More funding coming from City for sidewalk expansions, patios in Kamloops | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Light Rainshower  4.1°C

Kamloops News

More funding coming from City for sidewalk expansions, patios in Kamloops

The downtown and North Shore patio program is going to benefit from more funding from the City of Kamloops.

In response to 'circuit breaker' health restrictions in B.C. which shuttered in door dining at restaurants, the City acted quickly to add more sidewalk expansion but the demand exceeded expectations.

City council approved an additional $150,000 to expand sidewalks and help implement more patios today, April 13. That's in addition to the $200,000 approved in November 2020.

The price tag to complete the required sidewalk extensions for the 20 businesses that have made requests so far is $250,000. That leaves the City with a buffer of $100,00 to accommodate future requests for patios from the business community.

READ MORE: Kamloops restaurant owners welcome expanded patios but doubts remain

CAO David Trawin says the funding includes the cost of removal, but they were also designed so that they can remain permanent if council decides against removing them in the future.

The cost for each patio ranges from $6,000 to $25,000 and all funds have been sourced from the provincial COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant.

Each patio funded by the City, as noted in the proposal, must be located on City property. Whereas any expansions on private property are at their own expense.

Parking is sacrificed for the increased sidewalks in the downtown core and North Shore business area, but Trawin isn't concerned about a lack of spaces.

"It appears restaurants are spread out enough, I think people aren't having issues finding parking," he said, noting that there could be less need for parking as provincial health restrictions loosen and many people may continue working from home.

READ MORE: Kelowna restaurateurs pushing to close Bernard Avenue before summer


To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2021
iNFOnews

  • Popular kamloops News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile