B.C. Place proposes condos to fund stadium renovations

The head of B.C. Place wants the City of Vancouverto amend development plans to allowthe construction ofseveral high-rise towers to fund stadium renovations.

B.C. Pavilion Corp. chair David Podmore said Vancouver's landmark air-supported domed stadium is 25-years-old and badly in need of upgrades.

On Jan.5, 2007, the B.C. Place roof collapsed after strong winds and heavy rain and snow, combined with operational errors,caused a tear in the aging Teflon fabric.

Improvements, including replacing the stadium's Teflon roof, could be paid for by allowing development on other corporation lands currently used as parking lotssurrounding the building, Podmore said on Friday.

He has asked the city to consider amending its official development plan by the end of the year to allow commercial and residential development on the prime downtown property.

Podmore hopes the city acts quickly so proceeds from any developments can fund completion of the first stadium upgrades by 2010.

B.C. Place is booked for 200 days every year and generates an economic impact of $58 million, he said.

Critics of the facility have said it is too large for Vancouver's population and should be torn down and replaced with a smaller venue elsewhere.

The stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics.