Kelowna Construction

[Homerbush]

Looks like the first plans coming out for specific pieces on or adjacent to the former Mill site.

https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/property-development/current-developments/ocp25-0007

[jimmyboy95]

Originally Posted by valid and not in use

Worrying with the slowing population growth that we'll reach a slowdown of highrises. Hopefully not nearly as bad as 2012-2017, since there's less excuse to sprawl out what can't be sprawled anymore, but still

Luckily a slowdown will give the city some breathing room to adjust to all the new growth. That's how it should be, ebb and flow. We had a hell of a run over the last decade, some big ticket developments happened and there are way fewer vacant lots around town. I was happiest to see Central Green finally get built out. That new pedestrian overpass should be open any day now.

Before this city grows much more, there's important things to consider: Will Harvey Avenue continue to be the main route through town? What will be done about the increasing traffic chaos in the Springfield and Benvoulin/Dilworth area? Does KGH have the capacity? What about a hospital for West Kelowna? How equipped is our fire department? Some of the important things we should be asking.

[jimmyboy95]

Great to see the City of Kelowna moving forward with some important road projects, including Glenmore Road widening north of Union and the extension of Burtch to KLO. Even better, they're finally resurrecting the Clement to Hwy 33 extension proposal. Not much talk about that for over a decade, I don't think it even came up at all during Basran's term. And yes City of Kelowna if you're reading this, it must be 4 lanes, not 2!

https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/new...n,of%20the%20city's%20road%20network.

With this important project, traffic will have a seamless, limited access connection between Downtown and Rutland. There will be no more having to jog over to Enterprise Way, and Enterprise will serve as the collector road it was intended to be. All the Clement traffic will no longer be dumped onto Spall Rd. The original extension of Clement from Gordon to Spall wasn't even supposed to have happened unless the further extension to Hwy 33 was set to begin shortly after the first section was complete. Its been close to 20 years now!

[Homerbush]

Originally Posted by jimmyboy95

Great to see the City of Kelowna moving forward with some important road projects, including Glenmore Road widening north of Union and the extension of Burtch to KLO. Even better, they're finally resurrecting the Clement to Hwy 33 extension proposal. Not much talk about that for over a decade, I don't think it even came up at all during Basran's term. And yes City of Kelowna if you're reading this, it must be 4 lanes, not 2!

https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/new...n,of%20the%20city's%20road%20network.

With this important project, traffic will have a seamless, limited access connection between Downtown and Rutland. There will be no more having to jog over to Enterprise Way, and Enterprise will serve as the collector road it was intended to be. All the Clement traffic will no longer be dumped onto Spall Rd. The original extension of Clement from Gordon to Spall wasn't even supposed to have happened unless the further extension to Hwy 33 was set to begin shortly after the first section was complete. Its been close to 20 years now!

You missed one: the Hollywood road extension from Sexsmith to the University is getting started this year. Hopefully they can connect that to the rest of Hollywood road at some point in the not too distant future as well.

[Metro-One]

I submitted mine.

Clement should be 4 lanes and built with future conversion in mind to become the primary thoroughfare (freeway) after a second crossing is built and have the highway 97 designation removed from Harvey (allowing it to be traffic calmed and focused on transit) and placed on it.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I submitted mine.

Clement should be 4 lanes and built with future conversion in mind to become the primary thoroughfare (freeway) after a second crossing is built and have the highway 97 designation removed from Harvey (allowing it to be traffic calmed and focused on transit) and placed on it.

If the new bridge is built at Clement, what does it connect to on the other side?

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

If the new bridge is built at Clement, what does it connect to on the other side?

The west shore isn’t as obvious as Clement and the old railway right of way, but numerous alignments have been proposed over the years. I think the most obvious would be for it to connect with Westside Road around Bear Creek Road, and between the landing and the current 97 at the Westside Road Interchange a free flow connector would become the continuous 97 Route.

