Palomino Pointe Estates Being Revived?

Former BC Premier taking another shot at developing major Merritt housing project.

Bill Vander Zalm says he and his partner are looking to breathe new life into the Palomino Pointe Estates project, a five stage, 350 unit residential development, below Hamilton Hill.

“In the Merritt area, as I’ve always said, It might need to be promoted more but certainly there is a market, and more so now with the cost of houses in the Lower Mainland. A lot of people I believe will consider moving to a place like Merritt, where the climate is pleasant, and the price of home more affordable.”

The hold-up on the development, both now and when it was stalled in 2010, is whether or not sewer and water services can be extended to the development at a cost feasible rate.

“We hope to see it addressed, and we have some looking at all possibliitles that may allow services to be extended in an economic manner.”

Vander Zalm says they are actively searching for additional partners again, and that he and his partner plan to meet with City of Merritt staff later this month to discuss the project further.