Seven-tower Coquitlam College project shapes up but holdout lots still holding

The towers are a tiny bit taller, childcare is now included, and the office space has vanished.

Those were some of the most substantial tweaks to the pending seven-tower, 2,500-unit development at the 7.2-acre former Coquitlam College site on Brookmere Avenue near the Vancouver Golf Club.

The loss of 56,000 square feet of office space caused concern with Coun. Brent Asmundson, who suggested the downturn in office space would be short-lived as companies grow disenchanted with Zoom.

“I do think office space is important. You’re seeing a lot of employers are demanding employees come back to the office,” he said, adding that a 14-storey office building on Glen Drive sold out.

Coun. Matt Djonlic also expressed concerns about the void of office space, suggesting the site feature vibrant retail on the ground floor and office space above.

“We need the office space,” he reiterated.

Djonlic also urged city staff and Onni development group to work with non-profit organizations on a plan to include affordable housing on the site.

“There’s a real opportunity here to get a decent chunk of non-market housing,” he said.

A previous iteration of the proposal included 600 purpose-built rentals and between 80 and 100 below-market rentals.

On hold

The project has been challenged as the owners of three lots on Brookmere have not sold to Onni.

The holdout lots “continue to be a challenge for us,” an Onni representative confirmed Monday.

City policy is to ensure any leftover lots can still be developed.

If the homeowners neglect to sell to Onni, the rezoning of the eastern portion of the site may need to be deferred, according to city staff.

Those towers now range from 30 to 51 storeys, rather than 28 to 50 storeys.

The project now includes a daycare centre with room for 74 children, as well as a 40-student preschool.

A dog park is also set to be included.

Onni bought the site from Coquitlam College in 2021.

The project is tentatively set to return to Coquitlam council for first reading in early 2025.