New Plan For City Land

There is a new plan for the city owned property known as the Hesperia Lands.

Vernon council has decided to subdivide the 69 acre site in the 6400 block of Okanagan Avenue.

Nineteen acres on the northern portion will be sold at fair market value to developers, and the other 50 acres to be held for future sale.

Councillor Brian Quiring says it’s a great plan, that should attract plenty of interest.

“It’s a comprehensive development zone that affords for a wide range of housing types just like we all want to see. And I think it’s a great asset for the city to liquidate,” says Quiring.

Councillor Juliette Cunningham says proceeds could be used to into create more affordable housing.

“We would look at using some of those monies into buying properties in the city core so we can continue to have partnerships with the non profit sector for building affordable housing, as we’ve done in the past,” Cunningham tells Kiss FM.

Mayor Akbal Mund agrees creating attainable housing could be an indirect benefit.

“The best way to work with attainable housing is to take the money we get from the sale of that land, and buy property that’s closer to the city itself, and then work with BC Housing to develop housing,” says Mund.

About eight years ago, the council of the day wanted to use the land to create up to one thousand housing units, half of which for attainable housing.

Photo: Brian Quiring, Vernon councillor