[Repthe250]

I think it should by pass Kelowna all together. Upgrade John Hindle Drive to freeway. Extend it down to Okanagan Lake where it will cross and link up to Westside Road just north of Traders Cove. Upgrade Westside Rd from there to 97 to official highway status. That way, kelowna can be completely bypassed with direct access to the airport from West K, and still connect Glenmore/Lake Country with a bypass.

[csbvan]

Originally Posted by Repthe250

I think it should by pass Kelowna all together. Upgrade John Hindle Drive to freeway. Extend it down to Okanagan Lake where it will cross and link up to Westside Road just north of Traders Cove. Upgrade Westside Rd from there to 97 to official highway status. That way, kelowna can be completely bypassed with direct access to the airport from West K, and still connect Glenmore/Lake Country with a bypass.

Yes please. And then the oversized Harvey can accommodate transit (BRT probably, or maybe LRT). Kelowna is getting too big for a small area to have any of its central streets accommodating highway through traffic.

[kanuck94]

A new bridge for a complete bypass is not necessary. A study a few years ago showed 94% of bridge traffic either starts or ends in Kelowna or West Kelowna, only 6% is simply passing through. I'd much rather first see Vernon and Penticton connected on at least one side of the lake with a proper transit corridor (100km/h highway with dedicate transit). A multi billion $ bridge is too much effort for so little reward imo.

[kanuck94]

Originally Posted by Homerbush

Looks like the first plans coming out for specific pieces on or adjacent to the former Mill site.

https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/property-development/current-developments/ocp25-0007

Likes like its adjacent to the former Mill site. Much of the proposal leverages the latest mill plan to justify the sizing, scope and function of the tower.

[Calgarian]

I absolutely think Kelowna would benefit from a bypass. It wouldn't be exclusively for people avoiding Harvey, there would have to be a benefit to locals too.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Repthe250

I think it should by pass Kelowna all together. Upgrade John Hindle Drive to freeway. Extend it down to Okanagan Lake where it will cross and link up to Westside Road just north of Traders Cove. Upgrade Westside Rd from there to 97 to official highway status. That way, kelowna can be completely bypassed with direct access to the airport from West K, and still connect Glenmore/Lake Country with a bypass.

Originally Posted by csbvan

Yes please. And then the oversized Harvey can accommodate transit (BRT probably, or maybe LRT). Kelowna is getting too big for a small area to have any of its central streets accommodating highway through traffic.

Originally Posted by kanuck94

A new bridge for a complete bypass is not necessary. A study a few years ago showed 94% of bridge traffic either starts or ends in Kelowna or West Kelowna, only 6% is simply passing through. I'd much rather first see Vernon and Penticton connected on at least one side of the lake with a proper transit corridor (100km/h highway with dedicate transit). A multi billion $ bridge is too much effort for so little reward imo.

This is exactly why Clement combined with a second crossing is the only choice for a new high capacity route in Kelowna that acts as a cross regional thoroughfare, a local access route, and a replacement for the 97 along Harvey (allowing Harvey to be traffic calmed and reintegrated better into the urban fabric).

I explain this really easy, we have several factors at play:

First is use. As stated above bypassing downtown Kelowna entirely has little benefit for the cost. Offering access to downtown is essential. Running along Clemet and the rail corridor still offers those coming from West Kelowna and Rutland and out by UBC access to downtown (properly replacing Harvey Ave) while also enabling a proper free flow route for those traveling through the city.

Cost and displacement: Clement, the old rail corridor and the old mill site together are all brownfield sites currently with little to no development. This means very little land acquisition and disturbances to existing neighborhoods is required to build this route. Also it is generally located along the edge of steep hilly terrain which itself already acts as a natural break in the urban fabric. It wouldn't be cutting downtown in half.

This is literally the only option that makes any sense and has well rounded benefits, and this WAS the official plan for Kelowna until about 5 years ago when the scrapped it (around the same time the province said no new second crossing...hmmm)

Now, the plan is for Harvey to remain as the primary highway corridor, in fact the province has stated it's new plan is to make the existing bridge 6 lanes, further reinforcing this awful short sighted plan.

