More taxpayer dollars have been locked up in downtown Vernon property. The City of Vernon revealed Monday that it has purchased the Vernon Medical Clinic properties on 31st and 32nd avenues for $1.4 million. “It’s a valuable piece of land between the publicly owned civic complex and Cenotaph Park,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. The medical clinic will lease the property from the city until Jan. 31, 2010, with a one-year renewal option to follow. The purchase price of $1.4 million was reduced by $125,000 through the two-year, pre-paid lease.
The acquisition of the medical clinic lands is connected with the city’s plans to sell the Bennett parking lot on 29th Avenue. The city hopes to see a mix of land uses on that site, including possibly the Vernon Medical Clinic. If the Bennett parking lot project occurs, the city will have to decide what to do with the medical clinic lands. “There are a number of plans and once they are concluded, they will come forward,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert, adding they will be part of downtown revitalization. Nicol envisions development opportunities on the medical clinic lands, as well as some public uses. “There needs to be more walking areas,” he said.
However, not everyone on council is pleased with the latest acquisition. “How much more money will be spent on real estate?” said Coun. Barry Beardsell.“More than $4 million is tied up on the Coldstream Hotel site and now we are paying out $1.4 million on the medical clinic.”
Beardsell says he is not aware of any plans for the medical clinic lands. “People should be very concerned about the spending of the city. Things have gone off-track,” he said.
1 comment:
Unbelievable. These clowns don't have a plan for the last top-dollar boondoggle they picked up and they go and buy another one. This 3-ring circus act in Council has got to stop. We need representatives that have developed a vision through extensive consultation with stakeholders, and that have the weherewithal to act within that vision. Not this bunch of make-it-all-up-as-we-go-alongers. More buy high sell low crap.
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