22nd Skytrain Station Master Plan

10/12/2023

Collaboration for a Brighter Future

Yesterday, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a meeting with the City of New Westminster and the dedicated residents who share our passion for a brighter future. We gathered to discuss the Bold Vision for our neighborhood around the 22nd Skytrain, and I am thrilled to say that it was an immense success!

The City of New Westminster demonstrated their genuine commitment to listening to the needs and desires of our community. It was truly inspiring to witness how eager they are to work alongside us, the residents, in shaping a city that reflects our vision and enhances our quality of life.

Now is the time for change, and together, we can make it happen. Let us seize this moment, and let our collective voices be embedded in every decision made. By joining forces, we can transform our neighborhood into a place that we are proud to call home.

I believe that through collaboration, dedication, and a shared vision, we have the power to create a city that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also supports the diverse needs of our community. Together, we can build a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future.

Your voice matters, and we are stronger together. Let's roll up our sleeves and take action.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to improving our community. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to working hand in hand to bring about the transformation we envision.

10/06/2023

Just a quick reminder to mark your calendars for the upcoming in-person event, Idea Jam, happening on Wednesday, October 11 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Anvil Centre. This is an opportunity for all of us to come together and share our valuable thoughts and ideas for the future of our area.

We truly believe that collaboration and collective thinking are key to shaping a bright future, and this interactive event will provide us with the platform to do just that. So don't miss out on this chance to have your voice heard and make a difference.

As an added bonus, light snacks will be provided to keep us fueled throughout the evening.

To secure your spot, please click on the link below to register:

👉 https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/22nd-st-station-area-idea-jam-tickets-724252587987?utm_source=ehq_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ehq-Two-new-projects-just-launched-on-Be-Heard&aff=oddtdtcreator&lang=en-ca&locale=en_CA&status=30&view=listing&utm_source=City+of+New+Westminster+Newsletters&utm_campaign=569d820ed6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_09_13_09_01_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-b505796a43-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

We look forward to seeing each and every one of you there. Let's keep our heads up and together create an inspiring future for our area.

Join us to generate ideas on how to transform the area around 22nd Street SkyTrain Station into a climate-friendly neighbourhood.

09/27/2023

The official city website is now live and accessible to everyone. As part of our ongoing efforts to improve community engagement, we would like to encourage each of you to register on the website and take a few moments to fill out the survey.

The survey is designed to gather valuable insights and feedback from our residents and your input is vital, as it will assist us in identifying areas that require immediate attention and assist in formulating future plans and initiatives. We value your opinion and urge you to actively participate in this survey.

To register and access the survey, please visit our official city website below. The entire process should only take a few minutes, and your responses will remain strictly confidential.

Together, we can create positive changes and build a stronger community.

The City is launching a visioning process to imagine the future of the neighbourhood around the 22nd Street SkyTrain Station. Join us in creating a climate-friendly neighbourhood where everyone can thrive! This fall, we are generating ideas with the community. What we

09/27/2023

Tomorrow's West End Residents Association General Meeting

It is our pleasure to remind you about the upcoming West End Residents Association General Meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, September 27, 2023.

The meeting will take place at Unity Church, located at 1630 Edinburgh St. in New West. It will commence promptly at 7 pm and is expected to address critical topics that directly impact our community.

The primary agenda item will be an update from City Planner Meredith Seeton regarding the plans for the 22nd St. Sky Train station and community engagement. This meeting provides an excellent opportunity for attendees to gain insights into the vision for our neighborhood's future and actively contribute to shaping it.

We would also like to extend a warm invitation to Connaught Heights residents to attend this important gathering. It is vital that we work together and show our support for a unified and vibrant community.

Please mark your calendars and make every effort to join us tomorrow at the Unity Church. Your presence and active participation will greatly contribute to the success of this meeting and ultimately benefit our entire neighborhood.

09/18/2023

Update on the upcoming event related to the 22nd Skytrain Station area vision, organized by the City of New Westminster.

