The Metrotown neighbourhood of Burnaby has seen a tremendous amount of redevelopment over the years, and several projects are currently under construction, but one project has remained idle for over six years now.
The subject site is 6645, 6659, 6675, 6691 and 6707 Dow Avenue, just off of Beresford Street and Central Boulevard, across the street from the Metropolis at Metrotown shopping centre.
All five parcels are currently occupied by low-rise rental buildings constructed in the late-1950s and early-1960s, with a total of 112 units. BC Assessment values the parcels at $22,174,000, $9,566,800, $9,617,700, $9,623,400, and $6,471,000 for a total assessed value of $57,452,900 dated to July 1, 2025.
The site was originally owned by Matchpoint Development, which submitted a rezoning proposal around April 2020, with 6707 Dow Avenue added in a revised proposal submitted in October 2021. In 2023, however, a new rezoning application was submitted by Peterson, which now owns the land assembly through Dow Beresford Development Limited Partnership under 1173807 BC Ltd.
The 6645-6707 Dow Avenue site in Burnaby. (Peterson, BOP Architects)
Peterson’s 2023 rezoning application was for a 49-storey tower with 413 strata units, a 41-storey tower with 354 strata units, and a six-storey building with 132 rental units, replacing the existing 112 rental units. Peterson has since submitted a new rezoning application that reduces the heights, but increases the amount of units to 1,065.
At the corner of Dow and Beresford would be a 45-storey tower with a 12-storey podium and 532 units, split between 117 studio units, 184 one-bedroom units, 218 two-bedroom units, and 13 three-bedroom units. Adjacent would be a 35-storey tower with 401 units, split between 119 studio units, 144 one-bedroom units, 132 two-bedroom units, and six three-bedroom units. Lastly, a six-storey building would house 132 units.
The six-storey building’s 132 units would include the required 112 replacement rental units plus 20 market rental units. The tenures of the two high-rise towers have yet to be finalized, but the City said in a planning report that Peterson intends to pursue strata for the taller tower and rental for the other.
The proposal also includes 7,568 sq. ft of office space and 8,685 sq. ft of retail space that would all be located within the 45-storey tower. The project overall will provide 888 vehicle parking spaces and 2,130 bicycle stalls in a five-level underground parkade.
Renderings of the proposal for A rendering of the proposal for 6645-6707 Dow Avenue in Burnaby. (Peterson, BOP Architects)
“The Dow Avenue development in Burnaby’s Metrotown neighbourhood is mixed-use project designed to foster a vibrant, urban livability and an activated public realm,” the application booklet states. “Retail and residential frontages are scaled to the pedestrian experience, with recessed entries, curved building edges, and generous setbacks that encourage movement and accessibility.”
“A key feature of the site is its porosity, achieved through an east-west pedestrian connector and a vehicular link between the towers, supporting drop-off zones, loading areas, and underground parking access,” the applicants added. “Retail spaces are set back to allow visitors to engage directly with the public realm, while ground-level residential units include landscaped patios that foster privacy and community oversight.”
“The towers are designed with elegant simplicity, contributing to the evolving urban identity of the Maywood and Metrotown neighbourhoods. They feature double-height glazed entries, generous balconies, and sky lounge amenities at the top, which not only provide panoramic views but also act as architectural beacons. The overall feel of the development is welcoming, vibrant, and urban, with a strong emphasis on livability, sustainability, and community integration.”
Renderings of the proposal for A rendering of the proposal for 6645-6707 Dow Avenue in Burnaby. (Peterson, BOP Architects)
According to the City planning report, the proposal includes a pedestrian-oriented “neighbourhood linkage,” pedestrian connections between the two high-rise buildings, and a dedicated pedestrian zone along the lane that would be open to the public.
The report states that Peterson has fulfilled their obligations under the City’s Tenant Assistance Policy (TAP).
The rezoning application for 6645-6707 Dow Avenue is up for a first and second reading at next week’s council meeting.
Besides this project, Peterson also revised their Blake Village master-planned project at 6800 Lougheed Highway earlier this year, and submitted a rezoning application for a new two-tower project at 605-695 SE Marine Drive in Vancouver.
