EDITORIAL – Sure, we need more colour on our buildings, but how much?

Posted on February 22, 2023 in Editorials, Page One, Rothenburger // 5 Comments

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

I’VE BEEN TRYING to figure out how I feel about a new development at the corner of First Avenue and Columbia Street that’s coming up for a public hearing.

The project is called Canary Lofts, two buildings containing 171 apartments and a 178-space underground parkade. It will provide much-needed strata and rental housing and will upgrade a part of town that has seen better days.

But, darn it, it’s the colour and design of the thing that I just can’t reconcile. I don’t want to sound unkind, because for years I’ve been complaining about the greigeness of buildings throughout Kamloops.

Both in residential and commercial buildings, earth tones are the rule of thumb because that’s what City Hall has always wanted. We must be a city of sameness, apparently.

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(Image: City of Kamloops)

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops, alternate TNRD director and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

City of Kamloops

About Mel Rothenburger (9489 Articles)

ArmchairMayor.ca is a forum about Kamloops and the world. It has more than one million views. Mel Rothenburger is the former Editor of The Daily News in Kamloops, B.C. (retiring in 2012), and past mayor of Kamloops (1999-2005). At ArmchairMayor.ca he is the publisher, editor, news editor, city editor, reporter, webmaster, and just about anything else you can think of. He is grateful for the contributions of several local columnists. This blog doesn't require a subscription but gratefully accepts donations to help defray costs.

5 Comments on EDITORIAL – Sure, we need more colour on our buildings, but how much?

Connie burris // February 23, 2023 at 6:58 AM // Reply

Looks like Lego land. The colours need to be muted.
Ken McClelland // February 22, 2023 at 4:06 PM // Reply

Kind of refreshing, actually. Besides, colours can always be changed if they are THAT objectionable. Key is actually getting the project approved and built, which would also be refreshing 🙂
Alberta Blades // February 22, 2023 at 10:34 AM // Reply

The design and Colour scheme is Awesome , about time things have a different style!
kathy8377 // February 22, 2023 at 9:59 AM // Reply

I love this colour scheme! Let Kamloops SHINE! Enough of the grey/brown/sand/BEIGE that has become the norm!
Pierre // February 22, 2023 at 9:06 AM // Reply

The color scheme is fantastic. A law should be passed where a minimum of three bright colours are strategically chosen for every building in town. We must stop the drabness of this city to continue.