More than a quarter-of-a-million square-feet of commercial space recommended for Cloverdale<\/p>\n
Published 9:30 am Saturday, April 25, 2026<\/p>\n
With the new hospital and cancer centre coming to Surrey, a massive increase in commercial space could soon be a reality for downtown Cloverdale.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new hospital is setting the pace for possible development here,\u201d said Paul Orazietti, the executive director of the Cloverdale BIA. \u201cThe full impact of which isn\u2019t even really known yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said an economic consultant for the city has now estimated Cloverdale could easily add 250,000 square feet of new commercial space over a 10-year period.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey did one study for 176th Street and said they could add 4,000 square feet, which is one building,\u201d he added. \u201cBut Cloverdale\u2019s town centre is much bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said most of the growth will occur on the streets surrounding 176th, most notably to the east.<\/p>\n
Orazietti explained that as new buildings go up on the north side of Highway 10, possibly near 177th Street and 58A Avenue. They would have residential on top and commercial at street level.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been approached by a developer that wants to put in affordable housing and wants to put six, six-storey buildings up,\u201d he revealed. \u201cThere are some buildings there that are aging out.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that with any new talk of development, he continually hears how people are worried about the speed with which the town is growing.<\/p>\n
One complaint that arises on top of development plans and rezoning chatter is that of automobile congestion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe traffic on the highways is horrendous and getting worse,\u201d Orazietti said. \u201cSo people are concerned with that too as more development happens and it brings more people to an area that is already strained by too many cars. Let\u2019s face it, everything is automobile-oriented right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that if the commercial space gets built north of the highway it will contribute to a better environment for those in the area, including many seniors, who would be able to do the shopping they need without having to cross Highway 10.<\/p>\n
\u201cWherever you go it\u2019s all cars and traffic. It\u2019s not getting better it\u2019s getting worse. And no one is taking a bus. So the whole idea behind this is to make the neighborhoods more livable, to make people be able to walk and shop and work in the same area.\u201d<\/p>\n