Historic downtown Kelowna brick facade being dismantled

[Castanet News]

A long-standing construction project at a historic downtown Kelowna location appears to be moving into a new phase. Earlier this week Castanet reported that...

[MBO17]

I, for one, welcome our new Mark Anthony Group corporate overlords.

[mike trudel]

It's called the old bait and switch program . Lost history for a few corporate bucks

[mike trudel]

It's called the old bait and switch program . Lost history for a few corporate bucks

[rssrob]

That wall will never go back up what a shame. Many happy memories in that building as the Keg. What a shame

[Craig.snider]

100% of the responsibility for this lost heritage goes to the City of Kelowna, who allowed this shambles.
If we were okay with having this building demolished and turned into a parking lot, never to be seen again, they should have done that 4 years ago instead of having an open demolition yard for 4 years. If we really wanted to preserve the building then there are mechanisms that exist to hold property developers responsible for the preservation of old buildings - it happens every day in other cities.
Before a single hammer was raised over that building a plan should have been agreed and a performance bond should have been in place to guarantee that this debacle wouldn't have happened. The building is gone, but what's worse is we've had to look at a smoking crater for years because the City allowed developers to walk all over them.

[Roadhog]

This city won't be happy until they've destroyed every last vestige of our past

[the truth]

They are doing a great job.

[MAPearce]

100% of the responsibility for this lost heritage goes to the City of Kelowna, who allowed this shambles.
If we were okay with having this building demolished and turned into a parking lot, never to be seen again, they should have done that 4 years ago instead of having an open demolition yard for 4 years. If we really wanted to preserve the building then there are mechanisms that exist to hold property developers responsible for the preservation of old buildings - it happens every day in other cities.
Before a single hammer was raised over that building a plan should have been agreed and a performance bond should have been in place to guarantee that this debacle wouldn't have happened. The building is gone, but what's worse is we've had to look at a smoking crater for years because the City allowed developers to walk all over them.

Well , the way I look at it is that if it only takes two years to fill the hole , pave it and put up a meter box , it won't be a Ten Year Hole ..

6 years for that stuck up wine salesman to do something is better than 10.

[Wesleyboehlke]

In fact my parents, Vern and Alice Boehlke were the former owners of 1580 Water st, proprietors of the long standing and loved Kelowna Stationers for many years. I can definitely speak for both of them when I say they would be heart broken at this debacle the City has created. My dad was a long standing leader and member of the Downtown Business association along with countless other community groups and wanted nothing more than to see historic buildings like his (and yes, it was actually registered with Historic Status- get your facts straight castanet) preserved for generations to come. I grew up in Kelowna, a wonderful place to spend a childhood in the 70s and 80s. So sad to see what it’s festered into