Kelowna Capital News, May 11, 2016

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High school student artistry showcased

CAPITAL news

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Wednesday, May 11, 2016 • kelownacapnews.com

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778.436.2617 617 INSIDE TODAY

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West Kelowna Fire Rescue hosted a Fire Safety Family Day last Saturday. Youngsters and adults alike had a chance to learn about being fire safe at home and operate some of the firefighters’ tools of the trade.

KATHY MICHAELS/CAPITAL NEWS

LOOKING FOR A NEW COACH KELOWNA ROCKETS AND BENCHBOSS BRAD RALPH AGREE TO PART WAYS ......................A19

CAMERON HOUSE CITY OF KELOWNA SEEKING CREATIVE IDEAS TO PRESERVE HERITAGE ASSET...................A16

BUILDING BOOM

Resurgence in home construction Alistair Waters awaters@kelownacapnews.com

Kelowna is experiencing a building boom the likes of which has not been seen here since 2000. According to city manager Ron Mattiussi, who delivered a report on the first quarter of 2016 to council Monday, individual development applications were up 30 per cent between January and the end of March. He said more than $130 million in development was approved by the city during the first 90 days of this year, an amount larger than any other first quarter in the city since 2008. The good news comes on the heels of disappointing new

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construction revenue figures for the city for 2015, as relayed to city hall just last week by the B.C. Assessment Authority prior to council approving its budget for this year. In prior years,the city has taken a conservative approach, always underestimating the revenue it would receive from new construction, a figure used to reduce the annual tax demand. Mattiussi said he felt the reason for the sharp increase in development here so far this year was thanks to both the economic downturn in Alberta— which is prompting many who went there to find work at its heyday to return home now, as well as the overheated Vancouver property market where prices have

skyrocketed and many would-be buyers have found themselves priced out of that market. Meanwhile, property prices are also on the increase here, according to the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board. One area where Kelowna is finally seeing development growth is in the rental housing sector. There are currently development permits being processed by city hall for 600 units of rental housing, said Mattiussi. “Everybody knows what a strain there is for rental housing, so that’s good news,” he said, adding it’s easy to see building activity when driving around town. And it’s not just housing. Standing on the corner of Doyle Avenue and Ellis Street downtown,

there is construction in every direction. To the north there is the extension of the library parkade, to the south the new 600-stall, six-storey Memorial parade is being built and kitty corner to each other, the Interior Health building is taking shape on the east side while the Innovation Centre for the Okanagan is under construction on the west side. And that’s just downtown. Out at the airport, the ongoing building boom is continuing with an expansion of the airport terminal and construction of a large building to handle outgoing luggage.

SEE HOME A2

HOMELESS IN KELOWNA NEW STUDY OFFERS FRESH STATISTICAL INSIGHTS.............A3

RBC CUP WEST KELOWNA WARRIORS PURSUE NATIONAL TITLE .....A19

Bad Driver Award #237: Fatal Distraction Bad drivers like Dexter bring us good drivers like you. So watch out for texters (and don’t be one)! And when you need collision repair, remember BC’s favourite bodyshop.

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