VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The $1.1 billion Olympic Athletes Village at False Creek is back in the hands of those who paid for it -- the taxpayer. Over 400 suites are now available to the public after a ceremonial key was handed from VANOC, back to the City of Vancouver back to developer Millennium Water this morning.
VANOC CEO John Furlong thanked the public -- to help make the village a reality. "You have surpassed our expectations so dramatically and gave us a Village like no other. It was from this Village the Canadian team was able to mount their campaign to win the gold medals by any country in Winter Olympic history."
Suites at 'Millennium Water' range from 575 square feet to 3,900 square feet and they don't come cheap. Prices are between $469,000 and $10 million, but not everyone who took in today's tour is looking to buy. One man News1130 chatted with said he wasn't sure he was going to buy anything today. "Price is always an issue of course, I don't think we'll be buying a $10 million penthouse."
Others said they wouldn't mind living there but just aren't in the financial position to move out of their current home. While one couple News1130 caught up with said they'd been waiting for this day since it was announced where the Village would be located.
More than 250 units were sold before the Games and of those 125 have been set aside for emergency workers, teachers and for social housing.
Today's sale was not without protest. Members of Van ACT hit the stage before John Furlong and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. One protester was demanding people not buy any suites. "Let us resist these life destroying political and economic practices. For the sake of all of us, open these homes to those most in need of housing and build on city on inclusion, equality and justice."