Uptown Plaza and Sixth Street Public Realm Improvements

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Consultation has concluded

Project Update, December 2023: The full What We Heard engagement summary report is now available! Click here to read about the engagement activities and all the input we heard from community members through pop-ups, business visits, workshops, and an online survey. The project team is now working to apply the feedback to the final designs for Uptown Plaza and Sixth Street, and construction is planned for 2024.



Project Update, October 10, 2023: The final round of community engagement for Sixth Street and Uptown Plaza has concluded. Many thanks to all who took time to talk with the project team at our pop-ups, business visits, and workshops, and to all who completed the survey.

See below for a sneak preview of the survey results! A comprehensive report about the engagement process and full engagement results will be shared here in the coming weeks. The project team will also work to refine and finalize the designs for the Sixth Street public realm improvements and permanent Uptown Plaza based on your input. Construction is currently planned for 2024.















Project Update, September 18, 2023: The project team has developed designs for the public realm improvements on Sixth Street and the permanent Uptown Plaza. 

We need your feedback to help the project team finalize the designs!


A graphic showing the proposed future of Sixth Street in Uptown New West, with various features such as wider sidewalks, seating areas, trees, lighting and more. 



A graphic showing the proposed design for the permanent Uptown Plaza on Belmont Street.


Click here to view the designs in more detail.


Since 2021, community engagement has been an important part of the project to ensure that design elements reflect the community’s needs and priorities so that Sixth Street and the Uptown Plaza are welcoming to all.

Key themes from previous community engagement have been incorporated into:

  • the proposed Sixth Street public realm improvements design, including new and expanded sidewalks, new lighting, improved crosswalks, more street trees and greenery, accessible parking spaces, and more
  • the proposed permanent Uptown Plaza design, including seating options, new lighting, open programmable spaces, street trees, and more.

Share your feedback on the designs!

  • Take our online survey, open now until October 9, 2023
  • Stop by our pop-up events:
    • Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 1:00-3:00 pm at Uptown Plaza (located on Belmont Street) Note: due to wind, this pop-up was relocated to inside Westminster Centre. We are sorry if we missed you.
    • Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 pm outside of Westminster Centre, 555 Sixth Street
  • Join a workshop:
    • In-person: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 from 5:30-7:00 pm at New Westminster Public Library (716 Sixth Avenue)
    • Virtual: Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 6:00-7:30 pm

We look forward to hearing from you.



Project Overview

Changes are coming on Sixth Street and in Belmont Plaza in Uptown! This project will reimagine Sixth Street between Sixth Avenue and Belmont Street, and Belmont Plaza, to orient this area more clearly towards the public realm and walking, with more flexible uses and improved accessibility. 

Proposed features include an expanded, permanent Belmont Plaza, widened sidewalks, improved lighting, more seating, temporary road closures for special events, and prioritization for pedestrians at the intersection of Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue.

While this project previously focused on this block of Sixth Street, based on feedback from the community we have now combined the project to include both public realm improvements on Sixth Street and an expanded Belmont Plaza. We want to be sure these public spaces work well together.

We’re taking feedback from earlier (2021) engagement on Sixth Street and more recent (summer 2022) engagement on Belmont Plaza to develop two concepts for the plaza space and refine the designs for Sixth Street. The options and designs will be presented to the public for feedback later in 2023.

This project takes direction from the vision set in the City of New Westminster’s Council-approved Uptown Streetscape Vision to create “a vibrant commercial district with a distinct identity, accessible and sustainable transportation, as well as inviting and engaging public spaces that are welcoming to all people." While initial plans for in-person consultation on the Uptown Streetscape Vision were postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, engagement with key stakeholders took place in June 2020. Click here to read the Uptown Streetscape Vision Key Stakeholder Engagement Summary Report.

This project aligns with the City’s Master Transportation Plan goals and Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action - specifically, Car-light Community, Quality People-Centred Public Realm, and Robust Urban Forest.

