Surrey will build the volunteer centre for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

The announcement was made this afternoon by Mayor Dianne Watts and John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, at a ceremony on the city hall lawn.

It will cost $10.5 million to build the Games Preparation Centre at the corner of West Whalley Ring Road and 107 Avenue near the Gateway SkyTrain station.

The facility will be in charge of all volunteers from the Fraser Valley during the Games. It will handle recruitment and casting of ceremonies participants, volunteers and short-term temporary Games staff as well as functioning as a volunteer drop-in centre.

Watts said the building was already planned and budgeted as a multi-purpose recreation facility for Surrey residents.

“We had that on the books,” she said. “Not as soon as 2010. We moved it forward. At the end of the day it’s a legacy for Surrey.”

The news means the city can use the Olympic logo, the Olympic torch run will go through Surrey and the city will be entitled to Olympic-funded cultural events and other activities.

Watts said the municipality will also make a $2-million contribution towards the 2010 Winter Games.

Furlong said Surrey was a “tremendously valuable addition to the Vancouver 2010 family.”

“As host of the Games Preparation Centre, Surrey will play a key role in recruiting many Games volunteers,” Furlong said.

“Beyond the Games, Surrey residents will benefit enormously as the centre is transformed into a recreational facility.”

Linda Hepner, chair of the Surrey Spirit of BC Committee, said the city has eagerly anticipated the Olympic Games since they were announced.

“We have been doing everything we can to be ready for the Games’ arrival. Becoming a venue city will provide us with new opportunities for us to be even more involved than we already are,” Hepner said.

[The Leader]

Fantastic news of course. I personally thought it was rather stupid that Surrey spent money on a 2010 Strategy, the 20% by 2010 recreation challenge, and the 2010 Commerce Centre - especially since we weren’t in any way officially hosting any part of the Games. It was being nothing more than a tag along and nobody likes tag alongs when they haven’t been invited to the party. 

Although, who knew Surrey had so much homegrown Olympic talent?

Now, the opportunities open to Surrey thanks to this announcement will be nice - we get a spot on the torch run, get to use the Olympic logo, we are an official “venue city”, and we will get a legacy rec centre. 

However, there’s more than a few questions on my mind. 

Why did the Mayor say the money for the facility - $10 million - was already booked for, but is just being fasttracked? It was my understanding that money has only been set aside for two major recreation facilities that are both desperately needed: an expansion in Newton, and a new multi-purpose centre for Cloverdale. Those are the only two capital projects in the City’s short term Financial Plan.

There has been talk of replacing the North Surrey Rec Centre with a new facility. Even rumours that the City would sell the land it’s currently on, and through a P3, build a second office tower, which would incorporate both a new rec centre and the proposed relocation of city hall.

Is this new building at Gateway the replacement for the existing North Surrey Rec Centre? If it isn’t the replacement, why construct a new building? What type of facilities will the Gateway building provide after 2010? 

And where exactly has the city found $12 million dollars to suddenly fasttrack a new rec centre, when two desperately needed facilities in two other Town Centres have been repeatedly delayed due to “rising construction costs”? 

Not to mention several other capital projects the City has planned to build for years as economic jumpstarters for Whalley. They’ve talked about a new main library, a performing arts centre, a museum, and more. But none of these projects have gone beyond the blue sky stage - none have been studied or designed; none have been funded. The only major project the City has invested in was the refurbishment of Holland Park, which recently opened, and that took over four years to complete!

Surely, the benefits of this $10 million building will be worthwhile, but at what cost to the rest of the city and the other facilities that are required to keep up with our ever expanding population?

Over 300 people gathered outside Surrey City Hall today to attend a ceremony to unveil the City’s new logo.

The logo provides a more friendly and inviting graphic than the previous coat-of-arms logo typical of many other cities, and strikes a balance between the exciting future of a progressive and dynamic City balanced in harmony with green spaces, parks, and open areas characterized by the City’s rural landscape. The supporting tagline accompanying the logo is “the future lives here”.

“Its exciting to be unveiling a new look for Surrey,” said Mayor Dianne Watts on behalf of Council. “We feel our new logo and tagline message jointly capture the energy, vibrancy and excitement of a forward thinking World-Class City like Surrey.”

The new identity is based on feedback from residents, key stakeholders, and extensive consultant research and analysis. The brand conveys that Surrey is a complete communitywith lots to offer. The branding reflects the City’s strength and vitality and reveals Surrey as a City that is progressive, innovative and futuristic.

