OK Penticton, 2012 is the time to boldly put our collective minds and investments together to regroup, rethink and rebuild our fair city. You have just weeks, or a few months, to go before depression or fog blinds you to a great opportunity.
Our losses to date include: the family water slides park, the ‘historic’ Gables Hotel and Beer Parlor, the old Purple Basil, downtown Super Valu grocery store, the Classic Wooden Boat show, the Fusion/former Turkey House restaurant, Clancy’s (original) pub, the White Spot restaurant, the Element and Night Moves night clubs, ‘visionary’ acumen on city council, and now Slack Alice’s, Chinese Laundry restaurant and Bubblees Beer and Wine store. These have been hurtful losses people.
Have you completely ‘turtled’ and resorted to mumbling, groaning and bitching? “Who cares?” “It’s not my fault, or my problem.” “Someone else can figure things out and solve our future in the grand scheme of things: I’m off to Palm Springs, Arizona, Mexico or Hawaii for the next few months — things will turn around while I’m gone.”
What, to date, has filled most of the hurtful losses, the voids in Penticton’s daily life and future? Nothing for families. Nothing for youth. Not much accessible for disabled. More thrift stores, pawn shops, instant money loans to promote poverty, plus astonishing malaise from local business and residents.
Thankfully, not everyone is a deadbeat and void of positive, pro-active thought. Jim Pattison sees Penticton’s potential (education and research), as does David Prystay (Lakeside Hotel, Convention Centre and Casino), Duane Jordan (Pasta Factory and Best Damned Sports Bar); and so does the owner of Cue’s Games Room on Main Street. Let’s not overlook the new theatre/movie complex, WestJet (is coming) and the Performing Arts Centre.
Penticton, let’s regroup, rethink and rebuild ourselves into our rightful position of being the “hub” of the Okanagan Valley. For 57 years we have had most of our eggs in the basket of the Penticton Vees. Let’s add more baskets.
Some very timely ‘basket’ suggestions: (1) Move the museum into the courthouse (force Clark and Barisoff to do some ‘meaningful’ work to earn their pensions); (2) Build a new courthouse atop the Wildstone building across the street from the RCMP; (3) develop and build a ‘high-end’ hotel complex on Marina Way (Yes, it would mean ‘sharing’ some of the park, not losing all of the park); (4) Force the Gables owners into action; (5) Force the Singlas to complete the Winnipeg Street debacle; (6) Encourage/force redevelopment of the old El Rancho property; and, (7) promote Penticton as pro-active and open for business.
No more talk. Let’s ‘just do it’ now. (Remember: “Gorilla Tactics” got 17 wheelchair accessible picnic tables scattered around Penticton parks in just 14 days last summer.)
James Ludvigson
Penticton
