By Grant Warkentin
The gravel lot in front of the curling club has been purchased by the city, but there’s no immediate plan for what will happen on the site.
The city announced this afternoon it has purchased the property at 251 Dogwood Street from the Campbell River Curling Club.
“This acquisition supports council’s long-term vision for the Dogwood Street corridor, which is a key transportation corridor, and positions the city to respond to future community growth in a fiscally responsible and strategic way,” said Mayor Kermit Dahl in a statement. “By securing this centrally located property, council is taking a prudent step to strengthen the city’s land inventory while maintaining flexibility for future community needs.”
The city’s long-term goal for the central part of Dogwood Street is to encourage mixed-use development, addressing housing needs and supporting new growth while keeping Dogwood Street as a crucial public transit artery.
“While the city does not have an immediate plan for the property, this acquisition is a strategic investment for the community and will be held until a suitable use to support future strategic needs is identified,” says the city’s statement.
The city and the curling club finalized the purchase of the newly subdivided portion of the site, located on the Dogwood Street side of the property, in February.
“This agreement is a positive step forward for the Campbell River Curling Club, one of the few remaining member-owned and operated clubs in BC,” said Scott Kratzmann, Campbell River Curling Club’s president, in the statement. “The sale of this portion of the property provides long-term financial stability for the curling club and helps ensure we can continue to provide a first-class experience for our members and the community. While there will be some changes, parking will continue to be available for curling activities on the Cedar Street side of the building.
“We appreciate the collaborative approach taken by the city and are pleased to see this purchase support both the club’s future and the city’s long-term planning to support the community.”
The city purchased the property for $1,013,887.46. It will be funded through the Capital Lending Reserve, with repayment to the Capital Lending Reserve and associated costs supported by the Financial Stabilization Reserve and Housing Accelerator Funds.
The Dogwood Street corridor has the highest transit ridership in the city. With the support from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund, the city pre-zoned much of the Dogwood Street Corridor in 2024 to incentivize transit-oriented development.
Zoning changes along Dogwood Street and Dogwood Street South now permit increased densities, reduced parking requirements and building heights up to 10 storeys.
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