It looks like Vancouver's first "green" building will survive the wrecking ball.

And the man who designed the Evergreen building, world-famous architect Arthur Erickson, says he's relieved the old girl is still standing.

"I'm very thrilled with the outcome," a beaming Erickson said yesterday after Vancouver City Council ordered a public hearing on the fate of the property.

"It's a unique building."

The property at 1285 West Pender, which Erickson designed in 1980 for developer John Laxton, was slated to be replaced by a high-rise tower last year.

Since then, the city has been negotiating with Laxton to save the building, which has eyecatching terraces and a rooftop garden.

Laxton wants about 150,000 square feet of density to transfer to another development if the building is to be saved.

"Our preference is the building be saved," Laxton told council. He said the high-rise plan is no longer attractive because the cost of building it has risen by as much as 25 per cent.

"Construction costs at the moment are in an impossible situation," he said.

Laxton wants to preserve the Evergreen as is, but only if he gets enough extra density. Otherwise, he says, he may still tear it down and put up a tower.

Larry Beasley, the city's director of current planning, said the Evergreen is only 25 years old but has unique heritage value.

"It's hoped we will find a way of saving this very important building by Canada's greatest architect," Beasley said.

Susan Boissoneault of Heritage Vancouver said the Evergreen is one of 10 city landmarks at risk.

"We really don't want this building to be a casualty of the development boom in Vancouver," she said. "This building is far too important to let it go, even though it's only 25 years old. It's part of our future heritage."

The public hearing will be held April 18 at city hall.

© The Vancouver Province 2006