[New West] Columbia Square Redevelopment

[madog222]

This project seems to be moving along at a steady pace, as good a time as ever to start the thread.

Feedback on this master planning stage is open 20 June to July 4th. There is an open house 19 June.

An application for Rezoning has been received for the creation of a Master Plan for the site at 88 Tenth Street (Columbia Square Plaza Shopping Centre). This master plan would facilitate a multi-phased development of a high-density, complete, mixed use, and transit-oriented community, which is intended to include a variety of housing opportunities, office and retail uses, and community and public spaces.

The applicant has proposed 8 residential towers with height and overall density dependent on further review of servicing requirements, alignment with City policies, and amenities to be delivered through the application. Generally, this is expected to generate approximately 4,000 residential units and a projected population of approximately 7,250 residents. A minimum of 20% of the units are proposed to be secured market rental housing units. The remaining 80% are proposed to not have tenure limitations and could be market ownership units or rental.

https://www.beheardnewwest.ca/88-tenth

[mcj]

Presentation boards are up for this project on https://www.imaginecolumbiasquare.com/

3 phases, 1st phase would be the southern portion of the parcel, where the Starbucks/TD Bank/Burger King/etc. are.

[BaddieB]

7250 residents would make up about 9% of New West's current population.

[mcj]

Originally Posted by BaddieB

7250 residents would make up about 9% of New West's current population.

New West shows that major population growth can be accomplished without endless sprawl. 7250 residents is approximately the population growth between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, where New West was among the leading cities in Metro Vancouver for population growth. We're well on track for breaking 100k people in the city sometime in the 2030s.

[rickvug]

Originally Posted by mcj

New West shows that major population growth can be accomplished without endless sprawl. 7250 residents is approximately the population growth between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, where New West was among the leading cities in Metro Vancouver for population growth. We're well on track for breaking 100k people in the city sometime in the 2030s.

100k will be easy to smash through. City population is already pegged at 89,000 in 2023. Latest council report has the school district projecting 16,300 new housing units within the next decade. This is based on existing development approvals and is higher than the city's earlier projections from the OCP. The city supports the district projections saying that they haven't accounted for new provincial policies yet. If say 2.2 people per unit that's over 35k in population growth by roughly 2035.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by mcj

Presentation boards are up for this project on https://www.imaginecolumbiasquare.com/

3 phases, 1st phase would be the southern portion of the parcel, where the Starbucks/TD Bank/Burger King/etc. are.

...and where the grocery store will be - they're big on having a grocery store on-site.

[officedweller]

Any word on if the redevelopment is moving ahead?
Fabricland's lease was not renewed.
If so, the next to close would be Save-on-Foods if its lease comes up soon?

Popular New Westminster fabric store is closing and customers are upset
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-westminster-fabricland-closing

[mcj]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Any word on if the redevelopment is moving ahead?
Fabricland's lease was not renewed.
If so, the next to close would be Save-on-Foods if its lease comes up soon?

Popular New Westminster fabric store is closing and customers are upset
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-westminster-fabricland-closing

It's not in the first phase according to the most recent documents I saw.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by officedweller

Any word on if the redevelopment is moving ahead?
Fabricland's lease was not renewed.
If so, the next to close would be Save-on-Foods if its lease comes up soon?

Popular New Westminster fabric store is closing and customers are upset
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/new-westminster-fabricland-closing

Wasn't Phase 1 a new replacement Save On Foods on the corner with the Starbucks?

https://www.beheardnewwest.ca/en-CA/projects/88-tenth

Doesn't sound they want to entertain any applications until they finish their other studies.

City Council ultimately rejected City staff’s proposed building density and height guidelines, and directed City staff to complete the city-wide Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the updated Employment Strategy, the Retail Strategy, the Financing Growth Strategy, and the exploration of potential institutional uses, with staff reporting back on how this will impact the Lower Twelfth Street Area Plan — all before processing the catalyst project applications.

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/lower-twelfth-street-area-study-update-new-westminster-rejection

[mcj]

I can definitely agree that more park space is needed in the overall area plan. The area needs another aquatic/rec centre, firehall, library, schools, etc. among other projects, some of which are in there but not enough to make up for the current gap plus the increase. I doubt this makes sense with how many units have come on the market, demand in New West is really from being a suburb of Vancouver, and with the market opening up in Vancouver substantially, along with the downturn in the condo market, this just doesn't make sense to move forward right now.

However, trying to force more amenities out the market right now is something council is trying to do with the project at Carnarvon and Eighth.