 
General Description
Burnaby is a densely populated city of 175,000 (1999 census), extending
from the Burrard Inlet and Burnaby Mountains (Simon Fraser University)
in the north to the Fraser River in the South. It adjoins Vancouver at
Boundary Road on the west to Coquitlam and New Westminster at North Road
on the east. It has several shopping centres; Brentwood Centre being
the oldest, Lougheed Mall at the junction of Lougheed Hwy and North Road,
Metrotown, the newest and highly visible and is served by 3 sky train
stations.
Economy
Burnaby has a large, varied concentration of commercial, office,
high technology and industrial activity, with 390 hectares still available
for development. The second largest retail complex in western Canada
is located in Metrotown which includes Station Square, Eaton & Metrotown
Centre offering major department stores, two giant food retailers, hotels,
24 cinemas, and more than 400 smaller retailers. It also includes several
hi-rises for residential and office use. Despite its urban appearance,
the city contains an 80-hectare agricultural land reserve near the Fraser
River which includes a thriving floriculture industry and local vegetable
growing capability.
Housing & Real Estate
Burnaby is such a large, diverse area that it's hard to generalize about
housing prices. Burnaby has experienced higher than average increases,
reflecting its desirable proximity to downtown Vancouver. Average price
for a detached home in Central Burnaby is $377,203. A resale townhouse
in a Lougheed neighbourhood might sell in the low to mid $100,000's,
while newer townhouses would be in the mid $200,000 range. Older condo
apartments are available for a $130,000 average; newer ones range from
$160,000 to well over $300,000. While the tiny neighbourhood of Buckingham
Heights could range between $800,000 to over $million, depending on size
and vintage.
Education
Good standards comprising of 45 elementary, six secondary and
several independent schools. Simon Fraser University (SFU), on Burnaby
Mountain, offers a well recognized and wide range of business and arts
degree programs. It is consistently rated near the top in the MacLeans
magazine. SFU also operates a downtown campus. The British Columbia Institute
of Technology (BCIT) on Willingdon Ave offers a broad spectrum of technical
programs.
Recreation
At least 20% of Burnaby's land space is devoted to leisure activities.
More than 100 parks offer recreational facilities and programs. The area
contains two fresh water lakes, mountain parkland, an ocean beach, fish-bearing
rivers and streams, 55 tennis courts, and four golf courses. It is certainly
reflective of the West Coast quality of lifestyle.
Community Information |