16
You could WIN $15,000 Come home to $15,000 worth of furnishings, home electronics and groceries . . . from Visions Electronics, Save-On-Foods and The Brick. Contest runs May 7 to May 31, 2009. Check out MetroVancouver’s new homes and play along each week to increase your chance of winning. } FINAL WEEK to enter CONTEST CLOSES MAY 31/09 May 28, 2009 Housing: steady as she goes An unpredictable economy means the hous- ing market is also less predictable. Two different forecasts released in the past week highlight that uncertainty. In its second- quarter forecast released May 19, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation lowered its expectations for new home construction, sales and prices, for this year and next. Yet a B.C. Real Estate Association forecast released Tuesday, May 26 says hous- ing market conditions in the province have improved more rapidly than expected. As a result, the BCREA revised its home price forecast upwards. e average price of a home in B.C. is expected to decline eight per cent to $420,600 in 2009, as opposed to the 13 per cent originally predicted. “e majority of the decline in home prices has already occurred,” says BCREA chief econ- omist Cameron Muir. “Balanced markets are emerging in Victoria, Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. ere’s now little downward pressure on home prices in these areas.” Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Associa- tion CEO Peter Simpson was not surprised by either forecast. Some GVHBA members have sold all of their current homes, and are starting to look at the possibility of new developments, he notes. “Sales are starting to pick up. We’re hearing that from our builders,” Simpson says. Other GVHBA members will likely assess their current projects and sales and take note of any standing inventory they might have before deciding to put a shovel in the ground on a new project, but Simpson says GVHBA members Prices will go up or down, depending on two reports Coff ee With explores the changing face of the housing market in one of B.C.’s fastest growing cities: Surrey ›› p.14 Peter Simpson CONTINUED ON P.2 KOLBY SOLINSKY It was January, 2006 when Premier Gor- don Campbell and the province unveiled the Gateway Program, a $3-billion plan to open up B.C.’s and Greater Vancouver’s transportation network. Included in the plan was TransLink’s now-soon-to-be-completed Golden Ears Bridge, which will connect Greater Vancou- ver’s eastern regions north and south of the Fraser River. At the time, Campbell said, “Congestion is having an increasingly negative effect on B.C.’s economy, communities and families.” He further estimated that a bad day takes a commuter two hours to get from Burnaby to Langley and also forces traffic onto resi- dential streets in Surrey and Delta. Many believe the Golden Ears Bridge will most certainly solve these problems, and it has been lauded by city developers and residents alike in its surrounding areas. is can only mean the best for new home development in Maple Ridge, Lang- ley, and the entire region (which includes Surrey, Delta and Pitt Meadows), because easier transportation means improved busi- ness, more travel, and greater connectivity. Accordingly, new homes have been pop- ping up as more people flock to the cities around the bridge, seeing it as a region in the midst of tremendous growth. Bridging the gap CONTINUED ON P.2 New Golden Ears Bridge will mean less traffic, more real estate opportunities Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender is excited about the new Golden Ears Bridge, scheduled to open to traffic June 16. Rob Newell photo

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Prices will go up or down, depending on two reports C O N T E S T C L O S E S M A Y 3 1 / 0 9 May 28, 2009 ntest-entrypoint FRONTmay28.indd 1 5/26/09 8:39 AM Come home to $15,000 worth of furnishings, home electronics and groceries . . . from Visions Electronics, Save-On-Foods and The Brick. KOLBY SOLINSKY It was January, 2006 when Premier Gor- don Campbell and the province unveiled the Gateway Program, a $3-billion plan to open up B.C. ’s and Greater Vancouver’s transportation network.

Citation preview

You could WIN

$15,000Come home to $15,000 worth of furnishings, home electronics and

groceries . . . from Visions Electronics, Save-On-Foods and The Brick.Contest runs May 7 to May 31, 2009. Check out MetroVancouver’s new homes and play along each week to increase your chance of winning.

}FINAL WEEK to enter

CONTEST CLOSES MAY 31/09

Contest-entrypoint FRONTmay28.indd 1 5/26/09 8:39 AM

May 28, 2009

Housing:steady asshe goes

An unpredictable economy means the hous-ing market is also less predictable.

Two diff erent forecasts released in the past week highlight that uncertainty. In its second-quarter forecast released May 19, the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation lowered its expectations for new home construction,

sales and prices, for this year and next. Yet a B.C. Real Estate Association forecast released Tuesday, May 26 says hous-ing market conditions in the province have improved more rapidly than expected.

