With Elks Hall now razed in Port Coquitlam, Northstar Development broke ground today, Jan. 13, for its new mid-rise next to Leigh Square.
Part of the city’s downtown revitalization project, Porthaven is expected to be up by early 2027, at 2272 Leigh Sq. and 2265 and 2291 Wilson Ave., on four assembled lots east of Shaughnessy Mall and A&W.
As part of the deal, the city will have the ground-level commercial space facing Leigh Square; 108 condo units will be on five storeys above.
Jeff Brown, Northstar’s executive vice president who grew up in PoCo, told the Tri-City News that Porthaven comes at an exciting time as the city “reimagines” its downtown core with a new public space at Leigh.
As well, Northstar is taking over The Met project on McAllister Avenue, a block away from Porthaven. Brown said details on that development are expected to come out this spring, including a new design and brand.
Both mixed-use projects will be connected via the Donald Pathway.
Mayor Brad West said the new developments, as well as the city’s low property taxes, are drawing more people to relocate to Port Coquitlam. (For 2025, PoCo’s property taxes and utilities lift is pegged at $268).
West was joined at the groundbreaking by Couns. Steve Darling, Nancy McCurrach, Darrell Penner and Glenn Pollock and city manager Rob Bremner, fire chief Blake Clarkson and recreation director Glenn Mitzel.
“Several years ago, our council decided to make a bet on this community,” West said, “and you can never go wrong when you make a bet on Port Coquitlam."
"We decided to step up — literally, after decades of discussion […] about revitalizing our downtown — and put a plan into action: Started to make things happen, started to invest real dollars, started getting shovels in ground to revitalize our downtown, which is really the core and the heart of this community," West said. "It keeps Port Coquitlam grounded. It keeps Port Coquitlam centred, and I think it’s a very unique downtown if you look throughout the Metro Vancouver region.”
Porthaven — a 6-storey mixed-use building built on the former Elks Hall site — is expected to open in spring 2027 & is currently 70% sold, per Northstar’s website 🚪 West said the project is proof that more people are interested in relocating to PoCo | #PortCoquitlam pic.twitter.com/tZ7PKfkjAn
— Tri-City News (@TriCityNews) January 13, 2025
West said Porthaven will serve as a “go-to spot” for residents and visitors to socialize and will be “incredibly spectacular” for the core. Currently, 70 per cent of the units are sold.
Coun. McCurrach also told the Tri-City News that she’s happy Northstar will save a century-old apple tree from the downtown property that was formerly the farm of the Routley pioneers.
After an arborist discovered the heritage tree was in poor health, “I was delighted to hear that the developer has gone to great lengths to procreate this tree’s legacy by growing seedlings from the tree that are to be planted on the site," she said.
Downtown changes
Meanwhile, the city said the civic centre update, which includes Leigh Square, McAllister Avenue, Veterans Park and the Donald Pathway, is now about 90 per cent complete; a party is planned for this spring.
Government and TransLink grants mostly paid for the revitalization.
“Leigh Square has always been a valued gathering space, but these updates will make it more welcoming and functional for our community and businesses alike,” said Coun. Dean Washington, council’s designate for downtown matters, in a Jan. 13 news release. “This transformation is a key part of the much-needed refresh of our downtown.”
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