One of Vancouver's artsiest and most sustainable hotels is slated to be demolished and will be replaced with a new mixed hotel and apartment tower
Bosa Properties and Henriquez Partners Architects are partnering with Listel Hospitality Group to redevelop the brand's downtown Vancouver hotel at 1300 Robson St.
The hotel, which opened in 1992, will close on November 20, 2024, and knocked down shortly thereafter.
The Listel's closure also means the end of its two on-site restaurants, the award-winning Forage, which has been in operation since 2012, as well as the casual pub-style Jervis Joint.
In a letter to its "esteemed guests, longstanding friends, loyal patrons, and valued partners" posted to social media Tuesday (Jan. 23), The Listel Hotel announced the closures, with "bittersweet emotions and a profound sense of gratitude."
"Over the last few decades, your presence has made this more than a hotel – it’s been a home filled with cherished memories for countless guests," describes the announcement.
New building designed to address 'urban renewal'
Listel and Bosa have submitted plans for its replacement, a 28-storey tower with a hotel on the lower floors and rental units on top. In total, 174 hotel rooms are included in the proposal, with 126 residences. The breakdown of apartment sizes has not been released.
While the proposal still has to be approved by the City of Vancouver, construction of the building is expected to begin in September 2025 with an opening date in 2028.
The proponents say the project will "deliver urban renewal, and address the growing need for both hotel accommodations and purpose-built rental homes in Vancouver."
According to BC Assessment, the structure was built in 1986, and while the total value of the site is $86.2 million, the building is only worth $477,000.
While the redeveloped tower will include a hotel run by the Listel group, it hasn't been announced whether the new hotel will continue the current Listel's focus on art. At the same time, while the current hotel is fourth on Expedia's list of sustainable hotels worldwide, it's unclear if the new structure will retain that.
With additional reporting by Lindsay William-Ross