For context here is the old plan (which was in place for decades) now scrapped for hippie bullshit:



This was the only real option that can ever be considered for a free flow high capacity route in Kelowna.

Anything that involves running up along the west side of the lake for a full bypass of downtown is pure fantasy and a distraction to what has been our only chance, which sadly is disappearing more and more.

The current plan now is to extend Clemet as a two lane road with roundabouts and traffic lights. Garbage.

This here was my plan:



Oh, and in Westbank the official provincial plan now is not to dig a tunnel under the town core, or to build a bypass, its literally to make Dobbin Rd. a 4 lane bi-directional at grade road...

Seriously, you can't make this stuff up its so bad.

But whatever, once again I feel that I'm probably just shouting to the wind again.

An entire article I wrote on this that was promptly ignored on this thread a year ago:

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/kelowna-transportation-plan-second-okanagan-lake-bridge

This new quagmire we are in has a lot of blame to go around.

First, the current city council for scrapping the old plan for the new essentially do nothing plan.

The NDP for scrapping the chance of any second crossing in the next two decades (the same timeframe they have given to the Peachalnd bypass that they also scrapped, man they hate the Okanagan)

And I will say also the Liberals. Hindsight is 20/20, and now I wish that back in the 2000s instead of replacing the existing old crossing that they instead uplifted the Clement freeway proposal and built it alongside with a new second crossing (while keeping the old existing bridge as a secondary more local access point).

[Vantage]

B-b-b-but induced demand!!!! If we just reduce all roads to a single lane and build LRT that will solve our traffic problems. Expanding roads and future-planning is so offensive.

[Repthe250]

Originally Posted by kanuck94

A new bridge for a complete bypass is not necessary. A study a few years ago showed 94% of bridge traffic either starts or ends in Kelowna or West Kelowna, only 6% is simply passing through. I'd much rather first see Vernon and Penticton connected on at least one side of the lake with a proper transit corridor (100km/h highway with dedicate transit). A multi billion $ bridge is too much effort for so little reward imo.

There’s a ton of industrial development happening by the airport. That, the university and the airport should have a direct connection.

[Repthe250]

I definitely agree with everything you’re saying Metro-one, the only thing is, the city is literally shooting themselves in the foot as we speak on the clement plan. They’re purposely developing that land instead of using it for its rightful purpose.

I suggest the only other viable option, the John Hindle extension to Westside. But that’ll never happen, either.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Repthe250

I definitely agree with everything you’re saying Metro-one, the only thing is, the city is literally shooting themselves in the foot as we speak on the clement plan. They’re purposely developing that land instead of using it for its rightful purpose.

I suggest the only other viable option, the John Hindle extension to Westside. But that’ll never happen, either.

Yeah, I've been advocating for Kelowna / Okanagan to have a proper road / transportation network for decades now, but I'm pretty much at the point of giving up now.

The most frustrating part is they actually had a good plan in place... and suddenly decided to abandon it for no good reason at all.

20 to 30 years from now the area will be in a true quagmire regarding traffic, and everyone will be looking back at these current decisions as insanely foolish.

PS, the Boucherie and Westlake Road Interchange project has been in the "planning stages" now since 2014... that's 11 years of neglect... I mean planning for two interchanges. The last "update" on the project (to once again say they are in the planning stages) was April 16.... 2024. Honestly what a joke from the province.

It's a similar story for the Commonwealth Rd. project, which not only has been stalled in the "planning stages" for years now, but hasn't even started its lame do nothing "interim" stage where they slap some lipstick on the pig before actually doing anything a decade later.

The city of Kelowna still plans to make the UBC access and Airport access points interchanges, but at this point I wouldn't be surprised if they renege on those plans before anything happens too.

