New Westminster to build its own Coal Harbour
Jim Jamieson
Province
CREDIT: Gerry Kahrmann, The Province Degelder Group president Michael Degelder unveils conception of SkyTrain development
The Royal City is putting some jewels back in its crown.
New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright announced a major redevelopment plan for the city’s Columbia Street waterfront area yesterday. The project, on 2.1 hectares along the Fraser River, will begin with the construction of three 30-plus-storey residential and retail towers — which will be integrated over and around the revamped New Westminster SkyTrain station.
Wright said the Plaza 88 development is in the ideal transportation location to take advantage of the region’s growth.
“It’s New Westminster‘s time to shine,” he said. “It’s been in the backwater for many years, but now people are coming through because of the SkyTrain station. It’s up to us to build New Westminster up so we can showcase the benefits of living here.”
Wright said the key theme of the development is reconnecting the downtown core around Columbia Street to the Fraser River, similar to what has been done at Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver and Coal Harbour in Vancouver.
“It’s an exciting river, but we’re not developing it to its potential,” he said.
“Access to the Fraser riverfront is an important asset.”
Plaza 88 will get under way this fall with the first 33-storey tower. The remaining 35- and 37-storey towers will follow in subsequent, two-year time periods. Total construction cost, including infrastructure, is about $200 million. It will include 600 condominium units. There is also a plan to build parking and greenspace over an encapsulated Front Street truck route and railway tracks.
Michael Degelder, president of Degelder Group — co-developer with Charter Pacific Developments — said the project is compelling because of the challenge of integrating with the SkyTrain station and melding it with river access.
“We want to do something like Lonsdale Quay or Coal Harbour,” he said. “They all have the same ambiance.”
The whole project is expected to take about 10 years to complete.
New Westminster, the first capital of B.C. in 1859, has had its challenges in recent decades. The retail strip on Columbia Street was once known as the Miracle Mile, but currently has a tattered look. As well, the Westminster Quay Public Market has been struggling. Aggravating the situation has been a serious drug-trafficking problem in the area around the SkyTrain station, although police have curbed it in recent years.
Wright said he believes the new construction will help eliminate that problem as well as revive the area’s economy.
“We’re policing it constantly, but no matter how much effort we put in to it, because of the laws of Canada, it’s difficult,” he said. “What we can do is change the SkyTrain station environment. Once we start building and have all the activities taking place, the eyes and the feet on the street will change it.”
New Westminster is clearly in the process of major redevelopment, with about 1,000 new housing units under construction and another 1,800 in the approval process.
Doug Syms, president of the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Association, said the project will mean more residents downtown, which will boost retailers.
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“There’s just no more room downtown and New Westminster has become the new urban area that’s still affordable,” he said.
ROYAL CITY PROJECTS
New Westminster has hit the radar screen of developers in a big way. There are $1 billion in current development under way. Here are some major projects in the Royal City:
– The Copperstone: 231-unit condominium near the Royal Columbian Hospital at Sherbrooke and East Columbia.
– Larco Investments Ltd. will build $285-million residential project with five towers ranging from 25 to 30 storeys on the waterfront between Sixth and Eighth streets.
– Onni Group of Companies will construct the Victoria Hills development, a community of 1,400 homes and the 26-hectare former Woodlands property, beginning at Columbia Street and McBride Boulevard.
– The Bosa Development Corp. will develop the property formerly occupied by St. Mary’s Hospital on Royal Avenue into a residential complex, including two 32-storey townhouse towers and a four-storey apartment.
© The Vancouver Province 2005