Surrey to plan new waterfront entertainment district near Pattullo Bridge | Daily Hive

City of Surrey to plan for new waterfront entertainment district next to Pattullo Bridge

Study area for Surrey's new waterfront entertainment district around the Pattullo Bridge. (City of Surrey)

Could Surrey’s Fraser River waterfront around the Pattullo Bridge and SkyTrain Expo Line’s Skybridge, which is currently a heavily industrialized area, be transformed into a lively entertainment district?

Earlier this week, Surrey City Council approved the launch of a feasibility study for the creation of such a unique waterfront district that could see uses such as entertainment, restaurants, retail, parks, and plazas.

This would effectively create a “memorable gateway into Surrey.”

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“We do think it’d be quite an exciting place in Surrey… entertainment, shops, really create a landmark in Surrey. So we’re excited to move forward on the plan for that,” said Ron Gill, the general manager of planning and development for the City of Surrey, told City Council during the public meeting.

The feasibility study’s planning area is roughly framed by the new Pattullo Bridge to the north, the South Fraser Perimeter Road to the east, Tanner Park/Tannery Road to the south, and the Fraser River to the west.

The area is directly across from downtown New Westminster, and north of Fraser Surrey Docks.

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January 2025 construction progress on the new Pattullo Bridge. (Government of BC)

Fraser Surrey Docks Fraser River waterfront

Fraser Surrey Docks along the Fraser River in North Surrey. (DP World Fraser Surrey)

City staff noted that the study area is now larger than originally envisioned, stretching beyond the waterfront beyond Brownsville Bar Park and Tannery Park to also cover other lands owned by the municipal government, as well as the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Canadian National Railway, and private entities.

“It does require a lot of coordination. So there’s a lot of players down there,” continued Gill.

According to the City, the port authority has indicated its desire for all of the land near the area’s port sites to be designated for industrial activities only. Metro Vancouver is currently facing a growing shortage of land suitable for traditional industrial uses, with the port being one of the region’s leading users of such land. As well, much of the region’s protected industrial land base is situated within Surrey.

“I think just seeing that area start to pick up and perk up is really something that all the people in, especially that end of that area of Surrey, will like, and having a better access to, or a better looking access from the Pattullo Bridge is fabulous,” said Surrey mayor Brenda Locke.

South Westminster Neighbourhood Concept Plan

Potential waterfront entertainment district (1) and the Transit Village area around SkyTrain’s Scott Road Station. (City of Surrey)

Some of Locke’s predecessors have also previously floated the idea of a Ferris wheel attraction or even canals in the vicinity.

The consideration of entertainment uses for Surrey’s waterfront area south of the Pattullo Bridge comes full circle to the provincial government’s proposal over 20 years ago to relocate the PNE from Hastings Park in Vancouver to this South of Fraser site — a plan that was ultimately cancelled.

After the proposal to relocate the PNE to the Burns Bog failed, the provincial government acquired a large industrial waterfront site in Surrey south of the Pattullo Bridge for $19 million for the specific purpose of creating a new home for the attraction. This Surrey property for the PNE was acquired in 2001, but it was disposed of by the provincial government shortly after in 2002 when it had become apparent the PNE would remain at Hastings Park.

During the same public meeting this week, City Council also approved the nearby South Westminster Neighbourhood Concept Plan, which establishes a new Transit Village area around SkyTrain’s Scott Road Station — immediately east of the envisioned waterfront entertainment district.

It will enable intensified residential and commercial uses around Scott Road Station, aligning with the provincial government’s Transit Oriented Area designation of this SkyTrain station.

Transit Village area around SkyTrain’s Scott Road Station. (City of Surrey)

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SkyTrain Expo Line between Scott Road Station in Surrey and Skybridge. (All Over Vancouver/YouTube screenshot)

For the sites closest to the station, high-rise, mixed-use towers will be permitted. Further out, transitionary mid-rise and low-rise mixed uses will be allowed to the east, and mixed employment uses for sites will be permitted to the south and west — all within the designated Transit Village area.

“The vision for South Westminster is to create a space where residents can live, work and play within their neighbourhood,” said Locke in a subsequent statement.

“Key components of the Plan are the creation of a Transit Village, that will provide quick and reliable rapid transit service for the community, and a waterfront destination that would create a memorable gateway into Surrey. I would like to thank the community for providing their invaluable feedback and staff for their hard work in mapping out Surrey’s newest neighbourhood.”

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