A transformative ‘Gateway’ project at the north end of City Centre along King George Blvd at Bolivar Rd received 1st & 2nd Readings at Council on Monday, and will now proceed to Public Hearing on January 13. The project, which has been in the planning stages for nearly 5 years, initially appeared before Council back in April 2018, but was referred back to Staff to work with the applicant on refining the proposal, and to determine a ‘significant amenity contribution’ in exchange for increased density on the site. Since then, the project, designed by Vancouver’s MCM Architects has undergone significant design refinements to create an ‘iconic’ gateway development consisting of 1,040 units within:
- 37-Storey Residential Tower above a 7-Storey podium
- 31-Storey Residential Tower above a 6-Storey podium
- 26-Storey Residential Tower above a 6-Storey podium
- Two 6-Storey Low-Rise Residential Buildings
- A 5,673 sq.ft. Childcare Facility
- A small Cafe
Under the current application however, only the 26-Storey Residential Tower, Childcare Facility, Cafe, and a large ‘Orchard Plaza’ will be built as a first phase at the corner of King George Blvd and Bolivar Rd. The remainder of the development will be subject to future detailed Development Permit applications. The first phase tower will consist of 239 units, with the Childcare Facility and Cafe at its base. The large interior ‘Orchard Plaza’ design by Vancouver’s PWL Partnership Landscape Architects is intended to “celebrate connections to local agriculture” and will incorporate fruit trees within moveable planters, in addition to seating, an open lawn space, playground space, and an interactive stormwater capturing feature.
View looking south on King George Blvd from Bolivar Rd
View looking south along Barker St from Bolivar Rd
View of interior ‘Orchard Plaza’ from Barker St
Close-up view of interior ‘Orchard Plaza’ with interactive stormwater feature
View of Cafe and plaza at corner of King George and Bolivar within Phase 1
Public realm entry into interior of site from King George Blvd
View looking north along King George Blvd of landscaped sidewalk and bike path
Proposed Phasing Plan
Landscape Site Plan
Overall, the proposal is proposing a blended density of 4.2 FAR on the site, which exceeds the currently permitted 2.5 FAR in that area of the City Centre Plan, intended for 4-6-Storey development. As a condition of allowing the increased density, the developer is offering a significant community amenity contribution above and beyond what is required, as well as providing a significant number of ‘family-sized units’ of 2-bedrooms or larger.
In addition to the development itself, significant upgrades will be made to surrounding streets including an expansive new landscaped sidewalk and separated bike path along King George Blvd, and new dedication and construction of Barker Street to the north.
For more on the application:
https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7917-0397-00.pdf
The much anticipated ‘Central City II’ office tower will appear before Surrey Council on Monday for 1st & 2nd readings, as part of the first Council meeting since the summer break. Designed by ZGF Architects, the 25-storey (116.5m / 382 ft.) building will be the successor to the iconic Bing Thom designed ‘Central City I’, built in 2003, and bring much needed new office space to Surrey City Centre. Taking design cues from the original tower, while at the same time having its own distinctive architectural expression, the new building will be located just to the south-east of Central City I at the corner of King George Blvd and Old Yale Rd.
In all, the building is proposed to include:
- 567,114 sq.ft. of AAA Office Space and Fitness Club on levels 2-25
- 16,168 sq.ft. of ground-oriented retail, restaurant, and cafe space
- Landscaped roof terraces on levels 3, 5, 10, 21, and 24
- A new dedication of City Parkway
- A new private east-west lane along the north side of the building connecting City Parkway to King George Blvd
- Plazas and Separated Bike Lanes surrounding the building along King George Blvd, Old Yale Rd, and City Parkway
View looking South along SkyTrain Guideway
View Looking South-West along King George Blvd
View looking North-West at corner of King George Blvd & Old Yale Rd
South and East Elevations
West and North Elevations
In terms of design, the building consists of a 25-storey tower with distinctive rust-toned metal panels, above a stepped podium, transitioning to different floor plates at levels 3, 5, 10, 21, and 24. The tower maintains a rounded rectangular form above the podium levels, before transitioning to an elliptical shape – similar to ‘Central City I’ at level 21. Above level 25, the vertical fins extend the curtain wall and frame an additional 2 storeys to conceal the rooftop mechanical equipment, and give the building a 27-storey appearance. The fins also provide space for signage, shown in renderings provided by ZGF, with the Central City logo, similar to the original tower. The bulk of the building’s massing is oriented towards King George Blvd and anchored to Old Yale Rd, creating a strong urban street wall and presence. The building tapers down towards the west, with its 4-storey podium extending to City Parkway, and the SkyTrain guideway.
The main entrance to the building will front onto a new public plaza along Old Yale Rd. This plaza will extend around the building on 3 sides, with retail, restaurant, and cafe space spilling out to activate frontages along City Parkway and King George Blvd. The south-west corner of the site at Old Yale Rd and City Parkway has been identified as a location for a future significant public art piece, subject to separate public art plan process.
Ground floor Site Plan
Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 3
Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 5
Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 10
Landscaped outdoor terrace on Level 21
Replacing the former Best Buy store at the corner of the existing mall parking lot, Central City II represents just phase 1 of a master redevelopment plan for the remainder of the Central City Shopping Centre site. More details of that plan will come through future development applications for subsequent phases. Earlier this year, the mall’s owner Blackwood Partners announced plans for a 1.5 storey addition to the existing parkade along University Drive which is expected to get underway in the coming months. Upon completion, this will allow for the closure of rooftop parking above parts of the existing mall along Old Yale Rd and eventual redevelopment of the site across from Holland Park.

A proposal to revitalize the North Surrey Medical Building at 9656 King George Blvd in the emerging Health & Technology District is heading to Council on Monday for 1st & 2nd Readings. The project, by Vancouver’s Rize Alliance, is seeking to restore and integrate the 1960’s North Surrey Medical Building on site into a new mixed-use development consisting of a new 4-storey office and retail podium along King George Blvd, and a new 31-storey residential tower behind. The project was first reported on here back in February when it passed ADP.
According to the Planning Report to Council, the application is seeking both OCP and City Centre Plan amendments for increased density from 3.5 FAR to 5.5 FAR to allow for the proposed development. In exchange for the increased density, the project is proposing to preserve and revitalize the 1960’s North Surrey Medical Building on-site under a Heritage Revitalization Agreement. In total the project is to contain:
-
- 293 Apartment Units
- 5 Townhouse Units
- 34,369 sq.ft.sq.ft. of Commercial Space with within the revitalized North Surrey Medical Building and new adjacent 4-storey podium (including ground floor retail along King George Blvd)






A landscaped courtyard designed by Vancouver’s PWL Partnership will separate the residential and commercial portions of the project. The Architect on the project is Stantec.
In addition to the revitalization of the North Surrey Medical Building, the applicant will be providing community amenity contributions including funding towards enhancements to Quibble Creek in the area. Contributions will also be provided for construction of a new east-west lane to the directly adjacent north of the site in the future, and towards the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy.
For more information on the project: https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/PLR_7918-0276-00.pdf

