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After two pre-application open houses on November 9 and January 19, Regency Developments has submitted an application to rezone the Holyrood Gardens site, which the City received on March 7. The linear strip of land located at 8310 and 8311 93rd Avenue NW would be completely transformed from the existing assemblage of approximately 160 two-storey townhouse units into a mixed-use community to be served by the proposed Valley Line LRT Holyrood Stop.
The seven-building development would see most structures rising between four and eight storeys, translating to a minimum height of 12 metres and a maximum of 22 metres. However, buildings fronting intersections would be afforded additional height. The northeast and southeast corners of 93 Avenue and 85 Street will be allotted a maximum height of 52 metres, where two towers of 14 storeys are slated to lie opposite one another. The traffic circle at 90 Avenue and 85 Street would see the highest structure on the site, climbing to a 70-metre apex, equaling approximately 20 storeys.
A DC2 (Site Specific Development Control Provision) allows for the adoption of special development-specific regulations, yielding a high degree of control over the site's height, massing, and design. All buildings greater than 30 metres in height will take on a podium plus tower typology, with a minimum podium height of six metres. "Street-oriented" units bordering the service lane and 85 Street NW beyond will be accompanied by small-format commercial retail at 93 Avenue. Most of the development's on-site parking would be delegated underground.
The development would contain up to 1,200 residential units and leave the existing mid-rise apartment buildings to the north untouched. The proposed iteration is a tweaked version of 'Option A' presented to the public at the open house in January. It centralizes most of the open spaces into pockets, framed by the buildings, at the eastern edge of the site. Proposed recreational spaces include a children's play area, art and wellness area, a garden, and an amphitheatre. A jogging trail and bike path would provide circulation throughout the property.
The City notes that more opportunities to provide public input will occur before the application heads to a public hearing for approval. Additional information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
