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Council has mixed views on 50 Street development
Several question lack of urgency as city-owned buildings sit empty and unused

Cody Punter
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, August 28, 2013

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Several city councillors are calling for a renewed sense of urgency in regards to three city-owned properties on 50 Street.

Council tasked the Smart Growth Implementation Committee to come up with a 50 Street revitalization strategy in April but the buildings remain empty and unused, and tax revenue isn't coming in.

Coun. Phil Moon Son, who sits as an alternate on the committee, pointed out Monday that the committee has yet to present council with any long-term solutions for the properties.

Moon Son said he is especially frustrated that the possibility of selling the three lots was never presented as an option to the Smart Growth committee when it met for the first time four months ago.

"The committee needs to be fully aware of council's vision and concerns with the properties and that has to be fully implemented in the evaluations," said Moon Son.

He observed that, at the time the Smart Growth committee was tasked with coming up with recommendations for council, several councillors had expressed their desire to see the properties sold immediately.

That option was never raised during committee meetings, however.

"Very few people around that table realized that one of council's intentions was to actually sell the lots," said Moon Son.

"Often times, not all the information is given to the participants," he added.

Coun. Bob Brooks, who chairs the Smart Growth committee, was not present for Monday's discussion.

Since being acquired in January 2012, the three properties, which is comprised of a parking lot, and the former Corner Mart and Instaloans stores, have already cost the city more than $1 million dollars, including the $975,000 purchase price, plus $52,400 to clean up an oil spill from a fuel tank behind the Instaloans store.

The city is also planning to demolish the buildings at an estimated cost of $200,000.

On top of the costs associated with owning the properties, the city is also losing out on the property taxes the city used to collect before it purchased them.

According to Carl Bird, director of corporate services, in 2011, the three properties generated a combined tax revenue - including municipal taxes and school taxes - of $16,652.

Moon Son said further discussion on what to do with the 50 Street properties needs to take place within council.

Several other councillors shared Moon Son's sentiments with regards to the Smart Growth committee.

Coun. Cory Vanthuyne, who said he did not share Moon Son's sense of urgency with regards to selling the properties, did say he believes a new approach is required.

"What we're recognizing now is that, maybe, it's time to reel in the delegations and put a little bit more onus and responsibility back on council," said Vanthuyne.

Since it began meeting in April, the Smart Growth committee has focused mostly on short-term solutions for what to do with the properties under the direction of administration.

Jeff Humble, director of planning and development, who represents administration on the committee, previously said that it could take up to two years before the properties are sold. He suggested that coming up with short-term uses for the properties would allow the city to generate revenue and open them to the public in the meantime.

Senior Administrative Officer Dennis Kefalas reiterated Humble's statement Monday with regards to the properties. He said selling them is not an option right because council voted earlier this year to demolish the buildings and developing a strategy for redevelopment.

"We're trying to create a vision for the area," said Kefalas. "That can't happen overnight."

Kefalas said in a "best-case scenario," construction on the properties would take place in 2015.

"This is the type of project that will take several years to come to fruition," said Kefalas.

Coun. Rebecca Alty, who is in favour of selling the properties as they are, argued that offering temporary uses for them only serves as a distraction. This would also cost even more money without solving any of the long-term problems facing 50 Street.

According to the minutes of the Smart Growth committee's meeting on Aug. 6, Mayor Mark Heyck has already had a half-dozen exploratory one-on-one discussions with interested developers and community groups.

Administration will be presenting a report to council by the middle of September, which will include a time line for the city's revitalization strategy as well as a list of potential developers.

Alty said she is looking forward to the report, emphasizing that developers are the key to a successful plan for 50 Street.

"The developers are the ones with the money and if no one steps up and makes this a reality, what good is spending all this money and all this time to create a vision," said Alty.

"If nobody steps up with any money, then our vision is just going to sit and collect dust."

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