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1. What is involved in this three-party partnership?

This project involves three partners - the City, the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and Concert Properties - in a project that will deliver a Coquitlam YMCA recreation facility, a new Community Policing Station, a Park-and-Ride, and the expansion of Cottonwood Park to Coquitlam’s Burquitlam neighbourhood. This is an innovative and complex partnership that provides significant benefit to the residents of Coquitlam.

Simply explained:

• The City is providing land and capital funding towards the construction of the recreation facility and community amenities in the heart of the Burquitlam area
• The YMCA is providing capital funding as well as operational funding for the life of the facility
• Concert Properties is providing a land parcel and financial support for the significant expansion of Cottonwood Park in exchange for the opportunity to develop the YMCA facility site as a mixed-use development that will include both strata and rental housing

2. How does the community benefit from the three-party partnership model?

• Through this partnership model, all three partners can achieve much more by working together than by acting alone. For example, the planned YMCA will be almost double the size of the original community centre Coquitlam had planned for the site, and include a pool and other features the City had not proposed.
• In addition, the City will draw on the YMCA’s extensive experience operating recreation facilities and delivering community programs to provide a safe and inclusive community hub in the Burquitlam area. This benefit is further enhanced by cost savings to Coquitlam taxpayers, as the YMCA will be responsible for all ongoing operational costs for the life of the facility.
• By adding Concert Properties to the partnership, the City of Coquitlam will leverage a land development opportunity to bring further value to City-owned land while providing much-needed community amenities - including land and funding for the expansion of Cottonwood Park - at no cost to the Coquitlam taxpayer.
• In addition, Concert Properties brings 30 years of real estate development experience, which includes having worked with the YMCA of Greater Vancouver to successfully deliver their Robert Lee YMCA in downtown Vancouver.
• In partnership with Concert Properties and the City of Coquitlam, 43 Housing Society (a sister organization to SHARE Family and Community Services Society) will operate up to 100 non-market suites through a 60-year lease. The Housing Agreement outlines that up to 100 non-market suites will be delivered within a 308-suite rental building, pending funding from senior levels of government.

3. Why was Burquitlam Park selected for this facility?

• The City and YMCA selected the Burquitlam Park site following a rigorous evaluation by a professional consultant of numerous sites near the Burquitlam SkyTrain station. The site selection process involved a comprehensive and thorough technical review that considered many site feasibility factors, including: 
  • Access
  • Adjacencies
  • Availability
  • Proximity to Transit
  • Site Configuration
  • Traffic Patterns
  • Other Detailed Criteria
• The project will realize the vision set for the Burquitlam Park site more than 40 years ago. The park lands were acquired in 1977 for the specific purpose of accommodating a future community recreation facility.
• In addition, the 2002 Burquitlam Neighbourhood Plan identified the need for a future community recreation facility on the site along with the development of a mixed-use development on the site, and the transition of Burquitlam Park to a more urban park. This direction was reinforced in the 2017 Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan.

4. Will this development result in a loss of parkland for the Burquitlam neighbourhood?

No - it will bring a net increase of about a half-acre of park space to the area. The project will see 1.5 acres retained at Burquitlam Park as public open space. At the same time, the City is obtaining 2.55 acres of additional parkland adjacent to the existing Cottonwood Park, which almost doubles its size.

5. How was this project established?

• The three-party partnership to deliver the Coquitlam YMCA facility and the expansion of Cottonwood Park was a two-step process.
• The City of Coquitlam finalized an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with the YMCA of Greater Vancouver in early 2015. The AIP outlines the key elements to provide enhanced community services to the Burquitlam area through the partnership.
• In December 2015, the City of Coquitlam and Concert Properties confirmed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that facilitates the development of the future recreation facility on the Burquitlam Park site, as well as the major expansion of Cottonwood Park.

6. How much will the new Coquitlam YMCA facility cost?

The final project budget is approximately $77 million. This reflects fine-tuning of the scope and amenities, along with changes to market conditions, significant cost escalation and an increasingly challenging construction market in the four years since the agreement was reached.

