By: Theresa McManus
March 7, 2025
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters and Club Pilates will be among the businesses moving into uptown New West in early 2026.
On March 7, PC Urban Properties Corp. held a ceremony to mark a milestone in the construction of its 29-storey concrete tower in Uptown New West.
The project, located on Sixth Street between Princess and Seventh streets, will include 338 purpose-built rental homes. Ten units of affordable housing will be operated by the Seniors Services Society of BC.
Kirk Robinson, senior vice-president of development at PC Urban, said the “stars aligned” on this project, which is running on schedule. He said that’s good news for residents who will be moving into the building and community members who will be able to enjoy the new commercial services provided in the ground-floor spaces.
“We have really good group of retailers coming in, like JJ Bean and Club Pilates; a great ramen place,” he told the Record. “We only have one space left, and we have a whole list of people who want it. It (interest) was off the charts.”
Robinson said the final tenant has yet to be selected.
“It gives us an opportunity to kind of a little bit pick and choose and curate the space a little bit,” he said. “To be fair, having those services helps us with renting the apartments, but it’s also good for the community.”
Robinson said construction will wrap up in December and people will start moving in in early in 2026.
According to Robinson, one of the smaller retail units is being provided to New West Family Place. He said the non-profit will have to pay its share of electricity and operating costs, but it won’t have to pay rent for the first five years for its 500-square-foot space.
Reaching the top
Robinson said topping-off parties are a tradition when construction projects reach the top and are held to recognize the efforts of all of the workers.
“This happens almost on every project,” he said. “This is my 35th year, and I have to say … it’s the most drama free, on time, on schedule project I’ve ever experienced.”
Along with a barbecue lunch, workers had a chance to win raffle prizes including gift certificates and a television.
Brent Sawchyn, CEO of PC Urban Properties, said the company is grateful to its construction partners at Marcon and to the City of New Westminster for their key role in helping the project to this point.
“The City of New Westminster is pleased to support PC Urban Properties, and the first major new residential development in Uptown in a decade. With the long-term commitment to market rental and walkable commercial space, this new project will meet the housing needs of our growing community and bring a refreshed streetscape to Uptown,” Mayor Patrick Johnstone said in a news release. “This project has a well-integrated and accessible design that aligns with the city’s official community plan and will be a great addition to the neighbourhood.”
Founded in 2010, PC Urban Properties is a Vancouver-based real estate development company. It has developed more than $3.5 billion of projects but this is its first in New Westminster.
“We want to do more in New West,” Robinson said. “New West has been great. The planning department’s been great to work with. We always have our little negotiations, but on balance, they’ve been fantastic.”