Project Update, December 2023: The full What We Heard engagement summary report is now available! Click here to read about the engagement activities and all the input we heard from community members through pop-ups, business visits, workshops, and an online survey. The project team is now working to apply the feedback to the final designs for Uptown Plaza and Sixth Street, and construction is planned for 2024.



Project Update, October 10, 2023: The final round of community engagement for Sixth Street and Uptown Plaza has concluded. Many thanks to all who took time to talk with the project team at our pop-ups, business visits, and workshops, and to all who completed the survey.

See below for a sneak preview of the survey results! A comprehensive report about the engagement process and full engagement results will be shared here in the coming weeks. The project team will also work to refine and finalize the designs for the Sixth Street public realm improvements and permanent Uptown Plaza based on your input. Construction is currently planned for 2024.















Project Update, September 18, 2023: The project team has developed designs for the public realm improvements on Sixth Street and the permanent Uptown Plaza. 

We need your feedback to help the project team finalize the designs!


A graphic showing the proposed future of Sixth Street in Uptown New West, with various features such as wider sidewalks, seating areas, trees, lighting and more. 



A graphic showing the proposed design for the permanent Uptown Plaza on Belmont Street.


Click here to view the designs in more detail.


Since 2021, community engagement has been an important part of the project to ensure that design elements reflect the community’s needs and priorities so that Sixth Street and the Uptown Plaza are welcoming to all.

Key themes from previous community engagement have been incorporated into:

  • the proposed Sixth Street public realm improvements design, including new and expanded sidewalks, new lighting, improved crosswalks, more street trees and greenery, accessible parking spaces, and more
  • the proposed permanent Uptown Plaza design, including seating options, new lighting, open programmable spaces, street trees, and more.

Share your feedback on the designs!

  • Take our online survey, open now until October 9, 2023
  • Stop by our pop-up events:
    • Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 1:00-3:00 pm at Uptown Plaza (located on Belmont Street) Note: due to wind, this pop-up was relocated to inside Westminster Centre. We are sorry if we missed you.
    • Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 pm outside of Westminster Centre, 555 Sixth Street
  • Join a workshop:
    • In-person: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 from 5:30-7:00 pm at New Westminster Public Library (716 Sixth Avenue)
    • Virtual: Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 6:00-7:30 pm

We look forward to hearing from you.



Project Overview

Changes are coming on Sixth Street and in Belmont Plaza in Uptown! This project will reimagine Sixth Street between Sixth Avenue and Belmont Street, and Belmont Plaza, to orient this area more clearly towards the public realm and walking, with more flexible uses and improved accessibility. 

Proposed features include an expanded, permanent Belmont Plaza, widened sidewalks, improved lighting, more seating, temporary road closures for special events, and prioritization for pedestrians at the intersection of Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue.

While this project previously focused on this block of Sixth Street, based on feedback from the community we have now combined the project to include both public realm improvements on Sixth Street and an expanded Belmont Plaza. We want to be sure these public spaces work well together.

We’re taking feedback from earlier (2021) engagement on Sixth Street and more recent (summer 2022) engagement on Belmont Plaza to develop two concepts for the plaza space and refine the designs for Sixth Street. The options and designs will be presented to the public for feedback later in 2023.

This project takes direction from the vision set in the City of New Westminster’s Council-approved Uptown Streetscape Vision to create “a vibrant commercial district with a distinct identity, accessible and sustainable transportation, as well as inviting and engaging public spaces that are welcoming to all people." While initial plans for in-person consultation on the Uptown Streetscape Vision were postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, engagement with key stakeholders took place in June 2020. Click here to read the Uptown Streetscape Vision Key Stakeholder Engagement Summary Report.

This project aligns with the City’s Master Transportation Plan goals and Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action - specifically, Car-light Community, Quality People-Centred Public Realm, and Robust Urban Forest.

