Main Street revite continues

The City of Penticton is moving ahead with a plan to borrow more than $1.6 million to finance upgrades to the 300 block of Main Street.

During the 2018 budget deliberations last November, city council approved the revitalization of the 300-block and its $1,635,040 budget. The loan will be repaid within five years.

This is the latest step in the ongoing revitalization of Penticton’s downtown, and along with surface upgrades to match work already done in the 100 and 200 blocks, includes underground improvements to infrastructure like water mains.

Related: Downtown revitalization officially underway

The revitalization has been in process since 2014 when work began on a one-block section of Martin Street. Work on the 200-block was completed in June 2016, after closing that block to traffic for several weeks.

Council voted unanimously, with Coun. Helena Konanz absent, to approve the staff’s borrowing recommendation, also without discussion other than a comment from Coun. Judy Sentes that she had heard positive support through the Downtown Penticton Association.

“People are excited, they are thrilled, they want to see this move forward,” said Sentes.