Irrepressible New Westminster
General Characteristics
New Westminster, historically an important city in the Lower Mainland of mountainous British Columbia, Canada, and now a municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, was the capital of the mainland Colony of British Columbia from 1858 until merger of the mainland and island colonies in 1866 and was the province’s largest city until Vancouver overtook it in population early in the 20th Century. New Westminster is in the southeastern part of the Burrard Peninsula on the north bank of the Fraser River about 12 miles from the City of Vancouver, adjacent to Burnaby and Coquitlam, and across the Fraser River from Surrey. The Queensborough portion of New Westminster is on the eastern tip of Lulu Island adjacent to Richmond on the river downstream. Total city land area is 5.9 square miles. In the 2011 Census the population was 65,976, of which in census terms “visible minorities,” mostly Asian, accounted for about 35, “aboriginals” 4, and “European Canadians” 61 percent.
Historical Development
The discovery of gold in British Columbia caused fear of an American invasion and takeover. For this reason, the colonial government in 1859 established Queensborough as the first official capital for its defensible location and communication facilities by water. The London government, however, did not favor “Queensborough,” so Queen Victoria renamed the city after Westminster, where the Houses of Parliament stand. From this renaming by the queen came the official nickname “The Royal City.” A year later, New Westminster became the first British Columbia city to incorporate under an elected municipal government. It was then the principal staging point for prospectors traveling to the gold fields beyond Yale and Port Douglas up the Fraser River.
When the colonies of British Columbia and Vancouver Island merged in 1866, Victoria on Vancouver Island, not New Westminster on the mainland, became the capital of British Columbia by a vote of 13 to 8 in the legislature. After British Columbia became the sixth province of the Dominion of Canada, the Royal City’s economy benefited from the Canadian Pacific Railway extension to Vancouver with a spur to New Westminster in 1886, although most rail traffic went to Vancouver, where the port never froze, unlike the Fraser River in winter at New Westminster. Twelve years later, in 1898, a devastating fire destroyed most of downtown New Westminster. New Westminster’s Chinatown, one of the earliest and largest in the mainland colony, perished in the Great Fire of 1898, and none remains in New Westminster today.
Columbia Street
The downtown heart of New Westminster close to the city waterfront, Columbia Street in its heyday was the main commercial retail and service centre for Burnaby, Coquitlam, and the whole Fraser Valley. The high-quality shopping experience drew customers from even Vancouver by interurban rail or by car via Kingsway (originally Westminster Highway or Westminster Road). The 1964 completion of the Trans-Canada Highway bypass and the building of suburban malls with plentiful free parking drove Columbia Street into a slump during which many businesses abandoned the downtown district.
In October 2006, Columbia Street changed alignment to one lane in both directions with a bicycle lane and reverse-angle parking to encourage pedestrian and bicycling traffic. Construction or renovation projects at the Plaza 88 condominium towers, the Columbia Theatre, and the Westminster Pier Park are evidence of some rejuvenation.
Front Street
Originally a dockside street and market, Front Street converted to a truck route and elevated parking facility during the 1960s to increase parking space for Columbia Street. More recently, it has been the scene of a thriving trade in antiques and a frequent location for feature film productions.
Information Links:
http://newwestchamber.com
http://www.downtownnewwest.ca
http://www.newwestcity.ca
http://www.newwestpcr.ca/recreation/recreation_facilities.php
http://www.newwestcity.ca/business/planning_development/official-community-plan
Queensborough
When Queen Victoria renamed the city, “Queensborough” became the name of the New Westminster section of Lulu Island across the river channel from the southwestern mainland end of the city. Queensborough is today an area of low- to middle-income housing with some new condominium complexes near the Westminster Quay development.
