(file photo)

By Susan McNeil

Politics

Realtor questions city purchasing land for $9 million

Jun 20, 2022 | 8:00 AM

A local realtor is questioning why the City of Prince Albert spent so much more to buy 25 acres of land than the RM of Prince Albert paid for the same amount of land.

Even with all services included (sewage systems, road work, and utilities) the letter from Jesse Honch says he estimates the price would be closer to $7.5 million when the city paid $9 million.

Two emails from Honch are included in the agenda of the Monday meeting of executive committee.

“I deal with land development quite regularly and the number seems extremely high even if this was fully developed and paved,” writes Honch.

The RM paid $325,000 for about 25 acres of land and both are along the highway.

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“Could the Mayor and Council speak to why the 25-acre parcel purchased by the city was 27.88 times higher than the one purchased by the RM of Prince Albert?” asked Honch?

He is asking the city for a breakdown of everything that was included in the sale because, as a realtor, he is expected to complete evaluations for sellers and is working on one at the outskirts of the city that is similar to the other two properties.

“I have to explain why some properties vary so much in value and having an understanding of why these two were so different would be valuable information for local property owners or the industries hired to evaluate and sell these properties,” reads the email.

Council will discuss the matter at Monday’s meeting.

Also on the agenda is a letter of concern from the downtown business association, which says increased issues with crime has reduced business.

“This letter is to request support for enhanced public safety in our downtown for shoppers, business owners and staff. Break and enters, public intoxication, visible drinking, and drug use, needle littering, and aggressive behavior are all too common in our downtown. The results of this behavior have been a reduction in shoppers’ attention to our merchants,” reads the letter.

The PABID says it has also written a letter to Premier Scott Moe and will be writing another one to MP Randy Hoback.

Another agenda item includes a letter from the Prince Albert Construction Association supporting city councillor Blake Edward’s efforts to create a working group on crime.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com