While it may seem all is quiet on the development front, there are silent rumblings afoot.
With the economic downturn, several projects underway in the Sicamous area appeared to have come to a halt. With the economy again showing signs of life, particularly in northern B.C. and Alberta, development is still cautious, but not entirely static.
The nearly completed municipal sewer extension to Two Mile marks a significant step forward for Waterway Houseboats’ current operations, but also for the company’s planned residential development, Beachbay Village.
“At the moment we’ve done some things that will dramatically improve not just the experience for our guests, but… the ecology of the spot, the environmental things,” says Waterway general manager Neil Millar. “Because we will be connected up to the district sewer, we will greatly be reducing the amount of greywater we will be putting into the lake… It’s not a huge step as far as what the appearance may be, but it’s certainly going to be a big step for other reasons.”
Other ongoing improvements at Waterway include the final positioning of the platform for the future guest services, and an extension to their dock facility. Further development will likely remain on hold, pending the economy. But this, Miller adds, could turn on a dime.
“The economy is of such that it’s volatile and very difficult to predict what’s happening,” he says.
The incomplete Three Buoys development on Riverside Avenue sits idle, but manager Rob Bushell says the company is not, and discussions continue regularly with District of Sicamous staff.
“We’re in a holding pattern because that’s just the way it needs to be right now, and we’ll move forward when we’re open to disclose what we’re doing, and that won’t be too far away,” says Bushell, noting Three Buoys, despite the economy, saw to the completion of the $35 million Mara Landing development.
“Nothing’s really changed,” says Bushell. “We’ve built the building and we’ve stopped at the third floor. There’s nothing more to it.”
Over at the Old Town Bay development, there has been a number of changes, though not all are visible.
Twin Anchors’ Greg Kyllo says he and his brother Todd have divested themselves of the majority interest in the project, retaining about four acres in the village centre for Twin Anchors’ future marina.
“We’re kind of back to where our original plan was, and leave the developing business to others,” says Kyllo, who, along with the a consortium of developers involved in the project, continues to work with government agencies on application approvals for the marina.
Meanwhile, roadworks on the Old Town Bay site continue, and Sicamous district administrator Alan Harris expects a large portion will soon be complete.
Harris explains there’s all kinds of development activity in various stages currently underway in the district.
“Though our building permits haven’t been reflecting it, to be quite honest, we see the momentum is starting again,” says Harris, noting he and staff converse regularly with developers and, with equal caution, make sure the end product is what’s best for Sicamous.
“We just don’t want to be flung headfirst into something because the economy is bad, when it can have a potentially detrimental impact in the long run,” says Harris. “So we want to look at everything and say, based on it’s merits, is it a good thing for Sicamous?”