As a result, the BCREA revised its home price forecast upwards. Th e average price of

a home in B.C. is expected to decline eight per cent to $420,600 in 2009, as opposed to the 13 per cent originally predicted.

“Th e majority of the decline in home prices has already occurred,” says BCREA chief econ-omist Cameron Muir. “Balanced markets are emerging in Victoria, Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Th ere’s now little downward pressure on home prices in these areas.”

Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Associa-tion CEO Peter Simpson was not surprised by either forecast.

Some GVHBA members have sold all of their current homes, and are starting to look at the possibility of new developments, he notes.

“Sales are starting to pick up. We’re hearing that from our builders,” Simpson says.

Other GVHBA members will likely assess their current projects and sales and take note of any standing inventory they might have before deciding to put a shovel in the ground on a new project, but Simpson says GVHBA members

Prices will go up or down, depending on two reports

Coff ee With explores the changing face of the housing market in one of B.C.’sfastestgrowing cities: Surrey ›› p.14

Peter Simpson

CONTINUED ON P.2

KOLBY SOLINSKY

It was January, 2006 when Premier Gor-don Campbell and the province unveiled the Gateway Program, a $3-billion plan to open up B.C.’s and Greater Vancouver’s transportation network.

Included in the plan was TransLink’s now-soon-to-be-completed Golden Ears Bridge, which will connect Greater Vancou-ver’s eastern regions north and south of the Fraser River.

At the time, Campbell said, “Congestion is having an increasingly negative eff ect on B.C.’s economy, communities and families.”

He further estimated that a bad day takes a commuter two hours to get from Burnaby to Langley and also forces traffi c onto resi-dential streets in Surrey and Delta.

Many believe the Golden Ears Bridge will most certainly solve these problems, and

it has been lauded by city developers and residents alike in its surrounding areas.

Th is can only mean the best for new home development in Maple Ridge, Lang-ley, and the entire region (which includes Surrey, Delta and Pitt Meadows), because easier transportation means improved busi-ness, more travel, and greater connectivity. Accordingly, new homes have been pop-ping up as more people fl ock to the cities around the bridge, seeing it as a region in the midst of tremendous growth.

Bridging the gap

CONTINUED ON P.2

New Golden Ears Bridge will mean less traffi c, more real estate opportunities

Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender is excited about the new Golden Ears Bridge, scheduled to open to traffi c June 16. Rob Newell photo

2 • New Local Home | May 28, 2009

Editor: Tricia Leslie • 604-575-5346 • [email protected] Advertising Sales - Black Press National Sales • Adrian Saunders • 604-575-5812 • [email protected] Advertising • Nicole Hutchinson • 604-575-5826 • [email protected]/Business Development: Steve McIvor • 604-575-5822 • [email protected]: Brad Smith • [email protected]

New Local Home is published once a week by Black Press Group Ltd. (Suite 309 - 5460 152 Street, Surrey, B.C. V3S 5J9) 350,000 copies are distributed free across Metro Vancouver. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited.

are “cautiously optimistic” about the housing market’s future.

He says last week’s downgraded CMHC housing market outlook wasn’t all that astonishing.

“Nobody was surprised by the (hous-ing) starts. I think there were more than a few of us who thought the fi rst (quarter) forecast was too optimistic,” Simpson says. “We knew we were going to have fewer starts this year. Unfortu-nately, we’re comparing whatever starts we have with a very strong year last year.”

Th e past two years have been the strongest for the housing market in the Greater Vancouver area since 1993, Simpson notes, with 2007 coming in as the strongest since then, and 2008, the second-strongest.

Th e CMHC forecast calls for a prov-ince-wide 43 per cent decline in housing starts compared to 2008, and predicts that builders will start on 19,725 new housing units this year and 21,700 in 2010. In 2008, 34,321 new homes were built in B.C.

In Metro Vancouver, housing starts are expected to drop more than 40 per cent, from 19,591 in 2008 to 11,000 new units in 2009, then increase to 11,500 in 2010.

Th e CMHC report says average housing prices in Greater Vancouver are expected to decline about 13 per cent this year, from $593,767 in 2008 to $516,000 this year, then another 2.3 per cent decrease to $504,000 in 2010.

Metro Vancouver housing resales are expected to drop nearly 13 per cent this year to 22,000 transactions, then rise by about 14 per cent to 25,000 in 2010.

A number of factors contributed to the decrease in forecasted numbers, says CMHC senior market analyst Robyn Adamache, with an uncertain economy making it tricky to give accurate fore-casts.

