As reported in the Regina Leader-Post, when Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens makes his way through the Heritage Neighbourhood, he sees at least one vacant lot on every block.

Some have turned into overgrown weed beds. Others are occupied by vacant houses prompting calls for bylaw or police enforcement.

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Not limited to his own ward, the problem of empty, unused lots or surface parking lots can be seen throughout the city’s core.

“The best example is Broad Street between 15th and Sask. Drive,” said Stevens. “You have the Travellers Building. You have parking lots. You have burnt out buildings.”

And the city’s goal of directing growth in Regina to existing urban areas is falling short year after year.

According to administration, new construction has not met the Official Community Plan (OCP) policy with the rate of intensification (the construction of new buildings or add-ons to existing buildings in established neighbourhoods) declining each consecutive year from 26 per cent in 2014 to four per cent in 2018.

“We’re too focused on allowing for easy sprawl and we’ve ignored the challenging task of making better use of the land at our disposal,” said Stevens.

But he hopes a new land strategy can help change that.

The Underutilized Land Improvement Strategy, developed by city administration, was approved by council Monday night.

Based on an underutilized land study, the strategy aims to address barriers to private sector investment of underutilized sites, which include vacant lots, surface parking lots and vacant buildings.

Keep reading in the Regina Leader-Post