Council yesterday accepted an offer to purchase the former chamber of commerce site located at 6005 50 Avenue, and directed City administration to enter into a sale agreement with the buyer, Sam Wong, for lots 9 and 10, Block 50, Plan 3583 NY.
“This is another positive step toward developing this highly visible, underutilized site to expand Lacombe’s commercial tax base and promote economic growth,” said Mayor Grant Creasey. “I know we all look forward to a successful development.”
After an open and transparent process where the opportunity to purchase the land was made available to all interested parties, the City received four offers, with three of the four specific to the smaller lot, while one offer encompassed both lots in question. A review of each offer was conducted to consider their respective development merits as well as economic, community and financial impacts.
As part of the sale, the City is responsible for demolishing the existing building and digital sign board, as well as establishing a new right-in, right-out turning access off of Highway 12, and an access to the Lower Michener Park area. Otherwise, all development costs become the responsibility of the purchaser.
To facilitate redevelopment of the site, the City worked with the Chamber to relocate them from the property earlier this spring. The property was then rezoned and subdivided to create two large lots for new commercial development. The property is now zoned C4 (Highway Commercial), and the new lot lines drawn extend the frontage north to Highway 12.
This development results from the 2019 Request for Expression of Interest process, which sought private sector creativity to further Council’s strategic priorities for underutilized municipal assets and expand the commercial tax base.
“What is most exciting about this process is the opportunity to innovate,” said Community Economic Development Guy Lapointe. “The City was able to both facilitate a viable commercial development and promote maximum site utilization.”
-Submitted by the City of Lacombe