The site of the former outdoor swimming pool in North Battleford is being sold.
Monday, North Battleford city council members approved an offer from North Battleford Daycare Centre for the purchase price of $70,000 for both 1152 and 1162-99th Street in the city, across from Valleyview Towers. They also approved sharing the cost of the environmental report to be done by Pinter and Associates.
North Battleford Daycare Centre has been operating at 1312 -99th Street for the last 41 years.
The lot, where the old outdoor swimming pool was located, has stood vacant for several years. According to a memo from City Planner Ryan Mackrell, the old pool was decommissioned in October 1966 and filled in with dirt at the time.
Interestingly, the pool itself remains more or less intact. The structures were not removed and remain underground.
Director of planning and development Jennifer Niesink told council Monday that these lots hadn’t been actively listed for that reason.
“When that building was decommissioned, they simply collapsed it and added fill,” explained Niesink. Because the fill was added, they must do a limited “Phase II” environmental site assessment to test the fill.
Administration’s recommendation was to accept the $70,000 offer, and split the cost of a Phase II environmental assessment at a reduced price.
While she acknowledged the risks involved with the project, Niesink also cited “real potential,” calling it a great development for the area.
It was in a location where there was a high demand for daycare, she said, and allow the proponents to stay on that side of the city. They are looking to build later this year.
Niesink also noted that even though the land in that area is typically sold at $8 a square foot, or $120,000, it will be “significantly more expensive to build at that location” because of the nature of the lot. She recommended moving ahead with the $70,000 sale price and that approval passed unanimously at council Monday.
