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Post by Administrator on Nov 29, 2004 21:14:37 GMT -5
John Thompson updates on the KSS development call for proposals:
"The bidding has closed on the old KSS site on Harvey at Richter. Although nothing is official from city hall I have heard some rumours there were four developers in the final count. Argus Corp., Hans Berger and Don Lloyd, Concert Properties- David Podmore, and Phil Milroy’s Westcorp. The city is very tight lipped on the proposals they have before them. It’s a good piece of land about twelve or thirteen acres, but immediately five acres will be designated as parkland. This could be a very interesting project. So far just rumours from the street, but I would bet on those named"
Source: Castanet.net Rumours and Things: by John Thomson Nov 29, 2004
It should be interesting for a comprehensive development that can be master planned.
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Post by Matt Phillips on Jan 1, 2005 21:49:30 GMT -5
The designation of the old KSS field as parkland would make for a good family developement there. such as townhouses or apartments aimed towards people with families. two negative things about that idea is the fact that it is so close to Harvey. the second problem is Central School across the street (for obvious reasons)
a second idea would be a recreation center. this is perhaps the most positive type of developement that could go on here. it would be much closer to the downtown core than Parkinson or the Capitol News Center, and could be used for a new swimming pool that is more attractive and fun than the current parkinson center.
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Post by DuaneT on Mar 22, 2005 11:36:16 GMT -5
Old KSS not worth saving
By Daily Courier Staff The original Kelowna secondary school building opened in 1938 and a modern gymnasium, appraised at $4.2 million, will be demolished. Someone shut off the natural gas supply on Jan. 16 or 17, causing the sprinkler system to freeze and extensive water damage to the Richter Street buildings. City councillors learned Monday that repairs to the sprinkler system and water damage would cost $340,000. The damage was covered by insurance
Upgrading the gym and red-brick building so they could be used as a school again could cost $2 million
If they were used for other purposes, they would have to meet current building codes, which could cost $5 million to $5.5 million
At the beginning of council's regular afternoon meeting Monday, David Shipclark, the city's real estate manager, announced councillors had decided it was not financially prudent to repair the damage
The current lack of fire detection and sprinkler system was a factor in council's decision. Shipclark noted that during a request for development proposals last fall, three developers expressed little or no interest in saving the two buildings in conjunction with plans for highrises and lower-density housing
The historic Pettigrew house on Richter would have been moved elsewhere on the 13.5-acre site and returned to the city for whatever purposes city staff could find
Instead, the Pettigrew house will be moved across Richter Street to city-owned property at 732 Dehart Ave., a city bylaw will designate it as a heritage site, and it will be sold. The removal of all three buildings also removes several impediments for redevelopment after none of the three proposals for the KSS site were accepted by council last year. Since mid-January, city staff have been waiting for a decision on the future of the buildings before hiring a consultant to refine the city's terms of reference for a second request for proposals. That can now proceed
The property has been beset by problems since the city bought it from the Central Okanagan school district for $5 million
Napp Enterprises was hired to demolish most of the school buildings, but its salvage efforts were thwarted by an arson fire which destroyed timber and other materials worth saving
Without that income, the company was reluctant to spend more money hauling everything to the dump. The company and city agreed the property should be cleaned up with whopays-what to be determined later
The current gym was built after a disgruntled KSS student set a fire that destroyed the previous gym and damaged the original red-brick building.
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Post by Matt Phillips on Apr 3, 2005 16:35:07 GMT -5
ironic that it was another fire that finished off the building, as well as other acts of vandalism that seem to be convincing the city to come up with something new instead of holding onto that dilapidated structure
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Post by guest on Apr 4, 2005 7:50:24 GMT -5
Was this just a random act of vandalism or was this a deliberate act by developers and the city to pave the way for a bigger development on the site than could otherwise be accommodated if the KSS building were still there?
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Post by Administrator on Apr 4, 2005 13:51:32 GMT -5
Who knows, I think we all have our conspiracy theories ;D
All I know is that I did not find those “heritage” buildings valuable but I never went to school there so in that regard my opinion really does not count much. However, now with more land available, hopefully there will be a REAL visionary comprehensive development.
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Post by guest on Apr 4, 2005 16:38:17 GMT -5
What is your idea of a real visionary comprehensive development?
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Post by Administrator on Apr 5, 2005 1:37:15 GMT -5
I am not an architect or a developer and will leave that up to the professionals.  |
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Post by guest on Apr 5, 2005 7:25:01 GMT -5
How can you call for a REAL comprehensive visionary development if you yourself have no idea of what that is?
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Post by Administrator on Apr 5, 2005 14:39:58 GMT -5
Well, I can call for anything - but we all now that kind of thing is best left up to the professionals - that is what they are trained for and paid for. That is exactly why the city called for proposals based on certain guidelines to see what kind of creative uses can be done ;D Seems like you have an idea for the area - care to share? By the way - welcome! It is great to have you here. Might I suggest you sign up for an account here as you are a regular poster now. It is great chatting with you  Hope to here more from you. |
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Post by Matt Phillips on Apr 29, 2005 9:42:13 GMT -5
as i mentioned in another topic, i would have liked to see a recreation center there.
i wanted one put there from the start, as it would be closer to the downtown area than either the parkinson or the capital news center.
now i think that the best thing that could be put in there would be a highrise. it would still be downtown, but not on the lakefront.
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Post by DuaneT on Jul 14, 2005 21:50:39 GMT -5
Community Park at Old KSS Site
City Council approved conceptual plans for a 2 hectare community park at the former KSS site on Richter Street and Harvey Avenue. Council directed staff to prepare a master plan for the park which will be adjacent to Rowcliffe Avenue.
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Post by DuaneT on Sept 12, 2005 0:45:07 GMT -5
Why not see of UBCO can use this property to build a medical or a law school? Both of those facilities would greatly enhance the downtown area and would be close to the hospital and courthouse.
What do you think?
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Hope to here more from you.