The Community is the Expert.

A Conversation With @Fred_Kent of @PPS_Placemaking http://t.co/aJGVEv0Yfw via @JLGoodenough #Placemaking #PublicSpace pic.twitter.com/ka7hM9AdeH

— Future of Places (@FutureofPlaces) April 29, 2015

Jane's talk echoed in eight walks in Surrey this weekend (with video)

Celebrating the fabulous Jane Jacobs.







Jane's talk echoed in eight walks in Surrey this weekend (with video)

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.

March Break-new post coming soon :)

New post coming soon- stay tuned.

 In the meantime, remember to vote yes for better transportation.
 It's the best thing for Surrey's future.
 Do it for the greater good.

How to Make an Attractive City

If you want to see what a society really believes in, look at what the biggest buildings on the horizon are dedicated to. 
The biggest, most prominent things tell us about the actual, rather than the admitted priorities of a city. We focus on who owns land, but we don't think about who owns space, who has 'air' rights.

-Joseph Campbell

Common Sense Talk on Transit.

One of the smartest guys around, former chief planner for the city of Vancouver Brent Toderian talks common sense about the upcoming transit plebiscite. Watch and learn.

Surrey ‘eyesore’ saga drags on Year 17 (via Vancouver 24 hrs)

 More on the ongoing Public Market saga. Year 17.

Read full story below.

Surrey ‘eyesore’ saga drags on | Vancouver 24 hrs

 Clarification Anyone who lives in the Sullivan Heights or Panorama area area knows that there hasn't been security , let alone 24 hour security on the premises for over a month. The head of bylaws for Surrey was made aware of this over a week ago. It is a dangerous place and it needs to go.

So Much Potential for a Beautiful Community Space

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...

Fixing our Broken Cities. Lessons from Medellin

In case you missed Brent Toderian and Charles Montgomery on CBC's The National last night, here's the full video.

Facing reality.

I've spent the last two days sitting in a courtroom at the preliminary inquiry relating to the Julie Paskall ( our Hockey Mom) murder case.
 It has not been easy.
There are times when you just can't ignore reality. These 2 days brought that home loud and clear. We need to do better.

Yosef Gopaul goes on trial on March 12, 2015 at BC Supreme Court in New Westminster.

 

 At the moment, writing about pop-up shops, placemaking, sidewalk cafes and all  of the lovely things that make for a happy city is the furthest thing from my mind. 

I'll be back soon.
-JH

New Year, New Newton ?

Downtown Newton Business Improvement Association and ReNewton

 in The Now Newspaper January 15 edition.

Read here

 May this be the year that Newton rises up and shines!

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!

In Remembrance

At 4:45 this evening,  a small, brief and quiet gathering will be held in The Grove in downtown  Newton.  We will be coming together to honour the life of Julie Paskall, who was attacked  outside the Newton Ice Arena one year ago tonight.
This is meant to be a time of quiet, thoughtful reflection: Not a time for blame or politics or controversy.  Some will bring poems. Others will share a special reading.
For some of us, the senseless attack on Julie was deeply personal. We ask for the media's respect and understanding.

 For those who wish to attend, please bring  tealights or candles if possible and if desired, flowers.
 We plan to walk from the Grove to the memorial site afterward to place flowers and candles. 
We will conclude  before 5:30.
Thank you
Update:  Thank you to all who attended the intimate gathering this afternoon. A very special thank you to the Paskall family members who joined in. You are all very brave. We share your pain, and we will not forget your mom.

One year later.

ReNewton Year in ReView

 A lot happened in Newton in 2014.

  Stay Tuned for an Upcoming Post..... 

ReNewton Year in ReView.

 It was one hell of a year.

One Step toward Retrofitting Suburbia

 Think of the places in Metro Vancouver that attract people and commerce. Commercial Drive in Vancouver is one very successful area. People feel good about living, working and visiting this neighbourhood.

 Maybe it's time for Surrey to return to the "old school" main streets that encourage walking and a sense of community. We need to get away from our car-centric culture. In order to do that, Surrey needs to change its  commercial parking requirements.

Sprawling suburban parking acreages are so 70s. Time  for change.   

Full Blog Post by Matt Taylor here

Keep Your Human Paws off Surrey's Salmon Please!

 Judging from an encounter I had yesterday while walking through our neighbourhood park, it appears we might very well need to do a little public awareness campaign on the importance of Surrey's many salmon spawning streams. I am fortunate to have one just steps from my back yard gate.

 Three men were walking along the trail through the park, one of them carrying a large fishing net. We started a friendly conversation and they told me they were on their way to scoop up the salmon  they'd spotted earlier.  

One of them said they done this before. I explained why it wasn't such a great idea and that we needed the salmon to lay their eggs and that it was hey, kind of important, ya know?  

The circle of life and all that jazz.

And besides, these fish are not what you might call 'fresh catch of the day'. They're banged up and so close to mush it would take a braver soul than me to chow down on one of these Coho.

  Talk about Ew!    

After our little chat they turned around and walked out of the park. I sincerely hope they won't try that again. 

  After all, a female salmon can lay up to 5000 eggs and that's a lot of fish in our coastal waters.