In fall 2021, Chard, along with MCMP Architects, submitted a development proposal to restore and develop the historic Hartney Chambers Building in Vancouver’s Victory Square District. We are pleased to share that last week our proposal received unanimous support from both the City of Vancouver Heritage Advisory Commission and City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel.
Located at the corner of West Pender and Homer streets, this proposed development will see the revitalization of the current three-storey Hartney Chambers Building, along with the construction of an office building along Pender Street that extends 2 storeys above the existing Hartney Chambers Building.
Completed in 1909, the Hartney Chambers is an Edwardian-era heritage building built of red brick and rare Oamaru stone quarried in New Zealand. The commercial building originally housed office space for the building’s architect, general contractor and various real estate and accounting firms and provided commercial space along the ground floors. During the First World War, the upper storeys were converted into apartments and in the mid 1990s, apartments were transitioned into a hostel. In the years that followed, the building fell into disrepair and while shops still occupy some the of aged spaces at the ground level, the unoccupied upper floors are not fit to see new tenants in their current state. Chard purchased the site approximately two years ago with the intention to revitalize the property.
The revitalization of the building will focus on repairing, preserving and restoring character-defining elements on both the Homer Street and Pender Street facades. Restored commercial spaces at grade will promote business in the community, contribute to a diversity of uses and create an attractive and animated streetscape. The corner space is designed to accommodate a restaurant, with smaller boutiques along Pender Street.
This commercial mixed-use building will also add a proposed 34,000 square feet of strata office space to the eastern edge of Downtown Vancouver and will include a large rooftop terrace with mountain, city and ocean views to be enjoyed by office occupants. With support from the advisory committees, this proposal will now proceed to Development Permit Design Board in April. To keep up to date on this project or to learn more about it, click here.
