ARTICLE

Date ArticleType
9/17/2012 Media Releases
Downtown Kelowna Revitalization

 

Press Release

August 20, 2012

The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce has been working with the City of Kelowna to continuously improve the city. The revitalization of Bernard commenced this week in addition the council recently endorsed a proposal to sell land for a new Interior Health Authority building downtown. The new building would have administrative offices built on city-owned land at the corner of Doyle Avenue and Ellis Street, accommodating 1,000 IHA staff.

In addition to the building there will also be a new parkade built on the site of a current parking lot between Memorial Arena and the Kelowna Museum, as well as expansion of the Library Parkade. Costs are projected to be $19 million for the parkade construction and expansion. Approximately $4 million would come from the sale of the property, parking reserves and other revenues. The remaining $15 million would be borrowed over a 30-year period from the Municipal Finance Authority. Electoral approval to borrow the money will be determined during an Alternative Approval Process.

Having an increase of 1000 working people in the downtown is wonderful news and will increase sales for business located downtown. "There are so many positive changes happening in Kelowna’s downtown currently. We are on the cusp of immense growth for the city, which will have a huge impact on the economy, not just downtown but throughout Kelowna," says Caroline Grover, Chief Executive Officer of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.

Contact:
Caroline Grover
Chief Executive Officer
250-861-3627