British Columbia history buffs might know that New Westminster was the capital of the Colony of British Columbia back in 1858. It is the oldest city in all of western Canada. Once the Mainland and Island Colonies merged in 1866, Victoria became the new capital. However, it continued to be the largest city on the mainland until the first decade of the 20th century when Vancouver passed it in population for the first and last time.
Nowadays, New Westminster is one of the top places within the greater Vancouver region. It's a fantastic place to live with lots of things to do, beautiful views, and many restaurants. Here are five pros and cons of living in this city of about 70,000 people.
Pro: Fantastic City For Families
Schools in School District 40, New Westminster, are excellent for children of all ages. Some of the schools, such as Connaught Heights, offer Montessori and Mainstream programs for students. Offering both tracks in a public school is unique and shows how much the New Westminster School District cares for its enrolled children.
New Westminster is also inviting for families in other ways. There are many things to do within the city, including the Fraser Discovery Centre along the river. There are many parks and trails, such as the Glenbrook Ravine Trail or the Westminster Pier Park, which has one of the most scenic boardwalks you'll ever experience. Restaurants in New Westminster are fantastic as well, with Thai New West, Wild Thyme, and Longtail Kitchen, all earning over four out of five stars on Google. Want Italian? No problem, there's Piva Modern Italian. Are you looking for Greek food? You might want to check out Taverna Greka, also located within the city.
There's the Royal City Farmer's Market, Tiny Tots performances at the Anvil Centre, and the Vancouver Circus School. Each of these activities represents a fun outing with the family, and they're all in beautiful New Westminster!
If you locate within New Westminster, you'll have many activities, food, and entertainment options at your fingertips!
Con: Although Less Expensive Than Vancouver, Real Estate Is Still Pricey
Vancouver and the surrounding areas are pricey for a good reason: this city is incredibly desirable. It's the sixth most livable city in the world, and it attracts tourists and immigrants from every country. Housing prices have risen in large part because of how amazing the city is.
New Westminster is no exception. An average detached home sits at $1.4 million. Townhomes run for $738,000, and condos go for $540k. While this pales in comparison to the average Vancouver home prices, it's still not ideal for most families.
Fortunately, there are ways either through provincial programs or federal ones to get you into a home. Discuss these with your real estate agent to learn more about the possibilities.
Pro: Many Public Transit Options
There are five SkyTrain stations in New Westminster: 22nd Street, Columbia, Braid, New Westminster, and Sapperton. The Columbia station is a transfer station that can take you up towards the Lougheed Town Centre in Burnaby or go east towards Surrey. All of these stations are along the Expo line and can transport you to the downtown area in under 40 minutes.
With that many SkyTrain stations in a city as small as New Westminster, you'll undoubtedly find that these stations are highly accessible. It's relatively easy to find a condo or home that is either walkable or a short bus ride to a SkyTrain station. If you work in Vancouver, it's hard to beat the convenience that New Westminster has for getting to the downtown area quickly.
Con: Patullo Bridge Traffic
Under the right circumstances, the Patullo Bridge can get badly backed up. When this happens, it can wreak havoc with local traffic in the western part of town since so many cars are waiting to get on the bridge. Part of the problem is that the Patullo bridge is very narrow and only has four lanes (two each way). Recently, the Surrey Board of Trade has come out in favour of expanding the number of car lanes, but that won't be for a few years, at least.
If you want to go to Surrey or further east towards Langley, you might find it challenging to do so by car at various times during the day. Hopefully, the new bridge (if and when the multiple governments approve its construction) will be able to carry more people in the future, and this issue will disappear.
Pro: The Neighbourhoods
Since New Westminster precedes Vancouver, there's a lot of character in each neighbourhood. There are heritage homes that have so much history and style compared with today's cookie-cutter housing projects. The communities are incredibly walkable as well. While New Westminster is in the middle in terms of crime (some places in the greater Vancouver area rank better, while others rank much worse), most people feel quite safe on the streets in this city. It has a friendly feel, even though New Westminster is a decent-sized city in its own right.
If You're Thinking of Moving to Vancouver, Consider New Westminster
When moving to the Vancouver area, you might initially consider the downtown area for its walkability, entertainment, and vibrant neighbourhoods. However, other cities outside of the Vancouver area also have these characteristics. New Westminster is one of them. It's a fantastic city for families, with fun, unique neighbourhoods. For people looking to commute into the city, the five SkyTrain stations will make that a breeze.
That's not to say that New Westminster is perfect, though. It's a pricier place to live, although most of Vancouver suffers from expensive housing. Additionally, since New Westminster acts as a "hub" in terms of traffic, there are places with issues. The Patullo bridge is one of those places. It's not uncommon to see significant traffic waiting to cross the narrow bridge.
Overall, most people who move to Vancouver and decide to settle in New Westminster love it. If you're looking to move to the city and want to explore what's in New Westminster, please give me a call or contact me via this website. I would be happy to listen to your housing desires and try and find the perfect place for you!
