Developers eyeing old Vernon Legion as potential pot shop
VERNON - The former Vernon Legion building downtown could be a going green.
An administrative update for the Jan. 21 regular council meeting noted a numbered company from Coquitlam now owns the building on 3300 31 Avenue. The report stated the owner has expressed interest in applying for a private cannabis retail store license.
The report stated the company is expected to apply for the license sometime this month. If they make an application, it will wind up in front of council for review and consideration.
According to the report, the property owner plans to renovate the commercial part of the building, which fronts 33 Street and 31 Avenue, and demolish the older part of the building. The proposed cannabis store would occupy 3,700 square feet in the northeast corner of the existing building. Additional commercial space would be built along the 31 Avenue section.
The report noted that 139 complaints about the old Legion building were recorded in 2018, the majority of which are connected with temporary shelters, garbage, drug use, and the poor condition of the building. The rear stairwell collapsed earlier this year. A contractor cleaned up the property three times last year.
There have already been three complaints related to homelessness submitted in 2019.
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