A deal to sell a portion of the Naramata packinghouse property that has been on the market for years is close to being complete.
Naramata Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen director Karla Kozakevich said they are close to acquiring parkland in a deal with B.C. Tree Fruits.
"It is a portion of land adjacent to Wharf Park where the white storage building used to be and across from the old Country Squire site," said Kozakevich. "Currently it is a concrete pad that people have many uses for including Tai Chi. We aren't sure what we will do with it at this point."
(related story: Removal of Naramata eye sore)
It is also believed the main portion of the 5.43 acre property, which includes water frontage, has been sold.
In 2011 the total Naramata packinghouse property was listed with Colliers International as land or for a development site with a price tag of $10 million. The Western News contacted Colliers on Wednesday but was told nothing could be disclosed about the deal.
(related story: Naramata land battle settled)
“It’s really a redevelopment property, there is a whole variety of mixed use potential use for that area. I think in all likelihood someone might come along and do something with the existing buildings for the short term, but the highest and best use is not continuation of what currently is there,” Eric Weber of Colliers International told the Western News in 2011 when the property was first listed. “Fundamentally they would redevelop it to some sort of mixed use, multi-family, some retail. I guess it would depend on the vision of the developer, but maybe some vacation ownership or something a bit more destination orientated.”
The portion of the packinghouse land being acquired by the RDOS is currently zoned for commercial tourism use.
Kozakevich expects another deal to acquire a piece of land in Naramata, from School District 67, will also be completed this week. That agreement, which includes a sport and tennis court, was delayed because they were hammering out a joint-use agreement between the school and Naramata Parks and Recreation.