Stewards eye commune style development on Highlands property
The Mary Lake Conservancy hasnB次元官网网址檛 fundraised enough to protect a 107-acre Highlands estate from development B次元官网网址� but it still hopes to see park on 90 per cent of the property.
The society is considering partnering with a developer to build a 20-unit housing commune on 10 acres of the site. The venture could bring in enough revenue to secure the remaining 97 acres for a public park with hiking trails.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 have liked to save the whole property, but donations arenB次元官网网址檛 coming in fast enough,B次元官网网址� said Bob McMinn, Save Mary Lake campaign leader and HighlandB次元官网网址檚 first mayor.
To buy the $4.4-million property, the society initially tried to raise $1 million towards a mortgage through an innovative social media campaign selling virtual 10-metre squares of the property for $10 to $100.
In the past four months, only $250,000 was raised, including $100,000 McMinn put forward to kick off the fundraiser.
McMinn estimates the 10 acres could be sold to a developer for $3 million, but first it needs to be rezoned. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e asking the owners for another few months to try this,B次元官网网址� McMinn said.
The estate executors, which include a lawyer, accountant and two daughters of the deceased owners Peter and Violet Brotherston have been patient and willing to negotiate, McMinn said.
B次元官网网址淭he family is very interested in having this land preserved, but as you can understand they also want a fair price for it.B次元官网网址�
Campaign outreach director Koi Neah said thereB次元官网网址檚 already interest from 40 potential buyers who would like to live on the Mary Lake property. B次元官网网址淪ome of them already have their cheques written, theyB次元官网网址檙e very excited about this,B次元官网网址� Neah said.
The housing development would follow a co-housing model with small self-contained units centered around larger common buildings with workshops, childrenB次元官网网址檚 play areas and kitchen facilities for shared meals.
B次元官网网址淏ecause so much is shared, itB次元官网网址檚 a more eco-friendly way of living,B次元官网网址� said Neah, noting that similar developments that exist across Canada have found energy and water use of four units in co-housing is equivalent to one average home.
B次元官网网址淚f we need to see development, weB次元官网网址檒l do everything way can to make sure itB次元官网网址檚 development with the smallest ecological footprint,B次元官网网址� Neah said. B次元官网网址淲e want to find like-minded buyers who want to be stewards of the land and care for Mary Lake.B次元官网网址�
To find out more about buying a co-housing unit, e-mail savemarylake@gmail.com or call 250-474-4324.
The online Save Mary Lake campaign continues at www.savemarylake.com.
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