Vernon needs to grow up. Literally, I mean. As in, grow upward! Take a look across the street from city hall.
There is a full city block, owned by the city, and zoned for cultural activities. Right downtown. That is an extremely valuable piece of land and I am sure the envy of a lot of other cities.
Has anyone considered approaching a major contractor with a tentative partnership agreement in mind?
A successful contractor with experience and a record of success; one with engineers, negotiators and architects on staff?
That piece of land should be able to support a building with 10 or 12 stories that would accommodate the art gallery, the museum, the Elks Hall (a new facility for them within the building) on the main floor with perhaps a convenience store and other businesses.
Then perhaps the next two or three floors made available for accountants, lawyers, doctors, dentists and other professionals and the top floors sold as decent-sized accommodation for people who want to live safely, and well, in an excellent downtown location.
It goes without saying that there needs to be sufficient underground or street level parking for residents and tenants.
A building of that size would serve as a beacon for other ventures.
We live on a valley floor and should not be leveling all the hills that make our environment so attractive. Let’s look to the sky instead.
Just my opinion, but I know it’s shared!
Lorraine Allum
Vernon
