VIDEO: Permanent safe injection site expected for downtown Kelowna

There are business owners near the corner of Leon Avenue and Pandosy Street in Kelowna who are fearing for the worst. Others are more optimistic.

No official announcement has been made by Interior Health, but a plan for a permanent safe injection site in the former Vancouver Career College building seems to be an open secret.

Reactions in the neighbourhood are mixed.

One business owner near the corner said you only need to look at Calgary to see what a safe injection site will bring.

The opening of the Safeworks Harm Reduction Program at Calgary brought about a spike in crime in the area. Others share his concerns, but the majority of businesses near the building under renovation by Interior Health are supportive.

Brett Tiegland just opened 'The Barber Chair' nearby a few months ago, and he likes the plan.

"I think it's going to be a great thing actually", said Tiegland. "It'll keep the streets cleaner and I'm all for it. Street people have rights as well."

Kiel Ross operates a skateboard shop called 'Subtle' just down the block. "A safe injection site seems to be the perfect thing to be on the corner there," said Ross.

"When we moved in here, we noticed that we're moving into someone else's neighbourhood," he said, "I think that it needs some cleaning up and I'm sure that they think so too."

"It's better than having them in the back alley here in our common area and the door using and discarding needles," said Jason Alton at Ricco Bambino Urban Winery.

But he admits he's rather it not be directly across the street. "This, for my business, isn't, you know, the best situation."

Neil Murphy, who we found on Leon Avenue Wednesday morning admits he struggles with addiction and said the safe injection site will be very helpful.

"We'd really appreciate that. And I'm pretty sure a lot of people would appreciate that," said Murphy. "It would help a lot of people from (overdosing) on the streets and being left out in the alleyways or behind a garbage can or in a garbage can."

Interior Health has yet to make any public statements about the plans for the location. "We are not able to confirm at this time," said a media spokesperson via email, "however should have more detail to share soon."

Ironically, the owner of Vancouver Career College told KelownaNow in an interview in 2018, that problems with the nearby Cornerstone Emergency shelter was making the location unworkable for students. The school abandoned the location the following year.