Coquitlam is putting two city-owned Burke Mountain development lots up for sale that have been primed and ready for construction.
The Smiling Creek neighbourhood lots total 9.5 acres and are already serviced, zoned for townhouses and with pre-paid community amenity contributions.
“These opportunities don’t come up that often in Metro Vancouver,” said Curtis Scott, Coquitlam’s manager of land development in a press release. “We’ve eliminated a lot of the risk by taking care of the rezoning. They’re development-ready.”
The city is nearing completion of Riley Park, a 3.5 acre site adjacent to the lots with a playground, plazas and pathways that is set to open in the fall. It will also be a short walk from the future 39-acre Burke Mountain Village which is planned to have a plaza, grocery store, recreation centre, shops and condos. The city also has plans for a coffee shop and what it calls a discovery centre across from Riley Park.
Coquitlam is making it clear to the buyers it has a "desired vision for the prime properties surrounding the future village." One lot is ready for approximately 70 units and the other would have about 96. The city's concept calls for a mix of townhouses, duplexes and triplexes.
“It’s not a piecemeal approach,” Scott said. “We are invested in this for the long haul, by doing the master planning to ensure elements the community wants and needs are realized.”
The city said approximately 13,000 residents already live in the area which will be getting two elementary schools and a middle/secondary school in the future.
“We’re moving forward with building that community,” Scott said. “The city is committed to this project. Burke Mountain is always going to be an area where people want to live.”
He said Coquitlam is not wavering from its long-term vision for the area and continues to develop roadways, parks and services. The city said the approach it is taking to this area gives it greater control over the development and provides a source of revenue. Requests for offers on the properties will be issued in the near future, said the city. More information can be found at coquitlam.ca/burkemtn and coquitlam.ca/landsales.
ggranger@tricitynews.com