The new logo will be used to convey a modern, progressive and welcoming visual identity that works alongside the coat of arms reserved and maintained for official usage. The new logo will be adaptable to all City departments and customer service areas including print materials, advertising, City facility and gateway signage, the website and multiple marketing and communication mediums. The logo is also visible on the City’s website at www.surrey.ca.

Love it. It’s the logo I chose - as you can tell, the civicSurrey logo is something of a ripoff of it. Seems like the majority of city residents liked it as well. 

The Surrey Memorial Outpatient Hospital that Gordon Campbell announced over two years ago is finally taking steps forward. A private consortium of companies has been chosen to partner with Fraser Health to build the $150 million facility on provincially owned land in Green Timbers. 

It is expected to begin construction this summer and open in 2010. 

As you may recall, Bosa Properties is planning to completely transform it’s Semiahmoo Mall property in the future from a suburban strip mall into a high-rise urban village. The Province has more details:

If you’re curious about how the bustling Semiahmoo town centre in South Surrey is likely to develop over the next few years, here’s a hint — look up.

Yes, the trend here is moving toward higher density in higher buildings.

Next week you’ll have a chance to peek into this highrise future when Bosa Development Corp. introduces preliminary plans for a $1-billion mega-project on its 20-acre Semiahmoo Mall site.

The plan’s primary components:

• Six commercial/residential towers (four between 18 to 22 storeys and two “signature” towers up to 36 storeys) and lowrise buildings to house about 1,160 residential units;
• An enclosed 38,000-square-foot, climate-controlled food court and meeting place;
• An underground TransLink bus storage area that will assist in improving the region’s public transit service;
• Public roads, a plaza and walkways throughout the development and a one-acre park that connects to an extension of the Semiahmoo Trail.

Details of these components will be presented at the initial public information meeting Bosa will host May 22 between 5 and 7 p.m. in a separate building at Semiahmoo Mall, 15137-16th Ave.

“This is an enormous undertaking but we think we’ve come up with a plan that balances all the requirements of key stakeholders,” says Richard Weir, vice-president of real-estate development for Bosa, a long-established, privately held, Vancouver-based firm. One requirement was an edict by Surrey city planners that Bosa’s development include public streets and this will take up about one-third of the site.

“When a large amount of site area is used for roads, the development has to be built upwards, not outwards,” Weir explains. “What the city really wants here is an accessible, walkable town centre.”

Weir also says Thursday’s meeting is the first in a long series of public consultations for the multi-phase development. The first of up to seven construction phases wouldn’t begin until 2011, he adds.

The project is being planned so that existing retailers in Semiahmoo Mall, which Bosa bought in 2002, can continue to operate. New premises will be constructed for stores before old ones are demolished and total retail space will increase from the mall’s 275,000 square feet to 325,000 sq. ft.

“The area has changed a great deal over the years,” adds Nicholas Lai, the city’s planning manager for South Surrey. “The town-centre plan for Semiahmoo was upgraded by Surrey council several years ago to allow for higher density and Bosa has been an active participant in that planning exercise. So now the developer is coming forward with the actual development application.”

Once public input from the meeting is compiled, a preliminary proposal will be presented to Surrey city council for approval, probably in late June or early July, Lai tells me.

Surrey councillors will also be keenly interested in how the public responds to the Bosa plan, especially the 36-storey tower.

But Bosa is prepared to address such concerns.

“Any time you’re proposing changes like this people are going to have questions,” Weir says. “The purpose of the information meeting is not just to give the public our perspectives on the project — but to hear their perspectives as well.” 

The Peace Arch News also has an article with some of the residents perspectives:

It’s not just a facelift scheduled for the Semiahmoo Shopping Centre – rather total reconstructive surgery – if preliminary plans by a property developer go through.

Bosa Development Corp., which bought the mall in 2002, wants to build “1,160 dwelling units in six commercial/residential towers, between 18 to 36 storeys high, an eight-storey office building and a number of four-storey commercial residential buildings,” according to a notice received by area residents from the City of Surrey last week.

“Obviously, it’s a great shock to hear that they’re talking about such high buildings – 36 and 34 storeys – and I guess from a personal point of view, my main concern is the probable loss of the Semiahmoo Mall, which is important to the local population from a social point of view,” said resident David Cann, who is also president of the Semiahmoo Residents Association. “From what I can ascertain, there’s grave doubts as to whether there’s going to be a significant inside mall area.”

