Tension between downtown businesses and people experiencing homelessness on Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Leon Avenue has reached a tipping point.

Businesses along the strip are fed up with the growing number of people camping on the street saying the encampment is affecting their ability to work, forcing them to consider relocating.

Earlier this week, Boyd香蕉视频直播檚 Tire and Auto Service and Eco-Clean, were the first two businsses to confirm they are moving locations due to the crime, violence, and uncleanliness in the area.

Boyds Tire and Auto Service has been at its Leon Avenue location for the past seven years. The shop香蕉视频直播檚 owner, Chad Abougoush, said he is relocating his store due to a decrease in overall business over the past few years, which he attributes largely to the population of people living on Leon Avenue.

香蕉视频直播淲e need to provide a nice, clean, safe environment for our customers and we no longer feel like that香蕉视频直播檚 available here,香蕉视频直播� he said.

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Abougoush said the crime and amount of people experiencing homelessness in the area has grown exponentially year-after-year.

香蕉视频直播�(This time last year) was nowhere near close to as bad as it is now,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Abougoush said the city has failed to change its response as the encampment has grown.

香蕉视频直播淭he city香蕉视频直播檚 response has been the same response for the past three years,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淭hey have this mysterious plan that we never see any of it executed. I香蕉视频直播檓 sick and tired of waiting.

香蕉视频直播淲hen I香蕉视频直播檓 trying to work and nothing is working, I usually change my approach. They need to change what they香蕉视频直播檙e doing or do something to make it better 香蕉视频直播� They香蕉视频直播檙e band-aiding the problem. They香蕉视频直播檙e not solving it.香蕉视频直播�

Despite his efforts to reach out to city officials to discuss the rampant crime in the area, Abougoush said nothing has come of those conversations.

He attributes Boyd香蕉视频直播檚 Tire香蕉视频直播檚 longevity on Leon Avenue to the Downtown Kelowna Association, who he describes as his 香蕉视频直播渟uperheroes.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭hey come in and deal with stuff that you wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 dream of dealing with in your nightmares,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檝e really stepped up to the plate 香蕉视频直播� and for no benefit of their own. They go above and beyond the call of duty. They really take care of us down here.香蕉视频直播�

RCMP have also been helpful in attempting to keep the 香蕉视频直播渃ontrolled chaos香蕉视频直播� on Leon Avenue, according to Abougoush.

In the spring, Boyd香蕉视频直播檚 Tire will be moving to a new location on Clement Avenue.

香蕉视频直播淚ronically enough, it香蕉视频直播檚 right beside the new police centre.香蕉视频直播�

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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