The new elementary school announced for Vancouver's Olympic Village last year is one step closer to becoming a reality. The City of Vancouver has now published a rezoning application, initiating the formal approval process.
The subject site of the new elementary school is 215 W 1st Avenue, a square parcel within Hinge Park, along Columbia Street, steps away from False Creek.
The property is currently vacant, owned by the City of Vancouver, leased to the Vancouver School Board (VSB) for 99 years, and BC Assessment values the property at $12,205,000.
According to the rezoning application, the 215 W 1st Avenue site was set aside through the Southeast False Creek Official Development Plan (SEFC ODP) for the purpose of constructing a new school. The property was rezoned to CD-1 (Comprehensive Development) back in April 2007, but the VSB has now submitted a rezoning application to amend the zone and allow for increased height. The existing zoning allows for institutional use, such as a school, and there is no proposed change to its use.
The 215 West 1st Avenue site within the Southeast False Creek Official Development Plan (SEFC ODP). / McFarland Marceau Architects, Vancouver School Board
Proposed for the site is a four-storey elementary school with 64,583 sq. ft of space, including classrooms, gymnasiums, and community facilities. The rooftop is also expected to be "activated" with a covered play and learning area, as well as mechanical equipment. The building has a maximum height of 62 ft (18.8 m) and a proposed density of 3.0 FSR.
"The text amendment to the existing Olympic Village By-law is sought to increase the height of the proposed new elementary school, so that it can accommodate a school population of 630 students, which is considered necessary to serve this area of the City given current enrolment pressures," said the Vancouver School Board in its application. "Given the restricted dimensions of the site area set aside for the school, the new school will require four stories resulting in a height of 18.8 meters to the top of the roof slab above the uppermost habitable floor, which is 5.3 meters greater than the 13.5 meters stipulated by the existing By-law."
"Since the approval of the SEFC ODP in 2006 and of the Olympic Village By-law in 2007, large sections of the SEFC area have been developed with a greater density than that anticipated in the early 2000s, mainly through increased building heights in areas 1B, 2B, and 2C. The higher population density, along with the continued emphasis of creating a family-oriented neighbourhood, has created a demand for a larger school than anticipated by the SEFC ODP."
According to the rezoning application, the new elementary school would have a staff capacity of 62 people, provide six vehicle parking spaces (not including pick-up and drop-off spots), 42 bicycle parking spaces, and end-of-trip facilities.
An overview (left) and rendering (right) of the new elementary school planned for Olympic Village. / McFarland Marceau Architects, Vancouver School Board
The requirement for a school in Olympic Village was recognized as early as 2005, but did not really advance until March 2023, when the Ministry of Education and Child Care approved a concept plan for the new school and directed the Vancouver School Board to conduct feasibility assessments. In April 2024, the Province then approved $150 million towards the project.
According to the Vancouver School Board, increasing enrolment demand was anticipated when the SEFC ODP was created and schools in the area now include Simon Fraser Elementary, False Creek Elementary, Edith Cavell Elementary, General Wolfe Elementary, David Livingstone Elementary, Mount Pleasant Elementary, and Crosstown šxʷwəq̓ ʷəθət Elementary.
As one example, the VSB notes that Simon Fraser Elementary, built in 1958, has a capacity of 182 students but had 342 students enrolled in the 2023-2024 school year, which translates to a 188% operating capacity.
"The commitment by the Provincial Government to build an elementary school in Olympic Village provides a pathway to a long-term resolution to much of the enrolment challenges in this area of the city," said the Vancouver School Board in its application. On its website, the VSB says that if approvals are secured in 2025-2026, construction could begin in 2027 and the school could open by 2030.
The City of Vancouver has scheduled the Q&A period for the rezoning application for Wednesday, July 16 to Tuesday, July 29.
