A major new development proposal aims to transform a long-dormant site in Vancouver's False Creek Flats with significantly taller towers, bringing a substantial mix of housing, hotel rooms, and commercial space to the burgeoning Creative District.
Revitalizing a Stalled Site
The project, proposed by the Vancouver-based Onni Group for 375 East 1st Avenue, would replace a previous plan that left a large excavation hole after construction stalled years ago. The site is strategically located next to Emily Carr University of Art and Design and near the future SkyTrain station being built as part of the Broadway Subway extension.
The original plan, approved in 2017 and revised in 2019, envisioned shorter buildings. However, after the City of Vancouver introduced its Broadway Plan in 2022, Onni reconsidered the project's scope and density to better align with the new vision for the area.
Details of the New Proposal
The new rezoning application is far more ambitious. It calls for four mixed-use towers that are substantially taller than the previous concept. The proposal includes:
- Three 35-storey mixed-use buildings
- One 40-storey mixed-use building positioned closest to the future SkyTrain station
- A total of 639 strata units and 485 rental units
- 32 social housing units to support community needs
- 225 hotel rooms with a unique cultural theme
- Substantial commercial and office spaces
The four towers will each occupy a corner of the site and share a unified six-storey podium. This podium design features higher floor heights to improve daylighting and flexibility for workspaces, plus a large rooftop amenity area with an outdoor pool for residents.
A Transit-Oriented Creative Hub
The development is positioned within what the city bills as the Creative District, an area intended to cluster buildings that foster education, innovation, arts, and culture. The district vision includes artist live-work spaces, offices for digital entertainment companies, creative manufacturing, tech company spaces, labs, and residential units.
Onni's application emphasizes the project's transit-oriented design, capitalizing on the proximity to the SkyTrain station currently under construction. The location at Great Northern Way between Main Street and Clark Drive places it at the heart of this emerging innovation corridor.
Notably, the proposal includes meaningful engagement with local First Nations. The application acknowledges the site's location on a critical estuary that held deep spiritual connection to the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Musqueam Coast Salish Nations.
The project aims to celebrate these Nations' contributions to the region's development and history. The proposed hotel will feature a Coast Salish theme, offering visitors opportunities to experience culturally significant rituals and traditional practices. Onni has engaged Squamish Nation hereditary chief Ian Campbell as a cultural adviser to guide the project team.
This new proposal represents a significant step forward in activating a key Vancouver site that has remained undeveloped for years, potentially bringing much-needed housing, hotel capacity, and community amenities to the False Creek Flats area while honoring the land's Indigenous heritage.
