[New Westminster] Westminster Pier | Civic | Phase 1 Completed

[Spork]

The City of New Westminster purchased the Westminster pier in 2009 for $8 million, with the objective of turning the property into a park.

Present Day:



Source: DennisSylvesterHurd

Waterfront deal complete

Having completed the purchase of the Westminster Pier site on the waterfront, the City of New Westminster will explore into possible uses for the 9.5-acre site.

While it’s been suggested the site will become part of a linear parkway stretching along the city’s waterfront, the city has said a public consultation process will occur regarding development of the property. What’s your vision for the site?

There seems to be no shortage of ideas about potential uses for the city.

Mayor Wayne Wright said the city has already had discussions with a company planning to bring cruise ships to the region to provide additional accommodations for people heading to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

In addition to the idea of bringing a cruise ship to town to host Olympic visitors, the city may also consider the feasibility of having smaller pocket cruise ships dock on the city’s waterfront in the future. Improved dock facilities could also mean a return of ships from the Canadian navy, which visited the city in past years during the Hyack Festival but has expressed concern about the deteriorating facilities.

“We know we want a park. That is the first thing. In the park we want certain things,” Wright told me recently. “Are there things we can do to add to its sustainability?”

Wright believes that allowing a cruise ship to dock in New Westminster during the Olympics would provide the city with a legacy of building dock facilities that would benefit the city in future years.

Wright’s foray into political life was in part inspired by his unsuccessful attempt to convince the city to bring the tall ships to town. If the city gets the infrastructure needed for cruise ships to dock on the waterfront, could the tall ships be far behind?

“You might see a tall ship,” he said Monday when discusssing the property purchase.

City council unanimously supported a motion to borrow $10.5 million from the Municipal Financing Authority to purchase the site for $8 million and to remediate the contaminated site. Many called it a historic move that will allow the public to reclaim access to the waterfront.

Coun. Jonathan Cote believes the site will become an incredible park for the city and the region in the years to come.

Coun. Jaimie McEvoy envisions the site as being a place where festivals and concerts can take place.

“I am looking forward to slipping my kayak in the water right here on the Fraser River in New Westminster,” he said.

McEvoy has fond memories of fishing on the Fraser River with his father and uncle as a child. On one occasion, he had to fish his brother out of the river.

“The fish dragged him into the river,” he said. “We had to go in and drag him out.”

Coun. Bob Osterman, who also fished on the Mighty Fraser as a child, imagines the day when the city’s Canada Day celebrations are held on the waterfront. Fireworks over the Fraser would be the perfect end to the city’s Canada Day celebrations.

Coun. Lorrie Williams can’t wait for the day when residents can have picnics and walks by the river, or sit and watch the river go by.

Wright said an artisan community and a beach volleyball court have already been suggested as possible uses on the riverfront site. He said the land acquisition is good news for the Fraser River Discovery Centre, River Market at Westminster Quay and future buildings in the downtown.

“This is an impetus for them,” he said. “There is no reason for them not to take advantage of it.”

Wright said the opportunity to buy the land exists now and it's up to council to grasp it. He thanked staff and council for their efforts.

“We could have wavered a few times,” he said. “Nobody did.”

Source: http://communities.canada.com/vannet/blo...2009/03/04/waterfront-deal-complete.aspx

A concept design has now been released with a plan for the park.

Concept: http://www.newwestcity.ca/database/rte/Westminster%20Pier%20Concept%20Design%281%29.pdf

The plan includes:

• A plaza at the base of 6th street
• A waterfront restaurant and patio
• A water playground for children
• Marine habitat
• Day moorage marina
• Riverfront walkway/bikeway, including a timber boardwalk (presumably to extend the New Westminster boardwalk)
• Large lawn for an assortment of activities that require grass
• Mid-set pedestrian plaza bordered by paths and grass
• Outdoor events area
• Treed buffer along about half of Front street/railway tracks bordering the site
• Sport courts
• Sporting activity lawn

[tybuilding]

Originally Posted by Spork

[*]Sporting activity lawn[/LIST]

Looks good! One may end up loosing thier sports equipment in the river with an errant kick or throw throw.

[Distill3d]

What is happening with the New Westminster Quay? It would be awesome to see any development with that tied into this project.

[geoff's two cents]

I generally like it but, in my opinion, revitalization of the waterfront and its connection to downtown will not be complete until the rail and roadway adjacent to the site is encapsulated - something city leaders have been discussing for a long time now. I imagine we'll see a more "concrete" solution to this problem when serious proposals and renderings for the NFPR are put forward, and provincial and federal money is available. In the meantime, I hope the waterfront park is planned with extensive future changes in mind.

[cornholio]

not happy about this at all. as most should know there were 5 towers planed with 911 units, a 30m wide promenade and a park at the base of sixth street. this was zoned in the early 90's and owed by Larco, it was rezoned again a few years ago but no construction ever started. this would have created a more usable open space with eyes and more importnatly added life to new westminster, columbia street and the waterfront.