The purpose of meeting is about the plans for community engagement and collaboration with First Nations regarding the relaunch of the 22nd Street Station Area visioning. They aim to update the council on the progress made in these areas.

To begin, the visioning process for the 22nd Street SkyTrain Station Area has been successfully relaunched. The purpose of this report is to provide you with an overview of the anticipated ideas challenge and community engagement processes. Furthermore, it will summarize the valuable input received from First Nations thus far.

The public launch event has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 11th, at the Anvil Centre, (time to be determine). This event will mark the official commencement of the visioning process. Additionally, a dedicated project page is currently being created, and various community engagement events have been scheduled to ensure wide participation on the city of New Westminster website.

The ideas challenge, which will be open from early October until early December 2023, aims to gather innovative and creative ideas from the community. We anticipate reporting back to the council with the findings from the ideas challenge and community engagement early in 2024.

Looking forward for update from the city of New Westminster council on the progress made during the upcoming event and the subsequent community engagement initiatives.

06/08/2023

Exciting News !!!📰

The city has just announced the Relaunch of the 22nd Street Station Area in a Bold New Version!

Of course, it's still pending city council approval on June 12 2023, but fingers crossed it goes ahead! 🤞

Stay tuned for more detailed information on the specific dates and processes involved in the re-launch !

05/31/2023

'Community, belonging and connection top priorities': State of the City Address 2023

Bring to your attention the recently delivered State of the City Address 2023 by the Mayor of New West, Patrick Johnstone. The speech, which took place at the Starlight Casino and was followed by a Q&A session, focused on the city's strategic plan for this term.

During the speech, the Mayor elaborated on the various focus areas in the plan, with "empowering community leaders" being a top priority. He reiterated the importance of prioritizing words like "connection, belonging and community" when considering the city's future. This highlights the mayor's commitment to fostering a sense of community within the city, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on its overall development.

One of the key focuses of the Mayor's address was the state of housing in the region. Mayor Johnstone stated that "housing is the number one issue in the region" and went on to praise the city's efforts in this regard. He mentioned that the city has been a "leader" when it comes to housing policies, from providing shelter and supportive housing, to constructing more purpose-built rentals than any other city in the Lower Mainland, to building family-friendly and transit-oriented market developments along the SkyTrain line.

During the meeting, the Mayor emphasized the need to prioritize the implementation of the city's Homelessness Action Strategy and better target affordable housing efforts. He also discussed the importance of aligning these efforts with senior government funding opportunities.

Additionally, the Mayor highlighted the need to continue prioritizing market housing development on and near transit, including the 22nd Street SkyTrain station. He also mentioned the plan to update the infill housing density program to bring more housing diversity to every neighbourhood in New Westminster.

Contact us if you have more questions or concerns.

ERIC VALLEE | ExP Realty
+1 604 788 5133
[email protected]
--------

04/26/2023

***Hot Forum ***

It was a huge successful town hall forum that took place last night at Queensborough Community Centre. The event was organized by Councillor Dianiel Fontaine, who brought together two distinguished guests, Michael Mortensen and Bryn Davidson.

Michael Mortensen is a well-known urban planner in Greater Vancouver. Meanwhile, Bryn Davidson is the co-founder of Lanefab, a design and build team that specializes in crafting high performance homes in Vancouver and beyond.

The forum's topic was on how densification could transform Connaught Heights around 22nd street skytrain from a low-density single-family neighbourhood. The discussion centered around the residents' concerns and the potential benefits of transforming the area into a more diverse and reverse choice of housing.

The room was filled with over 75+ people,members of Vallee Real Estate Group and the questions from the community members of Connaught Heights were diverse and thoughtful. Councillor Daniel Fontaine and the guests were able to address all these concerns and provide insightful responses to the attendees. At the end of the town hall forum, everyone seemed satisfied, and the event was deemed a success.

The main focus of the forum was to listen to community concerns in the lead up to the Master Plan getting underway. It was incredible to see how active the attendees were in participating in the discussion. I believe that such events are crucial in the democratic process and should continue to be held in the future.

