Urban by design: An evaluation of public spaces in downtown New Westminster

This research evaluates the public realm along Columbia Street in downtown New Westminster from an urban design perspective. It’s purpose is to provide a basis for future design decisions and related policy development affecting the quality of that public realm. The evaluation employs 35 criteria grouped under seven broad principles of urban design: good form, legibility, vitality, meaning, comfort, accessibility and security. The underlying premise is that these broad principles interrelate to create and protect the integrity of the public realm as a whole that may otherwise be compromised by individual developments on privately owned properties. Evaluation results suggest that improvements are needed to Columbia Street’s public realm in order to better support its intended role as a successful commercial core of a regional town centre. While this research does not recommend specific improvements, the results suggest aspects of the public realm that would benefit from greater attention.