Downtown development is a key goal of Vernon city council going into the new year, said Mayor Akbal Mund in a year-end interview with Castanet. “We'd like to get the downtown development started,” said Mund, pointing to a planned mega-block project on the Bennett parking lot along 29th Avenue. Tri-City Canada Inc. of Kamloops, has plans for a $36.5 million series of buildings, including one 10 storeys high. Phase one would include a building with 90 residential care beds and 52 assisted-living apartments. A later phase would include 62 more assisted living spots and a block of 72 one- and two-bedroom seniors' condos. The project has the backing of Interior Health. “Interior Health is going to be hopefully breaking ground in January, February to start their project,” said Mund. “We hope that jumpstarts major projects downtown.” Mund also promised more parking for the downtown. He expects space to be freed up when a number of city-owned buildings along 29th Street are knocked down this coming summer. “That (area) will be used for parking until we move forward with the transportation plan connecting Highway 6 to 27th Street.” Construction of a new arena is expected to start in the autumn. It follows a Nov. referendum when Greater Vernon residents voted in favour of borrowing $13.25 million for the twinning of Kal Tire Place. As far as a new art gallery and community centre project goes, Mund made no promises. “We are dealing with that at GVAC (Greater Vernon Advisory Committee) and we're moving forward slowly,” said Mund. “I believe we'll probably have some kind of direction next year on the art gallery and we'll see what happens after we make that decision.”
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| As advertised in Morning Star Wed. Dec.30. |
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