Edgar Development has unveiled its plan for an “innovative” and pedestrian-only community in New Westminster, B.C.
The company is proposing to build a comprehensive-planned, pedestrian-only, transit-oriented community on the 7.1-acre Columbia Square Plaza site at 88 10th St. In a press release, EDGAR Development stated it has just submitted plans to the City of New Westminster for a project that features eight towers (incorporating affordable housing, market rental and strata condos), a daycare, office, retail and significant green space.
Located within 500 metres of the New Westminster SkyTrain station and on a gateway site to downtown New West, Edgar Development said its mixed-use development takes an innovative approach to create “a pedestrian-only, car-free, transit-oriented community within a newly created urban forest.”
“What’s being proposed is truly innovative in terms of how we live,” said Mark Thompson of MCMP Architects, in a news release. “Columbia Square today is car-oriented and suburban, and what we are proposing is a new people-oriented community with vehicles directed underground. By enhancing the character, quality and experience of the area, we will provide a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown with this new gateway to the downtown core.”
According to the developer, Columbia Square will deliver approximately 2,400 homes, including roughly 300 purpose-built market rental and 300 affordable rental units.
Peter Edgar, president of Edgar Development, said the project is the second pedestrian-only, master-planned community to be launching in the Greater Vancouver area this year.
“We are really excited to be creating this new neighbourhood with a significant amount of new, much-needed housing, no cars at grade, amenities and green space,” he said in the news release. “This is the future of master-planned communities, and we have brought an amazing team together to build housing for the future, alongside a complete, pedestrian-focused community on transit in the most historic city in Metro Vancouver.”
Derek Lee, principal at PWL Partnership Landscape Architects, said the site will be an inviting space for both residents and the public. He said it will feature terraced parks leading to a central green, with mature trees that will eventually become an urban forest for the city.
Edgar officials met June 12 with council and city staff for high-level discussions, senior vice-president of development Matthew McClenaghan said. He told the Real Estate News Exchange that “it is very early days” in the process.