“(Th e downgraded forecast) is partly due to the fact that we’ve had a pretty sustained downturn in employment since this time last year,” Adamache says.

However, the combination of lower prices and historically low interest rates is prompting new home buyers to get into the market now, she says.

Simpson concurs.“If you’re in the market for a house, I

can’t think of a time where there’s been a better opportunity,” he says.

No time like the present to buy a new homeCONTINUED FROM P.1

Polygon Homes founder

honoured at black-tie gala

Michael Audain was honoured last Thursday night in Vancouver at the Business Laureates

of B.C. Hall of Fame gala dinner and induction

ceremony.

As founder and chairman of Polygon Homes Ltd.,

Audain was recognized for building the com-

pany into one of the province’s most respected

and successful home builders, with more than

18,000 homes constructed throughout the

Lower Mainland.

Additionally, he has been the President of the

Urban Development Institute, Chairman of

the Business Council of British Columbia, and

a member of the Canadian Council of Chief

Executives.

Th is optimism is not surprising – aft er all, Ancient Troy may be the only example of a city that has not benefi tted from greater acces-sibility.

According to Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender, the bridge represents a whole new swath of opportunity for urban growth.

“I think the new bridge has reinforced in the minds of developers that this is the right part of the Lower Mainland to be investing for the future,” he says. “We’re excited for the whole region – South of the Fraser and the Northeast sector – because I think it’s going to be a major link in overall transportation.”

Both the City of Langley and the Township of Langley have – with the rest of Greater Vancouver – been a center for all kinds of new residential developments over the past few years, from single-family and multi-family homes to condominiums and townhouses.

While development peaked in 2007, the desire to live in Greater Vancouver has not subsided. Styles continue to catch the eye, as well, with developments such as the colonial rowhome architecture of Mosaic’s Tate in Sur-rey and the stonewalled, craft sman exterior of Portrait Homes’ Silver Ridge community in Maple Ridge serving as examples of the region’s diverse buying options.

Th e Silver Ridge development has been rec-ognized at length for its homes, garnering 63 major industry provincial awards so far. And the Golden Ears Bridge only serves to improve other housing operations in Maple Ridge, giving those who are looking for a new home

with a small-town feel ample selection.“With the new bridge coming in, we are

really anticipating that it’s going to add to the allure of areas like Maple Ridge and across the water into Langley,” says Troy Steine, market-ing and sales manager at Portrait Homes.

“It’s going to dramatically shorten the com-mute times because not everyone works in Maple Ridge... and people coming from the north working on the Surrey, Langley side, it allows them to come through.”

Additionally, Maple Ridge could see a mini-housing boom as more people discover its liv-ability, attraction, and unknown fl air.

“We all believe that Maple Ridge will really be one of the most accessible regions in the whole Lower Mainland,” says Steine, “which means it’s going to have a very positive increase on property values.”

Th ose involved in Maple Ridge’s growth agree it may have previously been too far out of the area for some, but that is set to change.

“Outside of work hours, it’s a very serene place and it’s very quiet and family oriented,” Steine says. “It’s been one of the most unique projects I’ve been involved with, in that it has so many things unto itself.”

Steine is referring to Maple Ridge’s all-ages population and its abundance of trees and mountains that are normally more stereo-typed for other areas of Greater Vancouver.

With the construction of the Golden Ears Bridge, as more and more people are begin-ning to notice the duality of Maple Ridge’s attraction – a quiet, neighbourhood commu-nity that is mere minutes from getting on the connector to go downtown.

“I went to an Urban Development Institute meeting and a breakfast two or three weeks ago about Maple Ridge, and the tagline was, ‘Maple Ridge: An Investment and Livability

Jewel,’” says Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin.“We really have the best of both worlds, in

that it’s an hour to be down to the Canucks game or the theatre, or 45 minutes going the other way you could be at Pitt Lake.”

Daykin, who owns Windsor Plywood on River Road (in Maple Ridge), is enthusiastic for business opportunities as well – which will naturally spur new home development.

“[With the Golden Ears Bridge], if you’re living in Maple Ridge, you now have a 15-minute drive to Port Kells instead of an hour,” he says. “It’s going to save people a minimum of an hour a day or two hours a day.”

Daykin says that Maple Ridge is paying respect to its urban boundary, however, and will not just “gobble up” farmland to build houses. Th e city has no plans to carve up it’s ‘Mayberry’-like feel that is responsible for much of it’s charm, either. However, new home development looks to thrive for home buyers looking at Maple Ridge, and the new bridge only enhances this.

