Whitehorse may sell 7th Avenue property to apartment block

A city councillor is questioning a proposed land sale in downtown Whitehorse.

The178 square-metreproperty, located at the end of Main Street and 7th Avenue, iscurrently being used as a parking lot by residents of the adjacent apartment block.

As the city considers selling it to the apartment owner, councillor John Streicker wonderswhy the property has beenvalued at just $16,500.

"The thing that caught me off guard was the price. How did we arrive at $16,000 for roughly one-third of a lot."

Pat Ross, planning manager for the city, told council the property was priced by the only independent appraiser in Whitehorse.

He says the price is fair market value because the property is too small to be developed.

The city could also decide to leasethe land to the apartment owner or requirethe owner to remove the improvements, including asphalt paving and power plugs.