KELOWNA – It’s the first step on the road to major changes for downtown Kelowna. The City of Kelowna has drafted a land use plan for the area known as the Civic Block. The proposal could see the redevelopment of some iconic municipal buildings including the Kelowna Community Theatre.
“It’s 53 years old this year and recently we’ve upgraded the auditorium and we’ve painted the walls, we’ve added some sound equipment,” explains Kelowna Community Theatre manager Randy Zaharta.
Thanks to regular maintenance, the building itself is in good shape, but Zahara says up to a dozen events have to be turned down every year, simply because the venue isn’t big enough.
“Our auditorium holds 853 people but the lobby holds just under 300 so it’s quite small,” says Zaharta. “When we have a sold out show, it can be quite cramped in there and our bathrooms are always undersized.”
City Council heard a proposal Monday that could see the redevelopment of the Kelowna Community Theatre and the Kelowna Memorial Arena, the city’s oldest indoor hockey rink.
“We know there are major changes coming to the area and the city is a major landowner in the area so it’s really the responsibility of the city to be able to be proactive,” says Ross Soward, Planner Specialist with the City of Kelowna.
The area Soward is referring to is known as civic block and incorporates Clement to Queensway Avenues and Water to Ellis Streets. The biggest change will be the relocation of the police station on Doyle Avenue.
- ‘It’s just without reason’: Friends, community still reeling after White Rock murder
- Unique simulator helping B.C. aerial firefighting crews prepare for tough summer
- White Rock fatal stabbing suspect and victim may have been in physical altercation: IHIT
- B.C. to ban drug use in all public places in major overhaul of decriminalization
“We had a large budget item come up last year and it was a police services building so obviously that leaves some opportunity about what to do with it,” says councilor Ryan Donn.
However, the way things will unfold is far from being clear.
“We are not really looking to get into the weeds and start any kind of more detailed facility planning exercise,” says Soward.
What is clear, Soward says, is that with plans for a new police station development, thought needs to be put in to what to do with other buildings in need of an upgrade in the area. He says Kelowna residents can expect to have their say in the matter sometime this spring.
Comments