Development has been the buzz word in Squamish this Spring, with construction on Newport Beach beginning, threats to close down 400 acres of mountain bike trails if Squamish’s largest privately owned parcel of land is unable to commence development, and a derelict downtown Squamish building to be transformed into a six-story European style complex. If you missed the news on April 1st there was also talk of a $7 billion Disney inspired ski resort for Squamish (story here) April Fools!
It is no longer a question of if Squamish will transform with all of the upcoming development, it is the extent of the transformation and impact that this will this have on the town. Here is all the big news in development for the month of April in Squamish.
Newport Beach (Oceanfront Development)
The first building of the much-anticipated Newport Beach will be commencing construction in the coming weeks. A Green Technology Centre, which will be located on the West Side of the oceanfront peninsula, is getting underway. It will be a four-story concrete and glass building with commercial on the ground floor and three levels of laboratory space above. The Green Tech Centre had its building permit passed by Council on Tuesday night. This is the first of many building permit approvals to be passed as part of the 20-year project.
The Green Technology Centre will include 140,000 sq.ft. of employment space, a partially green roof, a rooftop deck and wind technology. The building will be an innovation hub and will likely attract a University campus. The University of British Columbia (UBC) is the front-runner for the space; however, this is contingent on the building being ready to go by 2018 amongst other things.
Future stages of construction on Newport Beach will include 21 acres of public park, public and community space, commercial and retail, and residential space to accommodate approx. 6,500 residents.
Contact us for associated files on this project.
Britannia Beach
Squamish’s sleepy neighbour to the south may be getting a face-lift. The seaside community of Britannia Beach, which is a quick 35 minutes drive to Vancouver, will be getting a new downtown hub which is set to include 68-72 townhomes, and a promenade with restaurants and shops. Watch this space for more info.
The Main
If you’re hoping to get a piece of The Main you better hurry! As of last week there were under 10 condos remaining in this highly desirable downtown project which is set to complete in 2018. There are some premium positioned condos still available with stunning ocean and mountain views (2 bedrooms), plus one or two smaller floorplans remaining. This is the only new condo project in downtown Squamish that will complete in 2018. Sirocco should follow however pre-sale dates, pricing and completion is not known.
Seven Peaks
Seven Peaks wins the award for Squamish’s best kept townhome secret. The siding is up and they are months away from completion, yet floorplans and pricing have yet to be released. We are expecting this any day now! Make sure to follow us on Facebook to be the first to know when pre-sales launch.
Summits View
Phase two of the final phase of Eaglewind has been released! If you are looking for a three-bedroom townhome in downtown Squamish with garage and a small yard, these are your best option. Eaglewind is set amongst 25 acres of parklands and features tennis courts, playground, trails, bocce ball court, community gardens, and some retail/ commercial. It is an extremely child friendly neighbourhood and walking distance to everything downtown Squamish.
Ravenswood
Phase two of Ravenswood is selling out quickly! These present excellent value for a West Coast style single family home in Squamish (under $1M including GST). As of the other day there were only 4 lots remaining while some were still pending. Check out the siteplan here. If you’re interested in viewing the display homes make sure to contact us.
Cheema Lands
Cheema Lands which is 400 acres of privately owned land (the largest privately owned parcel of land in Squamish) has caused a stir in the Squamish community. The lands, which are owned by the Cheema Family, also happen to be home to Squamish’s most extensive trail network used for mountain biking, races, competitions and other outdoor pursuits.
The land owner, Bob Cheema, is threatening to stop public access on the land if the District of Squamish does not allow him to develop it. According to the current Official Community Plan, the land is not eligible for development until the town’s population reaches 22,500 (currently it is just over 20,000). There is a motion to drop the cap and have the land developed, if this does not happen Bob Cheema is threatening to close the land to public access, stating his liability is too great with the land in its current state. If the District is to allow development he has committed a million dollars to upgrading the current trail network on the land.
Mid-April the Council will discuss the Cheema lands and population cap in a meeting reviewing the current Official Community Plan (OCP). The final OCP which will dictate development moving forward including issues related to the population cap won’t be finalized until this summer at the earliest. It is likely that Bob Cheema will shut down trails in the meantime, which would be catastrophic to the recreation industry in Squamish.
More Condos for Downtown Squamish
Those familiar with Squamish will remember the old medical building on Pemberton Ave near the Chieftain Centre. It has been sitting as an eye sore for many years and if the Council approves the development permit, the site will transform into a six-story building featuring 73 condos plus commercial. The building will be European in style with a courtyard, lots of windows while embracing the natural elements surrounding. Contact us for project files.
Find out everything you need to know about buying a new development in Squamish and if you’re a first time buyer make sure to read this.
As always, any questions about the Squamish real estate market or if you’re looking to purchase a new development make sure to contact the Team at Move to Squamish to assist you!
- DUPLEX FOR SALE: 38035 Sixth Avenue & 38033 Seventh Avenue - December 5, 2019
- Squamish Real Estate Stats | March 2019 - April 14, 2019
- Buying Pre-Sale or Re-Sale | Weighing up the Pros and Cons - April 14, 2019