Brigadier Murphy Armoury site on 29th Street in Vernon. (Vernon Matters photo)

By Pete McIntyre

Federal land

Mayor likes idea to use Vernon armoury site for housing

Apr 26, 2024 | 5:00 AM

Vernon’s mayor says the current site of a more than 100-year old military facility would be an excellent location for future housing in the city.

Victor Cumming spoke to Vernon Matters about the federal government’s announcement last week that they intend to use surplus Canada Post and Department of National Defence sites, such as the Brigadier Murphy Armoury in Vernon, for housing.

“It’s an excellent site.” Cumming said. “We had approached them a few weeks back making that suggestion and we’re really pleased they’re going to look at it for housing.”

Cumming said Ottawa may even maintain the building, which dates back to 1913.

“But we don’t know. We haven’t seen the engineering assessment on the building,” he remarked.

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The mayor said the site would be a great spot for veterans housing and for families who work at nearby Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

Cumming said the process to rezone the land for housing would depend on what the feds want.

“If they want to retain it for housing themselves — in essence the federal government being the occupier of the building — it would be fairly straight forward. We would do what’s called an official community plan amendment to move it from institutional to residential, and then we would rezone the site.”

The local politician said that site on 29th Street is a ‘very high quality” area for housing.

“On the south side of the building is a lovely park (Armoury Park), and on both the east and north sides is quite a flat area which is part of Polson Park, so it really has park on three sides,” Cumming stated.

The other side is adjacent to a parking lot used by hospital staff.

The mayor said the province announced earlier that it plans to add a new psychiatric ward in the parking area.

“So it really is a site that could be integrated in terms of housing with the many staff at the hospital or associated activities.”

Cumming said the process could start with Ottawa applying to the city for an OCP change and rezoning which would require a public hearing.

“I would expect good support from the community because of the location and potential uses.”

The mayor said one suggestion is that Ottawa could lease the land to the city for 99 years for $1 a year.

“And we would then interact with other organizations in the community who know how to develop public housing.”

Cumming is not aware of what the armoury building is being used for at this point or what the federal government plans to do with it.

The 111-year-old brick structure, which was used for military training, is a recognized federal heritage building due to its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.