OneCity proposes turning Kingsgate Mall into a school, rental housing, and community centre
OneCity Vancouver says it would push to redevelop the 3.2-acre Kingsgate Mall site at East Broadway and Kingsway into a mixed-use complex if its candidates win seats on October 17.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on dailyhive.com.
OneCity says it would push to redevelop Kingsgate Mall into a school, rental housing, a community centre, and potentially a 50-metre swimming pool if its candidates win seats on October 17. Daily Hive reported on the proposal on October 10, 2026.
The mall sits on a 3.2-acre site at the corner of East Broadway and Kingsway, owned by the Vancouver School Board. The party is proposing a mixed-use complex that would include a public school, affordable and subsidized secured purpose-built rental housing for School Board employees, a community centre, general public childcare, Indigenous childcare, and before-and-after-school care. The proposed school would include what the party calls "a vertical flex space."
OneCity also says it would examine whether a new 50-metre pool for Mount Pleasant could be placed on the Kingsgate Mall site. The party identifies Mount Pleasant as one of three locations that should be explored for a 50-metre pool, following plans to demolish the West End's Vancouver Aquatic Centre and replace it with a new 25-metre facility.
The lease and rent dispute
The land is owned by the School Board but has been leased to developer Beedie for 99 years. The lease began in 1972 under an earlier entity and was taken over by Beedie in 2005. In March 2026, the BC Court of Appeal ruled in Beedie's favour in a rent dispute with the School Board, setting annual basic rent at $1.65 million for the 2017 to 2027 lease term. A 2022 arbitration had set the rent at $9.6 million and valued the land at $116.5 million, but the appeal court held that an earlier interpretation of the lease remained binding, keeping the land value at $20 million for rent purposes.
OneCity says redevelopment could provide the School Board with a larger source of annual operating revenue through rent and payments for rights to use portions of the property or build above it.
Also: a Britannia rebuild
The same plan also proposes rebuilding the entire 18-acre Britannia civic site in East Vancouver's Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood. OneCity calls this "One Britannia" and says it would bring Britannia's elementary and secondary schools together with a new community centre, ice rink, other recreational spaces, non-market housing, childcare, and food programs.
OneCity does not have a mayoral candidate in this election. William Azaroff withdrew from the race and endorsed Green Party of Vancouver candidate Pete Fry. The party is running candidates for City Council, Park Board, and School Board.
What this means for voters
City Council, Park Board, and School Board are all chosen in the same ballot on October 17. All three bodies would need to work together for a Kingsgate Mall redevelopment to proceed. You can see each candidate's position and party platform at voche.me, and find your voting place at the where-to-vote page.
Questions this story answers
What is OneCity proposing for Kingsgate Mall?
Daily Hive reported on October 10, 2026 that OneCity Vancouver published a plan to redevelop the 3.2-acre Kingsgate Mall property at the corner of East Broadway and Kingsway. The party says the site could hold a new public school, affordable and subsidized secured purpose-built rental housing for Vancouver School Board employees, a community centre, general public childcare, Indigenous childcare, before-and-after-school care, and potentially a 50-metre swimming pool. The party also describes a possible aquatic centre at the site.
Who owns Kingsgate Mall?
The Vancouver School Board owns the land. Developer Beedie holds a 99-year lease over the site, which began in 1972 under an earlier entity and passed to Beedie in 2005. In March 2026, the BC Court of Appeal ruled in Beedie's favour in a rent dispute with the School Board, setting the annual basic rent at $1.65 million for the 2017-2027 lease term instead of the $9.6 million that a 2022 arbitration had set.
Why does OneCity want to redevelop this site?
The party says the Kingsgate Mall site's location near frequent bus routes and the future Mount Pleasant SkyTrain station, combined with the City's Broadway Plan designation of the site as 'Large and Unique,' makes it well placed for a wider range of uses. The party also says redevelopment could give the School Board a new source of annual operating revenue through rent and rights to use portions of the property.
What is the 50-metre pool connection?
OneCity identifies Mount Pleasant as one of three locations that should be explored for a new 50-metre pool. The Vancouver Aquatic Centre in the West End is planned for demolition and replacement with a new facility that would have a 25-metre pool. The party is promising to examine whether a long-discussed pool for Mount Pleasant could be placed on the Kingsgate Mall site.
Does OneCity have a mayoral candidate?
OneCity does not have a mayoral candidate in the 2026 civic election. William Azaroff, who had been the party's mayoral candidate, withdrew from the race and endorsed Green Party of Vancouver candidate Pete Fry. OneCity is still running candidates for City Council, Park Board, and School Board.
What is the Britannia proposal?
In the same plan, OneCity also proposes rebuilding the entire 18-acre Britannia civic site in East Vancouver's Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood. That would bring Britannia's elementary and secondary schools together with a new community centre, ice rink, and other recreational spaces, including a potential aquatic centre. The party calls this the 'One Britannia' project.
What needs to happen for this proposal to move forward?
OneCity's candidates would need to win seats on City Council, the Park Board, and the Vancouver School Board on October 17 to be able to push for this proposal. Any redevelopment of the Kingsgate Mall site would also require the School Board and Beedie to reach agreement on the lease, and would need approvals from the City.
Where can I find information on voting for the School Board and Park Board?
Vancouver voters elect City Council, Park Board, and School Board members on October 17, 2026. All three elected bodies are chosen in the same ballot. You can see the full list of candidates and each party's positions at voche.me, and find your voting place at the where-to-vote page.
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