NEIGHBOURHOOD

East Clayton

Surrey

Introduction

East Clayton has been developed as a new kind of suburb, compact and walkable, in the area north of Fraser Highway to 72nd Avenue and between 188th Street and 196th Street (the boundary between Surrey and Langley). Even newer developments are expanding East Clayton west to 184th Street and north to 74th Avenue.

Lifestyle

East Clayton is not your typical Surrey suburb. Instead of a maze of cul-de-sacs and houses fronted by lawns and driveways, it was designed as a model for high-density living. The grid of streets is arranged around neighbourhood amenities like parks, schools and shopping, and houses have front porches and driveways in the back lanes, creating a more attractive streetscape to explore on foot.

The Vibe

Only developed since 2003, East Clayton combines the peace of suburbia with the look of an urban neighbourhood. Most houses have detached garages or coach houses on back lanes—providing rental suites and extra income for homeowners. It creates pleasant streets to walk down, and you see more people out and about here than in other Surrey suburbs, whether they are exercising, playing with kids or doing their errands.

Meet the Neighbours

You’ll have a lot of neighbours here. According to census data, East Clayton may be one of the fastest growing areas of Metro Vancouver, tripling in population from 4,132 in 2006 to 14,034 in 2011. It’s a neighbourhood that has attracted many young families and a diverse mix of cultural backgrounds. In fact, when Hazelgrove Elementary School opened in 2009, it was almost immediately over capacity.

In the Area

Once farms and fields, this area now has many amenities for residents, including three elementary schools and Clayton Heights Secondary. Parks seem to go hand in hand with schools, the biggest being Clayton Park with its playing fields, community hall, tennis courts and playground. Corner shopping centres dot the map, though most people go to strip malls along Fraser Highway or Willowbrook in Langley for serious buying.

Distance from City Hall

15 km

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Pedestrian-friendly East Clayton has walkable streets, bike lanes and pretty pathways that connect to local parks and shopping. However, sufficient public transit services have not yet materialized to help residents get out of their cars when they commute or travel beyond the neighbourhood. In any case, Fraser Highway is the main artery to Surrey or Langley; nearby 176 Street (Highway 15) connects to Highway 1 or the U.S. border.

The Good, the Bad & the Rest

The density East Clayton was planned for has not been without its problems in the execution. With many houses having a coach house suite and basement suite for rental, finding a parking space on the street can be a competitive sport. Others say there’s lack of housing designed for seniors; that is, one-level ranch-style homes or condos as opposed to the predominant three-level townhouses.

Dollars & Sense

Neither posh nor poor, this is just a pleasant middle class neighbourhood with all your major stores at hand, including Shoppers Drug Mart, Save-On-Foods, Starbucks and more. Its proximity to Langley also means commuters can save on the slightly lower gas prices, due to less transit tax on fuel in the Fraser Valley.

Neighbourhood Hotspots

Dublin Crossing Irish Pub

It might be the authentic Irish fare, Guinness and good selection of whisky that draw people to this beautifully appointed pub. Or it could be the servers wearing very short kilts.

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Clayton Meats

With its selection of free-run chicken, marinated meats, steaks, lamb, seafood and exotic meats, this is a popular place for Clayton barbecue enthusiasts to stock up before they head home to the grill.

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Valley Yarn

This friendly local yarn shop carries an incredible array of colourful yarns, needles and magazines to feed your knitting addiction. Take a class and get hooked on knitting. You know you want to!

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Clayton Dog Off-Leash Park

Surrey’s first off-leash dog park is fully fenced and has separate areas for big and small dogs. Trails and open play areas are spread over three acres, with shady trees and water fountains.

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Caribbean Spoon

Savvy diners from all over the Lower Mainland are discovering this hidden gem for tropical soul food like jerk chicken, oxtail, rotis, plantains and rum cake. There’s a kids menu too.

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Diamond Sweets and Restaurant

This unassuming Indian dine-in/takeout joint gets rave reviews for its butter chicken, pakoras, lamb curry and samosas. A favourite with locals that’s worth the drive from farther afield. Try the freshly made sweets for dessert.

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Street Corner

Demographic Data

East Clayton
Housing
Neighbours
Habits
Cheers!
Wheels
Commute