Vancouver City Council Approves Holborn Group's Ambitious Hudson's Bay Redevelopment
📅 2 weeks ago
The Vancouver City Council has approved the rezoning application for Holborn Group's Hudson's Bay parkade block redevelopment, paving the way for Western Canada's tallest tower complex.
On Monday, the Vancouver City Council cast a decisive vote in favor of Holborn Group's rezoning application concerning the redevelopment of the Hudson's Bay parkade block. This approval marks a significant milestone, setting the stage for what is set to become the tallest tower in Western Canada. Holborn Group expressed their enthusiasm for this development, describing it as "an exciting moment, and an even more exciting beginning."The ambitious project, as previously detailed by STOREYS last September, will unfold at the addresses 501 and 595 W Georgia Street. It features a trio of towers, highlighted by a striking 68-storey supertall hotel tower equipped with a public observation deck. In addition to the hotel, the redevelopment will include a 63-storey residential tower and a 79-storey residential tower, promising to redefine Vancouver's skyline.
The public hearing regarding the rezoning commenced on Thursday, July 23, and reconvened on Monday, July 27, at 9:30 am after the initial session ran out of time. The City of Vancouver's official rezoning application page notes an addendum was filed on April 7, 2026, which consolidates the original 501 W Georgia site with additional parcels at 575-595 W Georgia Street and 620-692 Seymour Street. This consolidation has resulted in a density adjustment for the site, now set at 27.4 Floor Space Ratio (FSR), reduced from the previously proposed 31.29 FSR.
The addendum also introduces plans for a monetary community amenity contribution, although the city has confirmed that there will be no alterations to the height or intended use of the buildings as initially proposed.
In a close vote of 7-3, the Council approved the application, with dissenting opinions from Green Councillor Pete Fry, COPE Councillor Sean Orr, and OneCity Councillor Lucy Maloney, according to reports from Daily Hive. Construction on the first phase of the project, however, is not anticipated to commence until approximately 2030, as there are still design and permitting processes to navigate, along with potential aviation-height constraints from NAV Canada.
According to the information provided in the addendum, the project will maintain the originally proposed heights and uses. The redevelopment is set to encompass three sites, culminating in the three tallest towers in Vancouver: the 63-storey North Tower and 79-storey South Tower at 501 W Georgia Street, alongside the 68-storey supertall hotel tower at 595 W Georgia Street. This hotel will feature 920 rooms, a conference center, and the aforementioned public observation deck. Additionally, a separate social housing tower is planned for 388 Abbott Street.
The overall development is expected to yield around 1,900 new homes, 920 hotel suites, and substantial public amenity space, significantly contributing to the urban landscape of downtown Vancouver.
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super tall buildings
residential towers
commercial towers
Hudson's Bay
Holborn Group
Vancouver
urban development
public observation deck
community amenities
High-Rise Construction
