Vancouver British Columbia - The City of Vancouver is prepared to offer Canadian Pacific "fair market value" to purchase the Arbutus corridor, according to a statement from Mayor Gregor Robertson.
 
CP earlier this year indicated its intention to reactivate the rail line that runs through the city's west side, after 14 years of disuse.
 
The company has ordered community gardeners whose plots encroach on the right-of-way to remove plants and structures by 31 Jul 2014, so that the rail line can be cleared and maintained.
 
But in a letter to local residents affected by the order, Robertson revealed that the city has recently obtained an independent appraisal of the lands, home to many kilometres of informal paths, bicycle routes, and natural vegetation, and has made an offer to CP for the land.
 
"The City is committed to seeking a fair deal with CP for the Arbutus corridor lands, so that we can maintain and enhance the corridor for local residents. We have had discussions for many years and we continue to seek a reasonable agreement," Robertson wrote.
 
"We do not believe there is any business case for CP to reactivate trains along the corridor."
 
The city and CP have been trying to negotiate the future of the right-of-way for decades, talks that at times have been acrimonious and litigious.
 
The city acted in 2000 to restrict development on the land, prompting CP to file suit.
 
But in 2006 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled the city had the right to designate the line for transportation and greenway uses.
 
It affirmed the city's right to enact its Arbutus corridor official development plan, effectively killing a proposal by CP to sell or develop the land for commercial or residential use.
 
The city did not disclose the amount of the new offer to CP, but the City of Richmond in 2010 purchased 6 hectares along the Railway Avenue corridor from CP for $5 million.
 
The Arbutus Corridor totals about 20 hectares.
 
The company is prepared to continue talking to the city while preparing the line for "operational uses," according to CP spokesman Ed Greenwood, but he declined to provide details of those discussions.
 
Reactivating the track for commercial use appears to be the latest move in a long-running chess match.
 
In a letter to local residents written by CP's western director of governmental affairs, Mike LoVecchio wrote:  "For many years now, CP has been involved in conversations to convert the Arbutus corridor for a number of combined public uses, such as a greenway, public transportation, community gardens, and eco-density development. Despite our efforts, the company and other parties have been unable to achieve a plan for the disposition of this valuable asset."

Randy Shore.