Jethro's - Potential in adjacent lot?

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Permalink Reply by Randy Chatterjee on April 10, 2011 at 10:54pm

"Empty" lots are an amazing resource in cities, and there are many tools by which to bring life to them.  

The first step is finding out who owns it, and determining what is planned to happen there, if anything, and when.

It is often the case that nothing is planned in the immediate (1-2 year) future, and if so, there are many opportunities.  The first is to consider what kind of community-enlivening "improvements" could make the space a compelling gathering spot or resource.  How is the surface?  Does it get direct sun?  Is there a blank wall facing the space?  

Brainstorming should follow about what could happen there.  Is it fit for the projection of community films on summer evenings with just the addition of maybe chairs?  Could the wall host some community art or professionally-painted mural?  Can vegetables grow here?

If a significant change of use can be envisioned (and approved by its owner), then there are possibilities even to "finance" the improvements.  

It works like this.  An owner pays property taxes on the basis of the potential or zoned use of the property, even if there is nothing there and no income from it.  This is as it should be, since we all hate to see derelict space paying no taxes and providing no incentive for improvement.  This is expensive for the owner.

If, however, the space saw a new (albeit temporary) community use, such as for an urban farm, and improvements were made to grow vegetables there, then the assessment of the property could change, based on current use.  The "improvements" have to be significant to convince the assessor that this change of use is sincere.  For a food garden, raised beds filled with soil would do the trick.  

The game is played as follows:  Approach the owner and ask if he/she would be interested in a 80-90% tax reduction for a year or two, which duration could be set by contract.  The community might pitch in for the wood and soil to start the garden, or the owner might even be asked to pay for or split this minimal cost, especially if the community handled the construction of the beds and of course the management of the new urban farm.

Then, BEFORE October, when the assessors complete their reassessments for the next year, call BC Assessments and ask for a reassessment for a temporary change of use.  If you can convince the assessor that a significant change of use has been arranged, then BC Assessments has the authority to reduce the assessment by as much as 90%.  

And thus everybody wins.  

Permalink Reply by Julia Smith on April 11, 2011 at 1:08pm

We used that space last year for the Harvest Festival. I don't know who owns it but Janet Morris-Reid (the director of the dunbar business improvement association) probably does so we could find out. Jethros uses it as a parking lot but they are only open for breakfast and lunch so maybe we could do some evening pocket markets there or something?