The fate of the northern half of David Foster Way is up in the air, as Transport Canada looks to sell off several of its remaining parcels of land on VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Upper Harbour.
Ten years ago, the federal body started divesting its land holdings. Today, it retains only about 10 per cent. Many of the remaining properties line the waterfront between the Johnson Street Bridge and Bay Street Bridge.
B次元官网网址淭hese properties have been built up and landscaped,B次元官网网址� said Transport Canada spokesperson Rod Nelson. B次元官网网址�(We are) planning to contact the upland owners to determine their interest in acquiring those properties.B次元官网网址�
The sale of two of its parcels has already been finalized. Last week, Reliance Properties announced it had purchased a lot behind the Janion Building on Store Street, which the company plans to redevelop. It sold for $675,000.
Transport Canada also announced an agreement to to the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations for $2.8 million.
The City of Victoria has an interest in the future of the remaining federal properties, insofar as it wants to maintain a public walkway along the shoreline.
In late May, by naming the harbour walkway after the world-famous music producer. The walkway runs from Ogden Point to the Johnson Street bridge, but the city aims to continue the path northward to the Bay Street Bridge.
Transport Canada has pledged to consider the cityB次元官网网址檚 interests as it moves forward. B次元官网网址淭he department is working with the City of Victoria to preserve public access to existing walkways around the harbour,B次元官网网址� Nelson confirmed.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e comforted by those statements,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Dean Fortin.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have a concern so much (with) ownership (of the land), we just want to make sure that the appropriate zoning is in place.B次元官网网址�
Because municipal zoning does not apply to federal land, city staff plan to review the zoning in place along the foreshore, ideally before any land is purchased by private interests.
Transport Canada is selling one final piece of property inland from the shore. For sale is a triangular 0.24-hectare lot at 202 Harbour Rd., located at the junction with Esquimalt Road.
Pemberton Holmes has the property listed at $2.3 million.
Two high-profile lots, Laurel Point Park, which surrounds the Laurel Point Inn; and Laurel Point Pond, will not be changing hands for now. Transport Canada has determined those parcels of land have high levels of contamination.
It is exploring environmental management options for those sites before it will consider any land transfers.
rholmen@vicnews.com
