91原创 is made up of a series of neighbourhoods or "communities," some that were developed in the past few decades, while others enjoy long, rich histories, some reaching back to the mid to late 1800s. In this neighbourhood feature package, the 91原创 Advance Times introduces its readers to a few individuals who call these various areas of town home, talk about why they settled here, and address a little history about their neighbourhoods. Hope you enjoy this package.
Before she moved to Willoughby in 2017, Karen Magnussen hadn't spent much time in 91原创 at all.
As far as the Olympic medal and world champion figure skater can recall, she had only been to Fort 91原创 once, on a trip with her children.
But at the time, she and her husband Anthony Cella were looking to downsize and move out of North Vancouver, which was becoming increasingly busy. They were tired of the traffic jams on the bridges heading into Vancouver.
"Some friends had said, you should see what's going on [in Willoughby]," recalled Magnussen.
They quickly decided to take the plunge, moving into a condo in the Yorkson area, not far from the commercial heart of that community.
"We love it out here," Magnussen said.
She and her husband 鈥� and her mother, who moved into another condo nearby 鈥� are among the more than 50,000 people who have made Willoughby their home, making it the largest, densest, and fastest-growing community in 91原创.
Willoughby has been one of 91原创's recognized neighburhoods for decades, but for most of the community's history, it was a rural area. Like much of southern and eastern 91原创 Township, there were acreages and family-owned dairy farms.
But between the late 1990s and the present day, it underwent a rapid transformation.
Density 鈥� and battles over it 鈥� have defined the community over the last 20 years.
91原创 Township council decided in the 1990s that Willoughby would be the next area to see significant development, following growth in Walnut Grove and Murrayville. Some locals protested, and lawn signs proclaiming "Keep Willoughby Rural!" were a common sight.
Early development was mainly suburban, including single family homes on small lots.
Peter Warkentin, CEO of Quadra Homes, remembers that when the developer first purchased land in the area in 2007, that was still the case.
"There was some internal disagreement in the Township's municipal hall over the issue of density," Warkentin recalled. "City planners in many municipalities were beginning to appreciate the benefits of increased density such as effectiveness of transit and the fact that increased density supported walkable communities and an effectiveness of services, both commercial and public."
That led to the Township's official community plan designating large swathes of the area for townhouses and low-rise condo apartments. Unlike in Walnut Grove, where streets often end in cul-de-sacs, in Willoughby almost all streets are part of a grid pattern.
Quadra would build a series of projects near Yorkson Creek eventually totalling more than 2,000 townhouses and condos. Other developers like Vesta Properties and Zenterra would also take on major, sometimes multi-phased projects. Those projects have given Willoughby its present character, entirely different from any other area of 91原创.
Warkentin said that the area was sought-out by homeowners because it was convenient to both the Highway One interchange and the Carvolth Bus park and ride.
Some of that high-density development drew criticism, not just from the original large-lot landowners, but from newcomers in single-family homes. Public hearings in the 2000s saw accusations that condo complexes were creating "ghettos" from some of the previous arrivals.
But density kept going up. Changes to provincial building codes allowed five and six storey wood-frame condos. The Township also decided that Willoughby would be the site of 91原创's first true highrises, with Vesta's The Towers at Latimer Heights, at 34 and 26 storeys tall. More towers are proposed nearby.
Both new and old arrivals have dealt with growing pains 鈥� potholed and unfinished roads, crowded schools with multiple portables, and ever-increasing traffic on the major routes like 208 Street.
But it remains an attractive place for many people, whether newcomers to Canada or residents coming from other areas of Metro Vancouver.
"You see baby carriages, you see young people that are having children," Magnussen said.
She remembers that when she was a young parent, that was typical of her longtime home in North Vancouver. But by the time she moved, there were few children in the area. Young people starting families could no longer afford to live on the North Shore.
Magnussen also appreciates the gridded streets that let you get around traffic jams, and the amenities, like the 91原创 Events Centre and the shops and restaurants at the Willoughby Town Centre.
"We just thought everything was so convenient," she said.
Since Magnussen arrived in 2017, things have continued changing rapidly.
"It's amazing how everything is built up, so quickly," she said.
The main issue for the community is that the infrastructure needs to keep pace with all the people moving in, she said, including roads and schools.
Hidden Gem: Yorkson Community Park's dog park
At 82 Avenue west of 207A Street, the dog park is well known to those in the neighbourhood, and to some beyond.
Chandan Teja of Walnut Grove makes the trip across the highway with his half-grown puppy, Frankie, about three to four times a week, he said.
"I think it's just the size, and just how many people come here, too," he said of the reasons the park is a big draw for the neighbourhood.
With two separate, fully-fenced off-leash areas, one for larger dogs and one for smaller dogs, there's a lot of room for dogs and their owners to play, run, and socialize.
Highlights in History:
鈥� 1931, the historic two-storey Willoughby Elementary building was constructed. It still sits on the grounds of the current Willoughby Elementary
鈥� 1937, Willoughby Hall was built, becoming a gathering place for the then-rural surrounding community
鈥� May 4, 1998, a new community plan for Willoughby is approved, setting the stage for a quarter century of rapid growth
鈥� April, 2009, 91原创 Events Centre opens its doors to the public
鈥� December 1, 2012, Carvolth Transit Exchange sees its first buses arrive as the widened Port Mann Bridge also opens
