The old McDonald's on Highway 97 and Water Street has been abandoned for 12 years.
Image Credit: GOOGLE MAPS
July 18, 2019 - 3:00 PM
KELOWNA - It’s been more than a decade since the McDonald’s on Harvey Avenue and Water Street shut its doors, and still the property lies vacant.
“It’s still owned by McDonalds and there haven’t been any inquiries from McDonald's for development applications,” Graham Hood, strategic land development manager with the City of Kelowna. “We do follow up with them to explore opportunities about resolution, but can’t comment about anything that may happen at the site.”
The restaurant shut down in 2007, shortly before the W.R. Bennett bridge was completed.
The restaurant sued the city two years later, saying the road realignment that went with the bridge build blocked entry from Highway 97 and caused significant harm to their business. There has been no resolution to the lawsuit.
"Through our ongoing discussions with McDonald's, no current action is being taken with respect to that suit," said Hood.
Other issues cited at the time was the increasing amount of drug and crime activity around the site.
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. That never happened.
The site grew in value since those days.
In the latest B.C. Assessment notice, 1746 Water Street was listed for $2,469,300.
The land was the bulk of the value, appraised at $2.4 million while the dilapidated Golden Arches was priced at $60,300.
“It’s an interesting site,” Hood said. “It’s something people do see when they enter Kelowna. It will be great to see something happen there.”
The future is unknown for the empty McDonalds on Highway 97.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/BC Assessment
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