Public consultation is set to get underway this month for the proposed Surrey Langley SkyTrain (SLS) extension, as well as the future of rapid transit along 104 Avenue & King George Blvd.
In 2014, the regional Mayors Council identified Fraser Highway, King George Boulevard, and 104 Avenue as priority corridors for rapid transit South of the Fraser in the 10-Year Vision. Following a study looking at combinations of SkyTrain, LRT, and Bus Rapid Transit for the corridors, the Mayors Council decided on 27-km of urban-style LRT on dedicated track (separate from traffic) on each of the corridors to be built over 2 phases:
- Phase 1: Surrey-Newton-Guildford Line on 104 Avenue & King George Boulevard
- Phase 2: Surrey-Langley Line on Fraser Highway
With funding in place to cover the entire first phase, and construction set to begin this year – a last minute request was made in 2018 by Surrey’s new Council to the regional Mayors’ Council to suspend the Phase 1 Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT line and re-direct funding to the Phase 2 Surrey-Langley line instead, while switching the technology of the Phase 2 line to SkyTrain. The Mayors’ Council voted to move forward with this request, and directed TransLink to begin planning work for SkyTrain on Fraser Highway while at the same time re-visit rapid transit plans for 104 Avenue and King George Boulevard corridors.
Proposed Surrey Langley SkyTrain route and conceptual stations
The switch of priorities to the Phase 2 Fraser Highway line and changing its technology to SkyTrain has had implications both in budget and timeline. The funding that was allocated for the full Phase 1 Surrey-Newton-Guildford LRT line has been identified as inadequate to fund the entire Fraser Highway SkyTrain extension to Langley. Pending a future round of funding (timeline unclear), the line may have to be phased, with the current funding getting the line potentially only as far as Fleetwood. Start of construction and delivery of new rapid transit South of the Fraser is also now delayed by approximately 2 years as a result of the switch.
Despite the funding and timeline uncertainties, planning work is nonetheless well underway for the new SLS line, which will need to involve a significant re-evaluation of land-use plans along the Fraser Highway corridor to support SkyTrain, completion of a number of supportive studies, and extensive Public Consultation. In a project update report to Surrey Council this week – a preliminary timeline was given for this work by TransLink, with start of service targeted for 2025.


To run concurrently with the SLS planning and consultation work will be a planning process to ‘refresh’ the South Fraser Rapid Transit Strategy for delivering the Mayors’ Council fully envisioned 27km of Rapid Transit along each of the Fraser Hwy, King George Blvd, and 104 Ave corridors. This refresh will look to re-examine and engage the public on what rapid transit along the remaining corridors could look like, now that SkyTrain has been chosen as the technology for Fraser Hwy. The 2013 Rapid Transit Alternatives Study identified Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for these corridors based on a scenario with SkyTrain on Fraser Hwy. With much LRT planning work having now been completed however, for the 104 Ave and King George Blvd corridors, it’s possible that LRT could still be an option for them rather than BRT, especially given Surrey’s long-term rapid transit vision for an extensive LRT network on major arterials across the City.
The first round of Public Consultation on the SLS line and South Fraser Rapid Transit refresh gets underway on April 11 in Langley, with open houses in Surrey on April 15, 16, and 17. TransLink has also recently launched an online survey where you can voice your feedback on the proposed SLS line. Open House times are set for the following dates and locations between 3-8pm:
- Thursday, April 11 – Langley City Hall
- Monday, April 15 – Surrey Sport & Leisure Complex (Fleetwood)
- Tuesday, April 16 – Surrey City Hall
- Wednesday, April 17 – Newton Seniors Centre
More info on the land-use planning review process for the Fraser Highway Corridor being undertaken by the City of Surrey can be found here: https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/CR_2019-R059.pdf

A heritage revitalization project being proposed by Vancouver developer Rize Alliance at 9656 King George Blvd just north of Surrey Memorial Hospital, received unanimous approval by Surrey’s Advisory Design Panel (ADP) on February 14. The project, which must still appear before Council for approvals, is proposing to restore the 1969-built North Surrey Medical Building, while adding a new ‘twin’ commercial podium, and residential tower to the site.
The North Surrey Medical Building is listed in the Surrey City Centre Plan as a ‘Potential Heritage Resource’. If approved, the project will officially add the building to the City’s Heritage Register, and help to preserve and enhance mid-century heritage within the City Centre – a goal of the City Centre Plan.


