Hard to argue with its natural beauty, outdoors, lake/ski... but most friends who have lived/worked there left after year 2. It was too 'remote', too boring, too quiet.
The Kelowna proposal is pretty nice and the number of high rises planned is exciting. However, a few concerns:
-Is there a population and employment boom going on as well to support these projects or is this more of a real estate play seeing as Vancouver is affordable for most, so money will be parked purchasing these units?
-Might end up looking weird seeing as most of the city is pretty low-rise and then 40 story towers are being proposed... I would have liked to see some variation. It's like the city skipped the stage of building mid-rises or shorter high rises in the 15-25 story range.
There's definitely a population boom that's being happening since the early 2000s. Kelowna's economy is small, but diverse and growing. The university (UBCO) is a big driver, as well as the hospital and tech. I think one of the biggest factors for Kelowna's growth is Vancouver becoming unlivable for families. It seems like once you have that second kid, you leave Vancouver, and move to the island or the interior.
Here's a couple of proposals for Mississauga, constituting a total of 7 new towers. These are both proposed on Oxford-owned lands near Square One. I would not be surprised to see more proposals for Oxford's SQ1 lands this year, considering the incoming HuLRT.
4220 Living Arts Drive - Phase 1 (48s, 36s), Phase 2 (52s, 37s, 35s)
Hard to argue with its natural beauty, outdoors, lake/ski... but most friends who have lived/worked there left after year 2. It was too 'remote', too boring, too quiet.
Always interesting how you can hear two polar opposite views of the same place. I’ve heard people call it too wild and too much of a party town.
There's definitely a population boom that's being happening since the early 2000s. Kelowna's economy is small, but diverse and growing. The university (UBCO) is a big driver, as well as the hospital and tech. I think one of the biggest factors for Kelowna's growth is Vancouver becoming unlivable for families. It seems like once you have that second kid, you leave Vancouver, and move to the island or the interior.
Kelowna is also unlivable unless one is independently wealthy. The salaries are even worse than those in Vancouver and housing cost are still insane. My extended family has roots in the Kelowna area going back 100 years. Every year it seems more move away due to cost of living and poor career prospects.
Kelowna is also unlivable unless one is independently wealthy. The salaries are even worse than those in Vancouver and housing cost are still insane. My extended family has roots in the Kelowna area going back 100 years. Every year it seems more move away due to cost of living and poor career prospects.
Again, amazing how stories can differ.
From my family and friend circles I have only heard of people moving to Kelowna...
Guess it depends on who you know, but since the population is indeed increasing and not decreasing there must be more people moving in than out.
Kelowna is also unlivable unless one is independently wealthy. The salaries are even worse than those in Vancouver and housing cost are still insane. My extended family has roots in the Kelowna area going back 100 years. Every year it seems more move away due to cost of living and poor career prospects.
I grew up in the Okanagan, in Vernon, and I can't believe the change in Kelowna in just the past 10 to 15 years. But especially the last 5 or 6. I can't believe how many people are moving there, and how rapidly it is urbanizing. And the influence seems to be increasingly coming from the Coast, especially in the core areas of the City.
Kelowna is also unlivable unless one is independently wealthy. The salaries are even worse than those in Vancouver and housing cost are still insane. My extended family has roots in the Kelowna area going back 100 years. Every year it seems more move away due to cost of living and poor career prospects.
I have a ton of friends living there, and only a few I would classify as independently wealthy. The rest are mostly business owners, and make ends meet just fine.
My brother moved to Kelowna about 10 years ago and has been living there part time (he currently rents in Coquitlam for the remainder) but from this year due to an increase in work in the Okanagan area he will be living in Kelowna full time. I may end up living in Kelowna too when I move back to Canada.
I really doubt the 23 story Landmark office tower would be U/C on spec (and now two more major office towers proposed) if there wasn’t some form of economic drive in the area...
Kelowna has always been an attractive place and a magnet for migration, but certainly the affordability in Vancouver (and possibly the downtown in Alberta) have created even more demand than normal in terms of people moving there. Now it is really getting a critical mass and becoming a real metro area with a built-up core. It was already a hub for the Okanagan and very central, now it is becoming more prominent nationally in its own right. I like how it has suburbs of it's own too, distinct from the City itself.
Kelowna has always enjoyed a beautiful location and mild winters. It has certainly matured in the last few years but is still a rather conservative and rather soulless little place. It is also a sprawling mess with a relatively small downtown and is quite isolated geographically.
Kamloops isn't as big or growing as fast but always struck me as a more livable and urban place with a cool little vibe that Kelowna lacks. Kamloops gives the impression of a real city while Kelowna reminds me of a glorified resort. To me it's kind of like comparing Miami to Denver...……..Miami may have the beaches and resort lifestyle but I would take quirky and less pretentious Denver any day of the week.
Kelowna has always enjoyed a beautiful location and mild winters. It has certainly matured in the last few years but is still a rather conservative and rather soulless little place. It is also a sprawling mess with a relatively small downtown and is quite isolated geographically.
Kamloops isn't as big or growing as fast but always struck me as a more livable and urban place with a cool little vibe that Kelowna lacks. Kamloops gives the impression of a real city while Kelowna reminds me of a glorified resort. To me it's kind of like comparing Miami to Denver...……..Miami may have the beaches and resort lifestyle but I would take quirky and less pretentious Denver any day of the week.
And when is the last time you have lived / spent a decent amount of time in Kelowna??
Seriously, your view on Kelowna always seems to be a couple decades out of date.
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