The Kamloops Accommodation Association is disappointed that the city of Kamloops chose to declare nine hotels and motels along Columbia Street West corridor as nuisance properties.
The properties were designated as nuisance back on Oct. 22, according to a report from Bylaw Services and Crime Prevention to the City’s Community Services Committee after a series of disturbances and violent incidents.
In addition to the nine Columbia Street West properties, the Acadian Inn on Columbia Street downtown was also deemed a nuisance property. Under the city’s Good Neighbour Bylaw, a location may be deemed a nuisance property based on the amount of times bylaw, RCMP or Kamloops Fire Rescue is called.
“Our member properties have an inherent interest in the upkeep and maintenance of their properties, and several of the properties have taken steps to address social concerns in the area, these include landscaping changes, security, and being selective of guests that are welcomed into the hotels and motels,” Kamloops Accommodation Association President Tyson Andrykew said.
He went on to say that the hotel and motel owners have a vested interest in ensuring that their properties are well-maintained, noting they believe their guests are – for the most part – not engaging in inappropriate behaviour.
“Many of the nuisance complaints are being generated by increased vagrancy of non-guests that are in this park [adjacent to Panorama Inn],” Andrykew noted. “It is our member’s belief that most of these complaints are due to the larger social issues that our community and many others are facing, including homelessness, mental health, and drug addiction.”
“Recently, Bylaw officers and the RCMP met with the hotels and motels to discuss these concerns in a private setting, and it was the hope of these KAA members that the on-going concerns could be handled professionally and in a partnership with the City, Bylaws, and the RCMP.”
Andrykew says the hotels and motels in the area will continue to do what they can to clean up the neighbourhood, and its asking the city to ensure it does its part by ensuring there is active security at the lookout park.
“We find it inappropriate and irresponsible to shame private businesses that are falling victim to broader social issues, and that this localized problem is being aided by public park space that does not have active security,” he added.
