Vancouver Council Votes 7-3 in Favour of Holborn’s Multi-Block Development
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and six fellow ABC Vancouver councillors voted on Monday to approve a rezoning application for a major multi-block development proposed by the Holborn Group.
The downtown project is connected to a separate social housing development planned for the Downtown Eastside.
The Georgia Street proposal includes 1,546 residential units, a 920-room hotel, more than 70,000 square feet of conference facilities and a large public plaza. Holborn also plans to construct a 272-unit social housing tower at 388 Abbott Street.
ABC Coun. Mike Klassen described the development as an important investment in Vancouver during a period when the city needs greater confidence in its economic future.
He said the project would provide housing, employment opportunities, public amenities and long-term benefits for the downtown area.
Development Covers 36 Downtown Parcels
The Georgia Street development site consists of 36 parcels located between Georgia, Seymour, Dunsmuir and Richards streets.
An English-language school at the corner of Dunsmuir and Seymour streets is the only property within the two-block area that is not part of the proposal. Holborn does not own the school site.
Despite concerns raised by Nav Canada, the ABC Vancouver majority supported the rezoning application.
Hotel Tower Could Become Vancouver’s Tallest Building
Nav Canada contacted the city regarding the proposed height of the hotel tower, which is designed to reach 1,034 feet.
At that height, it would become the tallest building in Western Canada.
However, city staff told council during the public hearing that federal aviation regulations may require the tower to be shortened by approximately 88 feet.
Even with that reduction, the hotel would remain the tallest building in Vancouver. The city’s current tallest building is the 62-storey Living Shangri-La, which stands 659 feet high.
It remained uncertain whether the reduced hotel tower would still qualify as Western Canada’s tallest building.
Nav Canada Reviews Aviation Safety Concerns
Nav Canada spokesperson Gabriel Bourget explained that the airspace surrounding downtown Vancouver is used by several types of aircraft.
Operations in the area include floatplanes, helicopters and flights arriving at or departing from regional airports.
As Canada’s civil air navigation service provider, Nav Canada assesses proposed developments near airports and within navigable airspace. These reviews examine whether projects could affect aircraft safety, flight efficiency or established flight procedures.
When a possible impact is identified, the agency works with developers, Transport Canada and airport authorities to find solutions that protect aviation operations.
Nav Canada said it is common for tall-building proposals to be modified during this review process. Discussions with Holborn are expected to continue as the project’s design advances.
Public Observation Deck Planned for Hotel Tower
Before the council vote, Holborn Group president Joo Kim Tiah addressed concerns about the tower’s proposed height.
Tiah said the tallest tower was intentionally designed as a publicly accessible commercial building rather than a private residential tower containing luxury penthouses.
The building is expected to include an observation deck that will be open to the public.
According to Tiah, the observation area would allow Vancouver residents to enjoy some of the city’s best views while also creating a new attraction for tourists and visitors.
Request to Delay Approval Rejected
COPE Coun. Sean Orr introduced an alternative motion seeking to return the proposal to city staff until Vancouver completes its Higher Buildings Policy review in 2027.
The motion was unsuccessful.
Orr described the development as impressive but argued that approving it before completing the tall-building review placed the decision-making process in the wrong order.
OneCity Coun. Lucy Maloney supported Orr’s motion. She praised the project’s appearance and the work completed by Henriquez Partners Architects.
Maloney also acknowledged the benefits of additional market housing, hotel rooms and social housing. However, she ultimately opposed the development because of concerns about Holborn’s record and what she called its social licence to operate.
Little Mountain Delays Raised During Debate
Maloney referred to delays in replacing social housing demolished as part of Holborn’s Little Mountain redevelopment.
She also mentioned the January 2025 demolition of a Holborn-owned building on Dunsmuir Street that dated back to 1908.
According to Maloney, the long period between the demolition of Little Mountain’s former social housing and the construction of replacement units had caused significant concern.
She said the loss of the Dunsmuir Hotel also angered people because of its heritage value and its potential use as temporary sheltered housing.
Little Mountain News Conference Postponed
On July 23, the City of Vancouver issued a media advisory announcing an event to celebrate the completion of a new city-owned building at Little Mountain.
The news conference was scheduled for July 24 and was expected to include both Tiah and Sim.
The event was later postponed without an explanation, and no replacement date was announced.
During Monday’s hearing, Tiah responded to criticism surrounding the Little Mountain project.
He said most of the social housing had been completed before any market housing was delivered.
Tiah added that the third of five buildings had recently been completed. The city-owned building includes a daycare centre for 89 children, a neighbourhood house, a public plaza and public artwork.
He said the remaining two buildings were expected to be completed in the autumn.
Supporters Say Downtown Is Ready for Greater Height
ABC Coun. Peter Meiszner argued that other Metro Vancouver municipalities, including Burnaby, Surrey and Burquitlam, are already approving taller developments.
He questioned why the Lower Mainland’s tallest buildings were not located in downtown Vancouver.
Meiszner said downtown was the appropriate location for buildings of exceptional height, provided they were supported by exceptional architecture and design.
He described Holborn’s proposal as thoughtful and ambitious, adding that Vancouver was ready for a development of this scale.
More Than 300 People Registered to Speak
More than 300 people registered to address council during the public hearing.
The city also received over 270 written submissions, according to the public hearing agenda.
Some supporters argued that the development would help revitalise downtown Vancouver while creating housing, hotel accommodation, tourism attractions, childcare facilities and economic activity.
One nearby resident said the project would help Vancouver accommodate both new residents and visitors. Supporters also highlighted the proposed observation deck, social housing and daycare facility.
Critics Question Location of Social Housing
Many opponents argued that the social housing units should be incorporated directly into the Georgia Street development.
Some submissions referred to 273 proposed social housing units, compared with the 378 units mentioned when the project was first announced in 2025.
Critics said Gastown and the Downtown Eastside already contain a large share of Vancouver’s social and supportive housing.
Gastown resident Ala Wroblewska argued that social housing should be distributed more evenly across Vancouver neighbourhoods.
She said a balanced approach would allow residents to remain connected to different communities, employment, schools, parks, healthcare facilities and local services.
Wroblewska warned that concentrating vulnerable residents in one area could deepen marginalisation rather than promote inclusion.
Final Council Vote
Green Party Coun. Pete Fry joined Maloney and Orr in voting against the project.
Vote Vancouver Coun. Rebecca Bligh was absent.
Along with Sim, Klassen and Meiszner, ABC councillors Lisa Dominato, Lenny Zhou and Brian Montague supported the rezoning application.
The approved Holborn development represents one of the most ambitious proposals in downtown Vancouver, combining housing, hotel space, public amenities and a possible landmark tower.
Supporters believe it will strengthen the downtown economy and provide much-needed homes, while opponents remain concerned about aviation restrictions, Holborn’s development history and the decision to place the related social housing project in the Downtown Eastside.
