        (Lot 8 West Half, Block 1, D.L. OGT, Plan 168) to strata title
        ownership be approved in principle, but that pursuant to Section
        9(1) of the Condominium Act, the Certificate of Approval (Form 10)
        shall not be issued unless the following condition has been met
        within one year of the date of this approval:

             Completion of all upgrading work required by the City Building
             Inspector, in accordance with any approved plans and permits,
             and issuance of an Occupancy Permit, all at no cost to the
             City, in order that this previously-occupied building
             substantially complies with all relevant by-laws.

   GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

        The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of
        the foregoing.

   COUNCIL POLICY

   Council policy is reflected in the City's Strata Title and Cooperative
   Conversion Guidelines, which outline factors Council will consider in
   reviewing applications for converting previously-occupied buildings to
   strata title or cooperative ownership.

   PURPOSE

   Council approval is required for an application to convert the
   previously-occupied building at 73 Water Street (Lot 8 West Half, Block
   1, D.L. OGT, Plan 168) to strata title ownership.

   BACKGROUND

   The site is zoned HA-2 and is developed with a seven-storey plus
   basement, commercial building, containing office, restaurant and
   clothing manufacturing (hat making) uses.  The building is listed as
   Category "C" on the Vancouver Heritage Register.  According to City
   records, it was constructed in 1912 as a warehouse for the Prince Rupert
   Meat Company.  It has never been used for habitable accommodation.

   The applicant proposes to create a total of eight strata lots - one per
   floor, plus the basement.  There are currently four tenant businesses in
   the building, each of which has been notified of this strata title
   conversion application.  Pursuant to Council's policy with regard to
   commercial tenants, their comments, in the form of support or opposition
   to this application, have not been solicited.

   The location of the site is shown in Figure No. 1, below.

   Figure No. 1



   STAFF ANALYSIS

   In addition to Planning Department staff, the City Engineer and the City
   Building Inspector have reviewed this application.  As this is a
   commercial building, the Manager of the Housing Centre has not been
   asked to comment.

   The City Engineer has no servicing or dedication requirements for this
   site.

   The City Building Inspector reports that substantial building, plumbing,
   electrical and fire/sprinkler upgrading will be required in order for
   this building to substantially comply with all relevant City by-laws.  A
   Building Permit and related Trades permits will be required for this
   work.  Once the work has been done and an Occupancy Permit has been
   issued, the building will substantially comply.

   Based on the foregoing, and on the applicant's compliance with the
   City's Strata Title and Cooperative Conversion Guidelines, the Director
   of Land Use and Development supports the application.

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