“I think it’s going to be the entire real estate market in general,” he says. “I think it’s going to improve access to the rest of the region. It’s really what Maple Ridge has been waiting for for 40 to 50 years.”

Meanwhile, south of the Fraser River in Langley, prospects remain optimistic as well. While Langley has been fortunate over the past few years in seeing its population grow, the bridge opens the city up to more people, more business and more exposure.

“Because of the wealth of opportunities we have, from our shopping and restaurants, and a lot of the activities we have here, it’s going to be a great opportunity to invite people from the northeast to become a tourist here,” says

CONTINUED FROM P.1

Off the front: “...this is the right part of the Lower Mainland to be investing for the future.”

Portrait Homes’ Troy Steine says the new bridge will make Maple Ridge more accessible – for people, and for real estate. Rob Newell photo

“We (Maple Ridge)

really have the

best of both

worlds, in that

it’s an hour to

be down to the

Canucks game or

the theatre, or 45

minutes going

the other way you

could be at Pitt

Lake.”

CONTINUED ON P.13

New Local Home | May 28, 2009 • 3

4 • New Local Home | May 28, 2009

$800,000

$750,000

$700,000

$650,000

$600,000

$550,000

Coquitlam House Price Comparison for May 2009

NEW Morningstar Home 7 Year Old Home

$682,395

$760,320

belmont 28th.indd 1 5/26/09 12:01 PM

New Local Home | May 28, 2009 • 5

Some live for vacations.Others live them every day.Th is hint of a promise to potential new

home buyers on Bosa Properties’ Miramar Village website ensures a closer look at the residences available in the White Rock urban village highrise community.

Perched atop the Semiahmoo Peninsula in the sunny seaside city, the development is one of Bosa Properties’ most luxurious and sophisticated projects.

A mix of exclusive condominium residenc-es and retail shops and services, the commu-nity surrounds a public plaza that is the heart of the village.

Two more highrises are planned for the location, to complete the village, and when complete, the amenities off ered will include a pool, a hot tub and a gym.

A community centre built by Bosa Proper-ties and run by the City of White Rock just opened in tower A (21 storeys). Filled with meeting rooms, a lecture hall, and a studio where yoga and Pilates are already popular, the centre gives the community a place to come together.

With the beach nearby, and cafes, restau-rants, boutiques, grocers and other businesses

and services just steps from the front door, Miramar Village off ers more than a home: it off ers a way of living.

“It’s really the lifestyle,” says Bosa Properties sales manager Shannon Vrlak. “People like to be close to shops, and to current and future amenities.”

Th e highrise community is also min-utes away from local bus routes and major transportation arteries, including Highway 99 and the Peace Arch border crossing into the United States.

While the beach is a big draw, Vrlak says the panoramic views available from Miramar Village residences are a huge attraction as well.

People from all over Greater Vancouver and Alberta have already bought homes in the two highrises, which are 17 and 21 storeys. Poten-tial homebuyers from the United States have also shown interest in the community.

Many have already bought residences – while the development is 87 to 90 per cent sold, Vrlak says there are still opportunities for homebuyers: a small and ever-decreasing collection of two bedroom and two-plus den

Miramar Village: it’s a way of lifeSilver Lining Sale gives homebuyers a chance to save in two Bosa Properties communities

The views from Bosa Properties’ Miramar Village in White Rock are just part of the whole

package. The highrise community off ers style, sophistication, and amenities at the front door.

CONTINUED ON P.6

The sky is the limit...

6 • New Local Home | May 28, 2009

residences are still available, plus one 21st-fl oor penthouse.

With the current low interest rates, it’s an attractive time to buy a new home – and people are doing just that.

“We’re certainly seeing more and more activity,” Vrlak says.

And Bosa Properties is making it even more attractive to buy now – with its Silver Lining Sale, which starts May 30.

For a limited time, home buyers can pur-chase a brand-new home in two of Bosa Properties’ newest communities at signifi cantly reduced prices.

Th ose communities are Miramar Village and Westwood Village in Co-quitlam (Claremont and Edgemont). Claremont and Edgemont at West-wood Village are Phases 2 and 3 of the highrise community, which blends sophistication and charm.

Th e luxurious highrises at West-wood are set in a naturally inspired urban village, with shops, nature trails and amenities all close at hand.

Bosa Properties has negotiated an unparalleled mortgage package that gives buyers monthly payments equal to just one per cent interest for the next three years.