New Westminster Live MLS Listings
Irrepressible New Westminster
-
909 913 915 TWELFTH Street in New Westminster: Moody Park Land for sale : MLS®# R2827121
909 913 915 TWELFTH Street New Westminster V3M 4K5 
$7,999,900Land Only- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2827121
Development Project For Sale - Conditional Rezoning approval already granted for a 40 unit, 32,599 sq.ft. strata condo development. This land assembly is a rare opportunity to own a prime 5-storey development site located in the heart of New Westminster. The property is ideally situated on upper Twelfth Street offering close proximity to transit, St Thomas Moore private school, and endless and shops and services directly out your door. This is one of the best remaining opportunities to acquire a development site in the area. Site plans and reports are available upon request. Rear lane to be purchased from the City. Please do not walk on the property. More detailsListed by Oakwyn Realty Ltd.
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
1105 SIXTH Avenue in New Westminster: Moody Park House for sale : MLS®# R2782618
1105 SIXTH Avenue New Westminster V3M 2B7
$6,000,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2782618
Developer & Investor Alert!! Church for sale. Plans and Dp ready for DAYCARE! Don't need to wait for a long long time. Call for more details or book your private showing.!!!! More detailsListed by Oakwyn Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
1335 KAMLOOPS Street in New Westminster: Uptown NW Duplex for sale : MLS®# R2784032
1335 KAMLOOPS Street New Westminster V3M 1V5
$4,800,000Multifamily- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2784032
- Bedrooms:
- 11
- Bathrooms:
- 6
- Floor Area:
- 4,600 sq. ft.
Here is your opportunity to own a substantial income generating property. Non-strata rectangular SxS duplex with 6 units. Zoning is recorded for multi-family (RM-5). All tenancies are student/rooms under month to month, the Residential Tenancy Act does not apply to shared accommodations. The surrounding area is getting an overall upgrade by other beautiful developments. The choice to buy in for investment or move into one side and use the other side as rental income. Exclusive future opportunity. More detailsListed by RE/MAX Crest Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
317 HOWES Street in New Westminster: Queensborough House for sale : MLS®# R2687799
317 HOWES Street New Westminster V3M 5L8
$3,999,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2687799
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,706 sq. ft.
Queensborough Townhouse Development Site. OC[ calls for Multi-family. Sold together with neighbouring property at 319 Howes St. More detailsListed by Multiple Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
1927 MARINE Way in New Westminster: West End NW House for sale : MLS®# R2769306
1927 MARINE Way New Westminster V3M 2E4
$3,832,140Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2769306
- Bedrooms:
- 3
- Floor Area:
- 2,008 sq. ft.
Developers alert! Opportunity to acquire 2 or more lots for redevelopment of a 6-storey condo development. This property is sold in conjunction with 1923 Marine Way. The purpose of the Inclusionary Housing Policy is to help meet the City's affordable rental housing needs by securing built below-market and non-market rental units in new multi-unit strata residential and mixed-use residential developments seeking additional density. Buyer to verify with the City. This site is conveniently located near the 22nd Street Skytrain station. With the asking price and a development at 2.5 FSR, the price per buildable sets this at a favorable number for redevelopment. More detailsListed by RE/MAX Select Properties and eXp Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
1915 MARINE Way in New Westminster: West End NW House for sale : MLS®# R2770164
1915 MARINE Way New Westminster V3M 2E4
$3,600,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2770164
- Bedrooms:
- 7
- Bathrooms:
- 3
- Floor Area:
- 3,250 sq. ft.
Developers alert! Opportunity to acquire 2 or more lots for redevelopment of a 6-storey condo development. The purpose of the Inclusionary Housing Policy is to help meet the City's affordable rental housing needs by securing built below-market and non-market rental units in new multi-unit strata residential and mixed-use residential developments seeking additional density. Buyer to verify with the City. This site is conveniently located near the 22nd Street Skytrain station. With the asking price and development at 2.5 FSR, the price per buildable sets this at a favorable number for redevelopment. More detailsListed by RE/MAX Select Properties and eXp Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
1923 MARINE Way in New Westminster: West End NW House for sale : MLS®# R2828960
1923 MARINE Way New Westminster V3M 2E4
$3,395,968Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2828960
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,764 sq. ft.
