From Our Home to Yours....

 The very best of the holiday season to you and yours.

May the new year bring many new and exciting opportunities to come together as a community and continue working on creating a vibrant, healthy and liveable city.

Peace and Joy.....

Newton Block Party, New shops along 137th St & Zaklan Farm Fest All Today!

Today 10-2 Newton Block Party -Near Rona 

Fun for the family- pancake breakfast courtesy of the Newton Business Improvement Association, and much more. 

Come out and meet the people in your neighbourhood.  And don't forget to stop by the street piano in the grove and play a tune or two!

Friends in the Grove

 Check out Agent C Gallery and Studio 73 both new, and both along 137th St just north of the Wave 

Pool.

Studio 73  Glassworks  Candles and More!

Opening reception for Gross Density Parcel exhibition at  Agent C Gallery 

  Zaklan Heritage Farm hosts its annual Harvest Festival today too!

                   

 If you haven't been to this wonderful farm in the heart of Surrey, today's the day! 

 Enjoy!

 ReNewton will be back blogging full time in September!

Summertime, and the livin' is easy......

With the odd exception,  I will be taking a break from this blog for the summer.
  Will still be active on Twitter @ReNewtonNation posting the best of local and international placemaking and urbanist ideas and strategies.
 Have a safe, happy and beautiful summer!



 

Stop by Starbucks Newton 11-3 today. Help Stamp Out Cancer!

 Happy Saturday Everyone!

 Please stop by the Starbucks near the Organic Grocer in Newton today between 11-3 . Say hi, and help kick cancer in the ass. Donate to the Canadian Cancer Society. Two cute young girls will be there and then one old woman this afternoon ( that's me :D) Help Rhiannon Paskall and her friend raise a record amount today !

The Future Lives Here: in Newton

 Wednesday, April 22

5:30-8:30

 Newton Community Hall

City of Surrey presentation:

 The Future of the Newton Town Centre.

What's in store for the centre of Newton.

 Share your thoughts as a resident or business owner or simply as an interested Surrey citizen.

What do YOU want to see happen, really happen now?

Don't Worry Surrey. Everything will be okay. Until it's not.

Was away from Surrey for most of today and a bit off the grid. 

Came back to find out that another drive by shooting had occurred not far from my home and just steps from Panorama Ridge Secondary School  just before  the school's lunch hour. This has got to stop. 

We need to address this insanity before an innocent person gets hurt. Can we do that this time? 
 The first step to fixing a problem is acknowledging that a problem exists. 

Surrey, we have a problem. 

We don't need to  point blame right now. Let's just admit that something is very wrong in this city and get to work on solutions.

  Burying our heads in the sand isn't working. 

Painting everything with sunshine and rainbows isn't helping. 

We all need to come together and talk about this like rational adults. A city isn't a business. A city is made up of people. Can we make decisions that are in the best interest of the people who call this city home? 

Surrey, we have a problem.

 It's like parents knowing their teen has a drug problem  but refuse to deal with it because, 

" what will the neighbours think?"

Let's stop this insanity and just do it. 

 And this time please, please,  can we address this issue head on before  another family is devastated by  a tragedy that might have been prevented, if only someone had had the courage to say enough already.


One resident's recent tweet:
@ShaylanBryant 
 Don't feel safe driving around my community anymore. 
Every resident of #SurreyBC is a victim of these shootings, our safety is being robbed.

Surrey, We Have a Problem.

A Change of Direction....

Apologies for the lack of posts recently. Have been working on a few new projects, one of them a  new and separate blog focusing more on issues throughout the Metro Van region in general. Social, economic, cultural, and a good dose of  'what have you'.

 Lots going on in the world  and here at home in south Newton. Will be blogging about the local news and what's happening on the streets here in this part of Surrey, BC. Much to discuss. Some difficult issues to deal with. But, deal with them we must.

  The ReNewtonNation blog started 3 years ago almost to the day.What began as a movement to bring focus to the remarkable and rapid decline in the neighbourhood and the dire need for revitalization has taken a few twists and turns along the way. 
Most recently ReNewton has been looking at the continuing problem with crime and safety. I'll be writing about that soon. 
Stay tuned...

What Makes a Great Place?

Downtown Newton  has the potential  to be more than just another suburban town centre.

We have the lovely Old Surrey Restaurant heritage building,  but the rest is a bit of a mish mash of architectural styles. Some good, some not so much.
Downtown Newton needs its own brand; its own distintive feel. Luckily that slightly shabby, old bricks and weathered wood look is easy to  replicate.

 We have the most amazing template to work with here: A mix of (potential) parks and public spaces plus the start of a vibrant colourful international  retail mix with a good dose of authentic grit.
The best is yet to come  here. You can feel the desire in the residents and business communities. The place has great 'bones'. Let's get working and  turn this place around. Who's with us?

What Role do Arts and Culture Play in Community Revitalization?

"....in order to be successful, cities are going to have to be dense, diverse, animated and interesting.

That only happens when arts and culture are at the heart of communities".

Here in downtown Newton we have the  jumping off points to creating something magical, vibrant and authentic.
 A new business improvement association, several international food shops, Surrey artists' fave hang out  Deserres ,  an intimate cultural centre with lots of potential, and a core community group of individuals who are more than ready to get to work.
What we need now, as the video states is a ' coalition of the willing'.
Let's hope 2015 is the year that Newton finally gets its due.

