Properties may be sold

New tool to assess city’s real estate assets

Gatineau has adopted a three-year real estate action plan to optimize the use of its municipal lots and buildings. The city owns 1,576 lots and 356 buildings with a value estimated at $1.2 billion. This new tool will help the city identify municipal land and buildings that are underutilized.

The mayor explained that, by selling empty lots, it can help generate revenue for the city immediately and taxes down the road if the vacant lots are developed. The idea is to optimize the use of properties, generate needed revenue for the city, and minimize maintenance costs. The three-year plan has already identified 39 vacant municipal lots and 19 municipal buildings.

For the remainder of 2016, the city will analyze a dozen of its properties to determine their fate. Many of these are on Maisonneuve Boulevard in Hull where the construction of condo buildings has been steady.