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LETTER: Value hurt by expropriation talk

I am a homeowner who was previously informed by the District of Mission that my property was to be expropriated.

This is a comment on Randy Hawes’ latest comment on the search for a solution to the Cedar Street and 7th Avenue intersection issues.

I am a homeowner who was previously informed by the District of Mission that my property was to be expropriated.

Now, with no consultation with me or any provision of information to me, Randy Hawes has informed the Mission City Record that a temporary solution to the intersection’s issues is being considered.

This is after my property became impossible to sell with expropriation in the works.

This remains to be the case, as there is a general impression that even if the expropriation is postponed, it remains in the property’s future.

Randy Hawes has stated in the article that it would cost about four million dollars to expropriate my and my neighbour’s house. If our properties were worth four million, we would be ecstatic! The reality of our property values is far from that.

In any case, after the District of Mission expropriates our properties, much of that cost could be recovered by the city by re-selling the properties after the city rezones the properties as commercial.

The expropriated properties are only a small portion of the cost of the intersection improvements.

In the interim, should Randy Hawes not think that he has drastically devalued my property, I suggest that he buy it and try to sell it for a fair amount and see how well he does.

It’s a good thing the Mission City Record is providing me with information on the latest developments in the intersection plans, as I have heard nothing at all from the district or the mayor’s office, despite repeated assurances of keeping me informed by both the engineering department and the mayor.

 

Shaun Adams

Mission