Owner of Burnaby's Metrotown mall wants to build 15 highrises on its site

They would be the first residential towers built on the actual Metropolis at Metrotown site — other highrises in the neighbourhood were constructed by other developers

Author of the article:

John Mackie

Published Apr 18, 2024  •  Last updated 5 hours ago  •  3 minute read

Metrotown may soon get bigger. A lot bigger.

A proposal unveiled by the Burnaby shopping centre’s owner Ivanhoe Cambridge shows 15 new highrise towers to be built on its 35-acre (14-hectare) site by 2054.

“In the first phase, the 15 towers, we’re looking at 12,000 units, of which 2,000 of those would be (aimed at) the City of Burnaby’s inclusionary rental (program), so affordable units,” said Maxime Allaire, the director of Asset Managment Retail at Ivanhoe Cambridge. “We’re estimating 20,000 people living in those units.”

This would be the first residential towers built on the actual Metropolis at Metrotown site — the other highrises in the surrounding neighbourhood were constructed by other developers.

The master plan for the site is still being worked out with the City of Burnaby, so Ivanhoe Cambridge has put its plans up on a new public engagement website to get feedback.

“This is the master plan, it’s establishing the vision for the site, building on the city’s downtown plan,” said Allaire. “We’re not at the stage of building out the buildings, that would require another stage of construction permits.”

There are no numbers in the online presentation detailing the height of the towers, but some appear to be 60 storeys or higher.

But that’s just a concept, nothing has been approved or even designed as yet.

“You can see by the renderings what we’re trying to aim for, but that’s still in discussion with the city,” said Allaire.

The Metropolis at Metrotown mall is situated between Kingsway, Central Boulevard, Station Street and Bonsor Avenue. The mall is in the middle of the site, and the new towers are to be built in “seven distinct parcels” in the northwest, southwest, southeast and eastern parts of the property over the next 30 years.

The last phase of the redevelopment will be the mall itself after 2054, “in parallel with the expiry of the leases of the significant anchor tenants.”

Until then, Metrotown will continue to operate as usual. It draws over 20 million people per year to its 341 stores and restaurants.

“It’s a mall that’s anchored in the community,” said Julie Bourgon, the head of retail at Ivanhoe Cambridge. “People come there to shop, to spend time, to gather with people on a rainy day. Our plan is to continue to provide such features for the community.”

Burnaby released a plan in 2017 that calls for Metrotown to become the city’s official downtown. The 2017 Metrotown plan said Burnaby is looking to add 125,000 people by 2041 as part of the Metro Vancouver Regional Growth Strategy, although it doesn’t say how many would be in the Metrotown area.

In its online presentation, Ivanhoe Cambridge said its development looks to provide “a focused core area of vibrant economic activity, amenities and public spaces.”

It has five “core” values: vibrant retail, access to nature, environmental and social sustainability, embracing the arts, and embracing connections.

The presentation said the development will feature an “improved pedestrian network” with a “walkable downtown.”

There will be open space through “a series of interconnected plazas and green spaces, linked to four gateway entrances on Kingsway and Central Boulevard.”

The plan also includes a neighbourhood park along Sussex Avenue.

jmackie@postmedia.com