As Mayor Tom Dyas noted at Monday91裸聊视频檚 (May 27) meeting, stalled construction at a downtown heritage site has become a 91裸聊视频渂it of an eye-sore91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲e had a verbal agreement with the neighbour and when it came time to sign that agreement it fell apart,91裸聊视频� Slava Korshunov, with Mark Anthony Group, told council. 91裸聊视频淲e were quite upset, we still want to build a hotel eventually.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲e are studying multiple options,91裸聊视频� Korshunov added. 91裸聊视频淚t needs to make financial sense for the company and it needs to make sense for the city.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淥ur primary concern is that equality development goes forward that incorporates the heritage facade there,91裸聊视频� Ryan Smith, director of planning and development said. 91裸聊视频淭here needs to be some flexibility to do that.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淐ouncils came and went and it was fought over adamantly by many residents to keep it at that low block.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not three storeys as Coun. Hodge would like it, but it91裸聊视频檚 close. If they do a good job of maintaining the heritage facade I think it91裸聊视频檚 a good way forward.91裸聊视频�

Coun. Rick Webber was concerned that the building91裸聊视频檚 use isn91裸聊视频檛 defined by the applicant.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e being asked to approve it and send it along its way and I don91裸聊视频檛 know if that91裸聊视频檚 a good idea.91裸聊视频�

Coun. Ron Cannan suggested staff work with the applicant91裸聊视频檚 neighbour to see what could be accomplished.

91裸聊视频淪omething that could be a win-win for the community because this is a landmark building.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 confident that whether it91裸聊视频檚 the four-storey or a higher option that something of great quality could happen.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淢y expectation would be higher quality renderings to know exactly what the vision of this would be. It91裸聊视频檚 been in scaffold for far too long.91裸聊视频�

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

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