When the second phase of the Quattro condo development in the Whalley area of Surrey, B.C. was decimated by fire Wednesday, it not only destroyed the building, it scorched the dreams of the city of Surrey.
The municipality was counting on the tony $625-million project to revitalize the notorious area. Some 116 homebuyers were also slated to move into the complex next spring.
Billed as the city's largest-ever commercial and residential project, the four-storey development at 138th Street and 107-A Avenue was completely engulfed by flames Wednesday afternoon, destroying the entire four-hectare development in a matter of minutes.
In May, more than 100 Quattro units sold out in four hours at prices ranging from $140,000 to $500,000 in what was hailed as "The Yaletown of Surrey."
But developer Charan Sethi is calling the fire a delay, not a deal breaker for buyers.
"The building is insured and nobody got hurt," Sethi told CTV News. "We'll do our best to put it back up again, [buyers] may have to wait a bit longer," he said.
Suspicious fire
Fire investigators still aren't sure what caused the fire, but do say it is suspicious. There was a fire in the same complex only two days earlier, in a bathroom of one of the unfinished units.
Police photographed the crowd that gathered to watch Quattro burn, and every construction worker on site was brought in for questioning.
More than 100 workers were still on site as the building ignited around 4 p.m.
No one was hurt, but dozens were forced to run from the complex as the building ignited.
