growth

Visualizing growth: Newton

December 24, 2010 | Paul Hillsdon

This is the fifth and final post in our decade-end retrospective visualizing urban growth in the City.

This post examines the neighbourhood of East Newton, which is bordered by 152nd on the east, 72 in the north, 64th Ave in the … Read More

Visualizing growth: Cloverdale

December 23, 2010 | Paul Hillsdon

This is the fourth post in our decade-end retrospective visualizing urban growth in the City.

This post examines the neighbourhood of West Cloverdale. I actually lived in one of the older CMHC homes in the community back in 1998, one of … Read More

Visualizing growth: Grandview

December 22, 2010 | Paul Hillsdon

This is the third post in our decade-end retrospective visualizing urban growth in the City.

This post examines the joint neighbourhoods of Morgan Heights, Rosemary Heights, and Grandview Heights, all located east of Hwy 99 in South Surrey. It is the … Read More

Visualizing growth: Sullivan

December 21, 2010 | Paul Hillsdon

This is the second post in our decade-end retrospective visualizing urban growth in the City.

This post examines the joint neighbourhoods of Sullivan and Panorama Ridge in southeast Newton. The area is bordered by 64th at the north, 152nd on … Read More

As a sign off to the first decade of the new millennium, we will explore five communities in Surrey that have witnessed tremendous growth and rapid change between 1998 and 2010. These visuals help us all comprehend the intense pace … Read More

Despite the rhetoric, Surrey continues to sprawl

October 4, 2010 | Paul Hillsdon

There’s a growing perception in some circles in the City that “sprawl” is on the decline. What, with the Sustainability Charter and Ecosystem Management Study now directing growth policies, a majority of new housing built as multi-family instead of single-family, the promotion of “green infrastructure” in new developments such as East Clayton’s natural stormwater drainage system, and the City winning the 2008 UBCM Green City Award and 2009 Fraser Basin Council Award for Overall Sustainability, it is easy to think that Surrey “sprawl” is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

First, we should define what “sprawl” is. Answers.com says urban sprawl is “the unplanned, uncontrolled spreading of urban development into areas adjoining the edge of a city.” Wikipedia gives us a more specific definition based on four characteristics:

Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses (e.g. stores and residential), and various design features that encourage car dependency.

What are Surrey’s Major Challenges? [survey]

February 10, 2010 | Paul Hillsdon

The Voice, an Indo-Canadian publication, recently had an interview with Councillor Bob Bose about the major issues and challenges in Surrey. Bose took issue with Mayor Watts, saying she isn’t confronting these problems: