Garrison Crossing is in the running for the Great Places in Canada contest, launched by the Canadian Institute of Planners to find the best streets, places and neighbourhoods in the country.
Garrison Crossing, the award-winning planned neighbourhood on the former CFB Chilliwack, was nominated by Garrison resident Darlene Goetz.
She bought her home "sight unseen" in Garrison, because she very much wanted to be a part of history. And she absolutely loves it.
"It is a beautiful combination of heritage and new," she wrote in her nomination letter. "The Village is a retail shopping complex in the middle of it all. Soon we will have a pool, water park, playgrounds. Surrounding it all are plaques commemorating the people who lived and worked here protecting our country.
"It definitely is worthy of being called the Greatest Place in Canada."
The nomination of Garrison Crossing was both "professionally rewarding" as well as "flattering," for Randy Fasan, director of planning and land development for Canada Lands Company, who considers planning the multi-phased project his "life's work."
Fasan is also a part-time resident in the Garrison neighbourhood, who gets to enjoy a few days a week commute-free from his custom-designed carriage house.
"Garrison is a feel-good place," he said. "And that is precisely what we set out to do, create the most livable and enjoyable community we could build."
People even come from other parts of town just to stroll in Garrison Crossing, and along the historical Legacy Walk.
Part of what sets it apart is the incredibly diverse mix of housing, which in turn attracts a mix of incomes and demographics.
"That sets it apart from other subdivisions," Fasan said.
The mix ranges from single-family houses, to refurbished Officers Quarters, town homes and condos.
"It all looks shiny and new like a penny, but there are also these mature trees everywhere," Fasan said.
The lanes located behind the homes means there is no "parade of garages" out front.
Another location in Chilliwack was also nominated in the Great Places contest, Salish Park, near the Chilliwack library.
Nominations and voting in the contest will close March 25. A panel of judges will then select finalists in late April, and winners will be announced in May.
Each winning location will receive a plaque, presented to the local mayor, and winning nominators will also be awarded.
To vote in the contest go to www.cip-icu.ca/greatplaces/en/
jfeinberg@theprogress.com