Vancouver city council voted seven to three on Monday to approve rezoning changes that would allow developer Holborn Group to build three towers in the heart of downtown Vancouver — each of which would surpass every existing high-rise in the city. The tallest of the three is proposed at 79 storeys, with the other two reaching 68 storeys. The rezoning applies to the block bounded by Dunsmuir, Richards, West Georgia, and Seymour streets.
The project would deliver more than 1,500 housing units, the majority at market rate, along with a 920-room hotel. As part of the agreement, Holborn has also committed to constructing a social housing building at Abbott Street and East Hastings, which would include an Indigenous art gallery, a childcare facility, and a publicly accessible viewing platform.
ABC Vancouver councillors backed the proposal with enthusiasm. “This is really probably one of the most significant redevelopments council has considered in many years,” said councillor Mike Klassen. His colleague Peter Meiszner called it “a once in a lifetime project for our city,” arguing it would inject new energy into a part of downtown that has struggled in recent years.
Concerns Over Process and Developer History
Not all councillors were convinced. Green councillor Pete Fry, also a mayoral candidate, criticized the timing of the vote, noting that the city had not yet completed its broader review of tall-buildings policy. “Staff had told us there was still analysis to be done on the public feedback,” Fry said after the vote. “If we’re going to do these processes, we should at least allow them to play out.”
Holborn’s track record also drew scrutiny during the public hearing, particularly its handling of the Little Mountain site. After acquiring that property in 2008, the company displaced roughly 700 social housing residents, then left the site largely vacant for nearly a decade. Fry said many residents who spoke at the hearing remained deeply frustrated by that episode. “There is an issue about the social licence to deliver this,” he said.
The timeline for the project remains uncertain. Construction could be years away, and the final design may yet change — including the possibility that NAV Canada could require the towers to be built shorter for aviation safety reasons.
