SURVEY RESULTS: DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dec. 13, 2007
News Release
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City Council will hear the results of the City's Downtown Revitalization Survey at its regular meeting Monday, December 17. According to survey results, Kelowna residents want to see the downtown redeveloped and many of them recognize the opportunities created as a result of the proposed plan.
"We are pleased that so many people filled out the survey," says Doug Gilchrist, Manager, Community Development and Real Estate. "The results are well in line with the feedback we've been getting from the public from the beginning."
Survey highlights include:
Respondents were closely split on appropriate building heights with 47.9% preferring buildings 14 storeys and above, and 46.8% preferring buildings of less than 14 storeys
Of those in favour of building heights greater than 14 storeys, the most support was for buildings between 14 and 19 storeys
53.1% of respondents indicated they may move into a redeveloped downtown core within the next ten years
Over 65% of respondents rated upgraded street appearance, green space and public plazas as important or very important
75.4% of the respondents advised that they would not like to be involved in providing further input on this redevelopment.
The survey is one component of the City's consultation plan to gauge public sentiment on the proposed redevelopment of a four-block area of Kelowna's downtown. It was available between September 7, 2007 and November 16, 2007, with over 1,200 responses submitted.
The City is preparing a Comprehensive Development Plan for the study area which is bounded by Water Street to the east, Abbott and Mill Streets to the west, Queensway to the north and Highway 97 to the south.
Survey results and more information on the proposed Comprehensive Development Plan are available on the City's website at
www.kelowna.ca - look for the Downtown Revitalization highlights link.
Written comments from survey respondents are being compiled and will be presented at the third, and final, open house on this initiative expected to take place in early January 2008.
Contact us by emailing downtown@kelowna.ca .
