As Mayor Tom Dyas noted at Monday害羞草研究所檚 (May 27) meeting, stalled construction at a downtown heritage site has become a 害羞草研究所渂it of an eye-sore害羞草研究所� and is an emotional issue for council.

Plans by the Mark Anthony Group to build a 12-storey boutique hotel on the former site of the Daily Courier, at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Water Street, were dashed after negotiations with a neighbouring property fell through.

害羞草研究所淲e had a verbal agreement with the neighbour and when it came time to sign that agreement it fell apart,害羞草研究所� Slava Korshunov, with Mark Anthony Group, told council. 害羞草研究所淲e were quite upset, we still want to build a hotel eventually.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: Downtown Kelowna heritage facade could become 12-storey hotel

Previous to that was a plan for a wine education centre approved by the city in 2020 but scrapped after the group could not obtain a liquor license.

The lot has sat empty since with a crane on site and the heritage facade of the building supported by scaffolding. The current application is a four-storey mixed-use building.

害羞草研究所淲e are studying multiple options,害羞草研究所� Korshunov added. 害羞草研究所淚t needs to make financial sense for the company and it needs to make sense for the city.害羞草研究所�

Zoning limits the building to three storeys, so an amendment is required to allow four storeys. Councillor Charlie Hodge questioned staff about the proposed heights of the different applications.

害羞草研究所淥ur primary concern is that equality development goes forward that incorporates the heritage facade there,害羞草研究所� Ryan Smith, director of planning and development said. 害羞草研究所淭here needs to be some flexibility to do that.害羞草研究所�

Hodge added there is a long history with previous councils to keep high-rises off that block.

害羞草研究所淐ouncils came and went and it was fought over adamantly by many residents to keep it at that low block.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Luke Stack also preferred a lower-height building and preserving the character of the area.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not three storeys as Coun. Hodge would like it, but it害羞草研究所檚 close. If they do a good job of maintaining the heritage facade I think it害羞草研究所檚 a good way forward.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Rick Webber was concerned that the building害羞草研究所檚 use isn害羞草研究所檛 defined by the applicant.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e being asked to approve it and send it along its way and I don害羞草研究所檛 know if that害羞草研究所檚 a good idea.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Ron Cannan suggested staff work with the applicant害羞草研究所檚 neighbour to see what could be accomplished.

害羞草研究所淪omething that could be a win-win for the community because this is a landmark building.害羞草研究所�

Smith told council staff have been pushing the applicant to move forward with the project.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 confident that whether it害羞草研究所檚 the four-storey or a higher option that something of great quality could happen.害羞草研究所�

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, while supporting the development going to a public hearing, was frustrated that the project has stalled for four years and that the current application is lacking in detail.

害羞草研究所淢y expectation would be higher quality renderings to know exactly what the vision of this would be. It害羞草研究所檚 been in scaffold for far too long.害羞草研究所�

Council voted to give the height amendment first reading and send the project to a public hearing with Hodge opposed.

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