BCBusiness

C I T Y O F B U R N A B Y S p e c i a l F e a t u r e sustainable street and sidewalk design, and that they are built in consideration of people of all ages and abilities," describes Mayor Corrigan. But just as New York has consistently reinvented itself throughout the decades to emerge as fresher and more appealing than ever in the 21st century, Burnaby's town centres in 2016 are poised to achieve new heights of desirability. The Lougheed Town Centre Core Area Master Plan covers'a 72-acre area. The Master Plan calls for 30 towers that are relatively tall for regional standards (heights could reach up to 65 storeys) and will have over 11.1 million square feet of ¢oor area. Tower podiums and commercial-only buildings will hold at least 3.1 million square feet of retail, commercial , oce and entertainment space. Most will be developed by Shape Properties on the Lougheed Mall site. These will be complemented by new facilities: a library, pool and recreation centre. Many of the redevelopment's retail shops and restaurants will be located along a 320-metre covered outdoor pedestrian- only galleria, lined by a wall of podium buildings; this "spine" will directly connect to a SkyTrain and bus Transit Plaza. There will also be a strong retail presence along the north-south Grand Promenade, which also starts at the Transit Plaza and will be designated as the neighbourhood's main "festival street." With other retail components, a 1.6-acre Central Open Space, a linear waterway and greenway, and pedestrian-only and cycling pathways, the redeveloped Lougheed Town Centre is expected to employ at least 5,200 people and provide living spaces for up to 20,000 people. Recognizing the plans for Lougheed, the City of Burnaby and Shape Properties have Metrotown, currently the biggest of the four town centres, is in the city's southwest quadrant and home to the Burnaby Board of Trade, Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, Stantec, KPMG, Metropolis at Metrotown, Rogers Communications (call centre operations) and Taiga Building Products (head office). Also located in this quadrant is Pacific Blue Cross, one of B.C.'s leading benefits providers for over 75 years. Brentwood Town Centre is in the city's northwest quadrant and is home to AMEC Foster Wheeler, Appia Development, Bosa Development Corporation, Brentwood Town Centre, CFT Engineering, CMW Insurance Services, Fraser Health/Vancouver Coastal Health - Collaboration Centre, Greater Vancouver Credit Union (head office), Happy Planet Foods, Rick's Family Restaurants (headquarters), Travelers Financial Group (head office) and Whole Foods. AT A GLANCE "Edmonds is also thriving with a mixed-use com- munity proposed for the Edmonds and Kingsway area," says Mayor Corrigan. "Complementing this, the •rst phase of the Southgate Neighbourhood will move forward in 2016. This 48-acre neighbour- hood will include a new park and re‰ect the citizen input that is shaping its design" Raincatcher is a water collecting public art sculpture proudly displayed at the front entrance of Edmonds Community Centre

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