‘Preserving history:’ Town purchases chunk of land on Government Ridge

Jul 18, 2019 | 5:01 PM

In an effort to ensure a walking trail linking two historic sites remains, and the space is accessible for future development, Battleford has moved to purchase a chunk of land along Government Ridge.

The Oblates, who own the land, are looking to sell. This poses a challenge to future development of the ridge as a historic site for Battleford.

A multi-purpose trail sits between Government House and the Industrial School Ruins and the Dominion Land Titles Building, which is being turned into a museum by the Saskatchewan Land Surveyors.

The town doesn’t own the land the trail is on but owns nearly all the land around it. The land owned by the Oblates covered about a quarter of the trailer between the two historic sites.

According to agenda documents, a 2008 agreement provides the town with Right to First Refusal on the property.

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To ensure the trail remains and future development is much simpler down the road, town administrators recommended lawmakers purchase the land north where the trail crosses.

The Oblates asked a firm $75,000 for the eight acres of land as several buyers are interested.

The land is orange is what the town has purchased. (Town of Battleford)

“I am in favour of approving it just so we have that whole parcel that takes us from point a to point b and there is no one in the middle that is going to say, ‘well no you can’t cross there and you can’t drive there,’” Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais said.

Coun. Doug Laing admitted the move is “unexpected” but “as part of the bigger picture, we have to do it.”

Mayor Ames Leslie said missing out on the purchase now could prove problematic down the road in attempting to buy it back and might come with a much higher price tag.

—

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr

by Tyler Marr

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‘Preserving history:’ Town purchases chunk of land on Government Ridge

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