A historic school building in the Border City has changed hands.
On Monday, Lloydminster city council voted in favour of a deal with the Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD), which saw the City swapping an industrial lot with the school division for the land package on which Martin Browne sits.
The item was brought forward by Councillor Larry Sauer, who spoke in favour of the acquisition. The proposal was passed without opposition following discussion on the topic.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Sauer said City ownership of the land could help improve access to the area, which is adjacent to the Archie Miller Arena and the Lloydminster Outdoor Pool.
“We have a lack of parking space and access is a big problem there,” said Sauer.
“It definitely will help us with that, because we utilize a back lane that has been going by residents’ property for years, and that’s unfair to those property owners.”
Sauer also said City ownership of the land could also aid in preserving green space.
“We need green space,” said Sauer.
“In that particular area, that is the only one that I know in that vicinity that is a good proper green space that allows kids to play, families to go to, and with that there is enough green space there, from what I said previously, that you can also use to do other recreational things.”
The exact plan for what the City will be doing with the land is not yet known, but Sauer did present the idea of putting a road through the property to connect both sides.
“We need some better access, some better access on the north of the pool and the north side of the Archie Miller,” said Sauer.
“Right now it doesn’t go through, and if we could have it go right through to 56 Street (Avenue), that would then allow buses to go in and go around. That would be very beneficial.”
The value of the two parcels of land exchanged were equal, with the 3.94 acre parcel of Martin Browne valued at $1.6 million. The lot given to LPSD is 6.92 acres, and sits in an industrial lot on the Saskatchewan side of the city.