-Elks first considered idea of trading buildings with another group four years ago-

OSOYOOS TIMES-December 10, 2008-

By Paul EverestrnOsoyoos Times

The Osoyoos Elks and members of the Osoyoos Baptist Church are looking at the possibility of swapping buildings.
If an arrangement is reached between the two groups, the Elks would gain title to the church, located on 92nd Avenue, and the Baptists would take control of the Elk's hall on Hwy. 97.
Leroy Olson, secretary and past district deputy for the Osoyoos Elks Lodge No. 436, said the idea of a swap first came up about four years ago, but members thought it wouldn't be a very good deal.rnRenewed interest in switching buildings arose, however, after an agreement for a group of Lower Mainland-based developers to purchase the Elks property fell through in September.
The Elks and the church began exploring the proposed building-swap idea again through a real estate agent last month, Olson added.
They (the church) have an interim agreement with us and are interested and we're negotiating, he said.
The 1.5 hectare Elks property was put up for sale in October with an asking price of $1,399,000.
Osoyoos resident Ted Osborne said he is acting as a moderator for the church and confirmed that the church is exploring the possibility of taking over another building in Osoyoos for its functions.
Olson said he wasn't sure if any money would change hands if the swap was agreed to, but he added that the hall's title would be given to the church and vice-versa if the deal happens.
He also said the church was possibly looking at building low-cost housing behind the hall in the event of a swap.
A swap would not affect any Elks operations, however, Olson said, as Elks-related events would happen at the new location.
And we would probably still have a bingo. We'd still be trying to serve the community as best we can.rnNeither group would comment when asked what stage the swap negotiations were at.
The Elks had initially voted to sell their property in early 2006 because upkeep of the hall, taxes and utilities were costing too much.
Three companies, including Seniorhome, a company specializing in building facilities for seniors, had entered into an agreement with the Elks in November, 2006, to purchase the property.
The companies had planned to build a three-part development on the site including townhomes, a new facility for the Elks and an assisted-living facility for seniors.
Seniorhome President Pat Frewer said in October that the agreement to purchase the Elks property collapsed because the provincial Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry denied the developers' request to have access to the property from Hwy. 97 and so the Elks eventually walked away from the sale.
Olson has said, however, that the deal collapsed because the developers did not have the money to go forward with the project due to a worsening international economic climate.
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