Dan Fumano: Army & Navy project to soldier on without support of city staff

Two prominent family-run Vancouver companies proposing a major redevelopment of a landmark Downtown Eastside property say city planning staff do not support their proposal. So the partners say they will take their chances and pitch the project directly to the mayor and council.

It is rare for proponents to roll the dice by advancing multi-million-dollar projects without the recommendation of the city’s senior staff. But it seems possible this kind of development could align with the current elected council’s priorities — especially considering new Mayor Ken Sim’s repeated recent public statements emphasizing a desire to break with past planning orthodoxy and rules in order to build housing and generate economic activity.

Army & Navy Properties and Bosa Properties are partnering on the proposed development of towers of up to 17 storeys above the old Army & Navy department store location in the Downtown Eastside, one of Vancouver’s most historic buildings in its most historic — and most troubled — neighbourhood.