 I hope you're as inspired  as I am by this brief video.

2014 Moments

Happy New Year ReNewton Nation!

 that's you guys :)

Thanks for supporting ReNewal and ReVitalization of downtown Newton.

May 2015 will be our year to shine!

Update on Nix the Pay Parking in Downtown Newton!

Last night at the Surrey city council meeting, long time councillor  Judy Villeneuve  announced that metered pay parking along the 7300 block of 137th Street in downtown Newton will  soon be removed. 

 This is good news for business owners and those who frequent the shops, restaurants and services on the street between Newton Wave Pool  to the south, and the Superstore shopping centre to the north. 

 Thank you to Cllr. Villeneuve  who brought this issue forward and facilitated the change.

Kudos as well  to those in the community who supported this initiative by signing the petition. 
                     
                        We collected nearly 1000 signatures. 

Every one of these names helped make the case that revitalization of the downtown Newton shopping district starts here.

     

 In the coming days we look forward to the end of pay parking and the beginning of a new invigorated retail hub in the neighbourhood. 
  
   

New Posts Coming Soon!

 Well, September is here and that means we'll be back at it this week. 

Stay tuned for new posts:  

How ReNewton spent the summer vacation

What's in the news in the downtown and south Newton neighbourhoods

and of course,  thoughts on the upcoming election, just 2 months away.

It's going to be an exciting Autumn in Surrey!

Just a taste...

In summer mode but will be working on a post about how multi suite homes have changed the quality of life in many areas of Surrey. Here's a  quick sneak peek.

We need proactive bylaw officers out there doing their jobs and we need more of them.
 The public shouldn't have to be responsible for calling in every bylaw infraction.
Our tax dollars should be paying for this.

A Walk through Sullivan Heights-Time to put People First.

Had a little walk through my neighbourhood the other day and stopped to admire these majestic trees on 140th St. near the former city hall in  Sullivan Heights/South Newton.

 Aren't they gorgeous? 

 I hope they will be spared when this site is developed. 

 Sullivan Heights is changing in many ways.  There are some great new condos at Latitude on 60th Ave.  and many new townhouse complexes under construction in the area. BUT...we worry about so many development proposals  for mega homes  some up to 4500 sq. ft. on super-small lots.

Wondering how application for 14 homes turned 

into the 16  shown below...... #SurreyMath

 How many suites do you think will be in these homes ? This was designated as a townhouse site, but the developer was allowed to change to this. With townhouses at least there's a strata council in place to monitor rentals etc.

We need to take a breath and rethink the  suite strategy in Surrey. I am          100 % in favour of multi- generational families living together. In fact I would like to see more of us adopt this way of living. For children it  provides a link to their past and culture. Whatever that culture might be. The situation we have in Surrey is that too many home owners are renting out more than one suite in their homes, and this is putting a strain on services, schools, and is not a sustainable way to  develop our city. We  cannot continue to put development dollars before  the needs of  the people who call this place home. It's not working. 

Let's make the kind of decisions we can be proud of  10, 20, 50 years from now.   You don't have to be a card carrying tree hugger  or be anti-development or anti-business to think this way.  God knows we're sure not. We are business people  first and foremost in this household. My husband runs his business in the city & is a member of the Surrey Board of Trade. I promote Surrey businesses every chance I get.  

But we have to face facts. The city is being developed too much too fast and that's having some fairly dire consequences. Over crowded schools, parking nightmares in many neighbourhoods, and a drug & crime problem that is placing a stress on our police force  to put it mildly.

We need to take our collective foot off the gas... 

We don't need to slam on the brakes. 

Repeat, we do NOT have to slam on the brakes! Just take it off full pedal to the metal mode, get out of the car, have a look around, and then carefully, thoughtfully get back in the driver's seat and go at a reasonable speed.

  Isn't that just common sense?

5500 block 140th St

140th St. development site

Creative developers need to find a way to incorporate these trees into their plans.  And the city's planners have to think more about the liveability of the region.

Most people prefer to purchase a home, and will pay more for a home with mature trees already in place. 

 Fun Fact: Sullivan Heights used to be home to wild pheasants who made the most unusual sounds. Really miss them!

Development sign on 140th St.

We want a mayor & council who put the interests of people above those of developers. Surrey didn't get this way by accident. Decisions were made that got us into this mess. Now's the time for some big, bold moves by city councillors and the planning department. Same old status quo? Or a new  smarter and liveable vision for our city. Who's going to step up for Surrey citizens and put people ahead of profit?

Newton Community Festival plus Surrey Doors Open!

Saturday, June 21 from 11-4

Newton Community Festival

plus 

Surrey Doors Open 

Lots to see and do for the whole family and it's free!  

At the Newton Wave Pool and Recreation Centre. 

Pop by The Grove where all sorts of fun things will be happening.

Relax under the giant cedars in The Grove.
Ahh... that's better.

Go for a dip in the Wave Pool 

Have a peek at the mosaic art at the community centre & wave pool.

Check out the fabulous public art all around the  wave pool and rec centre!

Pop into the Newton Cultural Centre and check out the art!

Come and see what 's happening in Downtown Newton 

this Saturday June 21!

Newton is Midtown Surrey
The Heart and Soul of Your City