The City of Kelowna is continuing efforts to protect local waterfront access as it plans to expropriate a portion of the waterfront boardwalk in front of the Hotel Eldorado.
This comes after longstanding turmoil between the two as an agreement between them stated that while the Hotel Eldorado owns the property, public waterfront access must be preserved. According to the city, Hotel Eldorado has failed to meet its obligations under the agreement.
According to the agreement, the public has a right to use the boardwalk, which has been affirmed by both the B.C. Supreme Court and the B.C. Court of Appeal. The boardwalk has been routinely blocked by the hotel despite repeated attempts by the city to keep it open.
As a result, the city will begin the legal process to expropriate the land, which will give them ownership of a portion of the boardwalk. The city says it has tried to negotiate with the hotel, but ultimately feels expropriation is the only alternative.
