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 91裸聊视频� an area that has long been the subject of community debate due to the street91裸聊视频檚 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, 91裸聊视频渟uggest gentrification like this is going to solve those social challenges.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渞eclaimed for locals.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淸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,91裸聊视频� she wrote.
Despite their new neighbours, Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Gospel Mission will continue its operations on the street 91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渂igger, shiner buildings91裸聊视频� won91裸聊视频檛 help with the street91裸聊视频檚 larger issues, but she91裸聊视频檚 excited for the new neighbours.
91裸聊视频淎ny neighbour that comes into town that increases our property value is something that we will welcome.91裸聊视频�
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 Wooldridge91裸聊视频檚 comments, he said the word 91裸聊视频榞entrification91裸聊视频� is used 91裸聊视频渨henever something new is built.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think it91裸聊视频檚 a derogatory term,91裸聊视频� he said, citing Wooldridge91裸聊视频檚 eventual support of the project. 91裸聊视频淗e wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have given his approval if he thought it was a bad thing.
91裸聊视频淏asically every project has things it could work on, but we91裸聊视频檙e trying to do something spectacular in an area that a lot of people believe need it.91裸聊视频�
Wooldridge 91裸聊视频� along with most of his fellow councillors 91裸聊视频� 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 791裸聊视频�2 vote that followed much deliberation, largely stating the 91裸聊视频渕uch-needed91裸聊视频� redevelopment of Leon Avenue outweighed their significant concerns.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think the application is perfect by any means,91裸聊视频� Wooldridge said. 91裸聊视频淏ut this is one of the first times we91裸聊视频檝e had someone come forward with a vision and a substantial amount of investment to address what needs to be upgraded.91裸聊视频�
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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