UBC Okanagan skyscraper build forces nearby business to close
Global News
The 12 businesses that rely on coLab as a workspace are now forced to relocate as the closure has prevented all tenants from accessing the building.
A workspace building in Kelowna, B.C., that has been around for more than a decade has been forced to close its doors, and it’s taking 12 businesses with it.
CoLab, a collaborative working space on St. Paul Street has been ordered to close by the city of Kelowna, as nearby construction on the 43-storey UBC Okanagan skyscraper caused significant damage.
Damage includes severe cracks to the roof and structure, causing instability.
The 12 businesses that rely on coLab as a workspace are now forced to relocate as the closure has prevented all tenants from accessing the building, many of which still have equipment inside that they can’t retrieve.
“On a human level it’s heartbreaking, we’ve seen it internally with all of our members but also throughout the neighbourhood, but everyone has been impacted and I don’t think in a practical way there are any solutions available because it was so abrupt,” said Shane Austin, coLab owner and operator.
Dustyn Baulkham, the founder of Rebellious Unicorns, told Global News he has $20,000 worth of equipment inside the building with no way of getting inside.
Austin said he and the building owners, Kiroff Construction, are trying to find ways to support the businesses.
“For some of those businesses it is a wait and see and look at what discussions are had between UBC and Kirkoff,” said Austin.
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