A new downtown grocery store could be back in play according to the architect behind the new $500 million plan to build a 775,000-square-foot mixed-use complex, including a 48-storey tower, at the corner of Hornby and Drake streets.
Originally the development, put forward by Pattison Developments Ltd. and Reliance Properties Ltd., included a proposed grocery store but that was removed from the working concept before Pattison released renderings last week (See “Rezoning key to $500 million city tower project” – issue 1097; November 2-8 and "$500 million development to redefine downtown skyline " – BIV Business Today, October 27).
“Some of the neighbours have said that they want a grocery store there,” said IBI-HB Architects associate director Jim Hancock. “We’re going to have to digest that because we originally had a grocery store in the project. The city discouraged it so we took it out. If we feel that there’s strength in the neighbourhood for that, we could give it more consideration.”
The grocery store would not replace the three-storey Toyota dealership that would look like a glass cube and front Burrard Street with four levels of service facilities located below ground.
Instead, it would be at the bottom of the 48-storey tower that currently is expected to have a café, art gallery and other small retail-type businesses.