Developers alert! Opportunity to acquire 2 or more lots for redevelopment of a 6-storey condo development. This property is sold in conjunction with 1927 Marine Way. The purpose of the Inclusionary Housing Policy is to help meet the City’s affordable rental housing needs by securing built below-market and non-market rental units in new multi-unit strata residential and mixed-use residential developments seeking additional density. Buyer to verify with the City. This site is conveniently located near the 22nd Street Skytrain station. With the asking price and a development at 2.5 FSR, the price per buildable sets this at a favorable number for redevelopment. More detailsListed by RE/MAX Select Properties and eXp Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
728 FIRST Street in New Westminster: GlenBrooke North House for sale : MLS®# R2792665
728 FIRST Street New Westminster V3L 2H6
$2,999,999Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2792665
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 2,023 sq. ft.
Turn-Key Land Assembly! Prime location at 728 First Street and 102/104 Eighth Avenue. Ready for development, with 3rd reading obtained. 17,490 sq ft lot to build 10 townhomes ranging from 1700-1800 sq ft, complete with rooftop decks, parking, and yards. All units feature 3 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms plus dens. Profit margins that work! Perfect for developers specializing in single-family homes, duplexes, or townhomes. Economy of scale advantage. Start construction this year! Both homes rented. Located one block from top-rated elementary and middle schools, with transit at your doorstep. Enjoy major shopping just a 2-minute walk away and Queens Park within a 5-minute stroll. Land is scarce in this area. ACT FAST! More detailsListed by Stonehaus Realty Corp. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
102/104 EIGHTH Avenue in New Westminster: GlenBrooke North House for sale : MLS®# R2792676
102/104 EIGHTH Avenue New Westminster V3L 1X8
$2,999,999Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2792676
- Bedrooms:
- 4
- Bathrooms:
- 3
- Floor Area:
- 2,400 sq. ft.
Turn-Key Land Assembly! Prime location at 728 First Street and 102/104 Eighth Avenue. Ready for development, with 3rd reading obtained. Collectively the two properties are 132x132-with two road frontages and a wide lane. 17,490 sq ft lot to build 10 townhomes ranging from 1700-1800 sq ft, complete with rooftop decks, parking, and yards. All units feature 3 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms plus dens. Profit margins that work! Perfect for developers specializing in single-family homes, duplexes, or townhomes. Economy of scale advantage. Start construction this year! Both homes rented. Located one block from top-rated elementary and middle schools, with transit a minute away. Enjoy major shopping just a 2-minute walk away and Queens Park within a 5-minute stroll. Land is scarce in this area. ACT FAST! More detailsListed by Stonehaus Realty Corp. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
550 RICHMOND Street in New Westminster: The Heights NW House for sale : MLS®# R2811096
550 RICHMOND Street New Westminster V3L 4C7
$2,999,800Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2811096
- Bedrooms:
- 5
- Bathrooms:
- 5
- Floor Area:
- 3,052 sq. ft.
Stunning unobstructed views of city, water & mtns! Custom Build modern style extravagant home features open layout with top notch detailed workmanship. As you enter the feature wall with oyster white marble with built-in Led lights welcomes you. Family room with large customized sliding door that extends to a covered deck with gas fire pit. Modern look kitchen with Zenn Air Appliances that has big island to entertain your family/friends. Spicy Kitchen, Free standing customized stairs lead to upstairs with 3 bedrooms and Solarium to enjoy. Master bedroom with fireplace, luxury ensuite, wide sliding door with balcony to enjoy the beauty of nature. Imported Italian tiles, door knobs, illusion stone counter tops. 1 bedroom bsmt suit & bachelore suit rented to very good tenants.A MUST ACT. More detailsListed by Century 21 Coastal Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
