Site of beloved Surrey roller rink to become an education mega centre
Popular 70s, 80s and 90s teen hangout Stardust to be replaced with a 50-storey skyscraper
The building where many Surrey residents had birthday parties, dates and fights during their adolescent years will soon be replaced with a skyscraper.
CIBT Education Group wants to build a $220 million, 50-storey education centre aimed at foreign students.
The building, located near Surrey Central SkyTrain Station, will be a mixture of classroom space for satellite campuses and student housing.
"We saw a huge influx of international students, and we also saw a great need for student housing," said CBIT President Toby Chu.
"There will be about 20 to 25 schools aggregated within one building and they will share all of the amenities of the building."
He says local students will also be able to rent suites, which he predicts will go for about $800-a-month.
The project still needs approval from city council, but Chu is optimistic the facility will be open to students in four years.
Missing Stardust
Stardust was a popular teenage hangout during the 70s, 80s and 90s until it closed down more than a decade ago.
Former roller skater Krissy Williams missed the old rink so much that she organized a series of reunion parties earlier this year.
"There wasn't really much for us to do back then and Stardust roller-skating rink was a very popular place," she said.
"Some of my favourite memories are there."
The developer behind the new skyscraper proposal says he is well aware of what Stardust means to the community.
"I hope that before we take it down, we are able to offer the citizens of Surrey one more chance to have a free skate," said WestStone Group CEO Brian Regehr.