VREG Blog

The notable project of a 30-storey mixed-use rental housing tower immediately south of SkyTrain’s future Arbutus Station has taken its next big step. A new development permit application has been submitted by PCI Developments for the project of 2096 West Broadway and 2560-2576 Arbutus Street — the narrow, but long, lot next to the Arbutus Greenway at the southeast corner of the intersection of Arbutus Street and West Broadway. The application also shows new detailed artistic renderings of a highly refined design by architectural firm Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership. You might also like: – Vancouver City Council approves TransLink’s first rental housing project, located at Arbutus SkyTrain station – TransLink to launch new for-profit real estate development arm – Massive mixed-use building development at VCC-Clark SkyTrain station with rental housing, office, childcare, grocery store, and retail uses – 25-storey rental housing tower proposed next to future SkyTrain South Granville Station – 20-storey condo tower proposed for SkyTrain’s future Arbutus Station This is the latest step for the project after its rezoning application was unanimously approved by Vancouver City Council in a public hearing in July 2024. It is a significant project; this is not only one of the first high-rise tower projects approved under the City of Vancouver’s Broadway Plan, but it is also TransLink’s very first building development project under the public transit authority’s new for-profit real estate development division. PCI Developments and TransLink have a 50-50 partnership for this project. This transit-oriented development will also have built-in space to enable a future secondary entrance into Arbutus Station by setting aside streetfront and underground spaces for such uses. During the rezoning application process, it was noted that this additional subway station entrance would be situated on the Arbutus Street side of the building. However, following previous suggestions by the City’s Urban Design Panel, the development permit application shows the subway entrance is now relocated to the northernmost frontage of the building, directly facing West Broadway at the intersection corner. Schematics show this entrance will feature a staircase, one escalator, and one elevator. Some of the building’s underground parking space will be used for the required concourse space to directly connect with Arbutus Station’s expansive concourse level directly below West Broadway. The tower’s primary use will be 260 secured purpose-built rental homes, including 208 market rental units and 52 below-market rental units, based on the Broadway Plan’s stipulation of requiring at least 20% of the residential rental floor area be set aside for below-market rental housing. About 7,400 sq ft of retail/restaurant uses will activate the building’s West Broadway, Arbutus, and West 10th Avenue frontages. Additionally, about 7,100 sq ft of community space over two levels for the new home of Ohel Ya’akov Community Kollel will be incorporated into the south end of the building, with the Jewish community organization space’s entrance fronting the Arbutus Greenway, where there will also be a cafe operated by the organization. Additionally, this project will also provide the adjacent segment of the Arbutus Greenway with a major public space upgrade, including a space for a large Mobi bike share station. During the public hearing, it was indicated that construction on the tower could begin in late 2025 for a completion in 2029. Earlier this year, the provincial government announced SkyTrain Millennium Line’s Broadway extension reaching Arbutus will see a further delayed completion and opening in Fall 2027 instead of early 2026. You might also like: – Vancouver City Council approves TransLink’s first rental housing project, located at Arbutus SkyTrain station – TransLink to launch new for-profit real estate development arm – Massive mixed-use building development at VCC-Clark SkyTrain station with rental housing, office, childcare, grocery store, and retail uses – 25-storey rental housing tower proposed next to future SkyTrain South Granville Station – 20-storey condo tower proposed for SkyTrain’s future Arbutus Station

