Tenants fear redevelopment following sale of three motels

PENTICTON – Long-term tenants in three motels along Skaha Lake Road are worried about their future after hearing of the sale of all three properties recently.

The Western Investor recently reported the sale of the Meadowlark, Sun Valley and Mayfair motels at 2730, 2784 and 2824 Skaha Lake Road for $5 million.

The properties are zoned for high density residential and commercial development, and approved for 282 units, the Investor noted.

Maintenance manager for the properties, Russ Bailey says there was “instant communication” amongst the three motels' long term residents of the news of the sale. He says many of the tenants are elderly men and women, who can’t afford to live elsewhere, and they are worried about being evicted.

He said the three motels, containing a total of 57 units, have been providing the lower income seniors with “good, low-income housing,” but noted some of the buildings date back to the 1940s.

Bailey, who says he has not heard from the new owners what the plans are, says he doesn’t think there will be any changes any time soon, as a number of low cost housing projects are in the immediate vicinity of the three motels.

Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says he doesn’t know what future plans are for the property, but noted B.C. Housing has been stepping up in the city to fill gaps in low-income housing as new developments transition older properties into new or renovated, higher priced projects.

Jakubeit said in an email yesterday, April 19, the public’s attention has been focussed on housing for the homeless and marginalized, but  B.C. Housing currently has two projects in the construction stage for non-market (subsidized) housing, on Backstreet Boulevard and on Brunswick Street.

Bailey says NAI Commercial Okanagan looks after the motels. NAI Commercial Okanagan property manager Tony Parmar could not be reached for comment prior to publication deadline.

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