New Westminster: a 30-storey tower is proposed for the Columbia Theatre site, featuring 216 strata units, a hotel, a coffee bar, and an auditorium.

Sources: Western Investor, Daily Hive

Project Highlights:

• Hotel and Residential Units: The development will include 95 hotel rooms, a hotel lounge, 216 stratified residential units, and retail space on Front Street. Hotel facilities will be located on floors 3 to 10, while residential units will occupy floors 11 to 30.
• Ground Floor: The ground floor along Columbia Street will house an auditorium/multipurpose venue, a theatre lobby, a coffee bar, and a residential entrance.
• Heritage Preservation: The Columbia Street facade will be preserved and restored, including the theatre’s marquee. Other heritage elements, such as the Front Street facade and key interior design features, will be reconstructed. Efforts will be made to retain and rehabilitate original doors, windows, and other features where possible.
• Community Use: The auditorium is planned to be managed by the hotel as a multi-purpose venue. A community use agreement will offer non-profit organizations and community groups a 30% discount on rental rates, subject to availability, for up to 100 hours annually.

Revised Proposal:

• Previous Plan: The initial proposal in January 2019 was for a 22-storey tower with a 75-room hotel.
• Current Proposal: The revised plan features a taller 30-storey tower, aiming to balance heritage preservation with modern development needs.
• Parking: A three-level parkade will provide 57 parking spaces (39 commercial and 18 residential), with additional solutions like car elevators and valet service to address space constraints.
• Family-Friendly Housing: The plan falls short of the family-friendly housing policy, which requires 20% of units to have two bedrooms and 10% to have three bedrooms. The current proposal includes 8% two-bedroom units and no three-bedroom units.
• Impact on Neighbors: The proposal takes into account potential impacts on neighboring properties and aims to enhance future development potential in the area.

Next Steps:

• Council Review: At the July 15 workshop, council members supported moving forward with the heritage revitalization agreement and special development permit applications for 530 Columbia St.. Further feedback focused on increasing community benefits and addressing the need for more family-friendly housing.
• Ongoing Process: The development process will include continued staff review, public consultations, and a public hearing.

For more information, contact Geoff Jarman at 604-313-7280.