The Metropolis of Langford is creating a brand new six-acre park in its downtown core, however it should include the eviction of dozens of individuals from a long-running trailer park.
Town agreed in December to purchase the Woodlands Park property for $9.8 million, greater than $8 million lower than its assessed worth. The house owners, who’re retiring, will obtain an $8.325-million donation credit score to make up for the distinction.
Residents of the park are being given 5 years to remain, at which level town says it should purchase their manufactured houses for his or her assessed worth, plus 10 per cent. Residents who need to go away earlier will obtain the identical provide.
John Davies, who lives in one in every of 40 manufactured houses on the property, mentioned the sale wasn’t a shock.
He believes town’s provide is “pretty cheap,” however mentioned a lot of his neighbours expressed “a good quantity of stress” at a gathering Thursday night time.
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“A developer I’m not certain would have given us what we’re getting from town,” he mentioned.
“There are some individuals in right here who’re simply managing to get by proper now, and in the event you’ve bought to maneuver and go into one thing that’s just a little bit extra expensive, it could possibly be an issue.”
Town says the plan goes over and above the necessities of B.C.’s Manufactured Dwelling Park Tenancy Act.
“This once-in-a-generation initiative will remodel Langford’s downtown by including much-needed greenspace, trails and gardens whereas preserving the biodiversity and mature tree cover for residents to get pleasure from,” Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson mentioned in a media launch.
Langford Coun. Colby More durable praised the property’s house owners for agreeing to promote to town at below-market worth.
“It’s been a long-term imaginative and prescient of theirs to make sure that this park stays protected and ultimately flip right into a public park for the enjoyment of all, so that basically is mirrored within the buy value as their legacy and their imaginative and prescient,” she mentioned.
Town says the property consists of mature bushes, botanical flower beds and “tranquil winding pathways.”
More durable mentioned town hopes to construct a “stunning inexperienced oasis” and the Victoria suburb’s reply to one of many world’s most well-known city parks.
“I’ve in contrast it to the visible of New York’s Central Park,” she mentioned. “Think about New York with out Central Park.”
More durable mentioned town will spend the subsequent 5 years working with residents to make sure they’re handled with dignity and respect.
“Any time a personal landowner decides to promote, there’s at all times the uncertainty that’s offered to the prevailing tenants,” More durable mentioned.
“So whereas we don’t have a crystal ball to venture the place they are going to find yourself, our hope is that we will help them with no matter choice they select to make.”
Davies, who has lived in Langford since 1968, mentioned he hasn’t determined what to do subsequent.
He mentioned discovering someplace to maneuver the cellular house could be each costly and difficult.
“It means discovering a brand new place to dwell within the subsequent 5 years,” he mentioned. “However you by no means know, at my age I could possibly be in a house by then.”
Town is funding $7 million of the acquisition by way of the provincial Rising Communities Fund grant it obtained in 2023, and can funds $1 million per 12 months between 2025 and 2029 for tenant help. The remaining price of the acquisition will come by way of a property tax hike of about 1.75 per cent in 2029.
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