Burnaby City Hall Renovations Shift Focus to Existing Structures

Source: Burnaby Beacon

Earlier, we published the article about Burnaby City Hall relocation plan.

On September 11th night’s meeting, Burnaby council unanimously voted to retain City Hall’s current location at 4949 Canada Way.

Recent discussions had raised the prospect of relocating Burnaby City Hall to Civic Square in the Metrotown area. However, this proposal faced significant public backlash primarily due to concerns about the substantial $852-million price tag for the new building and the potential closure of the Burnaby Public Library during construction.

In response, the council opted to shift gears, choosing to renovate and expand the existing City Hall to enhance its seismic safety and accommodate the staff effectively. Mayor Mike Hurley emphasized that a new City Hall isn’t a mere preference but a necessity, driven by the current building’s safety issues. Hurley explained that plans for a new City Hall originated when it became evident that the current structure couldn’t support the installation of energy-efficient windows. The proposed relocation to Civic Square in Metrotown was cost-prohibitive, primarily due to additional space requirements for integrated programs

Councilor Alison Gu stressed the importance of considering the community’s reliance on libraries. If the City had pursued the move to Metrotown, it would have necessitated the temporary closure of the public library’s Bob Prittie branch during construction. This decision followed an earlier closure of the library for several months due to renovations following a June 2022 fire.

Other council members noted that the present Burnaby City Hall location is both central and strategically placed within Burnaby. Furthermore, there was discussion about exploring the repurposing of underutilized concrete areas, such as surplus parking spaces, to extend the existing facilities. Hurley clarified that the new City Hall would not be a towering structure, alleviating concerns from local residents, but rather a campus-like facility. As of now, a complete estimate for the renovation costs is still pending.

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Tags: Burnaby City hall