Sunday, November 17 | 2-4 PM |Century House, Queen’s Park – QPRA AGM

Tuesday, November 19 | 6:30 PM | City Hall Advisory Planning Commission Meeting

City Council – please come to 515 Fourth St. and see for yourselves – this lot is too small for the proposed design

Notice from City of New Westminster: A Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) application has been received for 515 Fourth Street in the Queen’s Park Heritage Conservation Area. The proposal includes Heritage Designation of the protected 1940 heritage house, in exchange for conversion of the house to a stratified duplex and the construction of a third, stratified infill house; creating a three-unit common property strata. The proposal would not increase the number of dwelling units allowed on the site, but would secure a different tenure (i.e. stratification for individual ownership). Further, Zoning Bylaw relaxations would be required to allow additional floor space for the infill house, a reduced front yard setback for the duplex, and a reduced number of on-site parking spaces.

While the renderings depict beautiful design (reference D3 – Dimension Drafting Design Inc.’s 515 Fourth St HRA Applicant Presentation and CHC On Table HRA application from 1May2019 CHC Meeting Agenda), this 6,044SF corner lot is actually too small to accommodate the two proposed dwellings. Under HCA incentives, there are viable alternatives that increase density and optimize the property’s beauty and functionality.

NWHPS supports managed density through the consistent application of New Westminster’s heritage development rules, particularly as they apply to protected properties.

With incentives, variances and design guideline support, heritage properties can be altered/revitalized to increase density while preserving the property’s economic, aesthetic and historic value to the City.  

The proposed design for 515 Fourth Street is akin to fitting a size 8 foot into a size 5 ½ shoe. Under HCA incentives, there are viable alternatives. The way the current house is sited on the lot is part of its intrinsic value.

At the end of the day, the question we have to ask residents is,  “What do you want the neighbourhood to look like in 20 years?”