Downtown resident incensed at Daily News parking lot plan

Apr 21, 2017 | 8:40 AM

KAMLOOPS — A report is expected to be presented to city council Tuesday that recommends the old Daily News building be demolished, turning the site into a parking lot. 

Chair of the Downtown Neighbourhood Association Bruce Thomson says he received an email Thursday from the city advising that Council will not be implementing any of nine proposals put forward for the building. 

The Downtown Neighbourhood Association proposed the old building on 4th and Seymour be converted into a performing arts centre at a cost of $90 million, but it was voted down by taxpayers in 2015.

Thomson says they managed to get the estimated cost down to $60 million.

“We’re talking about a performing arts centre which would be a draw into that area and be … an anchor facility,” Thomson said. “I think it would help develop an area of downtown that, really, is not very developed.”

Thomson adds he’s disappointed in the way the city has handled the proposal process.

“This is after a year of in-camera, secret meetings about what to do,” Thomson said. “This is not what you call participatory democracy, or meaningful input. To me, I was quite floored when I saw this thing.”