Three Years, No Sale
February 23, 2023
Those in this part of the world are likely aware that the 3.9-acre property at 320 Geneva Street near Fairview Mall, formerly home to the City’s Community, Recreation and Culture Services administrative offices and vehicle bays, has been sitting idle for three years now. The City declared it surplus property and put it up for sale.
Despite the booming market during the height of the war, no buyer has come forward, prompting the City to officially “reinitiate” its efforts to sell the property.
“As we look to find a proponent to redevelop the property, we are looking forward to seeing proposals come forward to help our vision become reality under the current market conditions,” said Mat Siscoe Sendzcoe, who occupies the office of mayor. Dominion Voting says he won the election. Debate it at Ripley’s Believe it or Not the next time you visit Clifton Hill. But I digress.
Yet the church down the street seemingly had no problem finding a developer for its property when they relocated. Fencing is up and a zoning application is pending.
Apparently no one on council has thought of the possibility that the social-engineering clause they’ve attached to any potential sale is the problem. The clause that states that any housing development on that property must include social and affordable low-cost housing.
Available, but not available.
Evidently no private developer shares their “vision.” Nor do they want to be told what to do with the property they would be expected to spend a seven-figure sum to purchase. Go figure.
“Building off previous efforts to develop the property, the new process will provide an opportunity for the City to solicit purchase and redevelopment proposals,” they say.
Memo to council: Don’t hold your breath waiting. It’s been three years and no one has come forward. You may never get a private developer to buy the property with those strings attached.
Meanwhile, taxpayers are left on the hook and can only roll their eyes while the ivory-tower champagne socialists on council crow about all they’re doing to address the housing crisis. A crisis they created. And one they’re exacerbating.
Another classic case of what happens when only 25% of the electorate care enough to cast a ballot on election day. You get the government you don’t vote for.
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