Planning Underway for New City Hall Complex in Downtown Burnaby’s Metrotown Area

Source: Daily Hive

Burnaby City Council has requested that staff commence planning for the construction of a new City Hall in the near future due to the existing building’s age and inadequacy. The current City Hall, built in 1955 at 4949 Canada Way, lacks sustainability and inclusivity features, and significant upgrades are necessary to conform to modern building code standards.

The municipal government of Burnaby is initiating the process of constructing a new City Hall complex in the Metrotown area, which has been selected as the preferred location for the project by Burnaby City Council. The new facility will replace the existing City Hall complex, which is situated in an uncentralized location and nearing the end of its lifespan. The estimated cost of upgrading the current complex is $70 million, whereas the capital plan for 2023-2027 sets aside $74 million for the replacement project. The new facility will be funded by City revenues collected from developers in exchange for approving their developments.

The relocation of City Hall to Metrotown aligns with the municipality’s 2017 Metrotown Downtown Plan, which calls for the intensification of civic and community facilities in the area to catalyze a more vibrant city center. The municipal government has not yet determined the precise location for the new City Hall, but it owns significant properties in the area, including the Burnaby Civic Square block, where the Metrotown branch of Burnaby Public Library is situated.

Initial public consultation on the project will begin later in the spring. The area is also home to the headquarters office of Metro Vancouver Regional District, which occupies about half of the 29-storey Metrotower III office tower, acquired for $205 million in 2017. The City’s Metrotown Downtown Plan also envisages a major events and convention center next to Metrotown Station. The City of Vancouver is also considering a new City Hall in the location where the SkyTrain Broadway-City Hall Station entrance building is located.

To read more local news and updates please check our BLOG PAGE

To view Geoff Jarman’s Listings CLICK HERE