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Downtown Kelowna heritage facade could become 12-storey hotel

Development permits have been submitted to city hall to build a hotel at 1570-1580 Water Street
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The facade left standing at 1580 Water Street. (Photo: Shona Harrison)

The former home of the Kelowna Courier could be turned into a downtown hotel.

Development permits have been submitted to city hall by Mark Anthony Group to build a 12-storey, 72-room hotel at 1570-1580 Water Street.

Plans include an amenity spa, a rooftop lounge, and a restaurant on the 11th floor.

The Courier Building (1580 Water St.) was built in stages between 1908 and 1939, according to the City of Kelowna website.

The paper moved out of the building in 1957 and it hosted several other businesses including a Keg Restaurant.

In May 2020, plans for a wine centre on the site were presented to city council by Mark Anthony Group, which sought to preserve the buildingÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s brick facade.

READ MORE: New plans being mulled over for wine centre in downtown Kelowna

However, work that began that year was stopped in 2021, and the city was advised in 2022 that plans were on hold.

Since then, the site has been left untouched with what is left of the facade held up with scaffolding.

Preservation of the facade, and other heritage sites in the region, has long been a concern for the Central Okanagan Heritage Society.

READ MORE: Awards highlight Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜facadeÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™ around preserving heritage in Central Okanagan



About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
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