Downtown Building Boom
Construction of new BCGEU office building underway at 5th and Quebec – photo 250news
Prince George, B.C. – Downtown Prince George is undergoing a building boom.
There are about 10 projects either underway or to start in the very near future.
“It is the most activity I have seen in the downtown in my 25 years with the City” says Director of Development Services Ian Wells.
The projects already underway:
- Wood Innovation and Design Centre,
- BCGEU office building at 5th and Quebec,
- Delta Hotel ( construction to resume shortly)
- All West Glass
- Major building improvements to the Royal Bank façade
Planned development of a Lheidli T’enneh pavilion on the corner lot of 6th and Dominion, and a three storey extension to an existing building at 1811 Victoria to add office space, are among the projects that are yet to get underway and there are other projects which Wells is not yet at liberty to discuss.
Wells says there are a couple of factors driving the boom. First, the increased activity in the resource sector in the north. Companies are seeing increased demand, they have to hire more staff, and that means increasing their space. There’s also the attraction of the tax incentives for new construction in the downtown. Under the plan, developers can accept a lump sum payment, or receive a tax break over several years.
The Executive Director of Downtown Prince George (Downtown Business Improvement Association) Carla Johnston, says it's like a drop of water sending out ripples "If that drop of water falls in the heart of downtown, and downtown is the heart of Prince George, and Prince George is the heart of Northern B.C. and right now Northern B.C. is one of the most economically active areas in the world." She says it all trickles back to downtown Prince George. "The return on any investment that anyone might make (in the downtown) isn't immediate, so I think a lot of people are starting to see the long term viability of downtown investment."
She says the investors see Prince George as being strategically located as natural resource development proceeds. While some folks may have differing views on the construction of the new RCMP building, Johnston says investors see such a structure as representative of a community that has pride and a commitment to invest in the downtown. There is no shortage of interest from potential investors says Johnston "I know my phone is ringing so that's very exciting. My understanding is that realtors who have for sale signs and for lease signs, their phones are ringing too, so that's very encouraging as well."
Comments
Investors? But only two out of the five are truly private investors, and they have no direct connection to the resource industry. Funny how a conclusion is made and then the theory develops around the conclusion.
In reality most of the energy companies with offices recently located in town choose not to be in the downtown… For what ever reason that is… And forestry has never had an office presence in downtown PG.
What I do find newsworthy is this talk of adding three floors to an existing building? How is that going to work.. Make a small two story building five stories? What about elevators? And also I was unaware that Gateway was considered part of the downtown for tax exempt purposes? How can other neighbourhoods also get onto the tax exempt status for their investments into the city or does this involve inside bass all on the gerrymandering of boundaries?
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Investment? Two of the 5 buildings mentioned are funded by the taxpayer. None of the 5 buildings mentioned have anything to do with and alleged “…increased activity in the resource sector…”
Once again for the uninformed, P.G. is not the heart of northern B.C. FT.St.John would be .this city is in central B.C.
They still try to justify the huge expenditures on the Police Station. If anything this building sends the message that Prince George has no control over the spending of taxpayers money,. This building over 20 years with interest cost us close to $80 Million dollars. All paid for by Prince George taxpayers. No Federal or Provincial money.
Many people stated that you should avoid building a Police Station that looked like an Army Barracks, hence this strange looking building.
The BC Government and the City then went ahead and built the wood innovation building that at best could be described as a **Big Box Structure**, or a vertical Army Barracks. Hmmmmmmm.
At the end of the day, I would have to say that the Wood Innovation Building looks much better (at $27 Million) than the horrendous looking Police station.
WHAOAAA… WHAT are you smoking ?? How can you possibly connect your city to the resource sector ? Do you even have a clue about how that sector operates ? The “information” in this story is so far from the truth it makes me gag. This is purely self promotion and a snake oil sales pitch. The only thing missing from this statement is that old demand that companies MUST come to PG to be important. What a bunch of phewwey….get real !!
V.
The truth is………there is over 200,000 sq ft. of office space unrented in downtown PG.
The city has allowed many professional people to open offices up on corner lots of older homes. Doctors, dentists, They should have to rent downtown office space. The city really failed on this one.
The royal bank is a reno = laughable.
The delta = stalled construction, also laughable.
Wood innovation and the bcgeu? Nothing to be said. Especially the wood innovation Center, will it have a plaque saying “this is where the pg ho once stood”
All west glass is on the other side of Victoria, barely downtown but probably within the 10 year tax break zone.
Congrats pger’s!
You all get to pay more taxes to subsidize a couple of these projects!
Thanks suckers.
Taxpayer funded building boom, perhaps.
How many buildings that burnt down were re-built? We got some apartments where the dry cleaners were, does anyone live in them? But that’s about it!
Took a look at the building permits this last few months on the city website. Sure a lot of basement suite permits…..