Subject Site at 9656 King George Blvd
Aside from the Heritage Revitalization Agreement for the North Surrey Medical Building, the proposal is seeking to Rezone the subject site from CHI to CD, Consolidate 2 lots into 1, and obtain a Development Permit in order to construct 276 residential units and 1486 sq. m. of commercial space. The new commercial space is to occupy a new ‘twin’ 4-storey podium consisting of ground floor retail and 3 floors of office – adjacent to and resembling the original 1960’s building.
Now that the project has passed ADP – it can be expected to appear before Council within the coming months. More renderings and project details can also be expected at that time.
For more on the proposal: https://apps.surrey.ca/Online-Development-Inquiry/?year=18&seq=0276

A proposal to revitalize an existing rental tower and create 63 new rental units at King George Blvd & 98th Avenue was stalled by Surrey’s new Council on Monday, after being denied 1st & 2nd readings for not looking satisfactory enough, in Council’s opinion. The application, which is proposing to convert an existing 3-storey commercial building on site to rental residential, and upgrade the exterior of the 18-storey tower behind it, was sent back to staff to work with the applicant on unspecified revisions.
Designed in partnership with MCM Architects and PWL Landscape Architects, the project would bring a welcome facelift to the existing buildings on site, originally completed in 1982, as well as improve the surrounding streetscape. Aside from aesthetic upgrades, the primary objective of the project is to create 63 new rental units on site through the conversion of the existing 3-storey commercial building along King George Blvd. Details of the proposed upgrades include:
- Modernization and conversion of the existing low-rise commercial building to rental residential. Exterior cladding to be replaced with new materials consisting of high quality white fibre cement panels, and charcoal seam metal cladding.
- Landscaping along King George Blvd enhanced and modified to suit residential use and layout
- New plaza at the north-east corner of the site to help activate the streetscape along King George Blvd
- The existing 18-storey tower to receive new exterior paint and glass balcony rail replacements with colour enhancements.
Proposed exterior upgrades and residential conversion along King George Blvd
Elevation of proposal looking north along King George Blvd
Despite the high quality materials proposed, and thoughtfully designed plan which works within the given site constraints, Council was of the opinion that the design was not suitable enough to be allowed to proceed. Without giving any specific recommendations on how to improve the design, the project was sent back to staff to work with the applicant on revisions to the plan, despite staff already working closely with the design team to date. The building’s modernization, and the delivery of new rental units to City Centre is now delayed pending unclear revisions, until the project can return to Council for consideration once again.
The conversion is supported by Surrey Staff as the existing commercial building has long suffered from poor vacancy rates and high tenant turn-over due to physical attributes of the building, and its poor integration with the neighbourhood. The proposed residential use is seen as appropriate for this location, being across from a SkyTrain station and the developing context of the area.
Proposed site plan including public realm and streetscape enhancements
The Surrey Village Tower currently contains 227 rental units in the existing 18-storey tower, managed by RealStar. The addition of the proposed 63 new units would bring the total rental units to 290.
View looking south-east at corner of City Parkway and new 106A Ave
2015 design for Veterans Village
2016 design for a single tower project
2017 Rendering looking east from City Parkway
2018 design for Veteran’s Village looking north-east at corner of City Parkway and 106 Ave
Project location with City Centre Plan










Current temporary corner park at 102 Avenue & University Dr
Future re-alignment of 102A Avenue






















PCI Development’s King George Hub project has officially sold out both residential towers within Phase B of the project. The 40-storey tower first went to market in October, quickly selling out, followed by the 29-storey tower in November. Phase B will also include a 15-storey office tower, 2-storey stand-alone restaurant, as well as over 100,000 sq.ft. of retail space integrated with a plaza.
With the success of King George Hub selling out so quickly, PCI developments has indicated that they are now moving forward with plans for Phase C of the project, which should include 1 additional residential tower to the east of the existing Coast Capital Savings headquarters. A future Phase D is set to follow that with space for up to 3 more towers, however detailed plans for both sites have yet to be finalized or released.
Plan showing King George Hub Phasing – Future phases C & D to the north and east of Phase B
Perspective along King George Blvd – Rental Residential Tower (Left), Office Mid-Rise (Right), and 2-Storey Retail / Market Hall Podium
Perspective along west side of site adjacent to existing Single Family – Market Residential Towers and Townhouse Base
Perspective along 99 Ave – Office Mid-Rise (Left) and Market Residential Tower (Right)
Perspective along 98A Ave – Market Residential Tower (Left), Rental Residential Tower (Right), Level 3 Courtyard (Centre)
A publicly accessible courtyard on level 3 in the centre of the site, accessible via a grand staircase through the site from King George Blvd
Contextual view facing North-West
Contextual View facing South-East
Contextual View facing North-East
‘Phase C’ shown behind the existing Coast Capital Savings headquarters and to the left of currently under construction ‘Phase B’
View of ‘Phase C’ from King George Blvd
View of ‘Phase C’ from the east looking towards King George Station
View of Coast Capital Plaza between Phase A and C – connecting Hub to King George Station
Punctuated windows and varied coloured balconies along east and west facades
View from east towards King George Station
Retail fronting Coast Capital Plaza between ‘Phase C’ and Coast Capital Savings headquarters
View facing west of retail along George Junction – featuring varied materials and podium heights
King George Hub lands with ‘Phase C’ site in green and future ‘Phase D’ site to the east
North elevation view of Phases A-C
East elevation view of Phase A-C


