Vancouver's First Mass Timber Hotel Proposed Near Granville Island

The City of Vancouver has received a request to change zoning rules for a new hotel planned at 1580 West 3rd Avenue, just a short walk from Granville Island. If approved, it would be Vancouver’s first hotel built mainly with mass timber—the engineered wood that’s strong and light. It would also be the tallest such hotel in North America, standing 18 storeys tall and about 175 feet high.

The site stands between a car dealership and a car service shop on a narrow parcel that was once part of a CP Rail yard and later became a parking lot. The land had two lots that are now joined, and it is known to be contaminated from its rail past. As of July 1, 2024, its assessed value was about \$4.35 million and it is owned under ICX Holdings Ltd., with architect Arno Matis identified as the beneficial owner via the transparency registry.

The proposal lays out 160 guest rooms: 144 standard king suites, eight double-king suites, and eight accessible king suites. On the ground floor there would be a lounge, and on the roof guests would find a fitness centre and a business centre. A four‑level underground parking garage would have 28 vehicle spaces and 36 spots for bicycles, with valet service included.

Under the city’s Mass Timber Policy and Broadway Plan, buildings using mass timber can go two storeys higher than normally allowed. That policy rewards greener construction by allowing taller buildings in exchange for lower carbon impact. The developers expect that building in mass timber could cut embodied emissions by 25 to 45 percent compared to traditional methods. Some parts of the hotel are also designed for off‑site prefabrication, which may speed up construction.

Wyndham Hotel & Resorts has indicated interest in managing the hotel under its WaterWalk Extended Stay brand. The rezoning application even included a letter of interest from Wyndham. The plan has also drawn letters of support from the British Columbia Hotel Association and Destination Vancouver, signaling backing from both tourism and hotel industry groups.

The public will get an opportunity to ask questions about the project between June 25 and July 8, 2025. If approved, the new hotel would rise above the existing low‑rise buildings in the area—most nearby buildings are under five storeys—and may set a trend for taller, sustainable hospitality developments near Granville Island. It could also help meet the growing demand for more hotel rooms in Vancouver’s popular Granville Island area.