New City Property

We like how the small city of New Westminster sits smack dab in the middle of the Metro-Vancouver area. We had faith in the future of downtown New West. as soon as we learned our way around. After arriving in Canada, we rented for nearly two years and then opted to purchase in a condo tower here. There were far fewer choices back in 1998. Over the boom years of the recent decade, the downtown has begun to flourish. New buildings aside, it is now a safer location with few boarded up businesses and a less rough feeling.


Still we're a bit cut off from the river. The mighty old Fraser is the reason for this community but there's a truck route, railroad tracks, and an ugly municipal parkade between our building and the river.

Yet, there's now a new glimmer of hope on the horizon. In recent weeks the city has announced it has repurchased land sold in the 1950's. In a prior era, fish canneries were on the site. It has been an abandoned area closed off to the public since our arrival. In fact, zoning once called for the creation of megatowers there. So, it's with a sign of relief that we learned it will become vital parkland for the city. I'm hoping the area, shown in a photo snapped this morning, will eventually be a pleasant place for a stroll. After all it's one of the areas seen from our balcony.