Penticton’s Salvation Army wants to move all of its services into a new building on Camrose Street at the former office and production building operated by the Penticton Western News.
In a letter to the City of Penticton, Community Ministries Director Rene van der Meijden with the Penticton Corps of the Salvation Army, says that for the past 10 years, the Salvation Army’s Thrift Store and Family Services office have been offering services and program from separate locations at 2399 Main St. location, as well as another building at 318 Ellis St.
“As we serve an increasing number of people in need, the Salvation Army Penticton has been searching for a new location for some time,” she said in her letter. “The property of 2250 Camrose Street would be a very suitable location to combine both our Thrift Stores in one location and be the new location for our Family Services office.
“The new location would allow greater opportunity to provide new programming opportunities for families and individuals such as expanded programming in food and nutrition, job skills training, financial management and other programs as requested in the community.
“The new location would allows us to bring both Thrift Stores under one roof and provide greater efficiency for our store operations and is located in very close proximity to its current location on South Main. The location is also ideally suited for our involvement in the Emergency Services Program of the City of Penticton, with their new Emergency Services office located at Fire Hall # 2.”
The property on Camrose Street is the former location of the Black Press printing and the building is well suited with existing loading docks and large, unobstructed interior space, which is ideal for the Thrift Shop and Food Bank offices, she said.
The purchase of the property will allow the Salvation Army to further invest in Penticton as the current leasing costs can now be used for community programming, she said.
“The immediate purchase and expected renovations will contribute close to $1 million to our local business community and all the funds generated through our local Thrift Shop are 100 percent reinvested in community services within the greater Penticton area.”
The new location also offers sufficient parking for clients and shoppers, a nearby transit connection and good road access.
“I trust that this rezoning application will receive your approval in the zoning amendment process,” said Van der Meijden.
A staff report says the current building was built as a warehouse back in 1963 and in 1989 was renovated and expanded for newspaper manufacturing and was used for producing, publishing and distributing newspapers ever since.
“The Salvation Army will be retrofitting the existing building to provide adequate spaces for their proposed operations,” says the report.
A technical review by the City found there were no servicing or technical issues identified within the building. There are currently 34 parking space on site.
The building has 14,000 square feet of floor space and the Salvation Army will be utilizing the entire space within the building.
The south area will be used to operate the Thrift Store and allow a drop-off location for donations on the east side of the building. The middle of the building will be used for sorting and storing of all Thrift Store and food bank donations. The north end, which has a second storey, will be used for administrative offices. The main floor will be used for the food bank shopping area as well as for program training and programming.
Staff recommends that is adequate policy support for a site specific amendment to allow the Salvation Army to conduct all their operations at building and property.
For the City of Penticton website, go online and visit www.penticton.ca.
To visit the Salvation Army website in Penticton, visit www.salvationarmypenticton.com.
