Tension between downtown businesses and people experiencing homelessness on Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Leon Avenue has reached a tipping point.

Businesses along the strip are fed up with the growing number of people camping on the street saying the encampment is affecting their ability to work, forcing them to consider relocating.

Earlier this week, Boyd91裸聊视频檚 Tire and Auto Service and Eco-Clean, were the first two businsses to confirm they are moving locations due to the crime, violence, and uncleanliness in the area.

Boyds Tire and Auto Service has been at its Leon Avenue location for the past seven years. The shop91裸聊视频檚 owner, Chad Abougoush, said he is relocating his store due to a decrease in overall business over the past few years, which he attributes largely to the population of people living on Leon Avenue.

91裸聊视频淲e need to provide a nice, clean, safe environment for our customers and we no longer feel like that91裸聊视频檚 available here,91裸聊视频� he said.

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Abougoush said the crime and amount of people experiencing homelessness in the area has grown exponentially year-after-year.

91裸聊视频�(This time last year) was nowhere near close to as bad as it is now,91裸聊视频� he said.

Abougoush said the city has failed to change its response as the encampment has grown.

91裸聊视频淭he city91裸聊视频檚 response has been the same response for the past three years,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淭hey have this mysterious plan that we never see any of it executed. I91裸聊视频檓 sick and tired of waiting.

91裸聊视频淲hen I91裸聊视频檓 trying to work and nothing is working, I usually change my approach. They need to change what they91裸聊视频檙e doing or do something to make it better 91裸聊视频� They91裸聊视频檙e band-aiding the problem. They91裸聊视频檙e not solving it.91裸聊视频�

Despite his efforts to reach out to city officials to discuss the rampant crime in the area, Abougoush said nothing has come of those conversations.

He attributes Boyd91裸聊视频檚 Tire91裸聊视频檚 longevity on Leon Avenue to the Downtown Kelowna Association, who he describes as his 91裸聊视频渟uperheroes.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭hey come in and deal with stuff that you wouldn91裸聊视频檛 dream of dealing with in your nightmares,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檝e really stepped up to the plate 91裸聊视频� and for no benefit of their own. They go above and beyond the call of duty. They really take care of us down here.91裸聊视频�

RCMP have also been helpful in attempting to keep the 91裸聊视频渃ontrolled chaos91裸聊视频� on Leon Avenue, according to Abougoush.

In the spring, Boyd91裸聊视频檚 Tire will be moving to a new location on Clement Avenue.

91裸聊视频淚ronically enough, it91裸聊视频檚 right beside the new police centre.91裸聊视频�

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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