Momentum is gathering to save an historic Kelowna home from getting demolished, but no one is certain it needs to be saved — yet.

Anderson Place is a historic home on Abbott Street with a tennis court out front, right next door to Strathcona Park. The City of Kelowna purchased it in 2020 with plans to add it to the park.

Now, there is a petition with 540 signatures to save the house from bulldozers, even though the city said there is no plan to knock the building down.

Diane Geddes has lived across from the home for years and she kickstarted the Save Anderson Place Committee. The group has been knocking on doors and started the online petition.

Geddes said the initiative to save the home was based on hearsay from one of the family members who told her the house was to be demolished.

“(The city’s) intent is to take the house down, keep the tennis court, and expand the park. Our intent is to do both. Expand the park, maintain the original homestead as a year round complementary amenity to the park. So it’s a win-win,” she said.

City of Kelowna parks planner Melanie Steppuhn said the city is still deciding what to do with the property and there’s no imminent plan to tear it down.

“I’m not sure where they’re getting their information from. We’re still in planning for the property,” she said. “Nothing has been determined.”

Geddes said the group trying to save the property has been in contact and gotten support from some city councillors.

Ron Cannan shared posts about the petition to save the historic house on social media.

The Anderson Place at 2302 Abbott Street was built in 1939 for Dr. Walter Anderson. In 1995 his daughter and son-in-law, Walley and Marietta Lightbody, moved in and built a tennis court in the yard. After the house was sold in 2020, the family has continued to rent it from the city.

The city’s initial plan was to have a business take over the home, so in 2025, the city put out a request for expression of interest, essentially asking businesses for plans to turn the property into a “park-related” commercial space while keeping heritage elements of the building.

“No qualifying proposals were received. Any future opportunities for public input or expressions of interest will be communicated publicly,” the city’s communications advisor Samantha Flemington said in an email. “As the home is currently still occupied, the city wishes to respect the tenants’ space and privacy.”

The story about the effort to save the home has picked up steam, including a report in CBC radio.

Geddes said the goal is to ensure the building is preserved so it can be used to benefit the community. She said the building could be kept in place, updated and used as a public space for a tennis club, art groups, support groups and so on.

Geddes said there have been good communications with city council and she’s optimistic that they can save the home and maintain it as a landmark that people can enjoy.

“We do have open and positive communication with a number of councillors,” she said.

It’s a bit of a full circle moment since Dr. Anderson is remembered for helping preserve the Benvoulin Church and the Guisachan House, and now people are banding together to save his home.

“Following in his footsteps, we’ve got a grassroots organization trying to save his home,” Geddes said.

Geddes said the intent is to make a presentation to council on Aug. 17.