The New Westminster City Council held a special meeting on Oct. 28 to deliberate on the Columbia Square Development, a transformative downtown project that would be the city’s largest to date. The development, which would bring new residential and commercial spaces, along with much needed green space and a possible school site. It is seen as a keystone project for accommodating anticipated growth.

Deni Loubert – Local Journalism Initiative

Mayor Patrick Johnstone emphasized the importance of focusing development around transit hubs to support New Westminster’s future population increases. “New Westminster’s population is expected to increase by nearly 30% in the next 15 years, and it’s vital that we plan sustainably to support that growth. Developing in transit-centered areas like Columbia Square is the responsible choice to reduce congestion and lower emissions,” Johnstone said.

This special meeting was called after the developer unexpectedly proposed significant housing commitments at the prior council session, pledging that 20% of the residential units would be designated as rental housing, and 3% of all units would be reserved for low-income residents. It emphasized this would not affect the density bonus offering. This commitment to affordability has moved the proposal closer to the master plan stage.

“This development is more than just housing—it’s an investment in our downtown’s infrastructure,” Johnstone added, linking to the city’s regional growth strategy. With New Westminster’s population projected to rise from 80,000 to over 104,000 by 2040, the council is weighing how best to balance rapid growth with community needs.

For more details on the Columbia Square Development, visit the official site here.