Redevelopment
Our redevelopment work focuses on taking an active role in Vancouver’s residential, commercial and industrial development. This includes using City-owned land and acquiring privately-owned property to spur development that will fulfill the needs of communities throughout Vancouver in a time of growth and progress.
Active Redevelopment Projects
The Heights District Development
The Heights District is the redevelopment of a 63-acre site in the former Tower Mall location in central Vancouver envisioned as a vibrant neighborhood center that is sustainable, healthy, equitable, accessible, and safe. It includes engaging public open spaces, diverse housing affordable to a wide range of community members and safe multimodal travel opportunities within the district and transit to nearby neighborhoods. The Heights District aims to achieve the following goals:
- Provide housing for all income levels
- Ensure local residents can continue to live in district
- Retain and attract locally owned businesses
- Create opportunities for business owners from socially & economically disadvantaged communities
- Ensure new businesses can meet needs of local residents
- Offer variety of employment opportunities that pay living wage and are accessible
- Connect residents to community services/amenities that benefit everyone
Learn more about the Heights District
Waterfront Gateway
Located next to Vancouver City Hall and the Vancouver Convention Center & Hilton Hotel, Waterfront Gateway will provide a dynamic new district for locals and guests to enjoy. The district will celebrate another exciting era of revitalization for Downtown and the Columbia River waterfront area.
The district plans to include many benefits for the community including high-quality jobs, residential units for all income levels, ample parking, open spaces, shopping and dining. The first phase of the project will bring 95 affordable housing units to Downtown and construction began Summer 2025.
Once complete, Waterfront Gateway will provide:
- 100,000 SF of flexible office spaces designed to accommodate a variety of business types and sizes
- 30,000 SF of local retail and dining establishments that promote neighborhood vitality and provide amenities for residents and visitors alike
- Structured parking facilities to provide efficient use of space
- Public plazas and community spaces that encourage social interaction, recreation, and community events
Learn more about Waterfront Gateway
Downtown Redevelopment Assessment
The Downtown Vancouver Redevelopment Assessment summarizes the current demographic, economic, and real estate market conditions within the Downtown Vancouver area. The broad assessment of conditions in the report analyzes characteristics of distinct Redevelopment Opportunity Areas, including the development capacity of vacant and underutilized sites, highlighting strategic parcels that represent critical opportunities to maximize development potential and catalyze further development. The report includes a range of strategies and recommendations to support the redevelopment of vacant and underutilized properties within downtown to accommodate the projected growth and housing and economic development goals, while addressing historic injustices and ensuring that historically marginalized and underserved communities within the City benefit from this growth.