The Archives is pleased to announce that records of Vancouver’s first and longest-lived neon sign company, Neon Products, are now available to researchers. Neon Products was founded in 1927 or 1928 by George Sweny and partners. Sweny was Managing Director from shortly after the company’s founding to 1953 and oversaw tremendous growth in the company through its earliest decades. In the mid-1970s, Neon Products was acquired by Neonex, a Jim Pattison company, though it continued to operate under its own name until being folded into the larger Pattison Signs Group in the 1990s. A 1949 view of the Niagara Hotel neon sign at 435 West Pender Street. Reference code: AM1545-S3-: CVA 586-12567 The records donated to the Archives by Pattison Signs are “flimsy files”, largely made up of small sketches of designs with basic production information. The records do not include the factory patterns. The records also do not include files previous to ca. 1945, which do not appear to have survived, nor files opened later than 1964. Most of the earliest records (as determined by job numbers) are undated. Here is the flimsy for the Niagara Hotel sign in the photo above. Niagara Hotel, 435 West Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C., 1947. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F1628: 2018-025.0038 And a colour image taken at night in 1983: Niagara Hotel sign, 1983. Reference code: AM1376-: CVA 1376-342 Another example is this flimsy for the Studio Theatre sign on Granville Street: Studio Theatre, 900-block Granville Street, Vancouver, ca. 1950. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F1737: 2018-025.0040 The Studio Theatre can be seen in this streetscape photo of Granville Street taken most likely in 1967: View of the 900 block Granville Street, Theatre Row. Reference code: COV-S511—: CVA 780-53 The donated records document a wide range of production work, not just of neon display signage, but of non-neon signage, neon strip lighting, and readographs. A common use of readographs are for movie theatre marquees, such as the one designed for the Stanley Theatre. Stanley Theatre, 2570 Granville Street, Vancouver, 1957? Reference code: AM1695-S1-F1731: 2018-025.0039 The Stanley’s script signage and readograph are seen in this 1998 photo. Stanley Theatre marquee, 1998. Reference code: AM1624-S1-F15-: 2012-079.406 Almost as common as neon signage was the plastic-faced lightbox signs that became more common in the company’s work in the 1960s. The Kuo Kong Silk Company sign is typical of this type of projecting display signage that was not neon-based. Kuo Kong Silk Company, 1964. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F1561: 2018-025.0041 You can see the sign in the middle of CVA 1095-09664, a heritage inventory photo of 27-29 East Pender Street, taken in 1973. 27-29 East Pender Street – Kuo Kong Silk Ltd., Wong Wun Sun Society, and Hon Hsing Athletic Association, 1973. Reference code: COV-S644-: CVA 1095-09664 As the first and largest neon manufacturer in Vancouver, Neon Products provided signage and neon lighting to a wide variety of businesses across the province. Brasso’s Car Supermarket, 3220 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C., ~1950s. Reference code:  AM1695-S1-F1177: 2018-025.0042 Approximately two-thirds of the files document work done for businesses outside the Lower Mainland, including a small number of files for businesses in other provinces and the Territories. Here is a sampling. Capital Tobacco Shop, Kelowna, 1951. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F2269: 2018-025.0047 Waikiki Restaurant, Comox, ca. 1960. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F0643: 2018-025.0043 A full-colour image of the Waikiki’s extensive signage, most likely from a postcard, can be found on Pinterest. Brodie’s Bakery, 1304 Douglas Street, Victoria, B.C. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F0021: 2018-025.0036 The Brodie’s sign can be seen in the middle of this streetscape image in the holdings of the City of Victoria Archives. This sign for the Ranch Motel in Clinton, B.C. is indicative of the many signs done for hotels and motels across the province. The file is one of only two that came with photos of the completed signage. Ranch Motel, Clinton, B.C. flimsy and photo, 1950s. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F2083: 2018-025.0045 and AM1695-S1-F2083: 2018-025.0046 A small number of large, rooftop billboard signs with neon elements are also documented in the records, including this Westinghouse Sign at Howe and Georgia. Westinghouse sign, located on the rooftop of the Trocadero Restaurant, Howe & Georgia Streets, Vancouver, 1959. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F1795: 2018-025.0023 An unusual aspect of Neon Products’ business was that many of their signs were leased by clients, rather than purchased. As a result, many of the signs were re-used once no longer needed in their original location. One example is this small sign featuring the outline of a chicken which was repurposed from its original use at the Chicken Coop in View Royal, B.C. In 1951, it was moved to The Famous Kitchen in Richmond; by 1958, the restaurant had been renamed the Rooster Café, but the little red chicken is still there, as seen in this City of Richmond Archives photo of businesses on No. 3 Road. The Famous Kitchen, 604 No. 3 Road, Richmond, 1951. Reference code: AM1695-S1-F1818: 2018-025.0044 As the first neon signage company in Vancouver, Neon Products contributed greatly to Vancouver’s reputation as “Neon City”. It was later joined in this growing market in the middle decades of the century by Wallace Neon, Neolite, Walburn Neon and others; collectively, these companies changed the nightscape of cities across the province.

There are a number of former gas stations and repair garages on Commercial Drive, but this is the only one where the use hasn’t changed (although the gas bar has gone). The building dates back to 1928, when W F Gardiner designed a new gas station and garage for Home Oil Distributors Ltd. They hired A J Thompson to build the $9,000 facility, which opened that year as the Grandview Super Service & Sales, seen here in a 1929 Vancouver Public Library image. The garage sold Dominion Tires, and Coyle Batteries as well as pre-owned vehicles, and some new ones, the result of selling the stock of a Finance Company, with a two new Durant sedans available in 1929 for $1,200 each. In 1932 the baliff’s were selling off the inventory of Grandview Super-Service. In 1937 Gordon’s Tire Service was based here, as well as Grandview Service Garage, who lost H E Keeley’s car when thieves btoke in and stole it. By 1940 the business had become the Grandview Service Station run by Chas Townsend, with Grandview Fuel Supply run by Arthur Curnew who sold Dollarton No. 1 Sawdust for home heating, Alberta coal, ‘lump egg. nut or furnace’. In 1943 the Crown Fuel Company were prosecuted for selling wood at prices higher than wartime price regulations allowed. Rationing of gasoline hit the gas bar business in 1944, with no new ration books available until April, but most customers already on the last page of their ration book by early January. In 1945 Morrow’s coal were selling the coal yard and buildings. In 1946 the Service Station had a break-in, with $38 stolen from a ‘hiding place under the counter’. A year later the business was for sale by Mr. Modesto. ‘Attractively priced, fully equipped, body and fender business. Good location, immediate posession’. There was a woodworking business at this address in 1947. In the 1960s Diplomat brand coal was being sold by Grandview Fuel Supply from the premises, and in 1974, under the warehouseman’s Lein Act, a 1967 Chevrolet Impala owned by David Moss was being sold, and in 1980 Leo Longo was operating Longo’s Collision Repairs. Owed over $1,200 by Michael Goller for repairs and materials, he was selling another Chevrolet Impala to cover the debt, this one a 1972 2-door hardtop. Today’s businesses include Vancouver Auto Parts, who have been located here for 0ver 25 years. 1421