Parking possible use for lots near SOEC

Recent land purchases by the City of Penticton could potentially ease parking concerns at the South Okanagan Events Centre complex.

The city announced Thursday it plans to spend $1.5 million to purchase four lots on Eckhardt Avenue near the SOEC.

Finance manager Jim Bauer said the deal is set to close late next week, and council will be asked Tuesday to approve the required budget amendment.

However, the use of the properties has yet to be determined by the city.

“What we need to do is look at using the SOEC parking strategy to really guide where and what we need to be doing to help with determining what the exact use of that property would be,” said Bauer.

“It could very well be that parking is identified, but we don’t want to jump ahead and conclude that.”

The four lots are residential properties with structures that are planned to be removed, but Bauer noted nothing will be going ahead on the properties immediately.

“What we’re recognizing just with the increased activity and the demands that are occurring on the SOEC campus is that we need to look at future development,” he said.

He noted the property acquisitions were a “strategic opportunity” for future expansion, with the land coming on the market just over the past few months.

Meanwhile, an estimated 40 parking spaces at the SOEC are expected to be freed up in the interim as the temporary visitor centre is set to be moved in the next few months. The city is currently working to disconnect utilities following Travel Penticton’s move into its new Westminster Avenue location earlier this year.