Squamish is trawling for bites from people interested in using municipally-owned land.
This month, the District of Squamish sought expressions of interest regarding properties it currently owns, said Randy Stoyko, the municipality’s general manager of community and business.
District staff have fielded calls from the community regarding certain district lots, he said.
Officials decided to gauge the general public’s interest in the properties and ask for expressions of interest from whomever may want to have a gander.
“We decided it was more open and transparent to open it up to the community,” Stoyko said.
The district owns 18 buildings totalling more than 200,000 square feet on 115 acres. It also own nine vacant sites that equal 50 acres and has a total of 34 leases with third parties on district lands.
The land is not for sale or lease, but would fall under a more restrictive licensing agreement, Stoyko said, adding deals would typically be short term – around the five year mark.
Lands up for discussion included areas at the Squamish Municipal Airport, the newly acquired municipal lot between Loggers Land and the Mamquam Blind Channel and property near the Cheekye Fan.
“There are some restrictions on these properties,” Stoyko said, noting some of the areas don’t allow built structures.
District officials wanted to maximize the use of the lots, he noted. Ideally the properties can generate revenue and in turn keep money in the pockets of taxpayers, Stoyko noted.
“We’ve been getting a lot of interest in Squamish ever since I started working with the district just over a year ago,” he said.
New businesses are starting to fill some of downtown Squamish’s formerly vacant retail units, he added, citing the UPS office on Second Avenue.
At the same time new owners are breathing a fresh perspective on established companies, such as the Chieftain Hotel, which is set for a makeover, Stoyko said.
“We are seeing some encouraging signs for sure,” he said.