However, according to Richard Weir, Bosa’s vice-president of real estate development, those with concerns about losing the mall as a social gathering spot needn’t worry.

“We’ve included a very extensive and climate-controlled food court area,” Weir said, adding the development company is very aware of the role the mall plays with seniors in the area.

He said none of the changes will happen overnight, and it will be at least three years before construction starts on the ground level of the multi-phased development, which also includes land surrounding the shopping centre.

Aside from the mix of residential and commercial spaces, there will be city streets running through the site and a one-acre public park that connects to the Semiahmoo trail system.

Weir said his company hopes to retain Zellers and PriceSmart as the anchor stores in the new development, along with most of the existing tenants. The retail stores won’t leave their current spaces until the new stores are built, which means there won’t be disruption to the services they provide. Plans for the indoor climate-controlled area will include a food court, seating area, big-screen TVs and a waterfall.

“What we are striving to do is create is a community gathering place,” Weir said.

Although Surrey Coun. Judy Villeneuve hasn’t yet seen Bosa’s redevelopment plans, she says the area needs to be revitalized to keep it competitive, especially with the growth of new shopping areas in Surrey.

“If anything, it will enhance the viability of the Semiahmoo Mall because it will get more traffic,” Villeneuve said.

Bosa will be hosting a public information meeting May 22, Weir said. The time and place haven’t been determined but are to be advertised and notices sent to residents living within 100 metres of the development site, according to the city.

Questions or concerns regarding the Bosa development can be directed to Surrey planning representatives Gertrude Kwan at 604-591-4129, or Ron Gill at 604-591-4773.

The Mayor and the President and Vice-Chancellor of SFU signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this week, outlining a course of partnership between the two organizations for continued support and expansion in the next two years.

The Memorandum of Understanding had a few points I’d like to bring to the front, letting us more easily connect the dots between some recent stories.

The next stage of expansion for the Surrey SFU campus will expand teaching, research, and community outreach in biotechnology, science and the health sciences as well as enable further growth of programs in business and the arts and social sciences.

The partners will work together to expedite the further expansion of the Surrey SFU campus including the construction of a Science and Technology Building as soon as possible. In support of this objective, the City will assist SFU in communicating to the provincial and federal government the importance to Surrey and the South Fraser region of additional undergraduate and graduate programs in Science and Health Sciences as well as an enhanced research capacity for the South Fraser;

With the City’s Development Corporation, the partners will explore opportunities to leverage the partners land holdings in City Centre and further expansion of SFU and the City of Surrey existing and future facilities to attract other quality tenants to the City Centre and where any opportunity demonstrates viability, to take appropriate actions to bring the opportunity to fruition;

The partners will explore joint opportunities for the development and use of recreation and library facilities and for the support of athletics.

It’s interesting to note that SFU first opened up in temporary facilities in 2002, and has been in it’s current permanent 330,000 sq. ft. space since only 2006. It’s current capacity sits at 2,500 full time students, and already has a student body of over 3,000.

One unique aspect of SFU Surrey is that it’s a completely urban campus, meaning it is integrated into the fabric of the city, rather than being separated off like a traditional university campus. That chracteristic is something I hope SFU continues with as they expand, and from what this Memorandum of Understanding outlines, it seems as though they will.

From my gathering, the City is hoping to engage SFU, and most certainly other partners, in building the second Central City tower (on the Rec Centre lands). Presumably, the City would take advantage of space in this new tower for either a new rec centre, or main city library (or maybe both).

Exciting times all around!

You’re invited to come out to Surrey’s 10th Annual Earth Day celebrations this Saturday, April 19th, from 11am to 3pm, at Bear Creek Park [map]. According to the City’s pamphlets, here’s just 10 of the many activities to look forward to at the event:

1. Sing, dance and laugh with the Ta Daa Lady
2. Get your face painted
3. Enjoy a story in a giant salmon and be a part of a costume parade (as part of the Nylon Zoo)
4. Dance along to the Pat Chessell Band
5. Learn about the upcoming Green Timbers Nature Centre
6. Release Chum salmon fry into Bear Creek
7. Enter to win great prizes
8. Enjoy environmental displays, activities and crafts
9. Receive a free tree seedling to plant in your own yard
10. Plant native plants and trees in the park!

Earth Day is also the launch of Surrey’s Environmental Extravaganza, a series of over 60 free environment oriented events in the city, occurring between Earth Day and World Oceans Day on June 8th. Check out this [PDF] for more info on the many events available.

