There's concern about criminal activity around Vernon's Green Valley Motel, located across from Polson Park on Highway 97 coming into the city.
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May 26, 2015 - 4:31 PM
VERNON - A notorious Vernon motel was thrust under the spotlight at a recent Vernon city council meeting.
During a presentation by acting RCMP Supt. Jim McNamara, Coun. Brian Quiring brought up his concerns about the Green Valley Motel on Highway 97 across from Polson Park.
“It appears to be a haven for people that have ulterior motives,” Quiring said. “I’ve witnessed a few things just sitting at that streetlight and I know some of the adjacent businesses are very frustrated with it. It’s just not what we want to see at the gateway to our community.”
Quiring noted he's seen people harassed while stopped at the streetlight by the motel. In February, a Salmon Arm man stopped at the light was attacked through his car window. The motel property has also been the site of drug arrests and other crime-related incidents.
McNamara assured council the motel is on the RCMP’s radar. With 200 calls for service originating out of the motel in 2014, and already 86 to date this year, police make a point of regularly conducting checks there, he said.
“There is a deliberate approach in terms of patrols,” McNamara said. “I know the members have done a tremendous amount of street checks.”
He added police are actively working with community action teams on other strategies for addressing the concerns.
The motel is currently up for sale with an asking price of nearly $1.2 million.
“The site is kind of encumbered with setbacks — the highway setback and you’ve got the creek setback — but I still think it’s a fairly prime piece of real estate,” Quiring said.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015