A once-historical, now-derelict heritage property near Edgemont Village is being replaced by a cluster of luxury townhomes.
At a meeting on Monday, District of North Vancouver council unanimously approved a proposal to build 21 townhomes at 3712-3718 Edgemont Boulevard.
The all-strata development will have a mixture of unit sizes across five two-storey buildings, with six one-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom and five three-bedroom homes, according to a staff report.
The complex includes private outdoor spaces for each unit, as well as two shared outdoor spaces and a community amenity building.
The townhomes will sit above an underground parking garage with 42 vehicle spaces, accessible from Edgemont Boulevard.
Staff noted that the project includes around $1.2 million in improvements to the surrounding landscape, developer cost charges of $470,000 and a community amenity contribution of $136,000 that could go to the district’s affordable housing fund.
Public feedback was mostly positive about the project, particularly because it would update a site that had fallen into disrepair.
But there was some concern expressed over the loss of heritage buildings on the site – multifamily homes designed by famed architect Fred Hollingsworth. Other nearby buildings in the 1951-built Shalal Gardens complex have been extensively renovated and sold in recent years for millions of dollars.
District staff, however, said that meaningful restoration wasn’t feasible for the buildings on the property slated for redevelopment. A demolition permit was issued in September 2023.
Staff recommended council pass the application, as it aligned with the district’s official community plan by providing ground-level units for families and seniors, and would help the municipality meet provincial housing targets.
Simpler designs that lower costs should be aimed for too, mayor says
While Coun. Lisa Muri supported the project, she lamented the loss of the heritage structures.
“We have a standards and maintenance bylaw,” she said. “We’ve been talking about it for 25 years, how it has zero teeth to be able to maintain anything in the municipality."
Muri placed no blame on the project applicant, but said there could have been a great opportunity to save a renowned piece of architecture.
“But we’ve lost that opportunity, and I’d like to understand why,” she said.
In contrast to some of Hollingsworth’s extravagant custom homes, Shalal Gardens was originally designed to be affordable housing, said Mayor Mike Little.
“Even though Hollingsworth had the ability to produce a very high-end unique product, he also took time in his practice to create stuff that was on the lower end of the market and more consumable,” he said.
The current proposal is for a very high-end product, Little said.
“When we’re looking at developments in the Edgemont area, sure we can lean into the very high cost of all the neighbouring properties around there, but it would be good to take some inspiration from Fred (Hollingsworth) that produces not only the high-end … but also intentionally creates some that’s simpler by design and manages the cost,” he said.
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