• Vancouver will likely lose more gas stations as land values soar and high-density zoning along major corridors in the city encourages more fuel companies to cash out, says a commercial real estate expert.

    “Gas stations are typically located in prime areas on corners of major crossroads, and just the opportunity costs of capital that’s built within those sites, and how it’s been growing over the years — it makes sense to me,” said Curtis Scott, manager of market intelligence for Western Canada with Colliers International.

    “I think it is a trend, for sure. But I think it depends on the organization that is managing the gas station,” he said. “From a real estate standpoint, you’re unlocking a lot of capital. It’s a unique opportunity.”

    Earlier this month, Chevron Canada confirmed it would be selling and closing five more gas stations in the City of Vancouver.

    Those stations are located at Cambie and West 16th; Oak and West 41st; Broadway and Alma; Cambie and West 59th; West Fourth and MacDonald, as reported by the CBC and confirmed to Postmedia by Chevron Canada spokesman Adrien Byrne.

    “Of those five stations, two have ceased operations, and the deals have completed,” he said in an interview.

    “The other three are under offer, but we anticipate that offer to continue, and then we’ll be ceasing operations … over the next four to six weeks,” he said. “That’s what we anticipate.”

    These sales follow Chevron’s previous divestment of its downtown station at 1698 West Georgia Street, which has since closed after being purchased by Anthem Properties. B.C. Assessment valued that plot at $32.8 million, but media reports have said the deal was worth $72 million.

    Byrne said Chevron will still operate 17 retail stations in the City of Vancouver following this round of closures. “We still have the largest market share in the city of any fuel provider,” he said.

    He said skyrocketing land values in Vancouver make selling the land far more lucrative than selling fuel at those stations.

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