The Greyhound bus depot in Penticton will be turned into a parking lot, City Council decided this week.
As the long term vision for use and redevelopment of the Greyhound property takes place over the coming years, Council supported the demolition and construction of a parking lot containing 55 parking stalls at 303, 307, 313, 317 and 319 Ellis Street.
The parking lot will accommodate alternative forms of transportation such as electrical vehicles and bicycles with bike lockers and bike racks.
Councillor Judy Sentes said during Tuesday’s meeting that several community entities had requested that they not be so “hasty” in demolishing the building, and to consider using it for sheltering people on the street. However, due to asbestos in the building, it was deemed inappropriate and would be too costly to make habitable.
The parking lot will help the City respond to current and future demand for parking in and around downtown, and will provide paid parking from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. In the evenings and on weekends, it will be open to the public. Revenue from the parking lot was estimated at $40,000 a year by City staff.
City staff requested the allocation of $280,000 from the City’s Capital Reserve for the demolition of the depot and the construction of the parking lot.
Construction was planned for April or May of this year.
