Progress is evident in Kimberley

The spirit of progress in Kimberley, B.C., is alive in present and future developments

1 of 2Kimberley City Hall has shed its former Bavarian-style facade and will be finished with a more contemporary look and energy-efficient windows. — Photo courtesy City of Kimberley

2 of 2Ron McRae, mayor of Kimberley, B.C., is happy with the renovations being done to update the exterior of city hall. — Marie Milner photo

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With layers of the roof peeling away, the city hall building in Kimberley, B.C., was overdue for a renovation. The building was erected in 1945, with additions in the 1960s. Kimberley's mayor, Ron McRae, said that funds for the renovation were approved some time before he first joined city council in 1999, but other priorities delayed the project until now.

“When I came back onto council in 2011, the plan was still there,” McRae said, “so this year we’re doing it, and it’s very timely given the refreshed image that Kimberley is presenting. The community is quite happy to see that the work is being done.”

McRae said that the exterior work is being done by Border Holdings Ltd., and that the interior needs to be upgraded soon too, to improve efficiency.

Troy Pollock, manager of planning services for the City of Kimberley, said that the city hall project is quite a simple renovation to reveal the original brick features and refresh the stucco and trim colours. The project is part heritage restoration and part aesthetic refresh.

“The front facade is nearly complete, with the exception of some energy-efficient window upgrades on the main level that are underway now,” Pollock said. “We also recently resurfaced the public parking lot adjacent to city hall. The remainder of the project—including new signage, improving accessibility of exterior ramps and painting the other sides of the building—will be completed in the spring. (It's) still a work in progress, but it looks great already.”

Tax break for businesses

If owners of Kimberley businesses are considering their own renovations or other property improvements, this would be a good time to go ahead with them. Some months ago the City passed a bylaw that tied a tax incentive to improvements on properties so that for three to five years, taxes will be levied on the previously assessed value rather than the improved value of the property. This measure is a great encouragement and tangible support to small businesses.

Marketing an industrial park

“Next year,” said McRae, “we’ll focus on development of City-owned properties, specifically 14 acres of light industrial land in Marysville, behind the two car dealerships and adjacent to Rails to Trails. The lands are available, and we need to become more aggressive about marketing them. We need to identify potential developers for the land and sell to them.”

McRae described the 14-acre parcel as ideal for a mini industrial park. Industries manufacturing diverse products but needing the same supporting trades, for example, would do well to set up shop in this setting.