Kelowna Construction

[Calgarian]

Is this the site of the old Willow Inn? looks great!

[Ogopogo Fan]

Originally Posted by Bcasey25raptor

Lovely design, I seriously hope this goes through.

Any word on the monaco development? Is that still under construction?

In a recent "State of the City" address, the mayor said he was contacted by the developer and told financing was in place and a major hotel tenant was lined up, so I imagine it's just going to be securing enough interest to go ahead.

[Emtee]

Here is a very cool map from the Downtown Kelowna Association showing all the current and proposed projects going on in downtown.

Notably it seems to show that Jingon International Development plans to proceed with Lucaya.

http://growing.downtownkelowna.com

[Emtee]

Another huge proposal for Kelowna including a 24 storey tower in the South Pandosy area.

Developer wants to keep highrises away from waterfront

TUESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2014 02:00


A major new development proposed for a lakeside neighbourhood shows a tower of 24 storeys flanked by a dozen low- and medium-rise buildings.
The ambitious project would be built on about four acres of land centred around the intersection of Cedar and Meikle avenues in the South Pandosy neighbourhood.
It would include hundreds of residential suites, commercial premises at street level, and a boutique hotel.
"I believe the time has come for a project like this," landowner and developer Albert Weisstock said Monday. "Our philosophy is to keep the foreshore
100 per cent parkland, and push the density back from the waterfront."
Personally and through his family-owned company, Weisstock has been buying land in the area for more than a decade.
The neighbourhood is attractive from a development point of view, he said, given its close proximity to both Okanagan Lake and the busy shopping area of South Pandosy.
Where people might have once objected to such high-density development near the water, Weisstock believes most now accept such projects can create a vibrant and interesting neighbourhood while preserving and enhancing public access along the lakeshore.
"South Pandosy is a great canvas," he said. "I think a development like this really is the future of the area."
Weisstock is among 33 members of a charrette, or volunteer planning team, assembled by the City of Kelowna to look at the future of the area around Cedar Avenue.
The charrette will hold its first of three consecutive meetings today. Weisstock was invited by the city to join the charrette because he is a major landowner in the area being studied.
His development plans are currently conceptual in nature, and would require city approvals that include zoning changes and height variances. If all approvals are eventually given, he anticipates build-out would take between five and 10 years.
The city owns seven waterfront lands north of Cedar Avenue, and four waterfront lots immediately south of Cedar. In Weisstock's conceptual plan, the city lots are shown as being converted to parkland.
The city has had plans to sell the upland portion of the municipal lots north of Cedar to allow for some residential and commercial development.
Weisstock says if that ends up being the approach taken by the city, it could jeopardize the viability of his own development proposal.
"I don't know why the city sees its role as being in competition with private sector developers," he said. "In my plan, all the city land is kept as park, and the city would get about a million dollars by selling us a part of Meikle Avenue. It would be a win-win for everybody."

[Bcasey25raptor]

Originally Posted by Emtee

Another huge proposal for Kelowna including a 24 storey tower in the South Pandosy area.

Looks like the market is picking up in kelowna. Good news

[SOSS]

Anyone following the Kelowna Mountain development? Is this guy legit or just out to milk millions?
http://kelownamountainbridges.com/
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/fr...ling-3514.html

[SOSS]

Did an unexpected trip to Okanagan over the weekend (I live in Metro Van). And did a drive by some of the ongoing and completed projects. West Kelowna is doing a great job with the waterfront around Gallately. The lakeside pathway, additional parking, curbs and landscaping all look great. Keep it up. The work on the rapid bus stations is progressing nicely. Look forward to seeing those operational. The wine tour standard (not sure on name) seen along Boucherie from Hwy 97 up towards Hudson (I think) is great with sidewalk, gutters and centre medium. Except big fail on the artificial turf between trees within the medium. Nasty. The work on the WFN land is starting up. Look forward to new underpass and private hospital. Hope to see interchange at Boucherie next. That intersection is nasty. As for Kelowna: amazing job on the downtown redevelopment. Burnard looks amazing. So much more pedestrian freindly and actual space for patios! Look forward to last block(s) being completed and trees to mature a bit. Yatch club looks bigger than what I expected. It will still be a welcome addition to the waterfront and having the existing building added to Stewart Park will be a nice addition to that area. Outside of that, would like to see 24 take off (is that stilla go?), hotel is a must in my opinion, new RCMP detachment would be great (sneaky city staffers) and the Hwy 33 extention would add such a benefit to the north end and elevate traffic on Hwy 97 and Enterprise. Hopefully they will get funding for that shortly. Well, those are my observations.

[Emtee]

2nd crossing planning begins

$2M over the next three years.

That's how much the provincial government has earmarked to start the planning process for a second crossing over Okanagan Lake.

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone made the announcement in the legislature last week.