With this proposed park they will get a surely a substandard park(as the city has no funds) that will be almost cut off from the city, there will be no conection of the city and the water and no use made of the prime waterfront land and views as the old buildings along columbia street make no use of the waterfront. more importantly this park will be hard to police and likely fill up with the local homeless of which there are tons.

what the city should have done was wait for the north fraser perimeter road to be finished and wait for a new developer to come in and make a plan that can be feasible. they should have been more proactive with any developer and more flexible. for example the parkade which needs to be rebuilt could have been rebuilt and used partially for parking for any development, this alone would have made a huge difference one of the likely problems was incorporating parking and road access. they cant build parking bellow and there is limited space to build parking above ground in any development as the lot is narrow and still needs proper road access.

once they go this route and build a park there will be no turning back and the city will miss a huge opportunity to improve their downtown.

they just need to be a bit flexible and creative, they have the parkade and the land, they can make a development work and help craete a true waterfront park/promenade that is trully conected to the city.

[SpongeG]

i guess the cruise ship for the olympics idea never happenned - how old is that article?

a park dwn there is better than what it is access needs to be changed a lot though the trains can really divide the area

[Millennium2002]

I think they need to widen the pier and develop a park and some buildings on top. Maybe tear down the parkades, build new ones into the buildings, and have the ramp to the parkade go over the railroad tracks. =S

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

I think they need to widen the pier and develop a park and some buildings on top. Maybe tear down the parkades, build new ones into the buildings, and have the ramp to the parkade go over the railroad tracks. =S

Agreed! Along with the railroad being there, that parkade is preventing New Westminster from using its waterfront properly.

[officedweller]

Originally Posted by cornholio

not happy about this at all. as most should know there were 5 towers planed with 911 units, a 30m wide promenade and a park at the base of sixth street. this was zoned in the early 90's and owed by Larco, it was rezoned again a few years ago but no construction ever started. this would have created a more usable open space with eyes and more importnatly added life to new westminster, columbia street and the waterfront.

The Larco project is west of the Westminster Pier lands.
This park actually nixes 8 towers (up to 200ft each).

http://www.canada.com/newwestrecord/news/story.html?id=84004afc-6de9-4a44-845d-0ff7e53a4b0e

2009 Global Air Photo:


http://www.globalairphotos.com/images/bc/new_westminster/2009/nwh2009_344.jpg

[Windex]

Think of the beautiful views of Surrey's portlands you'll get from this new park!

I think that if New West wants to develop its waterfront, moreso than Front Street or the rail line, they'd need to do something about that parkade. It's a huge barrier between the city and the river. If they do end up building the park, it would be nice to have a water taxi dock there, although I'm not quite sure where else it would go.

[Zassk]

Does that parkade actually get much use, since the SkyTrain era began? It always looks empty... like a huge piece of failed infrastructure.

It has always been a blight. Tear it down!

[Windex]

Originally Posted by Zassk

Does that parkade actually get much use, since the SkyTrain era began? It always looks empty... like a huge piece of failed infrastructure.

It has always been a blight. Tear it down!

Just from personal observation, it could easily be half the size it currently is with no problem. Probably even less.

[red-paladin]

One day we'll have a 6.0 earthquake and the only damage that will happen is that parkade will go down like popups in a children's book.

[SpongeG]

the water taxi could go to annacis island - all those houses are so close yet so cut off from the quayside

[officedweller]

That's Queensborough...

[Distill3d]

Originally Posted by Zassk

Does that parkade actually get much use, since the SkyTrain era began? It always looks empty... like a huge piece of failed infrastructure.

It has always been a blight. Tear it down!

I dunno about that one, seems to offer a great vantage point for snapping pictures of the bridges.

[Whalleyboy]

Originally Posted by Windex

Think of the beautiful views of Surrey's portlands you'll get from this new park!

I think that if New West wants to develop its waterfront, moreso than Front Street or the rail line, they'd need to do something about that parkade. It's a huge barrier between the city and the river. If they do end up building the park, it would be nice to have a water taxi dock there, although I'm not quite sure where else it would go.

Queensborough
Barnston Island
Surrey bend(once its been redone)
Fort Langley
Maple ridge
If Surrey ever does get the connection between the two parks and builds the board walk like they want then there would be nice connection

sure its long distance to get to some but would be cool to go along the fraser

[Spork]

A water taxi to Queensborough would be a great idea. They were looking at (bizarre) plans to build a pedestrian bridge over, so this would be a nice (inexpensive) alternative. The only question is, how much more will the island need to be developed to draw that sort of traffic? The end of it right now is still undeveloped (although looks like it is having something built on it?).

[SpongeG]

its not too far a stroll to queensborough - people families could nike to it on a nice day if they could get to that side easily

[Windex]

Originally Posted by Whalleyboy

Queensborough
Barnston Island
Surrey bend(once its been redone)
Fort Langley
Maple ridge
If Surrey ever does get the connection between the two parks and builds the board walk like they want then there would be nice connection

sure its long distance to get to some but would be cool to go along the fraser

I was actually thinking of Queensborough when I mentioned the water taxi, however it seems rather underdeveloped to warrant it. The other places seem a little bit far for what I was thinking, but a ride along the Fraser would be interesting. Too bad Fort Langley isn't closer, it seems like the perfect destination.