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We used about half of our tax dollars on the development and construction of the new RCMP detachment in Kelowna, but it’s an investment for the future.
Superintendent Nick Romanchuk, along with Mayor Colin Basran, addressed Kelowna citizens on Wednesday, during the ground breaking ceremony for the new RCMP building located on Clement Street, just before Richter.
Currently the biggest city development underway, building the new detachment comes with a $48 million price tag.
Despite the substantial cost, the new building will accommodate our growing community.
“The workable life of the existing building has been extending well beyond its capacity, and is too small to meet current needs or provide the best possible policing services to our community,” Basran.
Built in 1962, the old police detachment is just shy of 30,000 square feet, and was designed to serve our small 14,000 population. Considering our population is now booming with more than 122,000 people, the upgrade was essential in order to provide adequate service, explained Superintendent Romanchuk.
“On behalf of the RCMP, we’re extremely happy to be at this stage and we’re looking forward to the new building. It’s time, it’s served its purpose very well, but we’ve out grown it,” added Romanchuk. “The population in the city is growing. It grows every year and the more people we have the more police officers we need to maintain a certain level of service.”
Roughly around 100,000 square feet in size, the new detachment will allow all RCMP factions to work under one roof.
“We’ll have a state of the art building compared to what we have now,” said Romanchuk. “Our forensic people don’t work at all in this building right now because there’s just no space or no proper equipment for them there.”
Although the tax impact for this new building will be felt over the next two years, development in the area is also expected to influence road utility improvements and intersection upgrades on Clement and Richter, explained Basran.
Moreover, the new lot where the building will go provides ample room for further growth, and the detachment itself is anticipated to serve the community for at least 50 years.
Located in Kelowna's north end, the new building will take approximately two years to build. Back in July, Council approved a name for the new building: City of Kelowna Police Services.
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