EDITORIAL – Performing arts centre must include adequate parking nearby
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
THE DOWNTOWN PARKING PROBLEM won’t go away just because we want it to.
The official line from City Hall a few years ago was that more parking spaces were needed. When the plan for a performing arts centre was put to a vote in 2015, it included a 355-space underground parkade designed both to accommodate parking for the centre, and to alleviate the parking crunch downtown.
But the next time a referendum was planned, parking was suddenly no longer a problem because, minus the parkade, a PAC could be built for $20 million less.
So it’s quite interesting to see that Protective Services Director Ken Uzeloc is raising the parking issue for a new look. He points out in a report that on evenings when the Blazers are playing at the Sandman Centre, and there’s an event at the same time at the new performing arts centre (if one is built) there will be considerable pressure on downtown parking.
“There will be parking challenges with the development of an arts centre if parking is not considered early,” Uzeloc said in his report to the Build Kamloops committee.
Parking wasn’t included when the Sandman Centre was built and, because of that, attendance at the rink requires a walk of many blocks for most. The failure to consider parking at the time of construction was a big mistake.
Building a new performing arts centre without new parking would be ridiculous, yet that’s what’s been promoted in hopes of convincing taxpayers to approve a new arts centre at a lower cost. Deal with parking later, seems to be the thinking.
According to Uzelok, there are 2,525 on-street parking spaces and 1,508 off street parking in the downtown area.
But the acceptable distance from car to event is defined as two blocks, not four blocks or six blocks. At least, though, parking is on the table again for discussion. Maybe this time they’ll get it right.
I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.
Mel Rothenburger 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 has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
What would also be great is if the damn parking meters actually worked – so much missing revenue (which could contribute to building a new parkade!) and absolute frustration:
1) Screens not working/unreadable
2) Coins constantly being rejected/not accepted
3) Card readers not working/not connecting.
These meters were ALRIGHT when new, but for the love of revenue – we need these machines operational for them to do their job!
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So many comment and think that a parking structure is a no brainer and a must have as part of the PAC proposal.
Lets be incredibly clear: that means borrowing an additional $20million, on top of the amount that the City will be responsible, for borrowing for the PAC itself. That means a larger loan repayment schedule, or an extended number of years it will take to pay it off. IE: Bigger sticker shock.
Would we be willing to take on the PAC proposal if it included the parking piece, only from a financial perspective, knowing the larger financial burden?
Or … does it make more financial sense to remove the parking costs, like the most recent 2020 proposal did, which dropped and would drop the total cost in a way that is more in line with ‘affordable’ or less sticker shock?
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The two multi level parkades downtown were built 50 years ago, since this time there has been very few spaces added. With or without the proposed PAC we still need additional parking and a significant upgrade in our evening/night transit system. The KIB may indeed have a financial benefit but it provides zero benefit for the downtown area which is in dire need of an infusion of life. The PAC is a lifeline to densify the downtown core, locating it anywhere else in the big picture is a mistake. Although I have no confidence in council, I will acknowledge even a broken clock can be write twice a day.
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The downtown area should not even be considered at this point. Parking however must be a consideration if the taxpayers are paying for the PAC. If there is no available parking then even if you build it they will NOT come.
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Parking absolutely needed. Add Kamloops United Church to the PAC and the Sandman Centre need for parking. The church is busy almost every evening, including concerts, meetings, meals and various events – all requiring parking.
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“Big mistake” seems to accompany the description of many civic decisions. I wish I could make the incomes of the people on city payroll and also continually produce “big mistakes”. Sounds like a great place to work.
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There are no longer any good reasons for considering a PAC in the downtown area of Kamloops. All one needs to do is look at the pedestrian bridge over the CP railway tracks on Third Avenue to understand what poor planning can do.
Chief Ken Uzeloc has been in the fire & safety service for a lot of years. He doesn’t want his crews dealing with a Tesla fire in an underground parking lot. Nor does he want the nightmare of trying to respond to an incident at a PAC downtown where the portable radios can’t talk to dispatch.
It’s time to move on. It’s time for a partnership with our folks whose people have been here for centuries. What a time for reconciliation and a future with a world class centre for performing arts and culture. It could easily be part of a destination trip to Kamloops for people from every part of our globe. Rocky Mountain Rail Tours can advertise it, our hotels would be full of visitors and people would leave having experienced the Tournament and Cultural capital of Canada.
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I totally agree. Parking is a big issue. As one who has worked downtown and had to deal with traffic before and after games as well as numerous events in the city at the same time, it is impossible to find a spot. The idea of putting the PAC on KIB lands was floated online a while ago and I am beginning to see the value in that. Lots of parking, a great partnership, federal funding and easy in and out access.
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I totally agree with your comments. For years everytime the patking iss6e was raised we were told that there was lots of parking downtown. The proposed location is ridiculous. Why not look to KIB for a partnership.
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