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
-
1101 1065 QUAYSIDE Drive in New Westminster: Quay Condo for sale in "QUAYSIDE TOWERS II" : MLS®# R2866384
1101 1065 QUAYSIDE Drive New Westminster V3M 1C5 
$869,800Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2866384
- Bedrooms:
- 3
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,306 sq. ft.
Open house Sunday, Apr 21st at 12-2pm! Luxury LIVING at Quayside Towers, where convenience meets elegance in perfect harmony! Step into this 2 BDRM & DEN unit, prepare to be captivated by the breathtaking Panoramic Views of the Fraser River! Fabulous oversized windows, grand patio doors, this home effortlessly invites the outside in, whether you're lounging in the spacious LR or DR, the mesmerizing vista of the Fraser River serves as the perfect backdrop to your daily life. Well-designed layout, including a versatile DEN that can easily be transformed into a 3rd BDRM. Boasting S/S appliances, tile backsplash, laminate flooring, GAS fireplace, crown molding & fresh paint throughout. BONUS amenities incl. indoor Pool, Gym, Sauna & Hot Tub. Minutes to Skytrain, Quay, stunning Boardwalk, Shopping, restaurants! 1 U/G Parking/locker More detailsListed by RE/MAX All Points Realty
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
703 11 E ROYAL Avenue in New Westminster: Fraserview NW Condo for sale in "VICTORIA HILL" : MLS®# R2854878
703 11 E ROYAL Avenue New Westminster V3L 0A8
$869,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2854878
- Bedrooms:
- 3
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,238 sq. ft.
Rare three bedroom concrete condo. Very bright and clean with generous room sizes. View of the river from every room. Open kitchen that flows to a dining room with a living room that opens onto a 16' x 8' Balcony. Do your Bbq on covered deck with great views. Building has swimming pool, exercise room and conference room. Comes with two parking and one locker. Located in Victoria Hill by Onni a great community to live in. Lots of walking spaces close by with a walk-over pass to Queens Park. Shuttle bus to Columbia Skytrain 8 mins. New bridge alignment will reduce the number of vehicles going past McBride and Royal. The overall effect will be less traffic close to the building. Please see photos. More detailsListed by Multiple Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
2309 988 QUAYSIDE Drive in New Westminster: Quay Condo for sale : MLS®# R2852916
2309 988 QUAYSIDE Drive New Westminster V3M 0L5
$850,000Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2852916
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 900 sq. ft.
A Bright, New Waterfront Home in a concrete bld by Bosa in DT New Westminster. Located right on the Esplanade boardwalk, 3 blocks from Columbia Street's shops and 25 minutes from downtown Vancouver by Skytrain + fabulous 2.5 km of Riverfront boardwalk. There will be a full time concierge, full gym, yoga studio + the Riversky Club with fireside lounge, full kitchen & large -screen TV for your large party entertainment needs. There is also a rooftop terrace overlooking the impressive views with a fire pit & BBQ area. The interior has SS appliances, quartz counters, custom millwork + a modern living area with an incredible view of the River & Mountains. The spacious patio may be accessed from the Master Bdrm & living area where you can enjoy your morning coffee or afternoon beverage! More detailsListed by Parallel 49 Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
207 310 SALTER Street in New Westminster: Queensborough Condo for sale in "Timber House" : MLS®# R2846305
207 310 SALTER Street New Westminster V3M 0N7
$849,900Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2846305
- Bedrooms:
- 2
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 961 sq. ft.
Welcome to Timber House by Aragon, your final opportunity to own a brand new home in the sought-after community of Port Royal. This spacious 2 bed/2 bath - 961 sqft home boasts a 180 sqft private balcony. Homes feature beautiful exposed cross-laminated timber in the interiors, giving them a serene feel. Entertain in style with our gourmet kitchens featuring Smeg and Fischer & Paykel appliances. Bathrooms feature floor-ceiling tile and floating vanities. Enjoy nature while taking your evening stroll along the 1.8 km riverfront walkway, steps from your own lush green courtyard. Located just 5 mins from DT New West or 35 mins to DT Vancouver. PC and Display Homes located at 102-310 Salter St, open 12-5pm (closed Thurs & Friday). Homes are move-in ready. More detailsListed by Rennie & Associates Realty Ltd. and Rennie Marketing Systems - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
-
302 28 E ROYAL Avenue in New Westminster: Fraserview NW Condo for sale : MLS®# R2872075
302 28 E ROYAL Avenue New Westminster V3L 0B7
$849,900Residential Attached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2872075
- Bedrooms:
- 3
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 1,065 sq. ft.
Join us for our open house on April 20th and 21st OPEN HOUSE CANCELLED accepted offer More detailsListed by Oneflatfee.ca - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
