Beedie Living rolled out the red carpet - and an excavator - yesterday to signal the start of construction for The Austin, the first highrise to be built as part of Austin Heights' redevelopment.
President Ryan Beedie and his father, Keith, the founder of Beedie Development Group, joined Mayor Richard Stewart as well as Austin Heights BIA reps and buyers for a ceremonial groundbreaking of the 19-storey residential and commercial tower at the corner of Blue Mountain Street and Austin Avenue.
Ryan Beedie said The Austin will set the standard for the company's future work in Coquitlam; construction on the first phase of its Fraser Mills waterfront project is due to start early next year.
"There's a lot on the line for us and we know that," Ryan Beedie told the crowd of 50 people.
"The next decade belongs to Coquitlam and that's partly because of the people who are investing in the city now," Stewart added, noting Beedie's "calibre" as a Lower Mainland builder.
More than 75% of the suites have been sold in the 133-unit tower, which has homes ranging from 417 sq. ft. to 1,431 sq. ft.
The Austin is the first major development under the Austin Heights Neighbourhood Plan, a 20-vision to rejuvenate the "tired" corridor, Stewart said.
Last year, council voted to hold off on future highrise applications along Austin Avenue after neighbours complained of the height of The Austin, which was first proposed at 24 storeys tall.
Jim McIntyre, Coquitlam's general manager of planning and development, said yesterday city staff are still considering an appropriate building height for Austin Avenue, under the C5 zone. "It's on our work plan for later this year," he said.
