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
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1135 SALTER Street in New Westminster: Queensborough Land for sale : MLS®# R2697352
1135 SALTER Street New Westminster V3M 6A4 
$16,800,000Land Only- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2697352
Prime location, very rare to find this size project ~ 45 unit townhome development property in highly desirable Queensborough, New Westminster !! One of the few large parcels available in this area. Land Pre-loading completed. Total 2.31 Acre land (165' x 611'). Check with City of New Westminster. Application already under process and development permit anticipated to be issued eta. by August 2022. Call for details. **Double Exposure: Also listed as Land-Commercial C8045027** More detailsListed by RE/MAX Dream Home Realty
- Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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1335 KAMLOOPS Street in New Westminster: Uptown NW Multifamily for sale : MLS®# R2674394
1335 KAMLOOPS Street New Westminster V3M 1V5
$5,100,000Multifamily- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2674394
- Bedrooms:
- 11
- Bathrooms:
- 6
- Floor Area:
- 2,315 sq. ft.
Amazing opportunity for smart investors/developers, rare 6plex zoned for medium rise 4-6 storeys. Turnkey operation & cash flow machine, generating $140,000/year income in heart of booming New West. Current zoning RM-5A Multi-Family Medium Rise, allowing 4-6 storey, apartment building, up to 25 units with 1.8 FSR. One 3 bdrm suite, three 2 bdrm suites + two bachelor suites; 11 bdrms, 6 separate entrances, 6 kitchens, common laundry, lots of parking. All units fully renovated: granite countertops, new flooring, etc; immaculate condition. Fully occupied, great month to month tenants. Walking distance to all amenities, New West Skytrain station, Douglas College, shopping & restaurants. Properties like this rarely available; Buy now, hold & develop in future. More detailsListed by Century 21 Coastal Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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317 HOWES Street in New Westminster: Queensborough House for sale : MLS®# R2687799
317 HOWES Street New Westminster V3M 5L8
$4,400,000Residential 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
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319 HOWES Street in New Westminster: Queensborough House for sale : MLS®# R2687856
319 HOWES Street New Westminster V3M 5L8
$4,400,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2687856
- Bedrooms:
- 5
- Bathrooms:
- 4
- Floor Area:
- 2,112 sq. ft.
Queensborough Townhouse Development Site. OCP calls for Multi-family. Sold together with neighbouring property at 317 Howes St. More detailsListed by Multiple Realty Ltd. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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127 JARDINE Street in New Westminster: Queensborough House for sale : MLS®# R2563014
127 JARDINE Street New Westminster V3M 5M2
$3,300,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2563014
- Bedrooms:
- 6
- Bathrooms:
- 2
- Floor Area:
- 2,920 sq. ft.
Large half-acre lot in popular Queensborough. More detailsListed by Sutton Group-West Coast Realty (Langley) - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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39 E EIGHTH Avenue in New Westminster: The Heights NW House for sale : MLS®# R2599551
39 E EIGHTH Avenue New Westminster V3L 4J4
$3,173,310Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2599551
- Floor Area:
- 3,800 sq. ft.
This home is to be sold in conjunction with 807, 809, 817, 819, 823 Sangster Place + 39 East Eighth Avenue - 46 765 square feet in land total. Bring your building ideas to this Site with a partial RGO zone. City Hall has looked and will be open to discussion. Townhomes or 6 story if permitted. This area is abundant with low rise and High-rise and Townhomes. Shopping a 1 min walk to all major stores, Bus to 5 Skytrain stations within 1 min walk. 1 minute drive to Burnaby. 10 minute drive to Surrey and Perimeter Highway and Highway One. 5 Top schools with Montessori/ French Immersion + the Justice Institute 1 minute walk. Condos + Townhomes being built capturing $1000-$1200 a sq ft. This is a good site for Social Cause or Family Living. The largest Assembly in the city, ready to go. More detailsListed by Stonehaus Realty Corp. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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1507 HAMILTON Street in New Westminster: West End NW House for sale : MLS®# R2699462
1507 HAMILTON Street New Westminster V3M 2N5
$2,999,888Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2699462
- Bedrooms:
- 8
- Bathrooms:
- 7
- Floor Area:
- 4,605 sq. ft.
