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!

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. 
  
   

Surrey Public Market Saga.....

As most of you are aware, the former public market building at King George Blvd. and 64th Avenue has been vacant for over 16 years. In the past 3 years there have been 4 owners. The original owner Walter Chan owner of Smitty's Restaurants sold it to developers Manuel and Daisy Da Silva in 2012  who then sold it to Vancouver developer Mark Chandler's company Newmark in the fall of 2013. Now  the property has been passed  on to Raj Nijjar with Opera Homes. My source  has informed me that Chandler et al defaulted on payment and  the property is now in the hands of Raj Nijjar's company.

 I had a friendly chat with  Mr. Nijjar the other day and it appears that we can't look forward to  any development on this corner in the foreseeable future. 

And now with the entire area fenced off, no one can take a stroll along the creek banks or stop and enjoy the shade of the small grove of trees .

 Now then....... Let's take a step back to October of 2011.

 ReNewton started with one goal in mind at that time. That was to encourage and lobby the City of Surrey to purchase this strategic corner property and turn it into something for the community. 

There is huge potential here.   

Imagine a park, an amphitheatre, room for a farmers market,  expanded arts, culture and recreation facilities. 

In its current state the building is an eyesore.   For 16 years we've gazed upon this sad sight and so have the 70,000 drivers who pass through the intersection of 64th Ave & King George Highway every day.   Reputation-wise, this place is not doing Surrey any favours.  Look inside and you can still see vestiges of its former glory. This, the second incarnation of the public market fell victim to  the unusual business practices of the original owner.  Back in the 80s, there was a  wonderful public market in an old roller rink on the same corner. We loved it.  That first market was always busy, and no wonder!  Two fresh fish vendors, a bakery, a few veggie vendors, a meat shop and the best Japanese take out in town run by the cutest older couple. Then the  owner decided to build the "new' structure and raised the rents sky high. The vendors simply couldn't pay the exorbitant  rates and in the late 90s the place shut its doors.

This is what the place looks like today. And that's such a crying shame.
The creek is beautiful.
The trees are spectacular.
And  none of it can be used by the residents of this neighbourhood.
 Sure would be nice for the city of Surrey, or some philanthropic community minded person or group to make an offer on this place and  develop something for the people who live in the heart and soul of Surrey.
 Just sayin'.

Upate December 23, 2014.
We're heading into year 17. The very least that can be done is to enforce the city of Surrey's unsightly property bylaw and tear down these walls. The people who live, work, pay taxes and raise their families here deserve to have this place removed.  To let it stand one more day is simply wrong.

16 years,
70,000 drivers per day drive by this.
 And we wonder why Surrey can't shake its backward image?

What's in a Name? Meet Me in Midtown.

 Over the past few weeks some of us have been brainstorming around creative ways to revitalize our downtown Newton  centre. As one person so eloquently put it, 'the neighbourhood has some scars, but we're resilient and the will to see positive things happen here has never been greater". So, it got us thinking about the name Newton.  Has the time come to rebrand the Newton Town Centre , (whose boundaries are now set with the newly formed  Newton BIA ) in much the  same way  Downtown Whalley has been renamed City Centre? We think there's a very strong case to do so. Like Whalley,to some people the name Newton doesn't conjure feelings of excitement and respect and it's not doing our  business community any favours.  

Since Newton is the geographic centre i.e. middle of the city of Surrey why not call it that?

Midtown. 

Anyone who has spent time in Manhattan has no doubt wandered the busy Midtown area. It's vibrant but retains its grittiness, keeping it real and authentic. 

 I've maintained that Newton can take that same feel and make its edginess  work to  advantage.

So let's talk about 137th St, also known as Festival Street in the City of Surrey's plans for the town centre. 

Newton Town Centre Plans for Festival Street  (137th St.) during an event.
City of Surrey
 Everyone's asking....When will the plans be implemented?

The  commercial space above is perfect for an artsy edgy gallery/live space

Business owners and the community  all agree- the Pay Parking HAS to go!
*Update Oct. , thanks to  efforts of Cllr. Judy Villeneuve, we now have 2 hr. free parking :)

Festival Street-  Plans for Everyday Use, but when will the city get moving and make this happen? 

There are many office and retail spaces currently for lease in the vicinity.
Let's fill them with creativity and connection.

How awesome would it be to create a  unique to Surrey  funky art, music &  cafe scene here?    You know what I'm talking about.  Old or at least old-looking brick walls, great coffee, and a place to meet up with friends. 

Your ' third place" 

What about a global crafts marketplace in these vacant spaces?   Think: studios, coffee houses, music venues. Somewhere our young Surrey musicians and creative types can get together and showcase their talents?

  

 And let's not forget   about  FOOD!

  

As Retrofitting Suburbia author Ellen Dunham-Jones says

"Never Underestimate the Power of Food to Turn a Place around and make it a destination"

  Here's what one city is doing   Midtown Global Market

 So, think about the many possibilities for the  Newton Town Centre.
We have so much untapped potential in this area. Let's take the vision and make it happen. We have many strengths  and a growing  number of  citizens taking charge of their own community. 
Are you going to be one of them?

   Still reading?
 Leave your comments or if you prefer, send me a message.
 hey-jude@telus.net

What this place could look like.... Newton Now

For those who asked for more information regarding the Newton Town Centre Plans.
 Below is the link to the official document, and a few images of what this place could look like when the plans are implemented. 

 Newton residents from all neighbourhoods, including Panorama Ridge, Sullivan Heights and Panorama Village have been patiently waiting for the Town Centre to be developed. Now we see others parts of Surrey are being invited to open houses to showcase plans for their neighbourhoods. 
Newton residents, 140,000 strong are asking what about us? 

 Over the last few years the city of Surrey has maintained  that "Newton was Next".  
Expanded recreation, arts and culture facilities are needed in Surrey's fastest growing area. The families here deserve to have  the same calibre of amenities as other parts of this city. The business sector has done its part to step up and will continue to do so with the newly formed BIA. Now it's the city's time to make good on its commitment to create a liveable vibrant town centre in the heart of Surrey. 

 Newton Next? Let's make it Newton Now.

Newton Town Centre Plans - Check it Out

Surrey's population can handle several farmers markets throughout the city.

We're a multicultural city- Let's embrace that!

Public Spaces create Safe Places 

International Village for Newton /  Midtown Market?

Festival Street on 137th?

Public Markets are one of the things that makes a city great

We have lots of little ethnic specialty shops in Newton. Greco's is just one!

Midtown Music Night ?

Official City of Surrey plan for 137th St ( Festival Street)

Newton businesses &  BIA is asking for pay parking to be removed on 137th St. Here's why.

Great things can happen when we work together for the good of our city and its citizens.Newton Town Centre Plans - Check it Out