Telus announced Wednesday the official groundbreaking of a new Telus Living development in Vancouver’s Point Grey neighbourhood, which will see a former telephone exchange transformed into a mixed-use building with 55 rental units and four retail spaces, helping to provide much-needed housing in the community.
Telus Living is Telus’s initiative to transform existing real estate holdings, such as telephone central offices, into purpose-built rentals that bridge the housing gap with smart, sustainable and community-focused development. Telus’s copper-to-fibre network migration is helping to unlock opportunities to redevelop these properties that once housed copper-based equipment and served as the backbone of British Columbia’s phone system, Telus said in a press release.
The Vancouver-Point Grey development joins two other Telus Living buildings under construction in Nanaimo and Sechelt, which Telus said will collectively deliver 254 rental homes in early 2026. In addition, a further 18 properties are proposed to add more than 3,000 homes across British Columbia over the next six years, with plans to expand the program to Alberta and Quebec, Telus said.
“We’re honoured to break ground on this transformative project as the Vancouver Point Grey community office redevelopment showcases what’s possible when all levels of government work together with the private sector to address housing needs,” said Manasweeta Bhatia, vice president of real estate and business continuity at Telus, in the press release. “By repurposing our real estate assets right here in Vancouver, we’re making a meaningful difference in the community by turning technological progress into homes where families and individuals can thrive.”
Telus’s development partner on the Vancouver-Point Grey building project is LPI Management Ltd. Located at 2608 Tolmie Street, the building is close to the University of British Columbia’s main campus and will offer a diverse mix of units, including studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, to accommodate students, young professionals, families and downsizers, Telus said.
The six-storey building will feature smart home technology powered by Telus’s PureFibre network, co-working and study areas, indoor and outdoor social lounges, bike storage with end-of-trip facilities, parcel lockers and pet-friendly features, Telus said. Other project highlights include: climate-conscious development promoting high energy efficiency to minimize environmental impact; and sustainable transportation based on proximity to transit and bike routes with one level of underground parking and robust cycling infrastructure.
Image of artist rendering courtesy of Telus
