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By Caden Fanshaw

Ospika Oversight

‘It’s shocking’: Restructuring continues at City Hall after oversight on Ospika property

Feb 23, 2023 | 4:54 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Restructuring continues in the real estate division at Prince George City Hall as the public learns more details on the oversights associated with the sale of a plot of land at the top of Ospika Boulevard.

“Essentially as soon as administration realized that there were some fairly serious oversights that had been made, we immediately sprang into action and took a very, very close look at this division,” said Andy Beesley, Acting City Manager. “Of course, the immediate thing is to make sure that we understand what happened and to make sure it does not happen again.”

City staff admit there was no notice issued when the land was sold, a violation of the Community Charter. The real estate division also sold the land at a big discount to the developer. According to the release, the land was sold for $500k when it was assessed at $682k in 2020. The previous Administration considered the sale price to be at-then current market value based on similar development lands of its size in Prince George.

The 2023 BC Assessment values that same piece of land at $3.5 million.

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Council has directed city staff to provide a report in a public meeting setting with recommendations on strengthening the policies and procedures regarding land sales.

Chris Beach the Former Mayor of Burns Lake said this violation of the community charter and the under-market sale is a big faux-pas in the realm of municipal operations, adding staff should have known this was not acceptable.

Several local real estate agents said property being sold under assessed values back in 2020 was far from normal, adding most were sold over the asking price during that time.