The recent unveiling of the City Gardens housing project in downtown Kamloops has a lot of people looking forward to the future particularly the head of the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association.
KCBIA Executive Director Carl DeSantis says the Kelson Group project “Is going to be a downtown icon, a beacon to attract and retain people who want to work downtown.”
He says it could also solve some problems. “We’ve got some parking conversations. This is not part of the parking conversation, this is a parking solution. You can work downtown and live downtown comfortably.”
DeSantis says City Gardens will compliment other projects especially for people who earn a living in the city’s center. “This will satisfy the needs of the higher end office construction project we’ve seen going on at the Hive.
“It’s going to be an opportunity for many diverse groups to collect and live downtown in brand new accommodations.”
“I’m just so excited about this it’s absolutely wonderful.”
DeSantis says although there are businesses throughout the city that have closed due to COVID-19, he has seen some reasons to be optimistic. “Much to my surprise, I’m not going to lie it was much to my surprise, since the beginning of the pandemic, 21 new businesses have set up shop downtown, 21.”
“And again, confidence downtown that between those businesses, the Hive and now City Gardens are showing, it’s fantastic.”
He although the pandemic is far from over, he thinks there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
“Are we through this? We’re not through this, there’s still a long way to go”
“These aren’t projects for tomorrow, these are for a few years down the road and then we’ll be though the pandemic and watch us grow.”
DeSantis calls the Fawcett family, which runs the Kelson Group, fantastic business and community leaders and says he couldn’t contain his excitement when he heard about the project.