By James Peters

Columbia Street West

Hotel group hits back at City of Kamloops over nuisance designation, shifts focus to lookout park

Dec 10, 2020 | 10:21 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Accommodation Association (KAA) says it is disappointed in a decision by the City of Kamloops to declare several hotels and motels along Columbia Street West nuisance properties.

Nine properties were deemed nuisance properties on October 22 after a series of police calls for disturbances and violent incidents.

A report to the City of Kamloops Community Services Committee notes the property owners met with City officials on November 16, pledging to clean up their properties and ensure “safety for residents in the area.”

In a news release, KAA President Tyson Andrykew says accommodation owners have a vested interest in ensuring their properties are well-maintained. Andrykew says “several of the properties have taken steps to address social concerns in the area,” including upgrading landscaping and security while becoming “more selective” of who their guests and tenants are.

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Andrykew goes on to cite the City of Kamloops-owned scenic lookout park adjacent to the Panorama Inn as a home to vagrants who generate many of the nuisance complaints – not motel guests.

Andrykew notes there is no active security in the lookout park and says it is “inappropriate and irresponsible to shame private businesses” that are being drawn into social issues brewing in the community as a whole.

“These properties will continue to strive to do their part to clean up their neighbourhood, and our association asks that the City does it’s part by securing it’s space that is contributing to the challenges that our members are facing,” said Andrykew.