Two Years in 'Permit Hell': Burnaby’s Second T&T Finally Starts Construction, Exposing the Hidden Risk in Mixed-Use Condo Promises
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Construction has finally commenced on Burnaby's long-awaited second T&T Supermarket location at Gilmore Place along Lougheed Highway, following what CEO Tina Lee described as more than two years of "permit hell." The grocery store, originally slated to open in summer 2025, faced extended delays that pushed the timeline back significantly as the company navigated complex municipal approvals. In a video update posted to social media, Lee acknowledged the difficulties of building in Vancouver, citing "weird ceiling heights" and complex utility infrastructure running through both floors and ceilings of the mixed-use development. The site presents particular challenges for large-format retail operations, requiring specialized refrigeration and heavy equipment to be installed within a structure featuring numerous concrete columns and constrained vertical clearances that complicate standard supermarket layouts.
This T&T location represents a critical amenity for the rapidly densifying Gilmore and Brentwood corridor, where thousands of condominium units have been marketed specifically with proximity to this retail anchor as a major selling point. The project sits within the larger Gilmore Place development, a significant mixed-use community that has attracted substantial residential investment from buyers who purchased based on promises of completed amenities and immediate walkable convenience. Lee previously noted that the company's existing Metrotown location faces significant weekend congestion, making this second Burnaby store essential for serving the area's growing population. The CEO admitted she announced the project earlier than expected because prospective condo buyers expressed such overwhelming enthusiasm, highlighting how deeply specific retail amenities factor into purchasing decisions in new dense communities where daily convenience commands premium prices.
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From a senior Greater Vancouver agent's perspective, the T&T delay perfectly illustrates what we consistently tell clients about buying into major mixed-use projects: the residential towers often finish first, but the lifestyle you were sold depends on that retail shell getting fully built out and leased. This isn't unique to Gilmore Place—we see it across Metro Vancouver from Coquitlam to Richmond, where permit complexity and tenant improvements create multi-year gaps between move-in day and grocery day. For buyers considering new density in Brentwood or similar Transit-Oriented Development hubs, the practical takeaway is to assume amenity timelines are optimistic, verify whether your mortgage qualification or rental strategy depends on immediate neighborhood activation, and budget for a car or longer walks initially. The fundamentals here remain sound, but patience is now part of the asset profile you are buying.