12 highrises, over 6,000 homes could be coming to the Brentwood area

Twelve more highrise buildings containing 6,000 homes could be coming to the Brentwood area.

The proposal is part of the Buchanan West Conceptual Master Plan, which is currently in its public engagement phase.

The area for the proposed development is bounded by Lougheed Highway to the south, Gilmore Avenue to the west, Halifax Street to the north, and Madison Avenue and Douglas Street to the east.

The Buchanan West site is approximately 10.68 acres (465,146 sq. ft.) and is conveniently located close to key transportation networks like the Gilmore and Brentwood SkyTrain stations, and Lougheed Highway.

The site is made up of seven individual land parcels, owned by six different ownership groups.

Currently, the area consists of several businesses and restaurants including Cactus Club Cafe, Club16 Trevor Linden Fitness, Executive Suites Hotel, Staples, Sleep Country Canada, Tim Hortons, and White Spot.

The proposed master plan would include over 6,000 homes; up to 12 mixed-use residential and commercial towers; infrastructure upgrades such as new parks; pedestrian pathways; improved street connections; hospitality and local retail opportunities; and a redesignation of high-density residential and commercial service-designated properties to become high-density mixed-use.

Due to the current lot ownership, a staff report notes a “flexible phasing approach,” to the site, allowing it to be developed over time “as individual site owners advance redevelopment applications for their respective development sites.”

During last week’s council meeting, Coun. Pietro Calendino acknowledged the plan's slow development due to the lack of consolidation with the site’s ownership.

“I hope that this gives an incentive to whoever [the] owners are there to maybe get moving and start some development because it’s an undeveloped area. It’s not very appealing to look at,” he said.

The report also notes that one of the most significant features of the site concept is the proposed street network, which will create east-west and north-south multi-nodal connections to break up the current four quadrants that make up the area.

Part of the proposed plan also looks to amend the Brentwood Town Centre Plan to designate high-density mixed-use (RM5s, RM5r, C3) zoning over two new streets and to relocate a community open space to a more central location.

On Feb. 9, the city is hosting an open house regarding the master plan. Residents can drop into the Willingdon Community Centre from 5:30 to 8:30pm to meet the project team, view the proposed project, and ask questions.