“When you couple this unbelievable mortgage package with the fact that

prices have been reduced drastically, you have a level of relative aff ord-ability that has not been seen here in the Lower Mainland for decades,” says Bosa Properties CEO Colin Bosa.

Bosa will be releasing all of its inventory in the two communities, which could mean a savings of up to

$195,000 at Miramar; up to $130,000 for Edgemont; and up to $140,000 at Claremont.

“Th ese two spectacular urban vil-lages are in superb locations, off er industry-leading fi nishes and specifi ca-tions, and provide the attention to de-tail and quality that are the hallmarks of a Bosa Properties home,” says Bosa.

For more information about the sale or any of Bosa’s communities, visit www.bosaproperties.com or vall 604-540-2672.

Views, amenities attractive at Miramar

CONTINUED FROM P.5

Urban village lifestyle is within easy reach

“...you have a

level of relative

aff ordability that

has not been seen

here in the Lower

Mainland for

decades.”

A select few homes remain to be sold in Bosa Properties’ Miramar Village in White Rock (above).

New Local Home | May 28, 2009 • 7

TATTON offers the perfect blend of thoughtful design and a tranquil neighbourhood setting. These three and four

bedroom rowhomes border Victoria Park and Leigh Elementary School. With MOSAIC’s reputation for unique design

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8 • New Local Home | May 28, 2009

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New Local Home | May 28, 2009 • 9

A river runs through it...

For more than 7,000 years, people have been drawn to the banks of the Fraser River at Fort Langley’s Bedford Landing.

Sto:lo, Kwantlen and Katzie First Nations tribes were the fi rst to live in the area, taking advantage of the area’s natural resources and the abundance of salmon in the river.

Explorer Simon Fraser was the fi rst to follow the massive river to the Pacifi c Ocean in the early 1800s; thus, the waterway now bears his name.

Fort Langley was fi rst built as a trading post by the Hudson’s Bay Company at Derby Reach, and was later moved to its present location to protect that company’s resources.

When gold was discovered in the Fraser River, Fort Langley became famous as the starting point of the Fraser Canyon gold fi elds, as steam-driven paddle wheelers brought a profusion of gold fever-stricken fortune hunters.

Now, a 78-acre community off ers homebuyers the chance to live in an area rich in history, right on the banks of the mighty Fraser.

Entitled Bedford Landing – named aft er the Bedford Channel that fl ows past its front door and the landing where early explorers and prospectors fi rst stepped ashore – the ParkLane Homes community was planned to become “a commu-nity for life,” says ParkLane Homes marketing manager Krista Shirreff .

“Our goal was to make Bedford Landing a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ com-munity, the perfect combination of contemporary living, rural beauty and the comfortably classic feel of a great small town,” she says.

Of the nearly 80 acres that makes up Bedford Landing, 38 acres are dedicated park land, Shirreff notes. It is also the only local community bordered by a river, a golf course (Fort Langley Golf Course), and an urban centre. Shops and services along Fort Langley’s Glover Road are within a few minute’s walk to the new neighbourhood, as is the new Fort-to-Fort riverside trail.

Popular with walkers, runners, cyclists, rollers and horseback rid-ers, that trail links to the commu-nity’s broader network of greenway trails – the regional system between Fort Langley and Derby Reach – and it will also become a part of the Trans-Canada trail system.

Last November, a new canoe and rowing clubhouse on the Bedford Channel that was built by ParkLane Homes was unveiled, and used for the Western Canadian University Rowing Championship.

A company that has built more than 5,500 homes in 90 communi-ties throughout the Lower Mainland since 1980, ParkLane Homes has won more than 250 provincial and

A ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ communityFort Langley’s Bedford Landing blendshistory with style, location, convenience

A bedroom in a Bedford Landing residence allows plenty of natural light inside through windows and doors.

Bedford Landing, named after the Fraser River’s Bedford Channel, has attracted people for centuries, from First Nations tribes to gold prospectors. Rob Newell photo

CONTINUED ON P.10

10 • New Local Home | May 28, 2009

national awards for its design, construc-tion and innovation, Shirreff says.

Bedford Landing homes themselves have been designed to look like they were built over time, with striking streetscapes featuring classic arts and craft s architecture, as well as carefully planned landscaping and fencing.

Currently, three- and four-bedroom homes in Bedford Landing’s Cedar Mill (from $529,900) and Greenway ($739,900) series are selling, as well as homes from the Rivershore series – four-bedroom residences with stunning river views, starting from $849,900. Person-alized Designer Series homes on the waterfront are also selling, starting from $1.6 million (by appointment only).

