Letters submitted by local businesses in support of a massive Leon Avenue mega-condo prompted concern for a Kelowna city councillor.
The three-tower development, dubbed , is set to be a near-complete revitalization of the 200-block of Leon Avenue 香蕉视频直播� an area that has long been the subject of community debate due to the street香蕉视频直播檚 significant traffic of people experiencing homelessness.
Social issues facing the area were cited in four letters of support given to the developer by neighbouring businesses and area stakeholders. They were presented as council considered the development at a Tuesday evening (Jan. 12) meeting.
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During that meeting, Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said the letters, submitted by Hotel Zed, Prestige Hotels, Global Okanagan and the August Family Foundation, 香蕉视频直播渟uggest gentrification like this is going to solve those social challenges.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a misconception when we build luxury towers that gentrification is going to solve the lack of investment into treatment and support services, and most importantly housing,香蕉视频直播� Wooldridge told the Capital News.
In the letter of support from Hotel Zed, president and CEO Mandy Farmer stated the hotel believes the development will help the street be 香蕉视频直播渞eclaimed for locals.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淸City Park] has been a home for drug use, homelessness, thievery and a general unpleasant behaviour that takes away from the [residents] and tourists of our city. I believe it is time to take back our streets and park and allow them to be fully appreciated and used by our community,香蕉视频直播� she wrote.
Despite their new neighbours, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Gospel Mission will continue its operations on the street 香蕉视频直播� that includes offering beds, meals and social services to people experiencing homelessness. Neither the mission nor the people it serves have plans to leave the area.
Executive director Carmen Rempel agreed with Wooldridge, saying 香蕉视频直播渂igger, shiner buildings香蕉视频直播� won香蕉视频直播檛 help with the street香蕉视频直播檚 larger issues, but she香蕉视频直播檚 excited for the new neighbours.
香蕉视频直播淎ny neighbour that comes into town that increases our property value is something that we will welcome.香蕉视频直播�
The intention of the development is obviously not to solve social issues, said developer Anthony Beyrouti, but will rather enhance and bring life to the area. In response to Wooldridge香蕉视频直播檚 comments, he said the word 香蕉视频直播榞entrification香蕉视频直播� is used 香蕉视频直播渨henever something new is built.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 a derogatory term,香蕉视频直播� he said, citing Wooldridge香蕉视频直播檚 eventual support of the project. 香蕉视频直播淗e wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 have given his approval if he thought it was a bad thing.
香蕉视频直播淏asically every project has things it could work on, but we香蕉视频直播檙e trying to do something spectacular in an area that a lot of people believe need it.香蕉视频直播�
Wooldridge 香蕉视频直播� along with most of his fellow councillors 香蕉视频直播� was wooed by the chance for a long-awaited revitalization of a street that has had very little interest from developers. City council hesitantly approved the project with a 7香蕉视频直播�2 vote that followed much deliberation, largely stating the 香蕉视频直播渕uch-needed香蕉视频直播� redevelopment of Leon Avenue outweighed their significant concerns.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think the application is perfect by any means,香蕉视频直播� Wooldridge said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut this is one of the first times we香蕉视频直播檝e had someone come forward with a vision and a substantial amount of investment to address what needs to be upgraded.香蕉视频直播�
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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