Coquitlam's Burke Mountain community is only 40 per cent built, but already 5,000 people are calling it home. When it's complete, an expected 23,000 will live there. Located in northeast Coquitlam, this giant development attracts buyers looking for affordable houses and townhouses in a lush, forested setting that's still within minutes of urban amenities.
REW.ca invited local real estate agent Walter Wang to tell us why Burke Mountain has become a hotspot in Greater Vancouver real estate.
REW.ca: When did residential real estate begin development in this area?
Walter Wang:In 2002, Wesbild bought 400 acres of land from the provincial government and private owners; in 2006 the rezoning was completed, and in 2007, construction began. Wesbild oversaw the planning and development. The company used its successful formula from developing Coquitlam's Westwood Plateau in the 90s as an example to help design Burke Mountain.
REW.ca:W hat was Burke Mountain before?
Walter Wang:In the 1970s, it was a small ski slope; however it was abandoned due to the lack of snowfall. In 1995, it was deemed as part of Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, which provided outdoor lovers with activities such as hiking, mountain biking, fishing and hunting. The newly developed community is at the lower part of Burke Mountain.
REW.ca: What are some of the attractions of Burke Mountain?
Walter Wang:First of all, it is a family-oriented community, emphasizing on the harmony between residents and nature. There are parks and greenery within a five-minute walk from every house. Schools, community centres, shopping malls, and many walking trails are within reach. Second, it is only a five- to six-minute drive to Coquitlam Centre, thus residents can enjoy the convenience and the quiet natural life all at the same area. Also, there are many varieties of houses, from single detached, duplexes, townhouses, and each ranges from moderate sizes to the luxurious, satisfying all sorts of needs from different families. Finally, many of the property developers are well-known in the Greater Vancouver area, including Polygon, Morning Star, Mosaic, and Foxridge. House designs fit current users' wants and needs, and building materials are mostly eco-friendly as well.
REW.ca: Transportation is always a big priority with buyers. Is Burke Mountain easy to get to and from?
Walter Wang:By car, it's only seven to eight minutes to the Westcoast Express Station and the future SkyTrain station. As for public transportation, Translink will increase the frequency of the current 188 route to fifteen minutes per bus. It will also add the new 9 and 4 routes to help with transporting bus riders. At the same time, parts of Coast Meridian Road will become four-lane traffic to lower traffic congestion.
REW.ca: What amenities are planned for Burke Mountain itself?
Walter Wang:At the moment, there is a small shopping centre at the corner of Coast Meridian Road and David Avenue which includes a bank and a supermarket. In the future, the Partington Creek area will become Burke Mountain's centre for commercial, entertainment and living, and it will have a large shopping mall and community centre.
As for schools, currently there are three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. An elementary school and a middle school have French immersion programs. To fulfill potential future enrollment, the Coquitlam municipal government has worked with School District 43 and the provincial government, and will have a new elementary, middle, and high school built.
REW.ca: How much more housing will be built?
Walter Wang:Burke Mountain is separated into four zones: Upper Hyde Creek, Lower Hyde Creek, Smiling Creek, and Partington Creek. Upper Hyde Creek and Lower Hyde Creek have basically finished all developments and all their new houses have been sold. Smiling Creek is currently under development and some new developments are being sold on the market now. Partington Creek, as the commercial centre, will consist of mostly townhomes.
REW.ca: What's the range of prices and styles?
Walter Wang:Burke Mountain's newly built single-detached houses that are priced under $900,000 have land area of 3,500 to 4,500 square feet, with 3,000 to 3,500 square feet of house area; they are classified as small single-detached houses. Those that are priced from $900,000 to $1,200,000 have land area of 5,000 to 6,000 square feet, with approximately 4,000 square feet of house area. The luxury houses that are over $1,200,000 have land area between 7,000 to 8,000 square feet, with a house area of 5,000 square feet; they usually have five to six bedrooms and are located in prime areas with great views.
New duplexes cost about $550,000 to $700,000, with a maximum of four bedrooms and a house area of 2,300 square feet, but buyers should be aware that some duplexes require monthly strata fees. New townhouses with three bedrooms usually cost around $450,000 with a house area of approximately 1,400 square feet; four bedrooms with 1,600 square feet cost about $500,000 to $550,000; four to five bedrooms with over 2,000 square feet area would cost around $600,000 to $700,000, which look more like a duplex.
REW.ca: Are Burke Mountain homes appreciating in value?
Walter Wang:According to the Greater Vancouver real estate board's statistics, in the past five years, Burke Mountain's prices on single-detached homes are in accordance with most Greater Vancouver area homes. From 2011 onwards, the average price has been steadily increasing, with growth of 12%, during that time, while the average growth of Greater Vancouver was only 4.8%. While all price levels have performed well, single-family houses from $800,000 to $1,000,000 are main commodity.
In general, every kind of residential property on Burke Mountain is very popular and is hot on the market. Living in the beautiful natural setting and enjoying the convenience and comfort of everyday life brings this community to the forefront of Greater Vancouver residential property. These are all advantages that Burke Mountain offers, and with the community growing each day, the future looks bright and the value of its property has great potential to increase steadily.
Burke Mountain development area, photo by Ekistics
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