ParkLane Homes is also previewing Waterfront: a collection of 70 apartment and eight townhome residences on the waterfront, designed for adults over 45, starting from $234,900. Th e grand open-ing for the Waterfront apartment and townhome series is May 30 (Saturday).

Visit www.bedfordlanding.com or visit the two sales centres: single-family – 23015 Billy Brown Rd., Fort Langley, open daily from noon to 5 p.m., call 604-888-2176; or apartments – 9275 Glover Rd., Fort Langley, call 604-888-2793.

A community for life

Scenic and convenient location

Bay windows in the living area are featured in some of ParkLane Homes’ Bedford Landing residences. The Fort Langley community is built along the Fraser River, in an area rich in history.

Bedford Landing kitchens feature trendy, open design, long-lasting materials and popular stainless steel appliances. Rob Newell photo

CONTINUED FROM P.8

New Local Home | May 28, 2009 • 11

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FINAL WEEK to enter

CONTEST CLOSES MAY 31/09

Simply fill out the entry forms below with your contact info and drop off each at the applicable show home.

For new home locations, see their ads in this edition. Only one entry, per week, per new home development. Contest closes May 31/09.

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}You could WIN $15,000 worth of furnishings, home electronics and groceries . . . from Visions Electronics, Save-On-Foods and The Brick. Contest runs May 7 to May 31, 2009. Check out MetroVancouver’s new homes and play along each week to increase your chance of winning.

Home_contestpage-may28 1 5/26/09 11:29 AM

New Local Home | May 28, 2009 • 13

Fassbender. “Most people on both sides of the river realized that we needed a relief from the volume of traffi c that was going both ways,” he says, parallel to Campbell’s sentiment from 2006.

Fassbender’s outlook for Langley has also been enhanced with the bridge’s construction. He says greater mobility for Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows residents through Metro Vancouver will improve business prospects in both of the Langleys, as more people are drawn to his region.

“Th e wineries in the Township are going to benefi t, and we (in the city) are going to benefi t in our res-taurants and shopping, as well,” he says. “It’s another injection of a very positive direction for the future.”

Of course, the bridge’s success will be determined by its eff ects on both sides of the river, and city offi cials are steadfastly predicting that the bridge will bring more people, and more new homes.

“People will develop where they believe there’s going to be a market,” Fassbender says.

According to TransLink’s economic model, he’s spot on. TransLink vice-president of major construc-tion projects Fred Cummings says that 22,000 people are predicted to be moving into the immediate area within close proximity to the bridge. Cummings also estimates that the Golden Ears Bridge will be re-sponsible for 1,450 new residential units in Langley, 1,600 new residential units in Surrey, and 4,000 new residential units north of the Fraser.

“When you’ve got better transportation, and better mobility, people are attracted to the geographical area,” he says. “Th ose people wouldn’t move there if it wasn’t for the bridge.”

Perhaps the greatest spinoff s, however, are not lim-ited to one or two cities. Aft er all, it seems everybody is excited for the personal benefi ts that the bridge will aff ord them.

“It’s not about winning and losing, but it’s about enjoying what the region has as a whole,” says Daykin. “Even the fact that I can go down to the beach at White Rock for more fi sh and chips is excit-ing.”

For Peter Simpson, CEO of Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, the feeling is mutual.

“Personally and professionally, I’m looking forward to it,” he says. “It’s a long time coming. We should look at this example and build more bridges – in Europe, there’s a bridge on each block.”

While Greater Vancouver may not take on the look of Prague just yet, it’s more than certain that our area is growing and redesigning itself for the better.

“Th e most signifi cant growth is going to be in the east [of Greater Vancouver],” says Fassbender, high-lighting a perceived paradigm shift .

“From the sounds of the statistics in terms of fu-ture growth in the province, we’re all going to enjoy the fruits of that growth in all of the communities.”

A pedestrian-only party happens on the bridge on June 14. It opens to traffi c June 16.

CONTINUED FROM P.2

Above, the Golden Ears Bridge under construction in April 2008 (Rob Newell photo). At the top of the page, a TransLink rendering

shows what the bridge should look like once it is completed.

Bridge to open early

“People will

develop

where they

believe there’s

going to be a

market.”

14 • New Local Home | May 28, 2009

coffee with...

KOLBY SOLINSKY

If Chicago is the “City of Broad Shoulders,” Los Angeles is the “City of Angels” and Phila-delphia is the “City of Brotherly Love,” then maybe Surrey is the “City of Many Faces.”

