Exploring the Vision for Car-Free Sundays in Burnaby
In a bid to enhance the vibrancy of Burnaby’s commercial areas and foster a sense of community, Burnaby city councillor Pietro Calendino has proposed the implementation of car-free Sundays in the summer months. Inspired by the pedestrian-friendly streets seen in “world-class cities,” Calendino imagines major streets in Burnaby being converted into pedestrian-friendly zones on Sundays from mid-May to mid-September.
Source: Canva
The proposal, outlined in a
notice of motion submitted for the upcoming council meeting, suggests a rotating schedule for car-free Sundays on key commercial corridors.
These corridors include Hastings Street from Boundary Road to Gamma Avenue, Kingsway from Patterson Avenue to Royal Oak Avenue, Edmonds Street between Kingsway and Canada Way, Sixth Street between Edmonds Street and 10th Avenue, and Central Boulevard.Under Calendino’s vision, these streets would be open exclusively to pedestrians, alternative mobility users, roller skaters, vendors, entertainers, food trucks, and local businesses. The initiative aims to not only create a safer environment for residents to enjoy outdoor activities but also to provide a platform for businesses to expand their operations onto the sidewalks or curbsides.
Highlighting the potential benefits of car-free Sundays, Calendino emphasizes the importance of community engagement and physical activity. By removing cars from the equation, residents are encouraged to come out of their homes, mingle with neighbors, and participate in various activities such as walking, cycling, rolling, and dancing on the streets.
Moreover, Calendino believes that implementing car-free Sundays would align with Burnaby’s commitment to climate change action. By reducing reliance on automobiles and promoting alternative modes of transportation, the initiative could contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, thereby mitigating the city’s environmental footprint.
In addition to enhancing community connectivity and promoting sustainable practices, Calendino’s motion also seeks to gather input from businesses located along the affected corridors. By canvassing their opinions and addressing any potential concerns, the city aims to ensure that the proposed initiative benefits all stakeholders involved.
The proposal is set to be deliberated upon during the upcoming council meeting, scheduled for Monday, January 29th. Depending on the outcome of the discussion, the motion may be approved for implementation or further consideration at a subsequent meeting on February 12th.
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Additional high-density, transit-oriented development (TOD) is in the works for Moody Centre SkyTrain Station in Port Moody.
Source: Daily Hive
Artistic rendering of 3060-3092 Spring Street and 80-85 Electronic Avenue, Port Moody. (Perkins&Will/Beedie Living)
Local developer Beedie Living has submitted plans to the municipal government for the redevelopment of a land assembly spanning 3060-3092 Spring Street and 80-85 Electronic Avenue, just east of the transit hub. Currently occupied by aging industrial buildings, the land assembly is slated for an eastward extension of Spring Street through a land swap with the municipal government, enhancing the development’s street frontage.
Site of 3060-3092 Spring Street and 80-85 Electronic Avenue in Port Moody near SkyTrain Moody Centre Station. (Google Maps)
Designed by Perkins&Will, the proposal outlines a mixed-use project featuring three residential towers reaching 32, 36, and 39 stories, along with a base podium housing 46,000 sq ft of retail/restaurant space. The towers will comprise a total of 972 market condominiums, with 50% designed for families with two or more bedrooms. Residents will enjoy nearly 24,000 sq ft of shared indoor amenities and approximately 40,000 sq ft of outdoor spaces, including expansive terraces on the rooftop of the commercial base podium.
As part of the project, Beedie Living will construct a six-story affordable housing building at 2806 Spring Street, providing 40 below-market rental homes. The development centers around a 15,000 sq ft event-friendly public plaza named the “Living Room,” activated by ground-level retail and restaurant establishments. The underground levels will house 1,207 vehicle parking stalls and 2,000 bike parking spaces.
Layout of 3060-3092 Spring Street and 80-85 Electronic Avenue, Port Moody. (Perkins&Will/Beedie Living)
In exchange for the proposed density and amenities, Beedie Living commits to approximately $27 million in community amenity contributions (CACs), including funding for the affordable housing building, public plaza, off-site servicing, infrastructure, and public art.
The targeted completion for the east condominium tower and affordable housing building is 2030, while the west and center condominium towers and public plaza are scheduled for completion by 2032. The project aligns with the broader master planning process around the transit hub, involving the Moody Centre Transit Oriented Development Master Planning Group.
Artistic rendering of 3060-3092 Spring Street and 80-85 Electronic Avenue, Port Moody. (Perkins&Will/Beedie Living)
Artistic rendering of 3060-3092 Spring Street and 80-85 Electronic Avenue, Port Moody. (Perkins&Will/Beedie Living)
Adjacent to Beedie Living’s site, PCI Developments aims to develop two 39-story towers with secured purpose-built rental homes, a grocery store, and retail spaces. This development includes a new public pedestrian bridge for improved connectivity. The provincial government also plans to develop its land south of the station into rental housing, in line with the transit-oriented development legislation and Housing Supply Act. The City of Port Moody, among the first in BC, is mandated to meet annual new housing supply completion targets.
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