As someone who has shown an interest in this project, we would be grateful for your input, comments, and ideas. Your suggestions and perspective are crucial to the development and refinement of this Master Plan. We value your opinion and want to ensure a transparent and inclusive process for everyone.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, queries, or feedback. I am more than happy to assist you in any way possible. You can reach me at +1 604 788 5133 or email me at [email protected]

#

04/19/2023

Call for Change Around 22nd Street SkyTrain Station

Recently, there has been some debate amongst local residents regarding the call for change around the 22nd Street SkyTrain Station. Former Connaught Heights resident, Julie MacLella, has voiced her opinion that the City of New Westminster should be taking greater action in this area.

Attached please find an article outlining the details of this debate. I'd like to ask each of you to take the time to familiarise yourself with this situation so that we are able to discuss how best to move forward in encouraging change around the 22nd Street SkyTrain station.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries.

Eric Vallee
📞604 788 5133
📧[email protected]

A former Connaught Heights resident says New Westminster is the “slowest city” in the region when it comes to development.

04/18/2023

Actions speak louder than words,

It is time to take an action to Increase Higher Density Around 22nd Street Skytrain Station In New Westminster!!!

We have successfully created a petition about this matter for all the supporters today.

Signing the petition is a great way to support our community, reduce crime, and help combat climate change. It also sends a strong message
of disapproval to the City of New Westminster for putting the Connaught Heights neighbourhood in limbo.

When you sign the petition, please be sure to include your house number and street in the comments section.

We thank you for considering this important matter and for your support for our cause.

For more information, please contact me at +1 604 788 5133 or email me at [email protected]

https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/time-to-increase-higher-density-around-the-22nd?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=with_create_button"e_id=quote4&title_id=title1&recruiter=20149673&loc=view-petition&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Valleerealestate # # #

04/13/2023

Come out and Support Our Comunity!

What a beautiful day it was yesterday! The cherry blossom was in full bloom and we took full advantage of it to hand deliver some flyers about an upcoming forum. We’d love for you to join us in supporting the community by attending.

Details about the forum can be found on the flyer. It promises to be a great event filled with lots of wonderful people. We hope to see you there!

04/04/2023

Show Your Support at Forum!

We invite you to mark this date in your calendar and join us at a special forum. Please bring your family and friends to show your support!

The forum is sure to entertain and educate all in attendance. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Information for April 25th Townhall Forum

Title: Townhall Forum:

Discussing Pros and Cons of Densification in Connaught Heights

Date: April 25th

Time: 6:30 doors open

7 pm to 9 pm (see agenda below)

Cost: Free to attend

Location: Queensborough Community Center (920 Ewen Ave)

Parking: Free onsite parking available



Join New West City Councillor Daniel Fontaine who will be hosting a special townhall forum and expert panel discussion regarding the pros and cons of densification in Connaught Heights. Everyone living/working in New Westminster is welcome to attend.



Connaught Heights is a low density single family neighbourhood and home to the 22nd Street SkyTrain. The community will soon be the subject of a formal Master Plan process. Join Coun. Fontaine at this special townhall forum to discuss with local residents how densification could transform Connaught Heights into a low carbon, vibrant neighbourhood that can become home to a much more diverse choice of housing.



Guest panelists:



· Michael Mortensen is a registered urban planner, director of Liveable City Planning Ltd. and adjunct professor at the UBC Sauder School of Business. Michael brings 20 years of urban planning and development experience to his work managing planning and development for transformative real estate projects in Greater Vancouver.

· Bryn Davidson is co-founder of Lanefab, an integrated design/build team crafting custom high performance homes in the Vancouver BC region and beyond.



AGENDA



Registration 6:30 to 7:00 pm

Introduction of guest panelists 7:00 to 7:05 pm

Presentations by two panelists 7:05 to 7:25 pm

Moderated Discussion 7:25 to 8:00 pm

Q&A session with attendees 8:00 to 8:50 pm

Closing remarks 8:50 to 8:55 pm