Food lovers may soon have more opportunity to dine in the sun in downtown Kelowna now that city council has approved a proposal to give downtown businesses free rent for sidewalk patios for 2014 – 2015.
In 2016, businesses will pay 50% of the rent and by 2017, they will have to pay 100% of the rent.
The rent reduction is meant to encourage businesses to capitalize on the wider sidewalks and revitalized downtown core.
Dan Bronswyk of the Bread Company says the business is ready to jump into the patio scene.
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“We’ve been looking forward to this for a few years. We’re super excited about this.”
Bronswyk says he hopes to add 10 to 15 seats to the restaurant through the patio.
The Downtown Kelowna Association believes the extra patios will give the downtown core more energy.
“With patios, there will be more traffic and more people walking through,” says Ryan Watters of the Downtown Kelowna Association. “I think it will be great for everybody.”
The yearly rental rate for businesses depends on the size of the patio, what it is used for and the patio location. Stores that are closer to the lake will pay higher rent.
“A patio that serves food and alcohol will be charged more than one that is used occasionally for coffee drinkers or selling retail goods,” says Ron Forbes, property manager for the City of Kelowna.
The city is encouraging businesses to build attractive and well-designed patios: it is offering further rent reductions if the patio construction is at least $2,500.
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