Work on the new Uptown Plaza may be causing traffic jams today, but it’s envisioned to be a gathering space for community members when construction is complete.
Work on the permanent Uptown Plaza on Belmont Street and the Sixth Street public realm improvements began at the end of February and is expected to take about six months, weather permitting. The project, which is estimated to cost $3.6 million, is taking place on Sixth Street (between Belmont Street and Sixth Avenue) and on Belmont Street (between Sixth and Seventh streets).
“The Uptown Plaza and Sixth Street improvements will transform Sixth Street between Belmont Street and Sixth Avenue, and the east portion of Belmont Street into a vibrant, accessible, and welcoming space for residents and visitors to Uptown,” said Erika Mashig, deputy director of parks, policy and planning.
According to City of New Westminster, key improvements of the Uptown Plaza include:
- Expanded pedestrian areas and improved accessibility.
- Social gathering spaces on Sixth Street with seating, tables, street trees and new lighting.
- Flexible space for parking and activations.
- 26 new street trees that have been selected for their adaptability to changing climate and will be planted in a healthier growing environment.
- A permanent Uptown Plaza on Belmont Street.
“Community input between 2021 and 2023, including feedback on the interim plaza, has been essential in shaping the final design,” Mashig said. “This project implements recommendations of the Uptown Streetscape Vision and aligns with the city's master transportation plan and Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action.”
Work on the Uptown Plaza is being done in three phases:
Phase 1:
- Sixth Street (south/west) – site preparation, tree protection, utility work (storm, sanitary, water), and initial demolition.
- Belmont Plaza – site preparation, storm drainage, irrigation, and underground utility work.
Phase 2:
- Sixth Street (south/west) – concrete curbs, sidewalks, electrical work, and landscaping preparation.
- Uptown Plaza – concrete work, lighting, and plaza furniture installation.
- Sixth Street (north/east) – utility work, demolition, and road preparation.
Phase 3:
- Sixth Street (north/east) – road paving, concrete finishing, and lighting installation.
- Uptown Plaza – final landscaping, street furniture installation, and finishing touches.
“While we endeavour to minimize disruptions, there may be disruptions of varying degrees at different phases of the project to continue allowing the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles, and to ensure the safety of construction crews,” Mashig said. “Key priorities will be maintaining access to transit and businesses in the area, as well as keeping buses and general traffic moving through Uptown, throughout the duration of the project.”
As part of this project, the southbound bus stop on Sixth Street, just south of Sixth Avenue, has been relocated north to Princess Street to accommodate the new Uptown Plaza’s pedestrian-oriented streetscape.
“This new bus stop at Princess Street will be rebuilt with a wider sidewalk, street furnishings, and trees as part of the long-term design,” Mashig said.
When construction of the new Uptown Plaza began at the end of February, some residents were surprised to see the previous street trees removed.
According to the City of New Westminster, an arborist’s assessment found that the existing 21 trees were nearing the end of their lifespan and would not survive the construction. The city stated the new trees are better adapted to climate change and urban conditions, and improved soil and growing conditions will help them thrive.
What about uptown events?
Mike Anderson, the city’s transportation manager, said the work being done on this part of Sixth Street does not includes bike lanes. Cyclists will continue to share the road with motor vehicles.
Some residents have questioned what construction means to annual events in the Uptown, including the Hyack Parade, and the Uptown Live and the Recovery Day festivals.
“We are in discussion with Hyack Parade organizers and are expecting the parade to continue as planned,” Anderson said in a statement to the Record. “The block of Sixth Street that is under construction will have restricted viewing opportunities, but the remainder of the parade route will be unaffected. That said, it will be up to the organizers to decide whether they would like to propose any adjustments to the parade in light of the construction.”
According to Anderson, the city has been notified that Uptown Live won’t be happening this year; organizers, however, are working on plans for continued activations in the Uptown through the summer.
“We expect construction to be complete around the usual time of Recovery Day,” he said, “and will work with the organizers once we have confirmation of their plan to hold the event this year.”
Final plan?
The City of New Westminster first began creating pedestrian-oriented spaces on Belmont Street nine years ago.
In July 2016, the city created a temporary parklet that included an artificial lawn where people could play games and sit in Adirondack chairs, as well as a wood decking area featuring bistro tables. Located next to the Tim Hortons on Belmont Street, that space included movable tables and chairs and planters to buffer the space from the vehicular traffic on Belmont Street; at that time, Belmont Street was changed from two-way to one-way traffic.
From the get-go, some area residents expressed concern the parklet would exacerbate already existing nuisance behaviours and crime (such as drug dealing) on Belmont Street.
In the spring of 2019, the city received a petition signed by 120 residents, businesses and business patrons expressing "distress" over the activities taking place in the parklet and seeking action to address their concerns. Those complaints included late-night gatherings, smoking, and drug use.
After meeting with stakeholders, the city concluded the parklet needed to be redesigned. In July 2019, the revamped parklet opened.
The newly designed space featured a smaller deck area and an expanded greenspace, including more planted areas and trees. The movable tables and chairs were replaced with fixed seating and the concrete barriers around the parklet were replaced with tree planters.
In March 2023, council supported a “refresh” of the space on Belmont Street. That included painting of the pavement and the installation of picnic tables.
Those interim works were considered temporary until a permanent uptown streetscape was constructed. (In November 2020, council endorsed the Uptown streetscape vision and in November 2021, the city began engaging with the community about public realm design elements proposed on Sixth Street, from Sixth Avenue to Belmont Street.)
The streetscape improvements on Belmont Street, Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue — the work that is now underway — is part of the Sixth Street Great Street initiative, which envisions a people-centred public realm.
“The city has been implementing public realm improvements on Belmont Street since 2016. Improvements included a parklet, a partial street closure and culminated in a full street closure and temporary plaza in 2023,” Mashig said. “The interim plaza served as a valuable opportunity to test concepts and gather community feedback, which has directly informed the design of the permanent Uptown Plaza.”
So, what’s happening to Belmont Street?
“The current painted asphalt surface of the interim plaza will be replaced with banded concrete paving that seamlessly transitions from the adjacent sidewalks,” Mashig said. “In response to community input, the permanent plaza design includes seating, social space, trees and enhanced green areas, shade, adaptable lighting, and provisions for small-scale community events and markets.”
Note: City staff say the design details have evolved since these illustrations (shown here) were prepared, but they still reflect the general outcomes of the project — wider sidewalks, healthier trees, new lighting, and more places for people to sit. The plaza space on Belmont Street will be somewhat more open than the rendering suggests, with the intent to make the space more flexible and to enable small-scale public events.
