Your city hall did something about those empty storefronts

Good morning from the Okanagan — the lake is calm, the vines are growing, and we have things to discuss.

Okay but here's the thing nobody talks about: all those empty spots on Bernard Avenue? City Hall is finally doing something to get businesses into them. It's not just a rumour anymore. The Kelowna City Council voted 8-1 this past Tuesday to approve the "Downtown Revitalization Incentive Program." This means that businesses moving into previously vacant ground-floor commercial spaces in the downtown core, specifically between Water Street and St. Paul Street, could get a break on their property taxes for the first two years.

Here's how it shakes out:

* **Target Area:** Ground-floor commercial units in the Bernard Avenue core.

* **Incentive:** Up to 50% reduction in property taxes for the first two years.

* **Goal:** Fill vacant storefronts and boost pedestrian traffic.

* **Next Steps:** The program officially kicks off October 1st, so watch for applications to open.

This is huge for small business owners struggling with high rents, and it's something residents have been asking for. Remember those discussions last year at the farmers' market about how many "for lease" signs we were seeing? This is the city's direct response. Let's see if it brings the buzz back to Bernard.

That's the latest from City Hall for now. Have you had your coffee yet?

Nina and the MiTL Morning Wire team will be talking about this all week – get the full story every day at mornings.live.