Kelowna business owners who were opposed to the style of a supportive housing complex slated to be built in their neighbourhood were sa国际传媒減leasantly surprisedsa国际传媒� Monday to hear council defer their decision on the project.

City Council was to decide on the form and character of 55-unit BC Housing development at 1642 Commerce Avenue, but the Crown corporation pulled the plan for a redesign.

sa国际传媒淕iven the feedback we have received on the building design for the proposed project at Commerce Avenue, BC Housing will work on improving the appearance of the building, including landscaping, to address the concerns expressed by neighboring businesses,sa国际传媒� said a BC Housing spokesperson, via email.

sa国际传媒淲e are working as quickly as possible to do this to ensure individuals experiencing homelessness in the community will have access to more supportive housing.sa国际传媒�

It was a response the mayor agreed with.

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sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 pleased BC Housing is responding to concerns of neighbours,sa国际传媒� said Kelowna mayor Colin Basran at the time. There was no indication on when the project aimed at offering long-term housing may be up and running, or if this change of course was a serious setback in construction plans.

Tony Gaspari has been the spokesperson for the business group whosa国际传媒檚 been in opposition, and he along with the others who made their way to council Monday to hear the decision were surprised and pleased with BC Housingsa国际传媒檚 change in tack, though they will be watching closely for whatsa国际传媒檚 to come.

The proposed buildings, said Gaspari, were in no way suitable for the area.

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sa国际传媒淢y understanding is that they are used construction trailers that possibly came from the oil patch, and the pictures show they are stacked onto each other,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭hey didnsa国际传媒檛 meet development permit guidelines that the city enforces and we were concerned.sa国际传媒�

Gaspari added that he and his peers are not opposed to social housing, so long as it meets design guidelines.

sa国际传媒淚f it was like the one on Tutt Street, or on St. Paul that would be different,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭hey are nice buildings and they meet the needs of people they want to house. We would be happy to have them. We see the situation up and down the corridor sa国际传媒� we understand the situation.sa国际传媒�

The provincial government announced via news release on Dec. 1 that it would be developing 55 supportive housing units in the Mill Creek Commerce Park.

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kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
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