Built several decades ago, the current RCMP detachment experienced its heyday back in 1962 when it was only serving a small community of approximately 14,000.
Considering that our population has grown exponentially since the 60’s, Manager of Park and Building Projects Andrew Gibbs, said it’s about time Kelowna receives a new RCMP detachment geared toward our growing community.
Photo credit: KelownaNow.
Construction for the $48 million new RCMP detachment is expected to begin as early as June, said Gibbs. The City is currently evaluating three contract proposals, but once the developer is organized construction can move forward.
Expected to take a total of two years to build, the new RCMP building will benefit Kelowna significantly, as police will have the ability to serve the City from one space; compared to today’s reality of serving through several dispersed locations around town.
“It’s an investment for the future,” added Gibbs.
The current RCMP building is designed for a small population and thus, very over crowded. The new building will allow for the Kelowna police force to grow with the population, providing enough capacity to effectively serve our community.
“It will be a better more efficient facility to operate from,” said Gibbs. “Our objective here is to provide [RCMP] a facility they can actually serve us with.”
Photo credit: Google Maps.
The new RCMP building will break ground at the corner of Clement and Richter in Kelowna’s north end.
The City has developed a planning process to determine what’s going to happen to the old building.
Check in next Wednesday, when KelownaNow will delve into the world of parking development in downtown Kelowna.
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