Why are there so many naysayers on these posts? Anything is a positive for this Downtown. Getting to look a hellava lot better then it used to be. Get with it folks. If they build it, they will come.
“If they build it, they will come.”
Who? More taxpayer funded “workers”? That would be great because we all love paying more and more taxes don’t we.
I think this is good news for PG, any development down there is good. But, if they want downtown to be revitalized the city planners need to work out a way to bring more people downtown to live. At five o’clock downtown turns into a ghost town.
Set some sort of legislation that says if you are building something in the downtown core there should be a component in there for a person to purchase and live; build a multi-story, multi-use building – the Delta Hotel is a good example. For instance, the main floor could have shops or maybe a restaurant, on the second floor offices and the third floor lofts that somebody can buy. The way I see it, once more people who work downtown live downtown additional businesses that service those people downtown will begin to spring up.
All these naysayers should get together and build something. Though I do agree the cop shop was overbuilt. When ever the council restricts funds to real policing costs just point to the cop shop.
“if they want downtown to be revitalized the city planners need to work out a way to bring more people downtown to live.”
Like removing the awnings that shelter the sidewalks.
or stepping up Drinking and driving enforcement so everyone is too worried about having just one (1) glass of wine or beer with a restaurant meal.
or having supported living and food banks downtown to encourage the destitute to hang around downtown
or build uber expensive townhouses
Maybe we can start a tour company, build a fancy new log style visitors center like the one in Williams Lake and do long runaway tours!
Build it and they will come right?
We need a mono-rail. I’m not kidding.
Seamut: “All these naysayers should get together and build something.”
I would love to, but don’t have access to a bottomless pit of taxpayer money.
At least there is progress happenning in the growth of PG
JB: ” would love to, but don’t have access to a bottomless pit of taxpayer money.”
It only appears to be bottomless! At the very bottom lurks a nasty virus known as the Greek disease!
Intersting how a simple story about construction projects under way in Prince George immediately brings out the same old Debbie Downers that couldn’t possibly have a positive thought in their heads about anything!
First thought, the only project on the list that is TAXPAYER funded is the Wood Innovation Centre. Last time I checked, we the TAXPAYER do not provide construction funds to the BCGEU. I’m pretty sure those funds are coming from their member’s union dues.
Second, The new facade on the RBC building is going to be a major undertaking, not a laughable project as someone here commented.
Why can we not applaud the fact that people actually want to invest in this town?
Is it because anything positive would not fit into the negative attitude about Prince George that so many have cultivated to the point of being akin to religion?
I will repeat something that has previously been said; If Prince George is such an unlivable Crap Hole that all people can do is whine an complain about…perhaps it’s time to find GREENER pastures elsewhere!
Re; nighthawke ^^^^
They are all taxpayer funded because any project downtown that gets done gets a 10 year tax break on the improvements.
That equals city of Prince George charging everyone else extra taxes to make up the shortfall.
This has nothing to do with being negative. It has everything to do with being informed and educated on a subject before you start throwing insults around.
But one would imagine that you have some vested interest in the downtown.
Those are the only people trumpeting stories like this as a success.
Nytehawk: “Why can we not applaud the fact that people actually want to invest in this town?”
Taxpayer funded investment is not true investment. It’s got nothing to do with negativity, although you seem to want to turn it into that.
When there are more stores/shops closing then being built it’s not a boom..it’s a bust..
“The Executive Director of Downtown Prince George (Downtown Business Improvement Association) Carla Johnston, says it’s like a drop of water sending out ripples “If that drop of water falls in the heart of downtown, and downtown is the heart of Prince George, and Prince George is the heart of Northern B.C. and right now Northern B.C. is one of the most economically active areas in the world.” She says it all trickles back to downtown Prince George. “The return on any investment that anyone might make (in the downtown) isn’t immediate, so I think a lot of people are starting to see the long term viability of downtown investment.””
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I have absolutely no idea what this means.
Oh and I’m pretty sure that Northern BC is not one of the most economically active areas in the world.
lol NMG, I thought exactly the same thing. what a convoluted way to say it.
Posted by: NMG on June 17 2014 2:51 PM
“The Executive Director of Downtown Prince George (Downtown Business Improvement Association) Carla Johnston, says it’s like a drop of water sending out ripples “If that drop of water falls in the heart of downtown, and downtown is the heart of Prince George, and Prince George is the heart of Northern B.C. and right now Northern B.C. is one of the most economically active areas in the world.” She says it all trickles back to downtown Prince George. “The return on any investment that anyone might make (in the downtown) isn’t immediate, so I think a lot of people are starting to see the long term viability of downtown investment.””
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I have absolutely no idea what this means.
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Same here but it made we want to pee.
