Kelowna Construction - Page 96

240glt · #**1901** Posted **Dec 13, 2018, 5:12 PM**

Kelowna appears to be taking steps to reduce sprawl and build within existing boundaries

Kelowna council votes to end urban sprawl with limit on new homes

City council on Monday embraced a plan that will dramatically change the official community plan. Some areas long designated for future residential development will instead be closed to new construction.

https://vancouversun.com/business/real-e...end-urban-sprawl-with-limit-on-new-homes

mountainman · #**1902** Posted **Dec 13, 2018, 11:10 PM**

The former Greyhound building and site has sold. $5.25m to the owner of Kelowna Chrysler Jeep Dodge which is located right across the street. Looks like the current dealership location has a larger footprint than the Greyhound property.

Is this the same company as Kelowna Chrysler which is next to the Greyhound property?

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-244468-1-.htm#244468

mountainman · #**1903** Posted **Dec 13, 2018, 11:18 PM**

^^^ Nevermind I see that it is the same company.

KelownaResident · #**1904** Posted **Dec 14, 2018, 8:01 AM**

A few days old news but it looks like something might be cooking.

Properties are being grabbed up in downtown Kelowna
https://www.kelownacapnews.com/news/properties-are-being-bought-up-in-dowtown-kelowna/

csbvan · #**1905** Posted **Dec 14, 2018, 4:13 PM**

That stretch of Leon seems primed for redevelopment. Apart from the night clubs, not a lot happening, and lots of open space (parking lots, etc).

zahav · #**1906** Posted **Dec 14, 2018, 5:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

Kelowna appears to be taking steps to reduce sprawl and build within existing boundaries

Kelowna council votes to end urban sprawl with limit on new homes

City council on Monday embraced a plan that will dramatically change the official community plan. Some areas long designated for future residential development will instead be closed to new construction.

https://vancouversun.com/business/real-e...end-urban-sprawl-with-limit-on-new-homes

I am all for urbanizing areas, but I definitely see the point about these restrictions hurting the City. This is unnecessarily restrictive and will make housing even more out of reach. I don't know when they can't still urbanize the town centres, and allow new subdivisions. The developers and market for each type are there, I don't see why it needed to be a "one or the other" situation!

240glt · #**1907** Posted **Dec 14, 2018, 6:00 PM**

^^ great spot, prime for redevelopment indeed. There's hopefully some synergy with the water street hotel building in that area. I do hope they don't touch Bernard Ave too much, It's nice to maintain that scale in some areas so they don't devolve into faceless podiums for towers.

Up the road a bit, it sounds like the old Grey hound station in Vernon has been bought by a local entrepreneur and will be re-purposed into something interesting.

240glt · #**1908** Posted **Dec 14, 2018, 6:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zahav

I am all for urbanizing areas, but I definitely see the point about these restrictions hurting the City. This is unnecessarily restrictive and will make housing even more out of reach. I don't know when they can't still urbanize the town centres, and allow new subdivisions. The developers and market for each type are there, I don't see why it needed to be a "one or the other" situation!

Yes I am on the fence on this one as well. There's still lots of developable land available in the city, I imagine some of the city is hedged in by the ALR, but still room for new development. At the same time restricting development will just push people to Lake Country and Westbank. Most people still want a single family house so I don't see forcing people to change their preferences working. It doesn't work in cities like Edmonton, it sure won't work in Kelowna. The best thing to do is design better subdivisions I think. Here in Edmonton the subdivisions on the periphery are far more dense and have many more options than our neighborhood in a mature area close to the centre of the city.

csbvan · #**1909** Posted **Dec 14, 2018, 6:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240glt

^^ great spot, prime for redevelopment indeed. There's hopefully some synergy with the water street hotel building in that area. I do hope they don't touch Bernard Ave too much, It's nice to maintain that scale in some areas so they don't devolve into faceless podiums for towers.

Up the road a bit, it sounds like the old Grey hound station in Vernon has been bought by a local entrepreneur and will be re-purposed into something interesting.

Couldn't agree more. Certain part of Bernard will be developed, like the old Bargain Shop site. Much of the rest should be maintained lower in scale to be a shopping street. There will be enough streets in the downtown core that can sustain towers.

GlassCity · #**1910** Posted **Dec 14, 2018, 10:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by zahav

I am all for urbanizing areas, but I definitely see the point about these restrictions hurting the City. This is unnecessarily restrictive and will make housing even more out of reach. I don't know when they can't still urbanize the town centres, and allow new subdivisions. The developers and market for each type are there, I don't see why it needed to be a "one or the other" situation!

