The Salient Group

This weekend, arts and cultural enthusiasts will head to Downtown New West for the 9th Annual Cultural Crawl.

The two-day event is a great opportunity to explore the “new” New West and discover the best of the community’s   art scene. Participants include studios, galleries, live music venues, restaurants and theatres throughout the city. In addition to showcasing local artists and artisans, the Cultural Crawl uncovers the Royal City’s heritage and unique cultural footprint.

The Salient Group is proud to be involved in this year’s Cultural Crawl. On August 11th and 12th, drop by the Trapp + Holbrook presentation centre at 668 Columbia Street to see the Mosaic Tile Project before the pieces are placed along Columbia Street permanently. These eight hand crafted tile mosaics, each with its own story highlighting the history and heritage of the New West community, were commissioned by the New Westminster Community Development Society. Local artists Liz Calvin and Bruce Walther created the pieces.

Photo credit: Bruce Walther

Continue reading “Cultural Crawl to showcase New Westminster’s thriving art scene” »

People are talking about the City of New Westminster’s plans for a multi use civic facility on Columbia Street. From local media outlets like Royal City Record to popular blogs like Vancouver Is Awesome and Vancity Buzz, everyone is curious about this project.

We recently told you about New Westminster’s recent revitalization and why it’s a good idea to invest in the city.  Given that the new civic centre is located just across Trapp + Holbrook, we were curious how the project fits with the City’s plans for the downtown core. Blair Fryer, Communications Manager at City of New Westminster, recently talked to us about this exciting development.

How many new jobs will the new civic centre and office tower bring to New West? Besides the obvious economic impact, what other benefits does the project bring to the city?

The project is expected to generate 500 direct and 250 indirect jobs as local businesses respond to the growing need for goods and services. New conference facilities along with arts and culture programming will also bring a stream of visitors to the Downtown. This, along with new residential development will increase the vibrancy and activity in the area.

How does the new civic centre and office building fit in with the city’s plans to revitalize downtown New West?

The new civic centre and office tower currently under construction in New Westminster’s downtown are critical parts of ongoing revitalization efforts in the area. This project, combined with the new 9-acre Westminster Pier Park along the city’s waterfront and hi-density residential and retail development, is breathing new life into this historic part of the city, while easy access to rapid transit makes it the new place to be in Metro Vancouver.

Besides the new civic centre, what other plans does the City have to revitalize downtown?

In 2010, the City finalized a new Official Community Plan for the Downtown. The Plan reinforces the area as an economic, cultural, historic and residential hub of New Westminster and guides its transformation from primarily entertainment district to a complete neighbourhood that showcases sustainable and responsible growth in Metro Vancouver. The addition of a new elementary school, parks and childcare centres will meet the needs of a wide range of families.

Businesses, such as The Plaza at New Westminster Station and the revitalized River Market, provide for a wider range of shopping options and experiences for new residents and employees in the area.

Can you describe a couple key features we can expect to see when the project is complete?

The civic centre component of the project will bring medium-sized conference facilities to downtown New West and, with a 350 seat non proscenium theatre, art gallery and arts programming activity, along with the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame and New Westminster Museum and Archives, the rich history and culture of the city will be on display. Connected to the civic centre and located directly across the street from SkyTrain, a new eight storey office tower will feature over 100,000 square feet of Class A LEED Gold standard office space to meet the growing needs of Metro Vancouver’s business community.

The new civic centre promises to be a key part of downtown New West’s vibrant future, and we can’t wait until the project is complete.

With the City’s investment in the civic centre and with new private mixed-use developments like Trapp + Holbrook, Downtown New Westminster is re-emerging as a vibrant urban centre with a blend of historic character and modern style that, outside of downtown Vancouver, is unique to this area. The civic centre is just one of the reasons why it’s a great time to invest in the Royal City and why New West is becoming Lower Mainland’s new neighbourhood darling. We would like to thank Blair for taking the time to answer our questions.

Visit the City of New Westminster website for more information about this project. Trapp+Holbrook is currently on sale — visit thliving.com for photos and info and to register.

Illustration via The Record / Vancouver Sun

The old adage states that timing is everything. This is certainly true with Trapp + Holbrook, Salient’s new high-rise development in downtown New Westminster.

