"..although the City has made it clear it doesn't want to take business away from downtown."

Really! What's left downtown? Pawn shops, one hardware store and a barber. Little late to worry about them now.

Must have raised some eyebrows at BFW when the red-faced no-development city staff mention that one! HeeHee!

I think all they meant was that they won't be allowed to build a gaming center there.

;-)

"....although the City has made it clear it doesn't want to take business away from downtown."

Since when did the change of focus occur? Since the Westgate Shopping development is 95% complete, I suppose.

Hmmm...

"although the city has made it clear it doesn't want to take business away from downtown"

Please tell me what decisions the current city Mayor, City Manager, Alderman and those who influence them that hasn't pushed development outside of the downtown core?

I hold all of the current city leaders responsible for the downtown situation. The next election will be my opportunity to change the people responsible for this situation. And I expect some turnover. Chester

100% turnover, please.

I agree Chester, hopefully people will remember come election time.

Sounds like the new Owners are going to make some money on the lease back arrangements, for the Golf Course, Curling Rink, and Roller Dome. Is it possible that after 3 years or more of a lease back the actual sale price would be around 15 Million???

I wonder if the new owners plan on keeping an executive par 3 golf course at the present site. That would be a boon for a lot of golfers, and would allow the City to Scrap the present par 3.

The new golf course to be built by the Pr George Golf Club is going to be a long shot at best insofar as making it a viable operation, mainly because the average age of their present membership is 55 years and rising, and golfing throughout British Columbia is on the decline.
250,000 less rounds of golf in the greater Vancouver area in 2005 over 2004. The golfing bubble has burst.

Older golfers with the money are leaving the game every year, while younger golfers cannot afford to pay $1400.00 per year in green fees, rent a cart, have a meal, and a few drinks, once or twice a week. This was the good old days and they are long gone.

Prince George and area now has 3 par three golf courses,(Yellowhead), (Alder Hills), (Pine Valley.) 2 nine hole golf course (Molly May)(Nesswood) and 3 regulation golf courses, ie; Aspen, Aberdeen, and PG Golf Club.

This is a huge increase in courses in the last 15 years, and means that there is significant competition for the available golfers. The New PG Course will have to get its ducks in order, to attract enough golfers to make the new course viable. As I understand it the old course is about one million in debt, and down about 200 members. This is a pretty steep hill to climb when you start the new course.

I support this kind of proposal so far. IMO excellent location for planned urban town center. I would also like to see large scale planned urban town centers for Foothills-North Nechako, as well as Univestity Hieghts.

The downtown is simply a commercial district boardering a heavy industrial district, and it will only grow as Prince George matures and grows. I would not like to see the downtown hold this city hostage to good development in other parts of the city. The three proposed town centers would have direct efficient access to the downtown, thus providing livability for those that want to live close to downtown employers. Win-win IMO.

"Certainly I could see an urban style village with restaraunts and stores to serve the residents"

He is not mentioning offices nor recreational facilities. The less people have to commute, the better for our road network and energy reduction. Such a development is also an excellent opportunity for a community heating system. Build it right into the development the way they have done in some European countries. Even geothermal and/or solar.

Back in the "olde days" these were called PUDs = Plannerd Urban Development, defined as "a totally conceived community including housing, retail, and business activity".

Here is one planned around a golf course.
http://www.golfcoursepud.com

Notice the office and "convention" centre, the existing retail around, even an industrial warehouse. Sort of reminds me of the golf course property - Pine Centre Mall to the north, community theatre, tennis club, new hotel for tourists, retail commercial for much of the highway frontage, two schools across Ferry, par 3 golf course adjacent to that, school district offices, newly widened south (back) entrance to the mall all ready to be connected to the new development, etc. etc.

The City and the surrounding properties need to be involved in this to make it an integrated development providing housing and many of the services needed by a well planned housing development which can also be used by existing residences in that neighbourhood.

The housing should also have a good mix of densities, plus units designed for a variety of age groups, including housing for the seniors and special needs groups.

Owl, you funny HeeHee!

I heard the word " auto mall " in the same sentence as the golf course development. Does that mean Northland and Wood Wheaton are gonna move there whilst it is being developed? How about housing fer poor people there? How about the needle exchange and a few pawn shops? We need to diversify this town. Get to work on that, Murray.