[Burnaby] UniverCity Area Developments

[metroXpress]

UniverCity on Burnaby Mountain
Overview



UniverCity on Burnaby Mountain is a model sustainable community neighbouring one of Canada’s premier educational institutions, Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Developed through a collaborative and integrated planning process, UniverCity is designed to be a compact, mixed-use and transit-oriented community founded on founded on our Four Cornerstones of Sustainability: Equity, Economy, Education and Environment.

The groundwork for UniverCity was laid in 1963, when Arthur Erickson and Geoff Massey submitted their initial plan for SFU. Complementing their vision for the mountain-top campus, their plan saw the new university anchoring a dense residential community. It took another 30 years before the implementation of this initial plan would begin with SFU agreeing to transfer of 332 hectares of University-owned land to the City of Burnaby to form part of the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. In return, the city approved an Official Community Plan in 1996, allowing SFU to begin developing a residential community, later named “UniverCity”.

The 1996 OCP envisions a dense, mixed-use community on approximately 65 hectares of land surrounding the SFU campus. It allows for up to 4,536 residential units in two distinct neighbourhoods to the south and east of SFU’s campus, each with its own elementary school and neighbourhood park. The OCP includes provisions for a commercial core, community facilities, and an extensive network of pedestrian paths and bike trails.

Throughout each stage of its design and development, key stakeholders worked to ensure that the new community would be one that integrates residential, commercial, and academic uses in a manner that benefits the University as well as fostering innovative solutions to sustainable community building. UniverCity is currently home to over 2,000 residents and is planned to accommodate more than 10,000 when fully built out.

While most parcels will accommodate market housing, some parcels will be developed as rental, non-market and affordable staff and faculty housing projects. Additionally, there are four mixed-used parcels along University High Street that combine residential development with office and retails uses in order to meet the day-to-day needs of residents and an expanding campus community.

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Current Developments

Altaire

Developed by Polygon Homes, Altaire will be an exclusive collection of 144 two bedroom residences features sleek contemporary interiors and expansive floor to ceiling windows set to complement the sweeping 360 degree panoramic views of the North Shore Mountains, Mount Baker, and the gulf islands.

Just steps to the campus of Simon Fraser University, Altaire is nestled in a serene mountain-top neighbourhood within walking distance of the numerous shops, services and restaurants of the UniverCity’s High Street village centre. Altaire is centrally located with direct transit links to Skytrain and easy access to the thriving town centres of Coquitlam, Burnaby and Port Moody.



For more information see the Polygon Homes website.
http://www.polyhomes.com/new_community.php?community_id=220


The HUB at UniverCity


Developed by Liberty Homes, the Hub is a contemporary mid-rise development featuring 146 studio, one and two bedroom units in a range of flats and townhomes with striking modern architecture and sleek interiors. Built to leading environmental standards, Liberty’s newest development offers uniquely responsible housing convientantly located in the Heart of the UniverCity Community.

The Hub will also be home to a 23,000 square foot Nesters Market which is set to open Spring 2009 offtering a wide selection of grocery products, a full-service pharmacy and urban-style café to neighbourhood residents.



For more information see the Liberty Homes website.
http://www.libertyhomes.ca/thehub


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Past Developments

The SFU Community Trust is developing UniverCity by offering zoned, serviced, subdivided sites to private sector developers on a prepaid, long-term (99-year) leasehold basis.

With homes for more than 2,200 residents now completed, the SFU Community Trust has a significant history of successful partnerships with many of the Lower Mainland’s largest and more respective residential developers. Past projects have included:

* One University Crescent – Developed by Millennium Development



* Harmony – Developed by Polygon Homes



* Novo One and Two – Developed by Intergulf Development Group




* Aurora – Developed by Polygon Homes



* Verdant – Developed by Vancity Enterprises



* Serenity – Developed by Polygon Homes