29-storey tower with affordable homes for artists approved for New Westminster
Earlier this week, New Westminster City Council approved Stage New Westminster, a mixed-used redevelopment that provides the downtown area with 245 new homes.
The project site at 813-823 Carnarvon Street – a light industrial site surrounded by tall buildings – is directly across from SkyTrain’s New Westminster Station and a future Chinese-themed public park and garden, which is part of another proposed tower redevelopment.
Local developer Domus Homes has partnered with GBL Architects to design a 290-ft-tall tower with 29 storeys with 190 market condominium units and a seven-storey mid-rise building with 50 non-market rental units.
The non-market rental units will be constructed for non-profit organization Performing Arts Lodges (PAL), which provides ‘veterans of the performing arts industry’ with affordable housing. When complete, these units for musicians, dancers, actors, writers, and artists – with the priority being for veteran artists 55 years or older – will be operated by PAL.
Close to 40% of the market units will have two bedrooms or more to satisfy the municipality’s Family-Friendly Housing Policy. The market unit mix is 118 one-bedroom apartments, 54 two-bedroom units, 10 three-bedroom townhouses, and 13 three-bedroom apartments.
All of the non-market housing are single bedroom units as this component of the project is exempt from City requirements.
There will be a small commercial component of 6,100-sq-ft of retail and restaurant space on the ground level at the southwest corner of the property, where a small public plaza will be built.
Along the Victoria Street ground-level face of the complex, a mural with a yet-to-be-determined design that celebrates the Chinese community is planned. The location is strategic as it is directly across the street from the future Chinese-themed public park and garden.
Altogether, the planned total floor area on the 26,100-sq-ft lot is 202,275 sq. ft., which provides the project with a floor space ratio (FSR) density of 7.75. About 300 underground parking stalls will be built to support the project.
See also
- 29-storey residential tower with park proposed for downtown New Westminster
- Classical Chinese public garden and park proposed for New Westminster
- Giant new tower proposed for New Westminster waterfront
- Central City Tower 2: Major new office tower proposed for Surrey City Centre
- Massive 50-storey education campus for international students planned for Surrey City Centre
- This new hotel tower is now the tallest building in Surrey (PHOTOS)