Consultation has concluded
  • Project update, March 2023

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    Project update, March 2023: Work is ongoing to develop a permanent design for public realm improvements on Sixth Street and an expanded Uptown Plaza, based on what we heard through community engagement in 2021 and 2022.

    While we work on this permanent design, the City will implement an interim plaza space this spring using the full width of Belmont Street and extending from Sixth Street to the laneway mid-block between Sixth and Seventh streets. The expanded space will enable community events and other programming to take place in the plaza during summer 2023, and to give people a chance to experience and get used to a bigger plaza. We’ll be asking for your feedback following the summer activities in the expanded space!

    Interim changes to the plaza this spring will include the addition of tables and seating, and removal of some of the existing elements in the space to make it more flexible for both neighbourhood gathering and opportunities for events and activities. Temporary water and power connections have also been installed to support more community programming.

    These interim changes will enable the community to experience a larger plaza in the Uptown neighbourhood with better opportunities for community use – for example, small markets, musical performances, recreational activities, etc. – and to get used to traffic and parking changes. The expanded plaza will also allow the City to learn about the community’s interest to program and use the space through a summer season.

    We’ll be seeking feedback on your experiences in Uptown Plaza this summer when we re-engage the community on this project in fall 2023. This feedback will help inform the design of the future permanent Uptown plaza.

  • Belmont Plaza - Engagement Results

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    Project Update, October 4, 2022: Thank you to everyone who participated in the July 2022 engagement around changes to the Belmont Plaza. The project team is pleased to share the What We Heard Report, which outlines the engagement activities and key themes of feedback from participants.

    Key engagement activities included:

    • On-site engagement with the community
    • On-site project promotion during Uptown Live
    • Door-to-door visits to neighbouring businesses
    • Email and phone outreach to key stakeholders
    • Two pop-up engagement events at the plaza
    • Two in-person co-design workshops


    In addition to hearing community feedback and ideas for the future permanent plaza, we conducted a study of how the space is currently being used and the experiences of people who currently use Belmont Parklet. Click here to review the findings of the Public Life Study.


    Key Takeaways

    Through our various engagement activities this summer, we heard a lot of community excitement about plans for an expanded and improved public plaza on Belmont Street. However, some key concerns about the existing space were also confirmed through these conversations. These include smoking, sidewalk gatherings (i.e. creating an obstacle for people walking by), loud motorcycles, litter, the misuse of adjacent parking stalls, street closures and noise levels at nighttime. We also heard a number of inquiries about how changes to the street would impact access for emergency vehicles. We have since confirmed with New Westminster Fire & Rescue Services that the proposed street changes can be accommodated without impacting access or safety.

    The project team recognizes that design of the plaza can help address some of these challenges, but the engagement findings have highlighted the need for collaboration with maintenance staff, by-law enforcement, and community champions to create a comfortable space for everyone. We are working with multiple city departments to consider how plaza management – and community stewardship of the plaza – may work in conjunction with the future plaza design.

    Meanwhile, we heard from community members this summer that the following features are priorities for a refreshed parklet until the permanent plaza is constructed in 2024:

    • More seating (including flexible / movable seating)
    • Shade / weather protection
    • Additional greenery
    • Ensuring a welcoming environment
    • Events and activations such as music, food trucks, etc.
    • Ongoing maintenance and upkeep

    Community input will be incorporated as the project team plans for a refresh of the parklet in spring 2023.


    Next Steps

    Based on community feedback, the project team has paused the interim improvements planned for this fall. We are taking the time to coordinate across City departments and planning for the next spring/summer season at the Belmont Parklet. Community members may notice some small changes in the parklet this fall, and in the spring we plan to improve the space, with a larger scale refresh, for an exciting summer in Uptown!

    Engagement on the permanent plaza, followed by detailed design, is also expected in 2023.

  • Belmont Plaza - Project Overview

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    July 2022

    Context

    The existing interim plaza on Belmont St was implemented in 2016 as a way to assess whether a partial street closure and new public space would be supported and used by the community. It is appreciated by many residents and is very well-used; however, there have been mixed results. We’ve heard from community members about some perceptions around a lack of safety and sense of welcomeness in the space, as well as other challenges. Both these positive and negative aspects of the plaza were reinforced during our July 2022 engagement.

