3 things to feel good about & one last request.

 Hey ReNewton Nation friends,

 Three things to feel good about today.

 1. The Newton Business Improvement Association is up and running!  Philip Aguirre from the landmark Old Surrey Restaurant in the heart of downtown Newton is the executive director. 

We're excited  to see what events the NBIA has planned for the DT core.

2. The pay parking that was in place for the last few years on the 7300 block of 137th St. has been eliminated. You now have 2 hours free  parking. This was something the business owners had fought hard for. Already there is more foot traffic on the sidewalk and in the shops and that's a good thing for everyone. Well done! And thank you to Councillor Judy Villeneuve who had a key role in this change.

3.  The people of  Newton, an area that emcompasses Sullivan Heights, Panorama Village, Strawberry Hill as well as Hyland and Panorama Northwoods are coming together as one voice.

They are demanding that attention be paid to our downtown core and the south King George corridor. This neighbourhood has been forced to absorb a disproportionate number of socio-correctional services and facilities with nothing positive given in return. 
The effects of this shift in demographics has been startling for this long time south Newton resident to witness. While other areas of Surrey get new multi million dollar recreation facilities and upgrades, Newton, with the largest population in  the city, is left to make do with inadequate and aging buildings. Now we hear that the top priority for rapid transit won't be  south along King George, but east  along 104th Ave. Newton residents deserve better than this, and they are coming out of the woodwork to have their say.  

These taxpayers aren't going to sit back and allow places like the boarded up gaming and retail complex at King George, 70th Avenue and Hall Road to sit abandoned for 16 years.
 That's how long the public market property on 64th Avenue and King George  has stood ( barely), unoccupied and rotting

King George and Hall Rd. near 70th Ave.

 16 long years is enough.  

We have asked for the city to purchase the property. We have pleaded, begged, and done everything we could think of to have the city of Surrey enforce its unsightly property bylaw. ( This place fits the criteria and then some) and yet, this eyesore remains as a constant visual to everyone who travels through the extremely busy intersection at King George & 64th Ave: "This is Surrey"

And we wonder why we can't shake our bad reputation...

 Abandoned building King George and 64th Ave.
Mayor Watts, as one last act before leaving office we're begging you, please tear down these walls.

Newton residents know they deserve better than this.

And that's something to feel very optimistic about.  

ReNewton ReMinder:  Voting day is Saturday November 15.

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?

This will make you happy!

 Quick post to share this very happy video featuring  some  wonderful people and a few of our downtown Newton businesses along 137th St  "Festival Street" and surrounding area. 
Watch it. 
Get Happy. 
Repeat.
This time get up and dance. You'll feel better!

Enjoy!

Friends of The Grove - Today!

             Friends of The Grove  !

 Happens  Today in Newton.

 Here's what you need to  know !

Every Saturday for the last 2 months Friends have been meeting at The Grove

Having Fun...

Talking with neighbours passing through

Relaxing a bit...

 Enjoying the sunshine 

Playing in the tents...

"Two Dudes Chillin' Park ?"

Words with Friends..... of the Grove

These are the people in your neighbourhood. Today, drop by and say hi. Bring something fun with you to share:  Anything! An instrument, a hula-hoop, a bubble machine. Share some books, maybe a story. Tell us something about you that we didn't know before. It's all a big experiment in connecting us as a community. There's going to be lots of music and  I guarantee a few surprises.

 Whatevs!  Just about anything goes. 

This is our place.  This is your place.  So let's have some fun. Details here 

I'd  love to meet you! Please come up to me today and introduce yourself.  Then we won't be strangers anymore. 
And make a point of meeting David Dalley who has worked so hard to turn the Grove into a warm and welcoming public space.
Jude Hannah
ReNewton Nation

Watt's the Buzz in Surrey this Weekend

 Major announcement at Saturday's Party for the Planet

 Dianne Watts, Surrey's mayor for the past 9 years  told the crowd she will not seek re-election. A surprise to some, but many saw it coming.

Surrey SFU  campus tower at Central City. When this stunning piece of architecture was opened in the mid 2000s there were high hopes that Surrey would finally be able to shake its backwoods image once and for all. Despite some beautiful iconic developments, some say the city's reputation is worse than ever. And that's a crying shame. 

 Will be writing more on this and who in the crowd of usual suspects might be taking a swing at the mayor's chair. It won't be an easy job. Surrey has challenges, and as I write this, Twitter is buzzing with reports of shots fired near Gateway Skytrain Station in Whalley/City Centre. On a Sunday afternoon....sigh.

#NewtonStrong: Surrey's Heart & Centre Stands Together

 Stay tuned...

ReNewton will be providing  a  full recap of the public forum held on Monday evening by the newly formed Newton Community Association plus some thoughts and recommendations as the community moves forward.
The standing room only meeting at the Seniors Centre in Newton, the heart and centre of Surrey is adjacent to the arena where hockey mom Julie Paskall was bludgeoned to death last week.

Hundreds of concerned citizens of all walks of life turned out on a chilly evening to voice their concerns and more importantly to offer recommendations.
 It's clear that this community cares  deeply about  recent tragic events and ongoing struggles within the neighbourhood.

How about International Village for Newton?

Time to think outside the box and build something wonderful that ALL  of Surrey residents can feel good about!

What now for Downtown Newton?
Some thoughts...

Holland Park in Downtown Surrey is home to the Fusion Festival, a popular annual event that   thousands  of families enjoy every year.  Always a wonderful opportunity to showcase our city's amazingly diverse cultures and nationalities. 

 Last summer we attended  with 3 kids from Mexico who said the best thing by far was the delicious food! They  enjoyed the chicken satay with peanut sauce so much that I had to make my version of it for dinner  later that evening! Got everybody talking about how great it would be for Surrey and in particular Downtown Newton to showcase  our multi-culturalism  for more than  just a few weekends a year.  Newton  has the largest population in Surrey many of whom are immigrants bringing with them their own unique gifts and artistic skills.

Wouldn't it be great to see Downtown  Newton transformed into an International Village? Imagine the food!    We'd love to see a farmer's market  that caters to everyone's cultural heritage. 

Bringing cultures together is  what builds a strong community and contributes to

 healthy, safe and vibrant neighbourhoods. 

What do you think? 

Mother and son shopping at open air marketplace

International Village for Newton?

Casino Royale-Time to Shuffle the Deck and Deal

  This weekend Surrey city council  in a close vote  turned down the proposal to build a casino and entertainment complex in South Surrey.

It's a victory for South Surrey residents,  and there's an element of Nimbyism for sure.

 The  No vote has unfortunate consequences for South Newton where Gateway's current Bingo Country operates.
Several months ago council voted to allow slots at that facility on a "temporary" basis until  the new casino in South Surrey was built and the gaming license transferred. 

 At the time it was said by many that  "temporary" had a way of becoming permanent.
And guess what folks, it has.

 The  aging Newton facility will keep operating as it is, and  plans for a new retail complex, complete with Planet Organic as anchor tenant?   Well that's unlikely to happen any time soon if ever.

Newton deserves the same attention and consideration as those  whose wishes were granted late Friday night.

  The city of Surrey must get working with developers to revitalize the South Newton/King George corridor.  

Clearly a need exists for  arts, entertainment and convention facilities. And what better place than  South Newton, the heart of Surrey. It's a no-brainer.

  Compromises will be necessary. We can't have everything we ask for. 

  But the time has come for the suburbs to grow up. Literally and figuratively.