Famous façade to remain despite everchanging landscape

Amid the constant sound of construction around downtown Kelowna, a corner lot remains conspicuous by its emptiness and inactivity.

But nearly three years on from the demolition that left only the façade at the corner of Water Street and Lawrence Avenue intact, the scaffolded frontage looks set to herald a new dawn.

The city confirmed there have been pre-application talks with the property owner and there are hopes a new development proposal will come forward by the summer.

While there’s no official word on what the new building will be, the city said the plan remains to save the façade.

That’s good news for advocates like Donald Knox, the president of the Central Okanagan Heritage Society.

“This is a very important part of Kelowna,” Knox told Kelowna10. “It’s part of the very original part [of the city] and on the edge of [what was] Chinatown.”

He explained, unlike the historical cities of Vernon and Penticton to the north and south, Kelowna only took off as a major city in the late twentieth century, and had very few real heritage buildings to save.

“There’s only a couple of original buildings that are still intact,” he explained pointing to the much-heralded heritage fire hall across the street and the neighbouring brick façade structure, formerly RauDZ restaurant.

He said while the old RauDZ building was rebuilt to resemble the heritage look, it did not have its façade saved, but all stakeholders who’ve been in discussions regarding the one on the corner are eager to preserve the original frontage.

“Maintaining this building’s façade is appropriate because it fits in with the streetscape going down Water St.,” Knox explained. He noted the architect working on the new plans is a strong advocate for preserving heritage in the city. He added the owners and city had worked very cooperatively with the Heritage Society in the past and he expected the same going forward.

The owners of the property, Mark Anthony Group, previously pitched a two-storey venue featuring a wine bar, lounge and other wine centre attractions but could not secure the necessary liquor licensing.