Downtown Port Coquitlam is undergoing a significant transformation. With roots in a vision laid out more than two decades ago, the City is breathing new life into its core through the ambitious Civic Centre redevelopment and associated public realm improvements. From revitalized parks to pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and engaging public spaces, the City’s renewed downtown is emerging as a dynamic, inclusive, and vibrant hub for residents, visitors, and businesses alike.
Reimagining the Heart of the City
The revitalization project zeroes in on Port Coquitlam’s Civic Centre—bounded by McAllister Avenue, Shaughnessy Street, Wilson Avenue, and Donald Street—as the focal point of its transformation. With the goal of creating a walkable, safe, and welcoming downtown, the City’s plans emphasize retaining the area’s historic charm while enhancing its commercial and residential appeal.
Key elements of the Civic Centre redesign include upgraded parks, improved pedestrian connections, modern streetscapes, and flexible event spaces that draw people downtown to live, shop, and socialize. Many of these projects are now complete, with others soon to follow.
McAllister Avenue: A Pedestrian-First Streetscape
Once a simple thoroughfare, McAllister Avenue has been redesigned as a one-way, eastbound street with a focus on foot traffic and street-level vibrancy. The reconstruction, completed in 2022, features wide sidewalks, patio-friendly storefronts, trees, public seating, underground utilities, and event-ready infrastructure like electrical hookups for food trucks and performers. The design’s emphasis on accessibility and celebration aligns with the broader vision for a lively, people-centric downtown.
Veterans Park and Leigh Square: Green Spaces That Welcome and Connect
At the heart of the Civic Centre lies the newly redeveloped Veterans Park, completed in June 2023. This open-concept green space now offers accessible pathways, improved lighting and safety sightlines, modern landscaping, and a repositioned cenotaph thoughtfully designed with input from the Royal Canadian Legion. It’s become a serene yet social space for residents and visitors alike.
Leigh Square, once a more utilitarian plaza, now thrives as an open festival space following its 2024 reopening. New features include accessible paths, additional seating, improved lighting, and a performance stage facing City Hall. A future playground is also in the works, helping to draw families into the fold and making the square a multi-generational gathering space.
The Donald Pathway extension, now completed, links these redeveloped spaces together and enhances walkability through the downtown core.
Community-Driven Design Backed by History
This revitalization journey is not a sudden pivot but the result of more than 25 years of planning. It builds on the Downtown Plan ’98, which first envisioned a dynamic city centre with pedestrian pathways, housing diversity, and vibrant civic spaces. Follow-up efforts like the 2003 Leigh Square study, the 2016 Cultural Plan, and the 2018 Downtown Concept Plan have all contributed to shaping today’s redevelopment priorities.
Public consultation has played a critical role in informing design choices. Feedback collected through surveys, stakeholder meetings, and public workshops directly influenced outcomes like increased event space, better traffic flow, and a greater emphasis on art and culture.
Strategic Spending and Smart Funding
Despite rising construction costs and pandemic-era supply chain challenges, the City of Port Coquitlam has kept its taxpayer burden impressively low. Of the $11.85 million invested in key Civic Centre projects, only about $360,000 came from local taxpayers. The bulk was covered through provincial restart grants, the Growing Communities Fund, and contributions from other external agencies including TransLink and the federal government.
To further future-proof the area, a Downtown Parking Strategy is in development. Slated to begin implementation in summer 2024, the strategy includes improving lighting and signage, adding off-street stalls, and encouraging alternative modes of transportation. It also seeks to shift long-term staff parking away from high-demand street spots, preserving those for shoppers and short-term visitors.
Private Sector Joins the Momentum
The City’s efforts are already attracting private development. The Quarry Rock Development at 2241-2251 McAllister Avenue has transformed a former parking lot into a five-storey mixed-use building with street-level commercial space, public plazas, and 63 new apartments. It’s a prime example of how public investment can stimulate complementary private projects that add to the vibrancy and livability of the downtown area.
A Welcoming Future for Port Coquitlam
Port Coquitlam’s Civic Centre revitalization is more than a facelift—it’s a strategic investment in the city’s social, economic, and cultural fabric. By carefully balancing heritage preservation with forward-thinking design, the City is creating a downtown that’s not only more attractive, but also more accessible, inclusive, and resilient.
Curious how this could shape the future of downtown Port Coquitlam? We’re keeping a close eye on transformative projects like this so our clients always stay informed. Want to be one of them?
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