Massey Victory Heights Street Lighting Replacement Project

 

Preserving Heritage Street Lights in Massey Victory Heights

York Street, Massey Victory Heights neighbourhood -- source: MVHRA

The replacement of heritage-style street lights in Massey Victory Heights (MVH) has been a longstanding issue raised by the MVH Residents Association. This spring, residents learned that the City of New Westminster plans to proceed with replacing them with modern, taller poles, featuring a davit arm extending from a vertical pole to support an LED street light fixture. The change is part of a city-wide infrastructure upgrade -- but many residents were caught off guard, feeling there was little opportunity to provide input.

The project area spans East 10th to East 8th Avenue, between McBride Boulevard and Chilliwack Street, with construction expected to begin in late May 2025 and continue through the fall. The City cites safety, efficiency, and maintenance concerns: the current lights use outdated wiring that’s difficult to repair, and the new design allows for fewer, taller poles with warm LED lighting.

Still, the loss of the low, post-top heritage lights -- a defining feature of MVH’s postwar-era charm -- is a blow to the neighbourhood’s historic character. The Massey Victory Heights Residents Association (MVHRA) has expressed frustration over the lack of consultation, the limited design options offered, and the uncertainty about exactly which poles will be removed.

Heritage New West shares these concerns and supports MVHRA’s request for a meaningful conversation with the City before changes are finalized. Some residents have asked whether a mix of old and new poles could be considered, or if key heritage pieces might be saved and maintained at their current locations. 

City Engineering has suggested it may consider retaining one sample capped-top streetlight. Both Heritage New West and the MVHRA believe the heritage value of these fixtures should be considered in infrastructure projects alongside priorities like safety and energy efficiency, as they contribute to the neighbourhood’s identity and reflect its historical role in New Westminster’s development.

Heritage New West will continue advocating for a better balance between modernization and preservation — and a process that gives neighbourhoods a voice in shaping their future.

Examples of Heritage Street Lights in Massey Victory Heights

Photo gallery: Massey Victory Heights Residents Association

Left: Massey Victory Heights streetscape c. 1950s - note glass globe top to right of house; middle: capped-top street light installed c. 1980s; right: sodium street light in background (current) and its gradual successor, the LED street light, in foreground.

See also: MVH Residents Sign Petition to Save Neighbourhood’s Heritage Light Standards May 30, 2025