Adam Kreek hasnB次元官网网址檛 been in the neighbourhood long but he knows a good thing when he sees one.
Last year Kreek, a former gold medal Olympian rower, and his partner Rebecca Sterritt moved in with their three children to a house directly across from the and Haultain in Saanich.
The couple recently learned something was afoot with the 5.5-acre lot when the Crown corporation ended the lease for the tenants who had been living in the Hydro-owned one-storey, two-bedroom house of the property.
B次元官网网址淥nce we found out the tenants were leaving we used our personal network to find out that BC Hydro had listed the land as surplus,B次元官网网址� said Kreek.
Turns out they were right, though it was so early in the process BC Hydro had yet to confirm it publicly.
B次元官网网址淲e have determined its surplus to our needs and we recognize that the community views this property as a green space,B次元官网网址� said Ted Olynyk, community relations manager for B.C. Hydro. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 why we have this process, so when we do divest a property, we offer it first to other Crown agencies, First Nations, and then local government before itB次元官网网址檚 offered to the local market. It gives the community a chance to show their interest in the property.B次元官网网址�
Kreek and Sterritt believe thereB次元官网网址檚 more than enough interest. The couple are part of a neighbourhood imitative to have Saanich or the Capital Regional District buy the lot and preserve it as a park. The B次元官网网址� group signatures.
The triangular piece of land is bound by, and includes, Bowker Creek from Haultain Street to Richmond Road. Among the features are owls in the forested area of the land, two rope swings, one over the creek and one under a tree in the field, and three paths that locals use to save time on their walking and cycling commutes.
B次元官网网址淜ids play there constantly, daycare groups spend time there, workers from the hospital picnic there, parents cycle through it with their children, youth play games thereB次元官网网址� our family hangs out there,B次元官网网址� Sterritt said.
Support to buy the land and preserve it as a park comes from people whoB次元官网网址檝e lived in the area for decades and stretches from Victoria, through the Camosun-Jubilee Saanich panhandle and into Oak Bay, Kreek said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just the people adjacent to the park itB次元官网网址檚 people in an eight to 10 block radius who are highly supportive.B次元官网网址�
While the land is not a park a good portion of it is already well protected. Bowker Creek is subject to SaanichB次元官网网址檚 streamside development permit area which strictly limits any development on land within 30 metres of a stream. The community has , which has been day-lighted at other sections .
Otherwise, itB次元官网网址檚 essentially private property thatB次元官网网址檚 been left un-fenced since BC Hydro purchased it in 1958 to put a substation there.
At this point BC Hydro is in discussion with First Nations groups to gauge their interest. Local government, such as Saanich and the CRD would be next in line.
B次元官网网址淲e will still need a substation somewhere in Greater Victoria at some point to meet the regionB次元官网网址檚 power needs,B次元官网网址� Olynyk said.
Kreek believes the community has a good case for Saanich to buy the land, if not the CRD, considering its proximity to Oak Bay and Victoria.
B次元官网网址淭his area is the neglected stepchild of Saanich, weB次元官网网址檙e not as beautiful and wild as Cordova Bay but we love our green space and want to keep it,B次元官网网址� Kreek said.
The land is not zoned as a park, however, if it was, it would be valued for far less than if it is zoned for residential development.
B次元官网网址淲e think itB次元官网网址檚 worth between $1 million and $7 million depending on how itB次元官网网址檚 zoned, but our argument is this is a park,B次元官网网址� Kreek said. B次元官网网址淏C Hydro bought it for a good deal a long time ago and but itB次元官网网址檚 been used as a park, so it should sell as a park, and I believe strongly we should buy it at the value of a park.B次元官网网址�
