05-17-2016, 10:03 AM
(05-17-2016, 09:20 AM)tomh009 Wrote:(05-17-2016, 09:10 AM)mpd618 Wrote: I'd guess the province doesn't currently give them the power to do that.
No. The rates actual are different for vacant land, that is most certainly allowed, and different based on the zoning. But the problem is that the rates are lower for vacant land, and on top of that the property value is lower without a building. I would like to see a property tax rate of 2x or 3x normal for vacant land within the downtown core, which would discourage parking lots and abandoned land.
https://www.kitchener.ca/en/resources/20...es_web.pdf
Parking lots are taxed the same as commercial.
I don't think it could work to force them to do something with the land, they could put up a leonade stand and call it commercial or bring in something modular to get around it. The other side of it is it is their land, it doesn't seem right to force them to build something if they don't want to.