Once again, the City of Vernon appears to have absolutely no plan for 
downtown. Considerable time went into acquiring virtually an entire downtown block and yet the 
powers-that-be are now preparing to turn it back over to the private sector. And when asked what should go on the old Coldstream Hotel site, the response is completely vague. “I’d like to see a 10-storey building go in there to create revenue for the city,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy. But a 10-storey building full of what? The obvious answer is retail and office space, but is there sufficient demand for such uses to warrant handing the land over to free-enterprise? Many civic and business leaders will tell you that what’s really needed downtown is residential housing. Not only would apartment dwellers bolster shops and restaurants, but an increased public presence would help address safety concerns.
downtown. Considerable time went into acquiring virtually an entire downtown block and yet the 
powers-that-be are now preparing to turn it back over to the private sector. And when asked what should go on the old Coldstream Hotel site, the response is completely vague. “I’d like to see a 10-storey building go in there to create revenue for the city,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy. But a 10-storey building full of what? The obvious answer is retail and office space, but is there sufficient demand for such uses to warrant handing the land over to free-enterprise? Many civic and business leaders will tell you that what’s really needed downtown is residential housing. Not only would apartment dwellers bolster shops and restaurants, but an increased public presence would help address safety concerns. But the city was absolutely gutless when it comes to the matter of housing. Its search for a private developer will only encourage a residential component, not make it mandatory. Gilroy suggested that imposing residential units in any negotiations would tie the hands of developers. But I see it more as setting the bar for what is in the best interest of the community. But that said, what kind of housing would actually take root on the Coldstream Hotel site? Real estate prices have gone through the roof and the city has invested $2.1 million in the property, so that means any developer purchasing the site would have to fork out a pretty penny. That cost will ultimately be passed on to the consumer and that will likely rule out affordable units, something Vernon desperately requires.
And are those people who could afford a tenth-floor apartment going to want to live downtown? They may, if they want a captivating view of Cenotaph Park and the railway tracks. Now if you have forgotten, the city acquired the Coldstream Hotel site and two other lots for a proposed cultural complex consisting of a library, museum and art gallery. But council last year decided to shelve that project because its $28 to $39 million price tag was deemed too rich for taxpayers. That’s laughable when you consider that a $28 million building is now on the drawing board.Located next to city hall, it would encompass a new library branch, the art gallery and administration offices. And costs could climb higher if expansion of the museum into the existing library building is factored in. I have come out in favour of the new three-storey building largely because the uncertainty surrounding these worthwhile cultural organizations needs to come to an end. But I am left wondering how anyone at city hall can justify a $28 million expenditure when a similar initiative was deemed too luxurious? With the city’s track record, I am not expecting too much will come out of redevelopment of the Coldstream Hotel site. And that means taxpayers will continue to be the owners of an extremely expensive parking lot.
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