Port Moody is slated for a major development that will dramatically reshape one of the suburb’s neighborhoods. The Inlet District, sitting on 14.8 acres near SkyTrain’s Inlet Centre Station, will soon see over 2,500 new homes sprout up in sleek, modern towers.
The company behind the project, Wesgroup Properties, claims it will be a model example of urban density done right. But some existing residents have concerns about the scope.
This part of town, wedged between Barnet Highway and Guildford Way, is no stranger to growth. New condo complexes have steadily crept up along Ioco Road as Metro Vancouver’s housing crisis worsens.
Yet the Inlet District, with its six high-rise towers and low-rise buildings, will dwarf everything constructed so far. If approved, it will single-handedly increase Port Moody’s population by thousands.
That’s why Wesgroup is touting the project’s extensive amenities, from office spaces to daycares, a supermarket, drugstore, and 2.55-acre public park. They say it’s designed to be a self-contained community, minimizing strain on the surrounding neighborhoods.
The centerpiece park will include sports courts, a performance stage, and a kids play area. Mature trees and a pollinator garden are designed to bring nature into the development.
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Infrastructure around Inlet District in Port Moody to get upgrades
The developer has also committed $40 million to upgrading infrastructure like roads, sewers, and utilities in the area and $4.8M in public art. And the buildings are planned with accessibility in mind, including a pedestrian bridge connecting directly to the Inlet Centre SkyTrain station.
In many ways, the Inlet District aims to be a model for suburban densification. It checks all the boxes urban planners look for—located near rapid transit, mixed-use, and pedestrian focused.
Yet some locals wonder if the small-town feel of Port Moody can survive such aggressive development.
First Phase of Inlet District
The first phase, for which Wesgroup recently applied for permits, includes two 26-storey condo towers with over 200 units each. These will sit atop a four-storey podium housing a grocery store, pharmacy, offices, and the first of two planned daycare centers. Later phases will add four more towers, a 31-story tower, three six-story buildings, a civic center, pedestrian bridge, and second daycare facility.
Skeptics question whether existing services like schools, transit, and community centers can handle the incoming growth. And Port Moody’s mayor has acknowledged that many residents have concerns about the scale.
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Supporters argue the only way to tackle the region’s housing shortage is by ambitiously up zoning land, especially near transit hubs. And Wesgroup designed Inlet District in close consultation with the city over several years.
As Metro Vancouver municipalities zone for more density, Port Moody provides a case study in the growing pains of balancing development and livability. Done right, growth can bring amenities. Done recklessly, it can destroy communities.
All eyes will be on the Inlet District as Wesgroup starts construction shortly. The company hopes it will be a blueprint for socially sustainable density. Only time will tell if the project fulfills its lofty promises or further strains city resources.
One thing is certain – with over 2,500 homes units coming which will be home for up to 5,500 new residents, the Inlet District will permanently reshape Port Moody.
For proponents of urban density, this is Port Moody’s moment. The city has a chance to prove suburban neighborhoods can retain their charm even while densifying. They believe the Inlet District can show the way forward.
But skeptics worry this test case will demonstrate the limits of runaway growth. However it turns out, Port Moody will never be the same again after the Inlet District’s towers rise over the landscape.
Port Moody’s mayor and council have voiced support for the Inlet District, pointing to the years of public consultation and design input that shaped the plan. They see it as a model example of how to create socially sustainable, inclusive density.
The location of the site is, on the edge of Port Moody. Across the border in Coquitlam there is another community known as Coronation Heights, which Polygon Homes is developing. Initially Wesgroups project was called Coronation Park. It has now been renamed Inlet District to prevent any confusion, with Polygons project.
Wesgroup’s Beyond Rent program will allow Inlet District renters to earn discounts towards purchasing a new home in one of the company’s developments. Renters can earn 2-5% discounts based on the number of years they have leased with Wesgroup.
Expected construction start
With construction on the first phase set to begin spring 2025 , the Inlet District promises to become a vibrant extension of downtown Port Moody over the next decade. The walkable neighborhood is planned to seamlessly integrate into the existing urban fabric while meeting the city’s housing needs far into the future.
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