Kelowna Construction

[Chrissir]

How is Dyas going to curb traffic and what’s his deal with new developments? I tried looking through his website but it’s just a thank you message and a link to donate to him. I see you guys are saying he’s pulling back on infill projects, I think it’s a real setback if he’s anti-development, it’s crazy the amount of old people in Kelowna who hate progress, they aren’t the ones who are just finishing their degree and looking for a place to buy… I’m in trouble lol (time to move to Calgary?). If he’s for progress but is going to be strict on the form and character, I’m for that. Hopefully this is the case, but like i said, can’t find anything on what his stance is on these developments. I would love to stay here and get a good paying job and a nice condo for my first place.

[Metro-One]

I really hope this anti-development sentiment is either over blown or simply just fear mongering, if not, would be terrible if this guy threw a wrench into the current momentum which took 20 years to build up to.

That said, I’m guessing there are some projects that already have their work permits or are too far along to stop / majorly alter?

[JayMi]

Originally Posted by Newstart

unless you have specific knowledge of Appelt original intentions to bait and switch thats fluff that Tom and his buddy Les Bellamy were touting.

Real Estate Development changes, market dynamics change, the dynamics of Kelowna changed dramatically in the span of time. In addition the original proposal was a Fat Scraper. The revised proposal was much much better Urban built form.

The Kelowna Legacy Group is spilled milk that they didn't get their way. now they have their mayor and things are going to get setback for Urban Development.

Planning is already reversing decisions and direction to applicants on urban infill. Towers and height are nextk.

What do you mean by “ Planning is already reversing decisions and direction to applicants”? The new council hasn’t even been sworn yet. A new OCP and zoning bylaw were just adopted focusing on infill, density and height. I’m still full steam ahead.

[csbvan]

Dyas is a pro business, BC-Lib/Fed conservative mayor. In Kelowna, real estate is the primary big business. He wouldn't have been my first choice, but he is far from anti-development. Like Vancouver, it's more a tough on crime / pro-development candidate beating a centre/centre left pro-development candidate.

[svlt]

People conflate conservative automatically as anti-development. Left/progressives can be as anti-development if taken as a whole of how many towers get approved under each slant of government. What differs to each side is the type of development they want to approve.

[VantageHD]

I would think stereotypically the left would be more anti-development. Can't imagine any mayor of a major city to be anti-development though. Politicians are not the smartest people, but they're not dumb enough to kneecap that tax base. Development brings in a crazy amount of money that cities depend on.

[The Great Scaper]

Originally Posted by VantageHD

I would think stereotypically the left would be more anti-development. Can't imagine any mayor of a major city to be anti-development though. Politicians are not the smartest people, but they're not dumb enough to kneecap that tax base. Development brings in a crazy amount of money that cities depend on.

I totally agree with you.

[aRoamingDuck]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Dyas is a pro business, BC-Lib/Fed conservative mayor. In Kelowna, real estate is the primary big business. He wouldn't have been my first choice, but he is far from anti-development. Like Vancouver, it's more a tough on crime / pro-development candidate beating a centre/centre left pro-development candidate.

I mean I don't think he's off to a great start based on how he ran as as someone advocating for transparency then removed his campaign promises from his website.

Even the internet archiver doesn't have his platform archived. All I have are someone else's screenshots they took of it.

https://web.archive.org/web/20220921...w.tomdyas.com/

https://postimg.cc/gallery/JhygzpX

I remember on his original campaign website that he took jabs at Basran for allowing all these high-rises to go up in Kelowna and how they didn't help with creating affordable housing for people living in Kelowna....

We all know that Downtown Kelowna, or Kelowna in general is not a cheap place to build high-rises, especially not affordable ones so it came across as a really stupid anti development point to make in my opinion.

At least his platform mentions reducing barriers for building missing middle developments, but that's still not the complete solution we need. Ignoring genuine densification via strategically located high-rise developments (residential hubs) throughout the city, along with 5 over 1 and missing middle townhomes is the solution. My worry is he'll ignore high-rises because of a vocal anti development population in Kelowna in order to keep his seat as Mayor.

I'm not a huge fan of Basran Or Dyas, but at least Basran made way for developers to see what Kelowna could look like with high-rises by allowing all these initial projects through. If Dyas pulls back too hard I'm worried the momentum that has been created will fall off.

[KelownaResident]

Another very original tower design built over a multi story above ground parking podium. By Mission Group.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelown...-to-19-storeys

Will look amazing from street level, just like the new tower going up in Bernard Block.

[JayMi]

Will be the first indication of what this new council will be like. The mission group project contains 5 variances but there is a big need for rental units downtown.

[KelownaResident]

@JayMi that's actually a much more flattering side than what the article shows. We definitely need more units downtown. Being this much further away from the waterfront I think this would be a perfect spot for the increased height.

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by VantageHD

I would think stereotypically the left would be more anti-development. Can't imagine any mayor of a major city to be anti-development though. Politicians are not the smartest people, but they're not dumb enough to kneecap that tax base. Development brings in a crazy amount of money that cities depend on.

Dyas formed with others the Kelowna Legacy Group which is STAUNCHLY ANTI-DENSITY in Downtown. They want Downtown Kelowna to be littered with fat shortscrapers. The cost of construction and land needs critical mass. You wind up with unimaginative boring buildings that all look the same.

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by JayMi

Will be the first indication of what this new council will be like. The mission group project contains 5 variances but there is a big need for rental units downtown.

Yay. another mediocrity tower coming to a town near you...

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by csbvan

Dyas is a pro business, BC-Lib/Fed conservative mayor. In Kelowna, real estate is the primary big business. He wouldn't have been my first choice, but he is far from anti-development. Like Vancouver, it's more a tough on crime / pro-development candidate beating a centre/centre left pro-development candidate.

So was/is Basran...

[Newstart]

Originally Posted by JayMi

What do you mean by “ Planning is already reversing decisions and direction to applicants”? The new council hasn’t even been sworn yet. A new OCP and zoning bylaw were just adopted focusing on infill, density and height. I’m still full steam ahead.

Infill projects that were pushing the envelope are getting pulled back by planning and/or undiscussed roadblocks are all of a sudden appearing.

[drto]

If any of you are interested, Holar Developments, which is working on creating the vision for the former Tolko lands in north downtown, have a page where you can join in the discussion and submit your ideas for the site.

https://www.kelownamillsite.ca/conversation/

[LFC]

Cool shot from the www.kelownamillsite.com video tour.

[VantageHD]

Not much potential there at all eh, haha.

[Tysonbrown]

Please place this dialogue in the Kelowna construction thread PLEASE.

[aRoamingDuck]

Originally Posted by LFC

Cool shot from the www.kelownamillsite.com video tour.

Oh man imagine all the parking lots they could fit in that area!