Author Archives: Nathan Pachal

A debate on Smart Growth Policy and the South of Fraser

With the Metro Vancouver region set to grow by another 1 million people over the next 20 years and with most of that growth set to occur in Surrey and the South of Fraser, there has been a call by … Continue reading

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Panorama Ridge misses the mark in providing a pedestrian friendly environment

Panorama Ridge, the area near 152nd Street and Highway 10, is a perfect example of Surrey’s confused persona. Is it trying to be an auto-centric suburb or a vibrant urban centre? On Sunday, I took a walk in the commercial … Continue reading

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The streetcar suburb in Surrey

When people talk about the success of urbanity in Vancouver one of the things that stands out is how its neighbourhoods where built around the streetcar. In Vancouver’s case streetcars became trolleybuses, but service continued to be frequent making these … Continue reading

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Surrey’s Dual Personality – Cloverdale Mall

Surrey is a city in transition going from a suburban to vibrant urban community. The city is in its adolescence, still a bit awkward and not quite sure of itself and its new identity. Nowhere is this more evident than … Continue reading

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Bing Thom wins Design Exchange Award for Surrey Library

With the completion of the Central City Tower in 2003, the tone for design and architecture in Whalley and Surrey was set. The design was so iconic that it became the new logo for the City of Surrey. If you … Continue reading

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Mixed-use development missing in Downtown Surrey

One of the concerns I have about the development of Surrey City Centre and Whalley is the lack of mixed-use buildings. If you believe the thousands of books on urban planning, they mostly agree that mixed-use is the key to … Continue reading

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A walk through Whalley

Every day that I’m on the SkyTrain, I look down at the part of Whalley between 104th Avenue and 108th Avenue. I’m always struck by the Detroit-like environment of empty lots and run down housing in the middle of the … Continue reading

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