Aft er all, it is comprised of seven unique districts, stretching from the Fraser River in the north to 0 Avenue in the south, and from Delta in the west to Langley in the east. Th at’s the physical size of Richmond, Burnaby and Vancouver combined.

South Surrey brings the beach and the border and Cloverdale off ers country neigh-bourhood charm, while Fleetwood, Newton and Guildford’s suburbs provide a path to the downtown city centre and Whalley regions, as well as connections to Highway 1 and the Skytrain.

It’s no surprise, then, that Surrey is so appealing to both new home buyers and developers.

“Surrey is very attractive for young families because we’ve got lots of schools and most of

them are fairly recent or new,” says Jean Lam-ontagne, Surrey’s general manager of planning and development.

“When you look at the demographic, it’s a very young population.”

Additionally, the city is well known for it’s parks and recreation centres, including new ones city council approves on a regular basis.

“When you speak with the user groups like soccer, hockey, or football [organizations], they’ll say that by far, we have the best facili-ties in the region,” he says.

As well, Surrey’s taxes are among the region’s lowest and housing prices are af-fordable, which can explain a lot of its recent growth. In fact, in 25 to 30 years, it’s probable that Surrey’s population could be the largest in the province.

“When you look at the aff ordability, the size and price of a house in Vancouver versus here in Surrey is quite a bit of diff erence,” Lam-ontagne says. “You can probably get a house with a backyard for a lot less.”

Yet, as Lamontagne notes, a third of Sur-

rey’s land is agricultural reserve and farmland.“I think that’s something to keep and coun-

cil has made sure it’s protected,” he says. “I think because of that, (it has) created

communities that all have their distinctive fl avour.”

By relying on that outlook – which gives South Surrey the waterfront and Guildford and Fleetwood easier highway access – all roads point to diverse stock for new home buyers.

And the city’s size is a large reason for this.“People can stay in Surrey by moving from

one neighbourhood to another,” Lamontagne says. “Th e city centre is emerging as a more high-density, high-rise type of downtown and that’ll draw people with [Simon Fraser University] there.”

As well, the developing Grandview Corners and Morgan Crossing area (on 24th Avenue in South Surrey) off er both new residence and shopping centres.

Development continues all over the city, he

says, adding that it’s impossible to nail down one or two areas of development.

And the amenities seem endless. Surrey has good posting on education (with Simon Fraser University, Kwantlen University and Kwantlen Trade School), senior care facilities, bike-friendly roads, and the vibrant Surrey Arts Centre.

Everything has been outlined in the city’s Offi cial Community Plan, a statement of objectives and policies to guide development and planning decisions.

“Th at’s the canvas of the future growth and development of the city,” says Lamontagne.

“It’s changing the view of suburbia – it’s a bit more mixed-used and a bit more com-pact.”

It’s a useful concept, considering that Sur-rey’s demographics are as diverse as its seven districts.

Still, as the city continues to grow and de-velop at a rapid clip, we should expect to see its housing outlook only brighten further.

Face(s) of Surrey growing, changingOffi cial Community Plan is a canvas of future growth and development in the burgeoning city

A residential neighbourhood features Japanese cherry trees in full bloom in Surrey.

A T P R O V I N C E T O N

New Local Home | May 28, 2009 • 15

North ShoreNorth Shore

Burnaby/New WestminsterBurnaby/New Westminster

SquamishSquamish

RichmondRichmond

South DeltaSouth Delta

CoquitlamCoquitlam

Port MoodyPort Moody

Port Coquitlam

VancouverVancouver

SurreySurrey

North DeltaNorth Delta

LangleyLangley

Maple Ridge/Pitt MeadowsMaple Ridge/Pitt Meadows

White Rock/South SurreyWhite Rock/South Surrey

(1)(1)

(2)(2)

(6)(6)

(9)(9)

(4)(4)

(18)(18)(20)(20)

(21)(21)

(19)(19)

(5)(5)(7-8)(7-8)

(3)(3)

(35)(35)

(34)(34)

(33)(33)

(37)(37)

(36)(36)

(38)(38)

(10)(10)(11)(11)

(12)(12)(15)(15)

(13)(13)(14)(14)(16)(16)(17)(17)

(28)(28)

(42)(42)

(27)(27)(24)(24)

(45)(45)

(40)(40)

(44)(44)

(43)(43)

(40)(40)

(30)(30)(32)(32)

(31)(31)(29)(29)

(39)(39)

(26)(26)(23)(23)

(46)(46) (47)(47)(48)(48)

(22)(22)(26)(26)

Squamish(1)Skye-Soleil-AcquaPresentation Centre, 121 Lonsdale, North Van.

