News & Updates

June 10, 2017: We need a majority vote for the HCA from members of City Council to amend the Official Community Plan. We expect there will be some opposition at the Public Hearing and we need to balance this with evidence of wide support from the Queen's Park neighbourhood.... read more

If City Council does not approve a Heritage Conservation Area (HCA), we will be back to the status quo – where no house (other than a few designated properties which have significant restrictions on what exterior alterations can be made) will be protected and there will be no design requirements for new builds.... read more

City Council working to address concerns of homeowners with small homes in the proposed Queen's Park Conservation Area... read more

In her essay, Maureen Arvanitidis, a director with the New Westminster Heritage Preservation Society and a member of the Queen’s Park Working Group, discusses the need for a Heritage Conservation Area designation as the only effective way to manage demolitions, new construction, and exterior facade renovations on homes within the neighbourhood.... read more

The City of New Westminster is working to establish a conservation area for the Queen's Park neighbourhood, which proposes different levels of heritage protection for all single-family houses in the neighbourhood. The draft plan suggests advanced protection would be placed on homes built up until 1929, with homes from 1930 to 1949 having standard protection and houses built after 1950 having limited protection.... read more

After the demolition of one of Queen’s Park’s most beautiful homes — the 1926 Edward A. Riddell Cottage at 221 Third Avenue — in 2013, public outrage spurred action. The City of New Westminster responded by forming a working group of residents, business representatives, and heritage advocates to explore stronger ways to protect the neighbourhood’s historic character.... read more

A Heritage Conservation Area (HCA) is a distinct and recognizable neighbourhood defined by the historic and architectural value of its homes, streetscapes, and green spaces — including trees and boulevards. The goal of an HCA designation is to protect this unique character through tailored bylaws and property-use guidelines developed by the City in collaboration with local residents.... read more

Maureen Arvanitidis joined CBC’s Rick Cluff to discuss the proposed Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) for the historic 1897 Lynch property in the 200 block of Queen’s Avenue. The application before City Council seeks to subdivide the lot to allow construction of a new home facing Gifford Place, while preserving and restoring the original Queen’s Avenue residence.... read more

Following the 2013 demolition of a heritage property on Third Avenue, City Council established a working group to explore ways to preserve Queen’s Park’s historic homes. The group will meet monthly to develop strategies for reducing demolitions, promoting heritage retention, and educating residents about the value of preserving the neighbourhood’s character.... read more

Heritage homes are found in abundance across New Westminster’s historic neighbourhoods — from Queen’s Park and Sapperton to Downtown and Moody Park. After decades of restoration efforts and the introduction of city by-laws protecting heritage properties, these homes stand as examples of successful preservation and community pride.... read more