Long-empty South Burnaby lot to host new retail, commercial development

A long-empty lot in Burnaby’s Big Bend neighbourhood will soon be home to a plaza of businesses, restaurants, and office space.

The Fountana Plaza development at 5820 Marine Dr. promises “a multilevel retail and commercial centre like no other” for South Burnaby residents.

European-inspired architecture by Burnaby-based Jordan Kutev Architect Inc. will include a terraced garden, intended to serve as a meeting or gathering place. The lower plaza will hold eight retail spaces, while there are spaces for eight restaurants on the second floor.

“The Roman pillared architecture of the concourse creates a romantic atmosphere with views into the courtyard and a sheltered walkway. Each restaurant offers ample kitchen space, access to a freight elevator, waste management centre, and supplier loading zones,” reads an information brochure on the project from leasing agent NAI Commercial.

Finally, the top floor of the development will be home to 18 office spaces ranging from 924-2,618 sq. ft.

Leasing agent Steven Chan told the Beacon that Richmond-based developer Fountana Developments has secured a building permit for the project, and construction is expected to wrap up in 2024.

The land parcel, on Marine Way just before the Byrne Road intersection, is one of only a few in the Big Bend area zoned for commercial use. Much of the surrounding area is agricultural or residential land.

So why Big Bend? NAI Commercial notes that as the third largest municipality in BC and conveniently placed between Vancouver and the rest of the Lower Mainland, Burnaby is a major transportation hub and has one of the “most developed real estate markets in Metro Vancouver”.

“It has a thriving business sector including areas such as information technology, wireless technology, biotechnology, life science, film, media, education, environmental technology, tourism, and more industry and related professional services,” the leasing agent says.

“Burnaby also has stable industrial sectors such as the lighting industry, warehousing/distribution, manufacturing, agriculture, and non-profit organizations.”

NAI Commercial also points out the neighbourhood’s proximity to the River District in Vancouver (it’s less than a 10-minute drive), and the nearby Riverway Golf Course.

Meanwhile, the City of Burnaby also sold a 17.1 acre property at 3990 Marine Way late last year to Larco Investments Ltd., “to develop a state-of-the-art 300,000-square-foot film studio.” The city said last year that the development is expected to bring more than a thousand jobs to the area.

The plaza will stand on the lot formerly occupied by the iconic Marine Pub, which was destroyed in an arson in January 2015.

Surveillance footage released by RCMP several months afterward showed a man on the premises during the fire, placing several chairs on top of the flames.

However, RCMP tells the Beacon that the file was concluded, with no charges laid, in July 2016.