ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Date: January 11, 1996 Dept. File No. JF TO: Vancouver City Council FROM: Director of Land Use and Development SUBJECT: Strata Title Conversion - 518 Beatty Street RECOMMENDATION THAT the application to convert the premises at 518 Beatty Street (Lot B, Block 39, D.L. 541, Plan LMP19253) 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 work required by the City Building Inspector, under the required permits, at no cost to the City, and issuance of an Occupancy Permit, 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 518 Beatty Street, (Lot B, Block 39, D.L. 541, Plan LMP19253) to strata title ownership.BACKGROUND The site is zoned DD and is developed with a seven-storey former commercial warehouse building built circa 1911. The building is listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register as a category 'C' heritage building and has recently been municipally designated in conjunction with a redevelopment process currently underway according to Development Permit No. DP216713 and Building Permit No. BP220493. When the renovation work now underway is complete, the building will contain two commercial units - split between the basement and level 1 - and 48 dwelling units on all levels, from the basement up to level 8. The owner proposes to create two commercial strata lots and 48 residential strata lots in total. While the building has been previously occupied by commercial tenants, there have never been residential tenancies in the building. The applicant has advised staff that the building has been vacant since Spring 1995, when the tenants were given notice to vacate and the renovation work began. The site location is shown below in Figure 1: Figure 1 STAFF ANALYSIS In addition to Planning Department staff, the City Engineer and the City Building Inspector have reviewed this application. As the building has not previously been used for residential purposes, the Manager of the Housing Centre has not been asked to comment. The City Engineer has no dedication or servicing requirements for this site. The City Building Inspector reports that when all work currently underway on the building has been completed in accordance with approved plans and permits, and an Occupancy Permit has been issued, the building will substantially comply with all relevant City by-laws. CONCLUSION 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 this application. * * *