Two of the next big pieces of North Vancouver’s Lynn Creek neighbourhood may soon be put into place.
District of North Vancouver council voted unanimously July 21 to advance Denna Homes’ proposal for two towers – 34 and 30 storeys in height – containing 683 strata and rental homes, plus retail space, offices and a child care facility along with a public plaza.
Collectively known as Seylynn Centre, the project would cover the entire block between Fern Street and Hunter Street on the east side of Mountain Highway.
If approved, the west tower will include 338 strata units, 12,000 square feet of commercial/retail space including a 4,100-square foot restaurant and almost 17,000 square feet of office. The east tower will include 345 rental homes, 72 of which will be offered at below-market rates for households earning low-to-moderate incomes and a childcare facility with room for 49 tots.
Once built, the towers will run on zero-carbon energy systems including high efficiency heat pumps for heat and hot water. There will be 676 vehicle parking spaces and storage for 1,188 bicycles.
If the rezoning goes ahead, the district will sell the existing laneways on the property for a minimum of $3.1 million and the developer will provide land for a new bus lane and bicycle infrastructure on Mountain Highway and new north-south road connecting Hunter Street to Fern Street.
Today, the land is largely vacant, having been used for parking and construction staging for the other Seylynn developments across the street, but it was formerly 23 single-family homes.
The developers have being trying since 2017 to get a redevelopment of the properties before council for a vote.
Because the project will require an amendment to the official community plan, it will first be subject to a public hearing, likely coming in September.
Councillors praise public plaza design
Council members had mostly praise for the latest iteration of Denna’s proposal.
Coun. Jordan Back said he believed the project will bring a lot of amenities appreciated by everyone in the fast-growing neighbourhood.
“I see it really as one of the transformative projects for the Lynn Creek town centre. It really brings a thoughtful mix of housing, commercial activity, child care, public space – which is one element I really appreciate about this project – and significant financial benefits to the district,” he said.
Several council members drew specific attention to the public plaza, including Coun. Herman Mah.
“This is the best part. The plaza is great. I think (the architects) did a great job on the design. I love the open space. There are two large towers but the separation between them still opens up the views to our mountains. I think it will be a great gathering space for the entire community,” he said.
Mayor Mike Little was concerned about the “tremendous number” of one-bedroom apartments – more than half of the entire project – but he said, on the whole, the project was ready for the public’s say.
“I do appreciate the efforts that have been made to both keep the site quite open and permeable throughout it, plus also the rental component and non-market rental component. I think those are all laudable,” he said. “I look forward to this coming back to the community in the form of a public hearing.”
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