Connected, Sustainable and Complete: Transit-oriented developments have it all

In Metro Vancouver, you are not only lucky, but smart, if you’re part of the “bridge and tunnel crowd.” We can’t take credit for the ocean and the mountains, but a lot about what makes Vancouver so special is an urban planning strategy that is necessitated by a limited amount of buildable land, and an ever-increasing population. Two innovations have been the hallmarks of Vancouver urban planning: the mixed-use, tower and podium building approach that has kept downtown vibrant and busy, and also the Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) planning in the city and out to the surrounding Metro areas.

Metro Vancouver’s commitment to a transit-oriented land use approach goes back a long way, with the 1975 Livable Region Plan envisioning a transit-oriented regional community of compact urban centres linked by frequent transit corridors. This approach was reaffirmed in the 1996 Livable Region Strategic Plan and continues to be a key direction in the new Regional Growth Strategy being formulated to go forward into the 2050s.

Transit-oriented communities create walkable neighbourhoods with access to transit, services and businesses, the goal being that people drive less, walk and cycle more, use more transit and less energy. This promotes a more healthy, active population that uses less resources, creates less pollution and less urban sprawl through increased density around transit nodes. To this end, a partnership of Metro Vancouver, Translink, municipalities, the Province of BC and other stakeholders have created an action plan that is based upon “The Six Ds”: Destinations, Distance, Design, Density, Diversity, and Demand Management.

Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum knows that this is the key to Surrey’s long-term strategy for livability. “As one of the fastest growing cities in Canada, building new transit infrastructure is a massive priority for the city of Surrey,” said McCallum in a statement to media. Recently announced is a 16-kilometre Surrey-Langley rail rapid transit project that will transform the Fraser Valley. This new SkyTrain will travel on an elevated guideway along Fraser Highway, providing a seamless, eastward extension of the existing Expo Line. King George Station will connect to Langley Centre through Fleetwood and Cloverdale/Clayton. There are many new residential projects springing up around these future stations, making this a perfect investment opportunity to get in before the real estate in these neighbourhoods goes through the roof.

Vesta Properties is one developer already building a beautiful master-planned community, Latimer Heights, in Langley, connected to the future SkyTrain and also to current transit options. “Vesta is proud to be on the cutting edge of creating transit-oriented developments,” says Tara Desmond, Vesta’s BC Sales Manager. “Vibrant and sustainable, these urban communities provide an active, socially engaged lifestyle that’s focused around reliable transit and pedestrian oriented alternatives. With multiple transit stops just a short walk away, here you’ll find it easy to connect to… well everywhere.”

In Surrey City Centre, this development has been going on for a while, but is still far from being completed. Vice President, Development of PCI Developments, Tim Grant, has a major transit-oriented project at King George Hub, right beside King George Station in Central Surrey – a prime transit location. “With our vision for King George Hub now coming to life, Plaza One residents will live in one of the region’s premiere transit-oriented, complete communities,” he says. “Similar to our Marine Gateway and Crossroads developments, King George Hub offers live, work, shop, play and transit lifestyles at an approachable price in a dynamic and rapidly evolving neighbourhood.” Another exciting Surrey City Centre project now selling is Belvedere, a high-rise tower by Square Nine Developments with an amazing amenity package.

If you want to see the exciting future of Surrey’s SkyTrain extension, look no further than the burgeoning neighbourhoods of Burquitlam (AKA West Coquitlam) and Port Moody, which have benefitted immensely from the Evergreen Skytrain extension completed in 2016, and the vibrant Marine Gateway and Richmond neighbourhoods along the Canada Line.

Burquitlam, on the Burnaby/Coquitlam border, is the most rapidly changing area in Metro Vancouver. Shape’s The City of Lougheed, on the Burnaby side, is leading the way with an ambitious redevelopment of the former Lougheed Town Centre Mall into Canada’s largest new master planned community, that will feature over 1,500 homes in the first phase (four towers built by 2023) alone, hundreds of new shops and restaurants, parks, public plazas and a new transit exchange, all within an area the size of 16 city blocks.

Ledingham McAllister’s Sydney is a 25-storey residence located just east, in Burquitlam. “This is such a unique location,” says Carla Bury, vice president of marketing at Ledingham McAllister. “You’re so close to everything — the Evergreen and Millennium Lines, Lougheed Town Centre, SFU, BCIT, and the freeway — yet there’s the tranquility of being amid the quiet of a well-established residential neighbourhood.”

Also in Burquitlam, there are brand-new home options from SOCO, Anthem’s super-successful master-planned community, and Jinju, Anthem’s newest tower with a spa-inspired amenity building. Another elegant new addition to the neighbourhood is Smith & Farrow by Boffo, two stylish towers ideally situated on a quiet street, but with quick access to the Skytrain and everything else happening in the neighbourhood. “The Evergreen SkyTrain is definitely a game changer for this neighbourhood,” says Karen West, Boffo’s Director of Sales, Marketing and Operations. “Smith & Farrow’s location is second to none. To maintain the quiet residential tone of the neighbourhood, we do have parking stalls for every unit, but they all have charging stations, and there are Modo vehicles that complete the transportation picture for our residents.”

Just up the street, Adera’s Duet is a pair of buildings a short walk from the SkyTrain station, featuring Duet Urban Flats and Duet Cityhomes. Duet Urban Flats is a six-storey building with 72 one-, two- and three-bedroom homes that will be move-in ready this year. Duet Cityhomes is a boutique collection of 60 garden and two-story townhomes complete with private rooftop lanais. Duet has one-third the carbon footprint of concrete buildings, making it the healthiest home on the market today in a size and scale.

In Port Moody, 50 Electronic Avenue is almost sold out of their transit-oriented homes. Panatch Group’s Kush Panatch explains, “Located only 30 minutes outside of downtown Vancouver, 50 Electronic Avenue gets you away from the hustle and bustle of city life while still feeling connected. Since the Evergreen line extension, we’ve seen more millennials, downsizers and young families arrive in Port Moody as they realized they can enjoy a lifestyle that includes recreational activities and entertainment at their doorstep while continuing to work downtown and be connected to Metro Vancouver.”

On the other side of Burnaby, just before you go over the Fraser River to Surrey on the Expo Line, the Edmonds neighbourhood will soon be transformed by Ledingham McAllister’s new Southgate City master-planned community. Soon to be soaring above the slopes of South Burnaby, this extraordinary nearly 60-acre masterfully designed community will be shaped by magnificent glass towers and lush garden homes surrounding an expansive and meticulously planned five-acre central park. All of this is, of course, connected to the rest of Metro Vancouver by a convenient SkyTrain station.

LedMac’s Carly Bury Sums it up, saying, “An increased sense of community is fostered with transit-oriented development, with housing, public spaces and recreational facilities that are all interconnected with transit and walkable neighbourhoods. And these options create shorter and faster commute times with better home, play and work connections.”