Vancouver city planners are advancing a major redevelopment of the former Molson Brewery site at 1550 Burrard St., near the Burrard Bridge, after Concord Pacific purchased the property for $185 million in 2016. The city has applied to Metro Vancouver to redesignate the 2½-block area from industrial to general urban use, a move that could unlock a mixed-use development with homes, offices, light industrial space, hotels, cultural venues, restaurants, child care, grocery stores, public parks, and plazas.
Long Road to Redevelopment
Former councillor Raymond Louie noted in 2016 that the site was zoned industrial, and changing that would be a lengthy process. A decade later, the city is nearing a critical juncture, with Metro Vancouver's board expected to consider initial approval in the coming month. If granted, public consultation would occur over the summer, with a final decision possible by September 2026.
Concord Pacific's senior vice-president, Matt Meehan, emphasized that the redevelopment would support more jobs than the brewery, which employed about 250 workers before Molson relocated to Chilliwack in 2019. “Our focus is on a base of technology and science job space mixed with residential and retail services,” Meehan said.
Ambitious Scale and Context
Leaked illustrations from 2020 showed condo towers up to 25 storeys, but current plans are likely taller, given the context of the neighbouring Sen̓áḵw development by the Squamish Nation. The first three towers of Sen̓áḵw broke ground in 2022, with residents already moved in. Eight more towers are planned, the tallest reaching 52 storeys. Sen̓áḵw is expected to house up to 9,000 residents in over 6,000 rental homes, with limited retail and community amenities.
The redevelopment of the Molson site presents a “unique opportunity” to complement Sen̓áḵw with additional amenities and jobs, according to a city planning report. A transit hub on the Burrard Bridge, slated for completion next year, will improve pedestrian and bike access.
Industrial Land Preservation vs. Urban Growth
Metro Vancouver's redesignation process aims to preserve scarce industrial land, but city planners argue the site's central location warrants mixed-use development. Concord has explored various ideas, with a strong emphasis on technology and science job spaces.
While Concord has not released updated renderings, the project is expected to be significantly taller than earlier proposals, reflecting the scale of nearby developments. The city's application to Metro marks a pivotal step in transforming this former industrial site into a vibrant urban hub.
