UniverCity

UniverCity on Burnaby Mountain is a unique mountaintop development, located adjacent to Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Burnaby, British Columbia.

UniverCity is designed to be a compact, mixed-use and transit-oriented neighbourhood. The development is guided by two primary goals: first, to create a model of community development on Burnaby Mountain that supports university life while contributing to the evolution of a more sustainable society; and second, to establish and grow an endowment fund in support of teaching and research at SFU.

Throughout each stage of its development, UniverCity has been designed to ensure that the new neighbourhood will integrate residential, commercial, and academic uses while advancing innovative solutions to sustainable community development. UniverCity is currently home to nearly 3,000 residents and will accommodate more than 10,000 when fully built out.

While most parcels will accommodate owned and rental market housing, some parcels will be developed as non-market projects in order to produce housing for a broad spectrum of residents. Additionally, there are four mixed-used parcels along University High Street (two of which have been developed) that combine residential development with office and retail uses in order to meet the daily needs of both residents and an expanding campus community.

SFU Community Trust manages the development of UniverCity. Acting as trustee of the lands that comprise this innovative neighbourhood, the Trust oversees the provision of zoned, serviced, subdivided sites to private sector developers on a prepaid leasehold basis.

The development of UniverCity began with the protection of more than 320 hectares of forest and wildlife habitat, doubling the size of the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Subsequent to this, a range of sustainability features have been incorporated into the development, including an award-winning stormwater system that mimics nature by returning nearly 100% of rainfall to the ground, replenishing local streams and waterways, and  North America’s first green zoning by-law that requires buildings to be at least 40% more energy efficient than traditional development projects. 

UniverCity is a complete community with its own elementary school, childcare facilities, parks, a farmer’s market, and a host of local shops and services. A diversity of housing types and some innovative approaches to housing affordability help to ensure that UniverCity appeals to a broad range of households and income levels. Residents also have access to SFU’s wide array of recreational and athletic facilities. Bicycle trails and pedestrian pathways connect homes to jobs and services, while communal automobiles and Canada’s only community transit pass program provide affordable, low-impact options for travel elsewhere in the region.

http://www.univercity.ca/home.42.html

Tours: By appointment