WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C.—The City of Williams Lake has announced its plans to bid on the vacant former Poplar Glade property on Eleventh Avenue, following School District 27’s request for offers earlier this month.
The city stated if its bid wins, they intend to focus on timely development to address the critical shortage of available housing in Williams Lake.
Officials noted that a joint housing study from last year commissioned by the City of Williams Lake and Cariboo Regional District identified the need for 800 new housing units over the next 10 years. The study specifically cited the property at Poplar Glade as a primary area of opportunity to address the housing shortage.
The city stated it has been actively preparing for the site to become available since initial discussions with School District 27 began in 2019. The property was recently released to the school district for sale, and the school district will adjudicate the proposal process and make the final decision.
Mayor Walt Cobb said the city is eager to collaborate with any developer or partner that shares council’s vision to increase the city’s housing supply.
“We are keenly aware of the dire need for housing in Williams Lake,” Cobb said in a statement. “The situation impacts the entire community, and the Poplar Glade property presents an extremely valuable opportunity to increase quality housing to support our existing population and prepare for growth. We believe the best way to ensure timely development at this site is for the city to acquire the property.”
As it is a competitive bidding process, details on the city’s offer will not be disclosed until the school district makes its decision public.
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