    What’s Happening?

    The City is seeking to improve the Belmont Plaza for all community members. A range of design changes are being considered, together with bylaw and land use considerations.

    Beyond physically expanding the interim plaza, the purpose of this project is to work with community members and bring them together to address four key challenges identified by plaza stakeholders:

    • Reduce the incidence of loud cars and motorcycles
    • Determine how to address people blocking the sidewalks and/or selling items
    • Ensure people have access to a smoke-free environment, while acknowledging that many people smoke at the location, and that enforcement cannot be continual
    • Reduce late-night noise

    In addition to understanding how the expanded plaza looks and feels for people using the space, we are also assessing whether the co-design process can establish positive relationships among the diverse groups who use and live near the plaza.

    How can I participate?

    Findings from our summer 2022 engagement and a study of how the plaza is being used will be shared here soon. Additional opportunities for community input will be offered in the future – more info to come.

  • Sixth Street Public Realm - Engagement Results

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    January 17, 2022

    Community members and stakeholders were invited to engage and provide input through an online survey, questions and answer tool, pop-up events, and stakeholder focus groups and meetings held from November 8 to 28, 2021.

    The following is a snapshot of what we heard.

    A detailed Engagement Summary Report can be found in the Documents section of this project page or by CLICKING HERE.

  • Sixth Street Public Realm - Project Overview

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    November 2021

    Changes are coming on Sixth Street in Uptown! This project will reimagine Sixth Street between Sixth Avenue and Belmont Street to orient the street more clearly toward the public realm and walking, with more flexible uses of Sixth Street and its edges, as well as improving accessibility.

    Proposed features include widened sidewalks, improved lighting, more seating, temporary road closures for special events, and a “pedestrian scramble” at 6th Street and 6th Avenue that would see all vehicle traffic stopped while pedestrians can cross all-ways at once.

    We are excited to hear your feedback on options and design details for the look and feel of Sixth Street.

    This block of Sixth Street is centrally located in the heart of Uptown and takes direction from the vision set in the City of New Westminster’s Council-approved Uptown Streetscape Vision to create “a vibrant commercial district with a distinct identity, accessible and sustainable transportation, as well as inviting and engaging public spaces that are welcoming to all people." While initial plans for in-person consultation on the Uptown Streetscape Vision were postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic, engagement with key stakeholders took place in June 2020. Click here to read the Uptown Streetscape Vision Key Stakeholder Engagement Summary Report.

    Related to the Uptown Sixth Street Public Realm Improvements, the design process and public engagement for the Uptown Active Transportation Improvements were launched earlier this fall. This project includes upgrades to one section of the Rotary Crosstown Greenway, and a new cycling connector to New Westminster Secondary School. Find out more at the Be Heard page here.

    Both the Sixth Street Public Realm Improvements and the Uptown Active Transportation Improvements align with the City’s Master Transportation Plan goals and Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action - specifically, Car-light Community, Quality People-Centred Public Realm, and Robust Urban Forest.


    Project Update: January 17, 2022: A detailed summary of the public engagement about Sixth Street has been posted to the Documents section of this page. CLICK HERE for a direct link. You can see:

    • The overall level of support for the Sixth Street Public Realm Improvements design concept;
    • Which proposed design features are the most important to participants; and
    • How well participants feel the design concept will achieve important outcomes such as inclusivity, vibrancy and animation, provision of public spaces and amenities, flexibility of non-vehicles, and a positive look and feel.

    The verbatim feedback is also available for you to review by CLICKING HERE.

    A Snapshot of what we heard through the online survey, pop-up events, stakeholder focus groups, stakeholder meetings, and the online question and answer tool has also been posted to the Newsfeed. CLICK HERE for a direct link.