I agree, and it will pass in time.

I am as strong an urbanist as anyone, but it's arbitrary to all of a sudden decide that we're now enlightened away from outward growth and focus exclusively on densification. Some places are trying to achieve this, but as any planning trend, it will come and go.

In my opinion, the issue isn't as much fringe urban growth as much as it is the form of that growth, including density, land use mixing, and (especially) street pattern design.

csbvan · #**1911** Posted **Dec 16, 2018, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlassCity

I agree, and it will pass in time.

I am as strong an urbanist as anyone, but it's arbitrary to all of a sudden decide that we're now enlightened away from outward growth and focus exclusively on densification. Some places are trying to achieve this, but as any planning trend, it will come and go.

In my opinion, the issue isn't as much fringe urban growth as much as it is the form of that growth, including density, land use mixing, and (especially) street pattern design.

Kelowna sprawled to such a severe extent, as is the nature of a city that was almost entirely built in the post-war decades, that I think a dramatic turnaround is necessary. I agree with the decision that the city made, both to protect virgin land around the city and to accelerate the re-urbanization of the now under development neighbourhood centres.

Metro-One · #**1912** Posted **Dec 17, 2018, 2:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by csbvan

Kelowna sprawled to such a severe extent, as is the nature of a city that was almost entirely built in the post-war decades, that I think a dramatic turnaround is necessary. I agree with the decision that the city made, both to protect virgin land around the city and to accelerate the re-urbanization of the now under development neighbourhood centres.

100% agree.

Kelowna has a lot of land to work with within its established urban boundaries.

A couple other reasons why this is smart move for Kelowna:

1. Forest fires. A lot of the new sprawl is in he hills surrounded by dry Ponderosa Pine / Douglas Fir forests the will (and need to) burn in the future. California last month has shown us the true danger of recklessly building in such areas. It also makes the needed forest management more difficult (limits the ability for controlled burns).

2. Limited supply of agricultural land. Kelowna and the Okanagan are built around the identity of being western Canada’s fruit basket / wine region. Replace these orchards and vineyards with subdivisions and you take a lot away of what makes the region special.

3. Limited fragmented remains of the natural grasslands. Much of the grasslands around Kelowna have already been lost and the few remains (such as along highway 33 in the hills) are threatened to be developed. Much of BC’s red listed species live in these habitats and again much of Kelowna’s character will be lost when these grasslands are completely gone.

240glt · #**1913** Posted **Dec 17, 2018, 5:37 PM**

^ pretty significant amount of agricultural land is in the ALR. As long as that is protected it'll hem in sprawl in Kelowna to a degree. Developers have been fighting the ALR for decades though, so there is some risk there that at one point they'll start removing parcels from the ALR

https://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/assets/alc/ass...and-maps/maps-and-gis/okanagan_panel.pdf

Vin · #**1914** Posted **Dec 17, 2018, 8:39 PM**

Good news. This will make Kelowna leaner and meaner with more high density developments all over the established urban area, and especially in the city centre.

KelownaResident · #**1915** Posted **Dec 18, 2018, 7:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by csbvan

That stretch of Leon seems primed for redevelopment. Apart from the night clubs, not a lot happening, and lots of open space (parking lots, etc).

I don't see why they couldn't revitalize Leon Ave like they did Bernard Ave years ago. Widened sidewalks, parallel parking, improved streetscapes. It could look really good and make Downtown feel larger.

Phrescata · #**1916** Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 2:33 AM**

YLW welcomed its two millionth passenger today!

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-245070-1-.htm#245070

giallo · #**1917** Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 2:41 AM**

Wow. That's a large number for such a small airport. I can only see a continual string of expansions for YLW in the future.

240glt · #**1918** Posted **Dec 21, 2018, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phrescata

YLW welcomed its two millionth passenger today!

https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-245070-1-.htm#245070

Very impressive. Sounds like there'll be some major changes coming to the airport very soon. I agree the departures lounge needs to be expanded, it can get very busy and crowded in there.

jimmyboy95 · #**1919** Posted **Dec 22, 2018, 10:54 AM**

Only comes 13 years after YLW surpassed 1 million annual passengers for the first time. The Kelowna airport is still a work in progress, the next project should be the interchange on Highway 97.

KelownaResident · #**1920** Posted **Dec 22, 2018, 7:48 PM**

Apologies for the low light photo. Being as Ellis St is a main corridor to enter Downtown, and given Ella's size, this will greatly change the character of Downtown Kelowna. It's dwarfing everything in its vicinity already. Any idea what's happening to the lot directly west of it?