Photo: Castanet - File Photo

The City of Kelowna is continuing to explore possible expansion of downtown's Chapman Parkade.

The city allocated $300,000 from its parking reserve to complete a detailed design, with the potential for construction to begin as early as 2020.

Parking co-ordinator Dave Duncan says the city is working with structural engineers to determine what can be done with the parkade.

The Chapman Parkade was built in 2002, and Duncan says there was always talk of the potential for adding another floor.

"With the new BC Building Code coming into effect, they are investigating the number of stalls or levels that can be added," he said. "Once we have that information, architectural drawings will come back next year, which will be the basis for a decision whether to construct additional floors at next year's budget."

Duncan says expansion could add between 110 and 220 stalls, depending how high the city is able to go.

While that work is being done, the city will also spend about $80,000 to make the bottom floor reserved parking area more secure.

The area, utilized mainly on weekdays, is a prime location for "undesirable activity," due to its "location and multiple access points."

Plans are to install gates and doors to turn the parking level into a secured area.