King George Hub Phasing Plan
King George Hub Phases A & B – Facing North-West
King George Hub Phases A & B – Facing North-East
King George Hub Phase A & B – View North from King George Blvd
View South of Phase ‘B’ Retail Plaza
View South of Phase ‘B’ Retail Plaza
41st floor residential rooftop amenity area – Phase ‘B’
Linea site from Wave tower
Linea site from 133 Street
Rendering of Linea and Wave
Ground level Site Plan of Wave and Linea site
Rooftop Site Plan of Wave and Linea site
The completed Wave tower – Phase 1 of project
Linea site within City Centre Plan
Major development applications under initial review as of March 2021
Approved major development applications as of March 2021


Major projects under construction as of March 2021
Camellia Seniors Living – 132 St & 109 Ave
Georgetown One by Anthem beginning to transform the corner of 102 Ave & Whalley Blvd
Linea nearing completion at the corner of 133 St & 104 Ave
Surrey’s next tallest – One Central beginning to rise in West Village
Excavation underway at Park George on 100 Ave
Rosewood Supportive Housing project rising above ground on 137 St
King George Hub residential towers and retail nearing completion along Fraser Highway
City Centre 3 nearing completion at 96 Ave & 137A St

King George Hub nearing completion at King George Station
Georgetown One’s Retail & Townhouse podium taking shape along future 102A Ave
Streetscape and finishing touches underway at Linea on 104 Ave
The Central City Parkade expansion completed in January 2021
44-Storey One Central now above grade in West Village
Excavation underway at phase 1 of Townline’s 25-Storey ‘The Holland’ project





Camellia | 5-Storey Seniors Residential | 132 St & 109 Ave
One Central | 44-Storey Residential + Retail | 133 St & Central Ave
City Centre 3 | 10-Storey Office + Retail | 96 Ave & 137A St
University District | 28 & 37-Storey Residential + Retail | University Dr & 104 Ave
Linea | 28-Storey Residential | 133A St & 104 Ave
Legion Veterans Village | 20-Storey Mixed-Use | City Parkway & 106 Ave
Maverick | 5-Storey Residential | Whalley Blvd & Grosvenor Rd
King George Hub (Phase B + C) | 29, 34 & 40-Storey Residential + 15-Storey Office + Retail | King George Blvd & Fraser Hwy
King George Hub (Phase B) Retail Component | King George Blvd & Fraser Hwy
Parker | 4-Storey Residential | 139 St & 105 Ave
Georgetown One | 30-Storey Residential + Retail | 102 Ave & Whalley Blvd
Fraser Landmark at Fraser Hwy & 140 St completed construction in October 2020
Construction progress at King George Hub (Phase B)
King George Hub (Phase C) – 34-Storey Rental Apartments
Linea – 28-Storey Market Residential nearing completion at 133 St & 104 Ave
City Centre 3 – 10-Storey Office across from Surrey Memorial
Georgetown One – 30-Storey Residential & Retail at 102 Ave & Whalley Blvd
One Central – 44-Storey Residential under construction in West Village