Uptown Plaza and Sixth Street Public Realm Improvements
Project Update, 2025:
Construction of the permanent plaza and streetscape is now underway. Check the Projects on the Go page on the City's main website for construction information.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Phases
Phase 1 engagement reporting
Project Update, 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.
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.