Brilliant designed beautiful home locates in the prime neighborhood of New Westminster. Quality craftsmanship shows through the exterior of the house to each level. Functional layout designed by an experienced expert, includes spacious living & family room, fancy kitchen paired with a large island, extra spacious spicy kitchen, a good size bedroom with full bath on main floor for senior or home office; Upper level has 4 bedrooms & 3 bathrooms. Basement features one 2-beds legal suite and also big theater and 1 bed + 1 bath flex area with separate entrance for owner's use; minutes away to shopping, restaurant, schools and transits. Extra large triple heated garage with separate alarm system is definitely a bonus. Must see, Call now More detailsListed by Nu Stream Realty Inc. - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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221 THIRD Avenue in New Westminster: Queens Park House for sale : MLS®# R2701091
221 THIRD Avenue New Westminster V3L 1L9
$2,999,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2701091
- Bedrooms:
- 6
- Bathrooms:
- 6
- Floor Area:
- 3,395 sq. ft.
Location!, Location!!, Location!!! Top of the line everything. 3,261 sq ft open floor plan with Great Room. 10' ceilings on the main plus a vaulted ceiling in the Great Room w/ beautiful hardwood floors & mouldings. Gorgeous kitchen with high end appliances including a Wolf stove and gas F/P in a corner kitchen cabinet. The spice kitchen is a real bonus. 3 BDRMS upstairs plus a beautiful 5 pce ensuite. Fully finished bsmt with 9' ceilings featuring a media room with wet bar, 2 BDRMS, rec room & 2 full bathrooms. Fantastic outdoor space with huge covered patio with an outside F/P. 650 sq ft heated double garage has a workshop & full bathroom. Backs onto Sullivan Park, 2 blocks from Queens Park & 7 min walk to skytrain & amenities! You will be impressed! Call today to view.Still available More detailsListed by RE/MAX Crest Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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92-94 GLOVER Avenue in New Westminster: GlenBrooke North Multifamily for sale : MLS®# R2686488
92-94 GLOVER Avenue New Westminster V3L 2A3
$2,799,000Multifamily- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2686488
- Bedrooms:
- 7
- Bathrooms:
- 4
- Floor Area:
- 4,550 sq. ft.
UNBELIEVABLE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY! 6PLEX, cash-flow machine generating $130,000 rental income/yr. You won't find a better income producing property than this. Siting on an 8000 sq.ft. duplex lot, with zoning allowing for higher density. One 3-bed suite, one 2-bed suite, 2 1-bed suites, + 2 bachelor suites. 4500 sq ft living area, separate entrances for each unit. Solid home, great condition with updates done throughout. Lots of parking, carport with back lane access. Centrally located in New West, one block from shopping complex with Safeway & Mcdonalds, 2 blocks to schools, rec centre, parks, and bus stop, easy access to major routes. This is a rare, one of a kind opportunity! More detailsListed by SRS Westside Realty - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
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211 REGINA Street in New Westminster: Queens Park House for sale in "Queen's Park" : MLS®# R2701121
211 REGINA Street New Westminster V3L 1S7
$2,795,000Residential Detached- Status:
- Active
- MLS® Num:
- R2701121
- Bedrooms:
- 7
- Bathrooms:
- 6
- Floor Area:
- 4,057 sq. ft.
Prime QUEEN’S PARK location, this spectacular home offers more than 4,100 sf of living space with 7 bdrms, 4 full bathrooms and 2 half baths. The main level is 2,100 sf with 3 beds, incl a primary bedroom with large walk-in closet and stunning spa-like ensuite, plus two bdrms and bath up. Other feat: original stained glass with new wood double-paned windows throughout, kitchen w/ custom Fir cabinetry and granite counters, family room with double French doors that open to a new covered porch complete w/ TREX decking and gas hookup for BBQ, near 10-ft ceilings on the main, second storey covered porch, theatre room with SS, new HE boiler w/ on demand hot water, 200-amp panel, camera system, a 684 sf attached garage w/ heated floors and lane access. Plus, gated parking for your RV and a detached 220 sf storage shed. Need space for the extended family or a mortgage helper? This home has a legal 2 bedroom, 1 bath suite with heated floors, 8.5-ft ceiling, private side entry and patio. More detailsListed by Keller Williams Realty VanCentral - Aedis Realty
- 604-688-8669
- 604-657-1111
- Contact by Email
