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Real estate
Surrey’s No. 1 when it comes to investment But critics say while rising real estate prices are good for economy, they are leaving the ‘regular guy’ behind Dianne Watts Tom Zytaruk
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ceremony Tuesday. See our Remembrance Day section on pages 29 to 34 in today’s ‘Now’ to find out where you can honour Canada’s veterans on Friday. (Photo: KEVIN HILL)
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an atmosphere friendly to economic growth, and if major transportation improvements are in the works. While Watts is pumped by Surrey’s ranking, her political opponents worry the city is becoming too gentrified as many Surrey residents now cannot afford to buy their own place here. Gary Robinson, who’s running for a council seat under the Surrey Civic Coalition, says the city’s current administration has “obviously lost touch with the regular folks in Surrey, and regular people in general. They’re part of the elite now.” Robinson said council should “stop thinking all that matters is the future” and look after residents’ needs now. “They seem to be in a race not only to invest in all this development but to sell all Surrey’s assets,” he said. “It leaves the regular guy wondering where the hell he’s going to live next.” Robinson said the Surrey Development Corporation should use the city’s land to build affordable housing and rental units. “Instead, they’re using it to build ‘Mega-Watts’ projects,” he said. “She sits up on her hillside surveying her kingdom. This council doesn’t hold her accountable.” see SURREY’S GROWTH › page 3
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Glen Wilson, sergeant-at-arms for the Whalley Legion Branch 8, places his poppy on a white cross at Kinsmen Place Lodge in Surrey during the Legion’s annual Remembrance Day
SURREY – Surrey’s real estate market is on a tear. The city is set to outperform other B.C. cities over the next three to five years in terms of real estate investment. That’s the word from the Real Estate Investment Network (REIN), the country’s leading real estate research organization. Its latest report, Top British Columbia Investment Towns 2011, ranks Surrey number-one out of hundreds of cities and towns in B.C. “I’m certainly honoured to receive that distinction for the city,” Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said. Vancouver sits at 11th spot. Watts noted that REIN’s findings were based on “significant” criteria. “We hit the mark on each one. We’re on the right track, doing the right things and making the right decisions.” REIN considered factors such as the pace of growth and whether infrastructure and the employment rate are keeping up. It also looked at whether Surrey will benefit from an economic or real estate “ripple effect,” if its politicians have fostered
Gary Robinson