POLICY REPORT
                           BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT

                                             Date:  June 6, 1995
                                             Dept. File No.  RGL


   TO:       Vancouver City Council

   FROM:     Associate Director of Planning - Land Use and Development 

   SUBJECT:  Eligibility for Heritage Density Bonus - 1200 Richards Street

   RECOMMENDATION

        THAT  the  former Canadian  Linen  Co.  Building at  1200  Richards
        Street,  listed  on  the  Vancouver  Heritage  Register  in  the  B
        category, be  eligible for a heritage  density bonus to  be used on
        site or transferred  elsewhere, subject to the Transfer  of Density
        Policy and rezoning.

   GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

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

   COUNCIL POLICY

   The  Heritage Policies  and Guidelines  (adopted by  Council May  13 and
   September 23, 1986 and reaffirmed April 18, 1991) outline a procedure to
   be  followed  in  applying  the  heritage  density  bonus  provision  as
   permitted  in  the  Downtown  Official  Development  Plan.    Category A
   buildings  on the Vancouver  Heritage Register [formerly  the Inventory]
   are automatically  eligible for  consideration of  a bonus  for heritage
   preservation.    Categories  B  and  C buildings  may  be  eligible  for
   consideration, but must first be approved by Council.  

   PURPOSE

   This  report  seeks  Council's  approval to  consider  a  heritage bonus
   density for this heritage building.

   BACKGROUND

   The  former Canadian  Linen  Co.  Building at  1200  Richards Street  is
   located  at  the southeast  corner  of  Richards  and Davie  Streets  in
   Downtown South (see location plan below).  It occupies the northern 53.3
   m (175  feet) of the 72.2 m  (237 feet) of frontage on  the east side of
   the 1200 block Richards Street owned by the 

   applicant.  A development application has been submitted (DA 217787) for
   the rehabilitation of the  former Canadian Linen Co. Building for use as
   a retail  food market, for which  a number of relaxations  are required,
   primarily to the limit of retail area.  The applicant wishes to submit a
   rezoning application  to transfer  heritage bonus area  and most  of the
   site density off the site.

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   DISCUSSION

   The Building

   The  Canadian Linen Co. Building was built in  1928-29.  It was added to
   in 1947 and  1974.  It is a good example of vernacular commercial design
   with  Art  Deco motifs  in  the  pilasters and  corner  pavilions.   The
   building  has a single storey with  a partial basement.  The architects,
   Townley  and  Matheson, were  a  notable  firm  in Vancouver,  who  also
   designed Vancouver City Hall.   The building in listed on  the Vancouver
   Heritage Register  in the B category.  The building is in good shape and
   retains  most  of  its  original  windows  and  architectural  features.
   Contextually, the building is important as it has a landmark presence at
   the corner of  Richards and Davie Streets which will be the major retail
   street connecting Granville  Street to Yaletown and  the Concord Pacific
   development.

   Proposed Rehabilitation

   Development Application DA 217787 proposes use of the building as a food
   oriented  retail market, with  restaurant, storage, service  and parking
   uses in the  basement.  The 1974  addition will be  replaced with a  new
   structure  designed in  keeping with  the  older building.   A  complete
   seismic upgrading will  be undertaken.  The existing  steel sash windows
   and landmark smoke stack will be retained.  Minimal new doorways will be
   created.  On-site parking for 31  cars will be provided and two  loading
   bays.

   Transfer of Density

   Should  Council  determine  that  the  Canadian  Linen  Co.  Building is
   eligible for a heritage density  bonus, the applicant will be submitting
   a rezoning application  to establish and then transfer  density from the
   balance of the  site.  The  rezoning, if approved,  would result in  the
   protection of the building through heritage designation.  

   Comments of the Vancouver Heritage Commission

   The Vancouver Heritage Commission considered the request  for a heritage
   density bonus at  their meeting of  June 12, 1995.   Their comments  and
   resolution  will  be   forwarded,  by  way  of  memo,   to  Council  for
   consideration with this report.

   CONCLUSION

   Staff  believe  that  the  former  Canadian Linen  Co.  Building  has  a
   significant landmark  presence, and therefore,  warrants eligibility for

   consideration   of  a  heritage  density  bonus,  in  exchange  for  the
   rehabilitation and  preservation  of  the building.    If  a  subsequent
   rezoning application  to transfer  some of the  density is  approved, it
   would  result in  the rehabilitation  and  protection, through  heritage
   designation, of a valuable part of downtown Vancouver.
                 


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