604-904-2240, 604-616-1215

(2)Furry Creek-Ocean Crest415- Furry Creek Dr. 604-315-0172

Vancouver (3)CarringtonOak Street & 45th Ave. 604-266-6500

(4)Pacifi cUBC Westbrook Village. 604-221-8878

(5)Aura5437 Willow Street & West 38th Ave. 604-264-6477

North Shore (6)Branches on the North Shore1111 E 27th Street. 604-988-8489

Burnaby(7)JewelWilson & Beresford. 604-456-0688

(8)Brentwood Gate-The Varley1960 Beta Ave. 604-205-7228

(9)Altaire9222 UniverCity Crescent. 604-298-1182

Coquitlam(10)Levo1170 Pinetree Way & Northern Ave. 604-464-5856

(11)The FoothillsBurke Mountain. 604-944-3188

(12)TattonVictoria Drive, Coquitlam. 604-696-1502

(13)Whitetail Lane1357 Purcell Drive. 604-552-3003

(14) Belmont1456 Avondale Street. 604-461-7113

(15) Burke Mountain Heights3398 Don Moore Drive, Coquitlam. 778-285-6299

Port Coquitlam(16)Links2418 Avon Place, Port Coquitlam. 604-460-9907

Port Moody(17)Heritage Woods300 Panorama Place, Port Moody

Richmond(18)Alexandra GateCambie-Garden City. 604-279-8866

(19)Centro7180 No.3 Road-Bennett. 604-270-8305

(20)PradoNo.3 Road & Lansdowne. 604-276-8180

(21)Hennessy Green9800 Odlin. 604-303-6840

South Surrey-White Rock(22)Highland Park160th & 24th Ave. 604-542-8995

(23)Glenmore at Morgan Heights161A St. & 24th Ave. 604-542-8863

(24)The BrownstonesMorgan Heights. 604-538-9897

(25)Wills Creek160th & 32nd Ave. 604-542-6200

(26)Nuvo15454 - 32 Avenue, South Surrey. 778-294-1201

(27)Morgan Heights26th Ave & 164th Street. 604-531-1111, 604-420-4200

(28)Ocean Park2026-128th Street. 604-538-2345

Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows

(29)Falcon Hill23719 Kanaka Way. 604-466-5723

(30)Crest at Silver Ridge22850 Foreman Drive. 604-466-9278

(31)Solo11749 223rd Street. 604-467-0800

(32)Turnstone14-19490 Fraser Way, Pitt Meadows

New Westminster(33)Victoria HillMcBride Ave. 604-523-0733

(34)Q at Westminster QuayRenaissance Square @ Quayside Drive. 604-515-9112

(35)Red BoatEwen Ave & Furness St., Queensborough. 604-520-9890

Delta(36)Trend7445 Scott Road. 604-590-5483

(37)Radiance at Sundance8385 Delsom Way. 604-581-8144

(38)Cardinal Pointe10605 Delsom Crescent, Delta

Langley(39)Bedford Landing23015 Billy Brown Road. 604-888-2176

(40)Seasons & Prelude at Milner Heights208th St & 72nd Ave. 604-539-9484

Surrey(41)Augusta at Provinceton18199 70th Ave, 778-571-1088

(42)Springfi eld Village8678 156 Street. 604-591-1121

(43)Kaleden2729-158th Street. 604-541-4246

(44)Woods at Provinceton70th & 180th Street. 604-818-3702

(45)The Highlands at Sullivan Ridge60A Ave & 146th Street. 604-538-2125

(46)The Estates at Vistas West16327 60th Ave. 778-574-1380

(47)Tate18983-72A Avenue, Surrey

(48)Vista’s west6093 - 164 Street, Surrey. 778-571-1389

(49)Panorama Hills15038 - 59 Avenue, Surrey. 604-543-9302

On Tour

Single family home, Wallmark homes, Morgan Heights.

Map_pgTEMPLATE_May28 1 5/26/09 11:49 AM

*1% mortgage payments based on 25% down, for first 36-months of five year term. Prices exclude GST, and are subject to change. Savings amounts and prices correct at press time. The Silver Lining Sale is in effect for a limited time, and may not be available to those that delay. E&OE.

16 • New Local Home | May 28, 2009