The last large tract of available land in Port Coquitlam is about to become the site of 1,000 new homes.
Along with the new residences, there will be retail and light industry space; which should create hundreds on new jobs and is being hailed the biggest master-plan neighbourhood in the Tri-Cities area.
“We think that the live-work-play that we’ve created here will be attractive for people to want to come to,” says Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore. “and we want to make sure it’s affordable.”
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The homes range in price from the $350,000 to $550,000 and roughly 1,000 people has already expressed interest. Home sales start next month but the plan is to release only 40 units for sale at first.
The development is bringing with it a half billion dollar investment with homes, a business park and retail space. It promises more than 1,300 long-term jobs but the question of this new development being a place where residents actually stay and work is yet to be answered.
“I think it’s pointing in the right direction,” says Gordon Price, city program director at Simon Fraser University. “If you have a project that is mixed use and densities – there are good examples of success not very far away.”
Another concern is transit. Currently, the growth of transit doesn’t match the needs of these kinds of communities.
“The priorities have been set at this point,” says Price. “… the decision has been made and the priority is on roads tunnels and bridges.”
The Port Coquitlam mayor hopes that projects like this will help his city move up a few notches on the regions ‘most livable’ list.
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