Resolution – Road Closure 181 West Georgia Street
Motion 27 · Council Meeting, October 31, 2023
Summary
- Council considered closing a small portion of dedicated road (approximately 98.3 square metres) at the corner of Beatty Street and West Georgia Street, adjacent to 181 West Georgia Street, and consolidating it with the City-owned Block 48 (688 Cambie Street).
- The road closure is a necessary condition for the Vancouver Art Gallery Association's (VAGA) development application to construct a new nine-storey art gallery building on the southern two-thirds of Block 48, under a 99-year ground lease negotiated with the City since 2013.
- Engineering Services determined the road portion is no longer needed for road purposes; it was originally dedicated in 1954 in anticipation of a downtown freeway system that was ultimately cancelled after the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts were built in 1972.
- A portion of the corner will remain as dedicated road to accommodate future intersection upgrades and existing Telus infrastructure that cannot be relocated.
- The road portion will be transferred into the City's Property Endowment Fund and consolidated with Block 48 at no cost to the City; the Vancouver Art Gallery Association will pay a Road Closure Fee of $12,240 and cover all survey, administration, and Land Title Office costs.
- Conditions include registration of a temporary Statutory Right of Way for public access and utilities until infrastructure is resolved, as well as written consent from Telus confirming their infrastructure is unaffected by the closure.