Discover the Tri-Cities |
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If you just arrived in Vancouver and had to decide where to live, you would have a challenging decision on your hands. Virtually every municipality within the Metro Vancouver region has its own unique advantages and you could make a compelling case to live in any one of them, but in terms of housing costs, overall location and sheer natural beauty, its tough to beat the Tri-Cities. Located 10 to 15 km east of Vancouver with a combined population of just over 210,000 and growing, the three adjacent cities of Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, and Coquitlam collectively make up the vibrant sector of the Lower Mainland known as the Tri-Cities. Including neighbouring communities of Anmore and Belcarra, the area has deep historical roots dating back to the Caribou Gold Rush of 1858 and the origin of the transcontinental railroad in 1886, and boasts an enviable collection of lakes, parks, beaches and trails to keep even the most avid outdoor enthusiast occupied year round. Combine this with a bridgeless commute into Vancouver, housing prices that are well below Burnaby, Richmond, North Shore and Vancouver, and its no surprise that the area has boasted some of the highest growth rates in the last two decades. Coquitlam the City of Choice Centred in the heart of the Lower Mainland, Coquitlam is by far the largest of the three communities and has over 80 municipal parks and natural areas totalling over 2,200 acres. Known as a City of Choice due to its many business and recreational opportunities, parks, and rich culture and heritage, over the past 20 years Coquitlam has become one of the fastest growing municipalities in Metro Vancouver and according to the last Canadian Census is now the 5th largest urban centre in BC. Coquitlam Town Centre, the main commercial hub in the city, encompasses a 720-hectare area that includes over 9400 homes and an abundance of civic, cultural, and educational services including the City Centre Aquatic Complex, Percy Perry Stadium, Coquitlam City Hall, the David Lam campus of Douglas College, the Evergreen Cultural Centre, and the Pinetree Community Centre. The proposed Evergreen Skytrain line to be completed by 2014 will eventually connect Coquitlam to the Millenium Line with a total of six stations including stops at Douglas College and Coquitlam Station where it will intersect with the Westcoast Express near the Coquitlam Centre Mall. In addition to being a thriving commercial and residential area, the Town Centre area also offers a direct link to nearby hiking trails along Hoy Creek and the Coquitlam River and is minutes from spectacular golfing at Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club.Centred in the heart of the Lower Mainland, Coquitlam is by far the largest of the three communities and has over 80 municipal parks and natural areas totalling over 2,200 acres. Known as a City of Choice due to its many business and recreational opportunities, parks, and rich culture and heritage, over the past 20 years Coquitlam has become one of the fastest growing municipalities in Metro Vancouver and according to the last Canadian Census is now the 5th largest urban centre in BC. Coquitlam Town Centre, the main commercial hub in the city, encompasses a 720-hectare area that includes over 9400 homes and an abundance of civic, cultural, and educational services including the City Centre Aquatic Complex, Percy Perry Stadium, Coquitlam City Hall, the David Lam campus of Douglas College, the Evergreen Cultural Centre, and the Pinetree Community Centre. The proposed Evergreen Skytrain line to be completed by 2014 will eventually connect Coquitlam to the Millenium Line with a total of six stations including stops at Douglas College and Coquitlam Station where it will intersect with the Westcoast Express near the Coquitlam Centre Mall. In addition to being a thriving commercial and residential area, the Town Centre area also offers a direct link to nearby hiking trails along Hoy Creek and the Coquitlam River and is minutes from spectacular golfing at Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club. Port Coquitlam Surrounded by Rivers, Connected by Trails Best known as the hometown of Canadian hero Terry Fox, Port Coquitlam is a vibrant community of 57,000 plus with a picturesque natural setting, progressive business opportunities, and a small town spirit that offers an enjoyable living and working environment for residents of all ages. Over the last several years, Port Coquitlam has experienced a number of new commercial, industrial and residential developments including the revitalization of the downtown core along Shaughnessy Street, the completion of the new Coast Meridian Overpass, and the development of the Dominion Triangle Industrial Park which is home to Costco, Save on Foods, Home Depot, and other major retailers. Residents of Port Coquitlam have access to more than 266 hectares of parkland and an extensive system of outdoor trails that are ideal for cycling and hiking, and popular community attractions include the Fall Harvest Festival, the Hyde Creek Salmon Festival, the Leigh Square Community Arts Village, the Spirit of Port Coquitlam Celebration, and the Terry Fox Hometown Run thats held every September. Port Moody City of the Arts Located at the head of the Burrard Inlet and the foot of Eagle Mountain, this city of 30,000 residents is a convenient 40-minute drive from downtown Vancouver and offers an abundance of recreational facilities, parks, and access to nearby lakes including Buntzen Lake and White Lake Sasamat, along with 22km of trails at Belcarra Regional Park. The recently renovated Point Moody Recreation Centre offers an indoor running track, field house, gymnasium, spa, fitness centre and cycling studio to compliment two skating rinks and the existing curling rink, while Rocky Point Park is the perfect spot to launch your boat, have a picnic, take a walk along the Inlet Trail or enjoy the outdoor pool, playground and spray park. The smallest of the communities in the Tri-Cities, living in Port Moody is often compared to that of the North Shore with its mountain backdrop and convenient access to ocean activities including sea kayaking and boating. The growth and development of Newport Village and the more recent Suter Brook Village have contributed to the area becoming a centre for retail and high density residential housing with several new multi-family developments being completed over the last 10 years. With respect to housing the expansion of Coast Meridian Road and the development of the David Avenue Connector has lead to a surge in new housing at the base of Burke Mountain. The Foothills at Burke Mountain, a master planned community by Wesbild, has a handful of active multi-family, single family, and estate home developments in progress with a dozen other new home communities in various phases of construction nearby. Other new developments throughout the Tri-Cities include The Shaughnessy (Port Coquitlam), Oasis (Coquitlam) and The Residences at Suter Brook (Port Moody) by Onni, M1 (Coquitlam) by Cressey, Bridges and Kensal Walk (Coquitlam) by Polygon, Grand Central (Coquitlam) by Intergulf as well as Cascade at Westwood Plateau by Liberty Homes and the Brae on Burke Mountain by GTS Construction. Cascade at Westwood Plateau Nestled in Coquitlams most prestigious neighbourhood, Cascade features luxury two-bedroom concrete construction apartments starting from $380,000. With an exceptional setting and a distinctive architectural design, this Liberty Homes developed community boasts 1200 square foot homes, picturesque views, and a convenient location close to parks, schools and numerous recreational facilities. For more information visit www.libertyhomes.ca or drop by their sales centre at 2950 Panorama Drive in Coquitlam. The Brae on Burke Mountain Built by GTS Construction, the Brae on Burke Mountain offers a small community of 16 spacious character rowhomes with privately fenced backyards and detached garages from $524,900. Two different floorplans of just under 2200 sq ft are available, both with finished basements, nine-foot ceilings, natural gas fireplaces, granite countertops, hardwood flooring throughout the main floor and a host of other designer finishes. Located south of David Avenue at Coast Meridian Road, the Brae is also a non-Strata development which means no strata fees. For more information visit www.thebraedevelopment.com. Photo courtesy of the City of Port Moody |
