VIDEO: What should go here?

| May 11, 2023 in Kelowna

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For many years it was home to a boarded-up McDonald's.

Finally, after a decade and a half, the city had a deal in place to sell the property along with another vacant lot across Harvey Avenue. 

But with that deal falling through, city council must consider the best fit for the properties. 

The Strategic Land Manager for the city, Graham Hood felt it was time to give it a re-think.

"It's been a while since we talked to council about these properties,", said Hood. "So we're going to go back and have some more conversations with council."

After a legal battle ended between McDonald's and the city, the long-vacant restaurant was torn down in 2020.

With that out of the way, within about a year, a deal was in place to sell that property along with the former Husky station lot for a combined price of over $11 million.

But with the failure of that deal and the softening of the real estate market, Hood said it was time to pull the properties off the market and bring it back to the new council.

"To see what they envision for the development of these sites and then move forward on that vision."

The possibilities are wide open.

"We'll let them know what we think the market might bear, and what some alternatives are for the development of these properties."

One thing seems certain.

What ends up happening with these properties matters. 

"They're very important properties," said Hood.

"As you come into Kelowna it sets a tone," he said. 

"It's really important that we get things right on these properties."

The failed transaction involved Kelowna-based Ridge North America Properties.

Their plans had included a 40-storey tower on the former Husky property.

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