The capital construction costs for this facility will be jointly funded by the City of Coquitlam and the YMCA of Greater Vancouver. Coquitlam’s portion will be provided through Community Amenity Contributions (CAC), which means that new development - not taxpayers - will fund the City’s portion. The YMCA’s contribution will be multi-sourced, including a community capital campaign.

7. What is the overall cost to the City and the financial impact on Coquitlam taxpayers for this project?

• There will be no direct impact on the annual tax bill. Coquitlam will provide construction funding of $52.6 million, to be entirely funded by developer fees as these are paid to the City (Community Amenity Contributions).
• The City’s capital costs include $42.4 million towards the community amenities and road improvements (including the realignment of Emerson Street), $5.5 million for Park-and-Ride parking, and $4.7 million for the new Community Police Station.
• Overall, the City’s investments in this project will generate a total value in the range of $250 million for the community as a result of partner contribution and partnership benefits. The partnership agreement also shields taxpayers from the annual operating costs which will be funded by the YMCA for the life of the facility.

8. Will the City have an ownership stake in the new Coquitlam YMCA facility?

Yes. Through the partnership agreements, the City will be on the title on a 0.8 acre site adjacent to Burquitlam Park as a joint owner of the facility 50/50 with the YMCA.

9. What amenities will be located in the new Coquitlam YMCA?

The facility will provide access to:

• 55,000 square feet of space, with underground parking
• Indoor pool to provide a range of recreation, teaching, fitness and rehabilitative programming
• Change rooms that cater to all ages and abilities, including family change rooms
• Public spaces and common areas
• Gymnasium, studios, and strength and conditioning zones to support active lifestyles
• Multi-purpose rooms to offer a broad range of child, youth and community programs
• Child-minding to allow parents and caregivers time to work out
• A Family Development Centre to help families raise great kids through programming, resources and support

10. What fee/membership model will the YMCA use for this new facility?

The City and YMCA have worked together to ensure that public access options to the facility will include both membership and drop-in options, and that access to a wide range of programs and services such as aquatics and fitness will be provided in a manner and cost similar to other City facilities.

11. When will the Coquitlam YMCA be completed?

The target date for completion is Fall 2022.

12. What is the expected timing for expansion to Cottonwood Park?

The expansion of Cottonwood Park to almost five acres will begin in early 2020 and is anticipated that the second of three phases for Cottonwood Park will be completed by the end of that year. Enhancements will include a combined ball diamond and sports field, a multi-sport court and outdoor games tables.

This is in addition to improvements in 2019 that included: 

• Covered Picnic Shelter
• A New Children’s Playground
• Paved Parking Lot
• Washroom
• Water Play Area
• Youth Zone

13. What facilities are proposed for the Cottonwood Park expansion?

The first phase of Cottonwood Park expansion was completed in 2019 and features a playground, water play area, as along with a youth zone and a picnic shelter with a supporting washroom building. As the park expands in phases, it’s anticipated that many of the active amenities within the existing Burquitlam Park will be moved to Cottonwood Park, such as the baseball diamond, natural grass field, as well as tennis courts. Additional enhanced park amenities are also anticipated at Cottonwood Park as it expands into a community level park.

Current timelines target early 2021 for the completion of the second phase of Cottonwood Park. Portions of the redesigned Burquitlam Park will also be open to the public upon completion of the YMCA facility in late 2022.

14. What will happen to the existing rental housing owned by Concert Properties and located adjacent to the existing Cottonwood Park site?

As part of the overall long-term community plan, the redevelopment will offer a variety of new housing options including new rental and strata homes to replace the existing housing 3-1. Concert Properties is committed to ongoing communications with existing residents to keep them apprised of the project’s timelines, and will be providing relocation assistance when necessary. Concert’s approach will be consistent with the principles established in the City’s Housing Affordability Strategy.