There Is A Reason Why People Don't Live In The Downtown Of Prince George

By Ben Meisner

Before we rush off building a number of condos downtown to attract either seniors or people who want live in that section of the city, we might want to do a survey to see where people are living in the city and why.

There is a strong argument to be made that a new downtown condo will cost you about $280,000 dollars using the most recent figures, versus a stand alone home in the city that can be bought for about $175,000 dollars. So let’s say you don’t want to cut the grass and plow the snow, (some people do not have the luxury of spending the winter in Mexico) the difference in taxes between the two homes is more than sufficient to allow people to have someone come in and do the chores in the yard.

Add to that, we have what is sometimes referred to as a,” two light" five o’clock traffic problem and the ability to get across town in 15 minutes and why in the world would you want to live in a condo downtown which will require you to get in your vehicle in order to obtain most necessities, looking out of your window at concrete and buildings. A four hour commute in cities such as Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal to get to and from work every day is enough to convince you of the idea of living near where your work in the downtown .  Prince George does not have that problem.

Now there will always be those who will say downtown is the place for me, but consider this for a moment; I think of people like Chuck and Mary Jago, who once  lived near me , opted for a more rural life style outside of town. The head of  Medical Staff for Northern Health lives at a lake in the area and while that commute takes perhaps 15 to 20 minutes a day it is pale in comparison to a major city drive. There are numerous people including some who sit on the directors of the DBIA who have chosen a rural life style and the question should be put to them as to where they prefer to live.

Common sense will tell you that the majority of the people that come to the city prefer their own little piece of ground, many of them in a rural setting, that's why the downtown has never and will in the future never be able to become the Robson St of Prince George. There is no burning desire to go there. 20-30 and 40 year tax breaks are not going to change their mind.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s’ opinion.

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