The old McDonald's on Highway 97 and Water Street has been abandoned for 12 years.
Image Credit: GOOGLE MAPS
May 12, 2020 - 11:50 AM
Kelowna has finally come up with a solution to its abandoned McDonald's restaurant problem — it bought the 0.725 acre parcel the restaurant sits on and settled the lingering legal claim for $2.05 million.
“Proactive land acquisition is a key component of the City’s long-range financial and capital planning framework and this site represents a key location in the city’s western gateway,” Graham Hood, strategic land development manager said in a press release.
“Coupled with last year’s acquisition of the former Husky station at 380 Harvey Ave., it represents a unique opportunity for future redevelopment.”
In 2007, during the construction of the revised road alignments to facilitate the opening of the William R. Bennett Bridge, McDonald's ceased operations in this location and claimed land and businesses losses against the City. Since that time, the City and McDonald's have been working together to resolve outstanding concerns, including remediation of the site.
“Assessment of the building, review of on-site security measures and remediation of the property is expected to begin immediately and take the better part of this year,” Hood said. “A plan for lot consolidation and future redevelopment options that leverage the site’s prominence at the entrance to both Kelowna and the downtown core will be brought forward for Council’s consideration in the coming months.”
In 2011, the site was up for sale for close to $2 million and there was speculation that the City was in talks to purchase it.
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