Four Kelowna highrises will feed more than $2 million into affordable housing fund

If Kelowna city council approves four new towers at the Waterscapes development downtown it will get $2.38 million for its affordable housing fund.

The towers are 28, 32, 34 and 36 storeys tall and will provide 1,141 housing units, or $2,086 for each unit to be paid into the Housing Opportunities Reserve Fund.

That fund will be used to buy land so the city can partner with BC Housing or a non-profit organization to build affordable housing.

Plans for the new towers were delivered to the city in December 2021. On July 11, the city will hold a public hearing to consider the development permit and variances.

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One thing that will be different from most highrise projects is that the parking podium will not be surrounded by stores along the street.

“This is a superior design compared to other parkade podiums which often have one level of commercial at grade and then three or four levels of inactive space (parking)," says the report going to council. "Activating the full height of the podium with residential units allows for a dynamic façade, and increased natural surveillance or ‘eyes on the street’ which is a key component of crime prevention through environmental design.”

The project will provide indoor and outdoor gyms, children’s play areas, pickleball courts, outdoor living rooms and a “wellness walk.” It will also plant 163 trees.

The plan calls for 238 one-bedroom units, 28 of which will be rentals, 874 two-bedroom units with 12 as rentals along with 29 three-bedroom townhomes.

It will come with 1,366 vehicle parking stalls and 1,142 bicycle parking stalls.

The site is behind the existing 27 storey Skye Tower off Sunset Drive. It borders on Ellis Street with the two tallest towers there and the shorter towers in front, closer to Okanagan Lake. There will be an internal road opposite Gaston Street.

City staff are recommending council approve the project.

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