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🌸 $40M Project, Blossoms in Full Bloom & BC Housing Shift

🌸 $40M Project, Blossoms in Full Bloom & BC Housing Shift

Learn about local changes in the Fraser Valley area that impact the value of your home and lifestyle!

Scott Moe
March 28, 2025

Happy Friday!

This month’s roundup is all about change—some of it fleeting, some long overdue, and some still up for debate.

🌸 Cherry blossoms are putting on a short but stunning show across Surrey and White Rock—I've got the five best spots to catch them before they're gone.

🏗️ Surrey just gave the green light to a $40M expansion of the Chuck Bailey Rec Centre—here’s what’s coming (spoiler: no pool, but lots of new perks).

⛳ And in South Surrey, a controversial plan to turn part of a golf course into housing is stirring up big conversations about land, equity, and community voice.

📉 Plus, BC’s housing market just hit an interesting moment—prices are stabilizing, listings are up, and buyers finally have some breathing room.

Let’s dive in!

— Scott

🌸 Five Local Spots to See Cherry Blossoms This Week

Driving the news: Cherry blossoms are blooming across Surrey, White Rock, and Delta—but not for long.

Details: Discover Surrey just dropped its top spots to catch the stunning white and pink blooms:

🌸 Bear Creek Park (13750 88 Ave)

🌸 Nico-Wynd Golf Course (3601 Nico-Wynd Pl)

🌸 95 Ave & 154 St

🌸 Spenser Dr & 151A St

🌸 150B St & 24 Ave

The blossoms usually last just a couple of weeks in April.

Why it matters: These blossoms bring a beautiful—and brief—burst of spring colour to local parks and neighbourhoods, giving residents a perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy their community.

The big picture: Vancouver’s Cherry Blossom Festival also kicks off this week, marking 100 years since Japan gifted 500 Ojochin trees to the region. Expect events like Blossoms After Dark, the Big Picnic, and a free Blossom Block Party on April 5.

Want more blooms? Check out the cherry blossom map at vcbf.ca for more spots across Metro Vancouver.

🚧 Surrey Greenlights $40M Rec Centre Expansion—Here’s What’s Coming

Driving the news: After a two-year delay, construction to expand Surrey’s Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre is now scheduled to begin in fall 2025.

Details:

The project includes:

A second gym, fitness centre, and childcare spaces
Multi-purpose rooms, a learning kitchen, and a maker space
An outdoor entry plaza, community garden, and a large lawn

City council approved a $455,000 project management contract for CorePM. The facility—set to double in size to 70,000 sq. ft.—will expand west toward the SkyTrain line. Originally, construction was to start in 2023 and finish in 2024.

Why it matters: This expansion gives Whalley residents more ways to stay active, connect, and learn—all without leaving the neighborhood. With its added programs and space, the centre supports families, youth, and seniors alike.

It’s a clear investment in making the community stronger and more connected.

Between the lines: While residents won’t see a pool in the upgrade, the variety of added amenities aims to serve more age groups and interests.

The focus appears to be on multi-use, flexible spaces that can evolve with community needs.

What’s next: A construction contractor will be selected this spring, with ground-breaking expected in the fall. The city hasn’t announced a completion date.

The bottom line: Whalley’s getting a much-needed boost in community space. After years of delay, the Chuck Bailey Rec Centre is finally growing into the kind of facility locals have been waiting for.

⛳ Park or Homes? South Surrey Faces Major Land Use Decision

Driving the news: A South Surrey golf course could see part of its land removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) to make way for future residential development — and locals will have their say next month.

Details:

The Hills at Portal, formerly Peace Portal, is a 150-acre golf course. Owners Joe Haley and Randy Bishop are requesting ALR exclusion for 50.65 acres.
The City of Surrey will hold a public hearing on April 14 before submitting the application to the Agricultural Land Commission.
Supporters on city council say public input is key to understanding the implications.
Critics, including Semiahmoo First Nation, say they’ve been shut out of discussions and raise concerns about fairness and lack of communication.

Why it matters: This move could reshape a large portion of South Surrey. Residents and community leaders — including Semiahmoo First Nation — want transparency in decisions that directly affect local development, infrastructure, and livability.

If approved, this could mean more housing and parkland access for the wider community, but it also raises questions about land priorities and equity in regional planning.

The big picture: The proposal comes as cities across B.C. balance development needs

with farmland protection. Removing land from the ALR is controversial and could set a precedent for similar projects.

Between the lines: Semiahmoo Chief Harley Chappell voiced frustration, saying his community continues to face barriers to infrastructure support — while private developers seem to move forward with ease.

He said they received no follow-up communication about the project, despite being located just across the road.

What’s next: The public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on April 14. The outcome could influence how similar proposals are handled in the future — especially in areas straddling Indigenous land and ALR zones.

🎥 How Cloverdale Has Changed in 30 Years (Good and Bad)

In this video, we'll show you around Cloverdale and realize how the city has changed in the past 20 to 30 years, all the good and the bad!

🏘️ The 2025 Housing Update Every BC
Homeowner Should Read

Driving the news: Home prices in British Columbia rose slightly in February 2025, but long-term trends point toward growing affordability, especially in Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley.

Details:

Average price in BC: $964,349, up 1.6% month-over-month, but down 2.4% from last year.
Benchmark price: $964,600, nearly unchanged year-over-year.
Total sales: 4,947 homes, up 17.2% from January, but 9.7% below February 2024.
Active listings: 33,985 homes — a 27.7% annual increase.

Why it matters: More listings and softer prices are a welcome shift for buyers in Metro Vancouver and beyond.

With mortgage rates starting at 3.69% and a surge in inventory, local residents have more choice and negotiation power than they’ve had in years.

The big picture: While prices edged higher this month, the broader trend shows a cooling market.

Sales remain 28% below the 10-year average, and price declines in key markets suggest many buyers are still waiting on the sidelines.

What’s next: With inventory up and demand still trailing historical levels, expect continued buyer-friendly conditions through spring.

That could shift if interest rates fall further, bringing more buyers back into the market.

The bottom line: Whether you're house hunting in Langley or watching prices in Richmond, February marked a steadying of BC’s housing market — and a slight edge for those ready to make a move.