Found this laughable story the other day at the Surrey Archives about Campbell Heights (aka: Stokes Pit, part of the Little Campbell Watershed). Campbell Heights was the official name of the what former Mayor McCallum called the “largest industrial development in North America”. Today, it’s one of the best of example of how not to develop land - especially land that is in environmentally sensitive areas!

And to think, City staff and Council promise residents clean, green industry by “luring” high tech companies to Surrey! What the hell happened to that plan? How come Surrey, who’s far more strategically positioned in the region in relation to the borders and highway access, missed out on the Microsoft campus, while Richmond got it? How come the failed Phase 1 of Campbell Heights is full of large, sprawled, empty warehouses - providing only 15 jobs per acre?!

Two thousand acres of southeast Surrey will soon be home to a high-tech business park, if city planners have their way.

The city plans to create a “high tech” business park in the area, providing homes for technology firms.

Taiwan-based Mosel Vitelie is currently negotiating with the provincial government over the possibility of building a $2 billion microchip processing plant in the area.

A public information meeting held in Campbell Heights last Thursday served as an uncomfortable remind for several people that the mass of greenspace twice the size of Stanley Park will soon be home to industry.

And Surrey plans to make sure the welcome mat is out. The motivation is simple - industry and commerce is a preferred source of property tax. It brings in almost three times as much as residential, while drawing much less municipal services.

Sounds like a lot of failed promises to me.

The Province and the City of Surrey have reached a Memorandum of Understanding that will aid the fight against homelessness in BC’s second largest municipality.

Premier Gordon Campbell today announced plans to create up to 172 new supportive housing units and 20 new sobering beds in Surrey.

The Province and the City of Surrey have agreed to create up to 106 new supportive housing units, to be built by 2010, on two City-owned sites. The Province will also purchase two existing buildings, which will provide an additional 66 supportive housing units.

“The Province is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness, both by partnering with the City of Surrey to expedite new supportive housing and by purchasing existing properties to provide more immediate housing for those in greatest need,” said Campbell. “These four sites will help address homelessness in Surrey, and we look forward to more housing and support services to come.”

“The City of Surrey is proactively responding to the issue of homelessness by providing these two City-owned sites,” said Surrey mayor Dianne Watts. “By partnering with the Province to expedite these sites, we are committed to creating affordable, supportive housing for people living in Surrey who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.”

The first City-owned property, 13670 94A Ave., will provide supportive housing to men and women requiring drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation and/or who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The development will include a 20-bed sobering centre, up to 30 units of stabilization and transitional housing, up to 40 units of supportive housing, and space for outreach addictions services and a mental health clinic. A proposal call seeking applications from non-profit societies to manage and operate the housing component will be undertaken shortly by the Province.

The second City-owned property, 13775-95 70th Ave., will be developed with about 36 self-contained supportive housing units for women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This development will be operated by YWCA Vancouver.

“While everyone needs safe, affordable housing, women with dependent children are especially vulnerable when they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless,” said Janet Austin, chief executive officer of YWCA Vancouver. “With this development, the YWCA will be able to provide a safe home and the necessary support services to help residents make a successful transition to economic independence.”

Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding agreement between the City of Surrey and the Province, the Province will pay all pre-development costs to design the two developments through to the issuance of development and building permits. The City has agreed to provide these sites and to ensure the approval process is expedited in a timely fashion.

Two additional properties with existing units are being purchased by the Province for $5.4 million to provide more immediate access to supportive housing. The first property, 13630-32 110A Ave., will be operated by Cwenengitel Aboriginal Society as a 12-person recovery house for Aboriginal men who have been through addictions treatment. The second property, 13245 King George Hwy., will be operated by Fraserside Community Services Society and provide 54 units of supportive housing.

The picture I found the other day that superimposed the towers under construction onto an aerial photo - well, it made me want to update it with the latest developments. So, here’s Surrey City Centre from two perspectives:

Looking southeast from Braid SkyTrain Station in New West

The current skyline

The future skyline

The future skyline with the treeline coverup

Aerial looking north from around SMH

Current aerial

Aerial done by raggedy13 a while back

Latest future aerial with most recent approved/proposed developments

To get a handle on all these developments, I’ve put together an interactive Google Map, with links to the developer’s websites, sketches, and photos of construction. Take a sneak peek below, or view the full size version.

View Larger Map