As key landmarks in one of B.C.’s most historic cities, the Edwardian Trapp and Holbrook buildings are once again evolving. And so is the city.

The media have had plenty of things to say about Trapp + Holbrook, but here are five things you may not know about the high-rise:

1. The neighbourhood is a “walker’s paradise”.

The Trapp + Holbrook neighbourhood has a walkscore of 90, a score that places it in the “Walker’s Paradise” category. Parks, schools, transit and entertainment are literally just steps away.

Walkability plays an integral role in a sustainable neighbourhood. You don’t need your car for food, entertainment or work — everything you need is close by.

Continue reading “5 things you didn’t know about Trapp + Holbrook” »

New Westminster is establishing itself as a thriving arts community. From the New West 7 exhibition to The Network Hub hosting the New West Artists exhibits, the art community is buzzing in this revitalized city.

The Van Dop Gallery, located at 421 Richmond Street, is a catalyst in the city’s growing art scene. The gallery provides a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors by showcasing over 100 artists in a contemporary home. The galley prides itself on showcasing the artworks of some of Canada’s best contemporary fine artists in all media, including glass, wood, metal, ceramic, fibre, oils, acrylics, watercolours, and handmade papers.

If you’ve been to the Trapp+Holbrook display suite at 668 Columbia Street, you have probably already seen artwork from the Van Dop Gallery. Artwork by Teressa Bernard, Judith Copland, Gabor Gasztonyi, and Leslie Poole adorn our display suite and illustrate how Trapp+Holbrook homeowners might decorate their new homes.

Trudy Van Dop, who founded the gallery in 1996, recently answered some of our questions about this New West institution and shared her thoughts on the Royal City.

Continue reading “Q&A: Van Dop Gallery founder Trudy Van Dop on her passion for the New West art community” »

Photo: GLENN BAGLO , PNG (Vancouver Sun)

Since opening for previews in April and opening for sales a week ago, Trapp+Holbrook has generated some serious buzz among real estate professionals, homeowners, and media. From Twitter users to trade publications, people can’t seem to stop talking about our first condo project in New West.

The project’s convenient location — just 1.5 blocks away from two Skytrain stations! — is a big plus for homeowners. Personal real estate consultant Adam Goss notes this in his blog post about Trapp+Holbrook:

Walking out the front door of your home at Trapp and Holbrook you’ll have just a short walk to Skytrain in either direction. Which station you choose may come down to whether you’re a Starbucks or Waves type, as either station is essentially equal distance from your doorstep.

Trapp+Holbrook’s proximity to Skytrain and to many amenities makes it a very walkable neighbourhood, a fact noted by Vancouver Condo Info:

If you want a healthy lifestyle then it’s time to ditch your ride and come to New Westminster. Walk to the local café, grocery store and hair salon. You don’t need to worry about parking space, meters and fines.

Continue reading “The reviews are in: What people are saying about Trapp+Holbrook” »

Photo: Jason Lang, The Record

Re-Up BBQ recently opened its doors in New West, and it’s creating some serious buzz!

The popular food cart, which was recently named Best Food Cart at the Vancouver Restaurant Awards, chose the Royal City as the location of its first mortar and brick store, much to the delight of locals and foodies.

The restaurant team will be at the Trapp+Holbrook grand opening on May 26, so we think it’s a great time to highlight this local success story. Lindsay Ferguson, one of four co-owners of the business, recently chatted with us about New West, Re-Up’s future, and their passion for barbecue.

Continue reading “Re-Up BBQ brings Southern food to New West” »

Photo: Raul Pacheco-Vega

If you need even more evidence that New Westminster is a hot spot for young entrepreneurs, look no further than The Network Hub.

The co-working space, co-founded by Minna Van, Jay Catalan, and John Van, opened a campus in the Royal City last year. In addition to providing co-working space for entrepreneurs in the area, the New West Network Hub  hosts a variety of art and business events, including the Freelance Camp, the “Look What We Do” art show, and the Entrepreneur Meetup, an event where Salient Group president Robert Fung spoke recently.

Continue reading “Contest & Q&A: The Network Hub brings more than co-working to New West” »