According to MoTI staff the planning study will include a "significant technical investigation as it examines potential route corridors and engages the public in consultations on the future transportation needs of the Central Okanagan."

While campaigning in the Westside-Kelowna byelection, Premier Christy Clark stated that one of her priorities is planning for a second crossing.

And late last summer, she asked Stone to begin that process by reaching out to both Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray and West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater.

It appears the province is taking the next step.

Information Castanet received from MoTI staff indicates the province is beginning to update previous engineering work and will 'initiate a transportation study of the Central Okanagan'.

"Extensive community consultation is also planned, to ensure we have a clear understanding of the needs, and options to meet them, to support such a large investment in the Okanagan.

We are at the very beginning as we explore just exactly what this project could look like," stated MoTI staff in an email to Castanet News.

http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna...lanning-begins

[vitc]

Innovation centre planned for downtown Kelowna

Plans are in the works to build a six-storey building at the corner of Ellis Street and Doyle Avenue in downtown Kelowna to become an "incubator" for new technology companies here.

The proposed Okanagan Centre for Innovation would be a 9,848-square-metre facility, slated for city-owned land beside the main downtown branch of the Okanagan Regional Library. The site is currently a grass lawn.

Source: http://www.kelownacapnews.com/...

Location: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kelowna...

[Ogopogo Fan]

Fine looking building and a great location. I like the start date, too (i.e., soon).

[vitc]

It is a great looking building! This one came out of nowhere. Can't wait to see how the IHA building will look like. Should be a very nice intersection.

[Daveography]

Great proposal, there seems to be a tech buzz rising from Kelowna these days; I know at least two software developers from Edmonton that have taken jobs and relocated there and recently.

[Emtee]

Here is the website with more information about the proposed Okanagan Centre for Innovation:

http://www.okanaganinnovation.com

and a couple more renders:





And also here is an update on the Westcorp Hotel:

Hotel passes 1st test




A 24 storey hotel and conference centre proposed for the former Willow Inn site passed its first hurdle Monday.

City Council gave first reading to an Official Community Plan amendment and rezoning application that would close a portion of Mill Street and Queensway Avenue adjacent to the project.

The scope of the project, proposed by Westcorp Development, requires the development utilizes portions of both streets.

Because property is zoned to the middle of any adjacent street and not the end of the property line, council had to agree to rezone the property to allow the development to go ahead.

The application goes to public hearing June 10.

http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna...asses-1st-test

[Emtee]

Trades complex breaks ground

A ground breaking ceremony took place at Okanagan College Wednesday morning.

Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk joined faculty, staff and students at Okanagan College to shovel the first pile of soil and officially start construction on the $33-million project.

"Throughout British Columbia we are improving access and aligning skills training and education to match labour market needs," said Virk. "We are investing in facilities like the Kelowna Trades Complex so that we can make sure British Columbians are first-in-line for the one million jobs openings we expect by 2022."

The expansion will give the college more than 5,500 square metres of new space that will be combined with recent renovations of more than 5,100 square metres of existing shop and classrooms space to create up-to-date facilities for trade shops including auto body, RV service technician, carpentry and welding.

The Ministry of Advanced Education says the project is the first of its kind in BC to transform a complex of its age, size and diversity into a modern learning space that is energy neutral.

Okanagan College notes that trades-related training at their Kelowna campus has more than doubled over the last 10 years and the renovation and renewal project will allow the college to meet current and future demands.

Once completed, the new trades complex promises to accommodate up to 2,408 students and apprentices, including students that are currently accommodated at off-site leased facilities.

http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna...-breaks-ground

[giallo]

Nice. Some good news out of Kelowna.

I'm really liking the OCI. A good fit in to downtown.

[Chadillaccc]

Friggin awesome to see all of this going on. That lot next to the library had been rumoured for development for years! Since before I lived there even!

[vitc]

Ok, this is VERY interesting:

"CD zone proposal and Development Permit for a 26 storey hotel with office space and ancillary uses. 1000 Manhattan Dr."

http://www.kelowna.ca/iDevelopment_A...m?da_num=17785

[Ogopogo Fan]

Originally Posted by vitc

Ok, this is VERY interesting:

"CD zone proposal and Development Permit for a 26 storey hotel with office space and ancillary uses. 1000 Manhattan Dr."

http://www.kelowna.ca/iDevelopment_A...m?da_num=17785

That is very interesting. I recall that Argus originally proposed a 12 storey office building for that site. Now if only the dirt pile and the ruins of Lucaya could get sorted out, that would be a pretty sweet area.

[Metro-One]

So this would be 2 new major hotels in Kelowna? Very nice. I really hope they get off the ground along with Monaco. 4 new towers of that size would really help solidify Kelowna's downtown and skyline. (along with all the other mid rise proposals).

What happened to the 8 story office tower in downtown Kelowna? Is that still going forward?

[TriWolf]

Man, I'm ultra jealous of Kelowna now. :I