[valid and not in use]

SUMMARIZATION OF CURRENT HIGHRISE DEVELOPMENTS:

1. UBCO Tower: 43-Storey, Under Construction
2. Water Street By The Park (3 Towers): 42-24 Storeys, Under Costruction (Tower 1&2)/Approved (Tower 3)
3. 1355 St. Paul: 40-Storey, Approved
4. Burtch Redevelopment (6 Towers): 39-11 Storeys, Concept
5. Vintage at Waterscapes (4 Towers): 36-28 Storeys, Approved
6. 346 Lawrence Ave: 34-Storey, Proposed
7. 437 Bay Ave: 29-Storey, Concept
8. Capri Centre Tower One: 23-Storey, Proposed
9. Bertram BC Housing: 20-Storey, Approved
10. 1333 Bertram St: 19-Storey, Under Construction
11. Elta: 19-Storey, Proposed
12. The Ledge On Lakeshore (6 Towers): 17-11 Storeys, Under Construction
13. Aqua (3 Towers): 17-13 Storeys, Under Construction
14. Betsy: 16-Storey, Proposed
15. Pacific Tower: 15-Storey, Proposed
16. Movala (3 Towers): 14-10 Storeys, Under Construction
17. 2690 Pandosy St: 10-Storey, Approved

Now I can say for a fact that not all of these will make it up in the air (especially sceptic for Burtch Redevelopement, Elta & Betsy), but theoretically if they did, Kelowna would have 36 new highrises.

Also moment of silence for 2020, Bridgewater, One Varsity, Coronation Avenue Redevelopment, Monaco, Downtown Hotel, Muse, Prospera Towers, 1930 Underhill, & 1580 Water Street (my beloved)

Lastly, the combined total for Proposed/Approved/Under Construction/Built/Cancelled projects over the years, if my math is correct, makes for a grand total of 80 highrises. EIGHTY. That's about equivalent to Victoria's highrise count

[JayMi]

Originally Posted by valid and not in use

SUMMARIZATION OF CURRENT HIGHRISE DEVELOPMENTS:

1. UBCO Tower: 43-Storey, Under Construction
2. Water Street By The Park (3 Towers): 42-24 Storeys, Under Costruction (Tower 1&2)/Approved (Tower 3)
3. 1355 St. Paul: 40-Storey, Approved
4. Burtch Redevelopment (6 Towers): 39-11 Storeys, Concept
5. Vintage at Waterscapes (4 Towers): 36-28 Storeys, Approved
6. 346 Lawrence Ave: 34-Storey, Proposed
7. 437 Bay Ave: 29-Storey, Concept
8. Capri Centre Tower One: 23-Storey, Proposed
9. Bertram BC Housing: 20-Storey, Approved
10. 1333 Bertram St: 19-Storey, Under Construction
11. Elta: 19-Storey, Proposed
12. The Ledge On Lakeshore (6 Towers): 17-11 Storeys, Under Construction
13. Aqua (3 Towers): 17-13 Storeys, Under Construction
14. Betsy: 16-Storey, Proposed
15. Pacific Tower: 15-Storey, Proposed
16. Movala (3 Towers): 14-10 Storeys, Under Construction
17. 2690 Pandosy St: 10-Storey, Approved

Now I can say for a fact that not all of these will make it up in the air (especially sceptic for Burtch Redevelopement, Elta & Betsy), but theoretically if they did, Kelowna would have 36 new highrises.

Also moment of silence for 2020, Bridgewater, One Varsity, Coronation Avenue Redevelopment, Monaco, Downtown Hotel, Muse, Prospera Towers, 1930 Underhill, & 1580 Water Street (my beloved)

Lastly, the combined total for Proposed/Approved/Under Construction/Built/Cancelled projects over the years, if my math is correct, makes for a grand total of 80 highrises. EIGHTY. That's about equivalent to Victoria's highrise count

Is Betsy the Mission Group office tower? That project was replaced with the 40 storey rental tower that was approved.

The Pacific Ave tower is also not moving forward. That file was closed.

[valid and not in use]

1333 Bertram + UBCO Tower