The presence of the Gospel Mission is the obstacle to the revitalization of the downtown

Daily Courier Managing Editor Tom Wilson asked in his editorial of October 21 for opponents to the Downtown Comprehensive Development Zone to propose an alternative plan for the redevelopment of the downtown. I cannot speak for all the opponents of CD 21 here but only for myself.

 

I acknowledge there is a need for redevelopment in the downtown but I don’t think the cause of its present state is due to a lack of density but rather to the concentration of social service agencies on Leon Avenue. In fact, at the top of a list of weaknesses of the downtown identified in the Spaxman report presented to Kelowna City Council in June 2007 is “The street activity generated by the Gospel Mission.” The key to the revitalization of the downtown then is the relocation of the Gospel Mission which was suggested in another report to council two years ago. City council accepted the recommendations of that report and even offered to give the Mission some city owned land to facilitate the relocation. However, city council never had the backbone to follow through with this plan and has since withdrawn the offer of land.

 

A new city council should make as a priority the relocation of the Gospel Mission. Once it is relocated, the concentration of social service agencies dispersed, and the nightclubs in the area better regulated, the obstacles to redevelopment will disappear and developers will once again be eager to commence with new projects in the city core. I reject the absurd notion that we need densities in excess of what is present in Vancouver and building heights of up to 27 storeys in order to achieve this revitalization. I think it can be accomplished using mid-rise buildings between 6 and 8 storeys which will still preserve the historic character of the downtown. In fact, anyone who has been to our downtown lately has noticed the recently completed and fine looking Worman Building at Pandosy Street and Leon Avenue which at a height of 6 storeys plus a penthouse is a welcome addition to the area. If developers need 27 storey buildings and ultra-high densities as an inducement to build there, no one told builder Shane Worman.

Tags: Kelowna, Kelowna downtown