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1. What is involved in this three-party partnership?

This project involves three partners - the City, the YMCA of Greater Vancouver and Concert Properties - in a project to deliver a Coquitlam YMCA recreation facility, a new Community Policing Station, a Park-and-Ride, and the expansion of Cottonwood Park to Coquitlam’s Burquitlam neighbourhood. This is an innovative and complex partnership that provides significant benefit to the residents of Coquitlam.

Simply explained:

• The City is providing land and capital funding towards the construction of the recreation facility and community amenities in the heart of the Burquitlam area
• The YMCA is providing capital funding as well as operational funding for the life of the facility
• Concert Properties is providing a land parcel and financial support for the significant expansion of Cottonwood Park in exchange for the opportunity to develop the YMCA facility site as a mixed-use development that will include both strata and rental housing

2. How does the community benefit from the three-party partnership model?

• Through this partnership model, all three partners can achieve much more by working together than by acting alone. For example, the planned YMCA will be almost double the size of the original community centre Coquitlam had planned for the site, and include a pool and other features the City had not proposed.
• In addition, the City will draw on the YMCA’s extensive experience operating recreation facilities and delivering community programs to provide a safe and inclusive community hub in the Burquitlam area. This benefit is further enhanced by cost savings to Coquitlam taxpayers, as the YMCA will be responsible for all ongoing operational costs for the life of the facility.
• By adding Concert Properties to the partnership, the City of Coquitlam will leverage a land development opportunity to bring further value to City-owned land while providing much-needed community amenities - including land and funding for the expansion of Cottonwood Park - at no cost to the Coquitlam taxpayer.
• In addition, Concert Properties brings 30 years of real estate development experience, which includes having worked with the YMCA of Greater Vancouver to successfully deliver their Robert Lee YMCA in downtown Vancouver.
• In partnership with Concert Properties and the City of Coquitlam, 43 Housing Society (a sister organization to SHARE Family and Community Services Society) will operate 100 non-market suites through a 60-year lease. The Housing Agreement outlines that up to 100 non-market suites will be delivered within a 308-suite rental building, with federal funding support.

3. Why was Burquitlam Park selected for this facility?

• The City and YMCA selected the Burquitlam Park site following a rigorous evaluation by a professional consultant of numerous sites near the Burquitlam SkyTrain station. The site selection process involved a comprehensive and thorough technical review that considered many site feasibility factors, including: 
  • Access
  • Adjacencies
  • Availability
  • Proximity to Transit
  • Site Configuration
  • Traffic Patterns
  • Other Detailed Criteria
• The project will realize the vision set for the Burquitlam Park site more than 40 years ago. The park lands were acquired in 1977 for the specific purpose of accommodating a future community recreation facility.
• In addition, the 2002 Burquitlam Neighbourhood Plan identified the need for a future community recreation facility on the site along with the development of a mixed-use development on the site, and the transition of Burquitlam Park to a more urban park. This direction was reinforced in the 2017 Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan.

4. How was this project established?

• The three-party partnership to deliver the Coquitlam YMCA facility and the expansion of Cottonwood Park was a two-step process.
• The City of Coquitlam finalized an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with the YMCA of Greater Vancouver in early 2015. The AIP outlines the key elements to provide enhanced community services to the Burquitlam area through the partnership.
• In December 2015, the City of Coquitlam and Concert Properties confirmed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that facilitates the development of the future recreation facility on the Burquitlam Park site, as well as the major expansion of Cottonwood Park.

5. Will the City have an ownership stake in the new Coquitlam YMCA facility?

Yes. Through the partnership agreements, the City will be on the title on a 0.8 acre site adjacent to Burquitlam Park as a joint owner of the facility 50/50 with the YMCA.

6. What amenities will be located in the new Coquitlam YMCA?

The facility will provide access to:

• 55,000 square feet of space, with underground parking
• Indoor pool to provide a range of recreation, teaching, fitness and rehabilitative programming
• Change rooms that cater to all ages and abilities, including family change rooms
• Public spaces and common areas
• Gymnasium, studios, and strength and conditioning zones to support active lifestyles
• Multi-purpose rooms to offer a broad range of child, youth and community programs
• Child-minding to allow parents and caregivers time to work out
• A Family Development Centre to help families raise great kids through programming, resources and support

7. What fee/membership model will the YMCA use for this new facility?

The City and YMCA have worked together to ensure that public access options to the facility will include both membership and drop-in options, and that access to a wide range of programs and services such as aquatics and fitness will be provided in a manner and cost similar to other City facilities. Memberships will be available for purchase through the YMCA beginning in Nov. 2022.