C I T Y O F N E W W E S T M I N S T E R
P r o m o t e d C o n t e n t
biggest employer, Royal Columbian
Hospital, is undergoing expansion plans;
and Bentall Kennedy's development of
the Sapperton Green site will add another
mixed-use destination to the city.
Meanwhile, a host of high-rise
condominiums are either being
constructed or in the final planning
stages: the transformation of the historic
Trapp+Holbrook block on Columbia Street
is yet another stunning amalgamation of
old and new downtown (in this case, a new
high rise has become the core of a restored
brownstone edifice); and Northbank
by Ballenas will provide residents with
stunning views of the Fraser River and
quick access to the waterfront.
Subterranean development is also
brisk: as part of its Intelligent City plan,
New Westminster recently approved an
investigation into the prospect of assuming
some of the control telecom companies
have over Internet, television and phone
prices. The idea is to develop its own fibre
optic network (much of it below ground)
and lease that capacity to the telcos; this in
turn will allow companies to lease fibre at
a lower cost from the municipality.
The "new" New West emerging from
all this activity is precisely what planners
and community groups have envisioned
for years, and with this infrastructure the
city's current 11,000-strong population in
the downtown core will grow comfortably
to 15,400 by 2021; the city overall will
expand from its current population of just
under 66,000 to over 97,000 by 2031.
Not surprisingly, there's still room for
more makeovers in the future, thanks to
the dedication of City Council and staff in
consultation with the community. As will
be demonstrated repeatedly at the 2014
Invest New West Economic Forum, New
Westminster is a rare example of a place
where the future is viewed with healthy
optimism—an optimism resulting from the
hard-won achievements of the past.
â–
This promotional feature was prepared by
BCBusiness magazine's Special Advertising
Features Dept. Writer: Robin Brunet. For
more information contact VP of corporate
features John Cochrane at 604-299-7311.
Email: jcochrane@canadawide.com
