A house bought by the City of Vancouver to expand John Hendry Park is going to be rented out.

The city made the announcement Tuesday (July 18) following criticisms that it left the home empty in the midst of the housing crisis.

The city had wanted to buy eight houses on the 3000 block of Victoria Drive, but was able to make a deal on only one property.

In January 2016, it purchased the home at 3030 Victoria Drive for $1.6 million.

The row of houses backs into John Hendry Park, a popular outdoor destination.

Trout Lake is the jewel of the park.

According to a city media release issued through the park board, the house at 3030 Victoria Drive will be offered for lease for a period of five years.

“At the time the property at 3030 Victoria Drive was purchased, it was believed adjacent properties may become available in the near future,” the media release stated. “This has not materialized. It was never our intention to see this property remain empty for 18 months and we are now moving to ensure this City property is put to the best public use.”

The city noted that the park board had identified the “broader Grandview Woodlands/Cedar Cottage as a moderately park deficient neighbourhood”.

“Growing  population and planned densification increases the demand for park space in this and other park deficient communities,” the media release stated. “To ensure that all residents have equitable access to green space, the Vancouver Park Board works with the City on a long-range property acquisition strategy to acquire sites for future park development and expansion.”

“Many of our beloved parks and green spaces, including English Bay, Emery Barnes, Point Grey Road, have been developed by thoughtful, long-term assembly of private and commercial property over many decades.”

In a media release on July 7, the city recalled that many neighbourhood parks have been opened “as a result of foresight and planning and careful property acquisition for green space”.

The city cited Lillian To Park at 17^th Avenue and Yukon Street, and the park at 6^th Avenue and Fir Street as examples of its successful property acquisitions.

“On occasion the assembly of necessary parcels takes many years, and in these cases the City makes the property available for rental,” the city pointed out.

The city also noted that there are people living in properties designated as future parks in the Renfrew Ravine and China Creek neighbourhoods.