UNBC Proposes New Neighborhood, Seeks Approval

0:00The University of Northern British Columbia wants to build a new neighborhood right next to its campus in Prince George that could house around 4,000 people someday. They're asking the city and the province for backing to make it happen on about 35 acres of university-owned land. This land comes from the UMBC land trust, a gift from the province when the school opened back in 1994. The big hurdle is getting the province to let them develop it without paying full commercial rates. It's an old rule that requires fair market, value for non-educational uses. The plan mixes high-density homes with spots for daycares and businesses that serve students, researchers, health workers, and seniors. Leaders say it fits the city's growth needs and could draw more professionals by linking right to transit, the hospital, and downtown. It would also keep wildlife paths open for deer and moose moving between campus and the forests. The University sees this as a boost for the whole region, one of the biggest projects

1:00since the school started. Right now, they're pitching it to city council and plan to team up with the Lyle Tenei First Nation to address their priorities too, hoping to. Clear the path for years of planning ahead. That wraps Vancouver News today, brought to you with AI. I'm Corey, with the story.