“Last time I checked, we the TAXPAYER do not provide construction funds to the BCGEU. I’m pretty sure those funds are coming from their member’s union dues.”
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And where, pray tell, do you think they get the money to pay those union dues from? The magical money tree?
If your definition of tax payer funded is the simple granting of a 10 year tax exemption in exchange for investing MILLIONS of dollars and generating MILLIONS in long term economic activity then I stand corrected.
i know that I would NEVER invest MILLIONS of my own money on the basis that I am going to get a 10 year tax exepmption…..that is simply an incentive that would help me decide between investing in Prince George or some other community. A thriving, newly developed and renovated downtown is in the best interests of ALL Prince George taxpayers, not just the the ones that will receive the exemption.
One other thing….10 years goes by pretty quickly, and I’m sure those buildings will still be around contributing to our tax revenue after that time.
once again I stand by my earlier assertion that a lot of you will invariably see the negative in everything that goes on in Prince George without ever giving any consideration to the positive impact of every single one of these developments.
Oh and AXMAN, I guess you are taking the definition of TAXPAYER funded to the extreme…last time I checked most BCGEU members actually work and provide a service in exchange for their wages…they don’t get them for free.
Using your analagy, everytime a BC Civil Servant pucrchases a car, groceries, a house, etc etc…we the TAXPAYER are paying for it..Nice try but I don’t think any other rational adult would have made that leap!
Posted by: NyteHawwk on June 17 2014 3:18 PM
Oh and AXMAN, I guess you are taking the definition of TAXPAYER funded to the extreme…last time I checked most BCGEU members actually work and provide a service in exchange for their wages…they don’t get them for free.
Using your analagy, everytime a BC Civil Servant pucrchases a car, groceries, a house, etc etc…we the TAXPAYER are paying for it..Nice try but I don’t think any other rational adult would have made that leap!
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Their wages and benefits are 100% funded by the taxpayer. So yes, anytime they spend their pay they are spending taxpayer’s money. Which, apparently, we have an endless supply of.
Posted by AXMAN
Their wages and benefits are 100% funded by the taxpayer. So yes, anytime they spend their pay they are spending taxpayer’s money. Which, apparently, we have an endless supply of.
So by infernace what you are saying is that we the TAXPAYER should have a say in how our employees spend their money!
Correct me if I’m wrong
Of course the fact that these people actually work for their money does not seem to interfere with your definition of TAXPAYER FUNDED.
Perhaps we should be demanding accountability for how our money is spent from every Doctor, Teacher, Nurse etc etc in this province for how they spend OUR money!
Sounds rediculous just thinking that one out loud….now that I typed it…I wouldn’t want to live in your world!
How are these buildings going to get people to want to live and shop downtown? Seems like its just more office space that will be empty once 5pm hits. You want more people and business downtown, get rid of open drug deals and prostitution that is there.
My governments are working on a more acceptable and politically correct prostitution problem and as for drugs when the new Insite drug centre opens up in downtown P.G. it will be boom times down there. New hooker laws and indoor injection sites, well I don’t see a problem with that. Do you? Revitalization coming soon.
“I know my phone is ringing so that’s very exciting.” My phone keeps ringing too but that is mostly those pesky solicitors and bill collectors! I even got a new phone number but it didn’t take them long to find it.
“If that drop of water falls in the heart of downtown, and downtown is the heart of Prince George” then who pays the new rain tax on that drop?
Not an exceptional growing of the city, just placing the pawns somewhere else on the chessboard.
Eagleone IFS has been in the downtown for years. These may not be glamorous buildings setting up shop but they are an improvement.They pay property tax,improve the overall look and hopefully bring more opportunity.
When Carla speaks……
rUn!
Posted by: NyteHawwk on June 17 2014 3:57 PM
Posted by AXMAN
Their wages and benefits are 100% funded by the taxpayer. So yes, anytime they spend their pay they are spending taxpayer’s money. Which, apparently, we have an endless supply of.
So by infernace what you are saying is that we the TAXPAYER should have a say in how our employees spend their money!
Correct me if I’m wrong
Of course the fact that these people actually work for their money does not seem to interfere with your definition of TAXPAYER FUNDED.
Perhaps we should be demanding accountability for how our money is spent from every Doctor, Teacher, Nurse etc etc in this province for how they spend OUR money!
Sounds rediculous just thinking that one out loud….now that I typed it…I wouldn’t want to live in your world!
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I said no such thing. I merely pointed out that the BCGEU building was funded by the taxpayer.
The fact that they “work” (and I use that term lightly when talking about government employees), doesn’t negate the fact that their pay cheque is 100% funded by the taxpayer.
I’m not really sure what you’re arguing.
How about really widening the airport runways almost rectangularly and tell the world we are expecting aliens to land here? Should bring in a lot of gullible rich tourists. Have IPG whip up a real good webpage for it. They are good at that.
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