22-storey condominium tower part of Aragon’s Queensborough plan

Wendy McLellan
Province

South-facing and surrounded by the Fraser River, Port Royal’s development will be complete in about six years.

The sleek condominium tower could fit into any urban centre, but it will dominate the skyline in Queensborough.

Set at the river’s edge, where the Fraser River splits into the south and north arms, the 22-storey tower is part of a huge new development on 20 hectares of former industrial lands at the eastern end of New Westminster’s Queensborough area.

Although highrises have been in the area’s official community plan for at least two decades and zoning for residential development includes as many as six highrises, the tower planned at Port Royal is the first.

It is also the only tower in the $500-million development by the Aragon Group and is higher than the maximum set out in the permit.

Aragon’s request for a height variance of about 12 metres will go before New Westminster’s city council Sept. 18.

The new residential community includes 1,000 new homes in various forms with riverfront walkways along two sides.

The tower is the last phase of the development, which is expected to be completed in about six years.

“When I first saw this land, I thought, ‘Wow, what a place.’ It is so beautiful,” said Aragon president Lenny Moy. “It’s south-facing, surrounded by river. What more could you ask for in a community you can put your imprint on?”

The development includes traditional single-family homes, garden apartments, lofts and the residential tower as well as courtyard homes and row houses. The row houses, which are attached freehold townhomes, rather than strata-titled, are a very recent style of housing for B.C., although they are common in eastern Canada.

The courtyard homes, which are more familiar to Californians, have four single-family homes sharing a common courtyard driveway with the garages tucked behind the houses.

Moy said the site, bordered by a railway that connects to Annacis Island, was a challenge to prepare for construction. After two years of preparation, construction is underway on the first two phases of the development and the sales office officially opens later this month.

Jim Hurst, New Westminster’s senior planning analyst, said that Aragon’s request for a height variance for its single tower has the support of the city’s design panel, which decided a slimmer profile and extra height will give the tower a more attractive look for what will become a landmark on the property directly across the river.

But some residents of the developments along New Westminster’s waterfront are less enthusiastic about the tower.

“This has been a green peninsula — just grass and trees,” said James Crosty, president of the Quayside Community Board, which represent nearly 2,000 strata unit owners.

“We knew it wasn’t going to last, but this is right in your face. It’s very artistically designed, but it’s the height. And it’s right at the closest edge of the river.”

© The Vancouver Province 2006

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