Westcorp’s plan to build 33-storey hotel on downtown Kelowna waterfront back in play

Westcorp has, once again, applied for permits to build it’s proposed 33-storey hotel on the downtown Kelowna waterfront.

The latest application follows about a month after its previous permits expired. They were approved on Feb. 4, 2020, but such permits expire after two years. Those called for 184 hotel rooms but that number will be reduced slightly, states a letter from Westcorp accompanying the application.

“The hotel brand we are working with is requiring a number of presidential and executive suites (much larger hotel suites) to be designed which will reduce the overall hotel room count,” the letter says. “That work is ongoing, so no finalized drawings are available yet. We expect to lose anywhere between nine and 15 keys. To be conservative, for the purpose of expected total room count, we have reduced the total by 9.”

That number will better fit with the total number of parking spots provided under new rules that have changed since the last application.

The design is to remain the same as was approved two years ago with some minor corrections, the letter says.

READ MORE: Downtown Kelowna hotel project isn't just six storeys higher — it's almost twice the height

Westcorp first bought the land, which included the former Willow Hotel, in 2003 and had plans to start building a 26-storey tower in 2016 before backing off.

The project came back in 2018 but had grown to 33 storeys. That was approved by council but construction never started.

On March 11, 2020, Westcorp announced the name of the operators of the hotel, touted as an “exclusive world-wide luxury brand,” would be announced in two week’s time.

Then the COVID lockdown hit, devastating the hotel industry and the project ground to a halt.

READ MORE: Westcorp to announce name, operator of new luxury Kelowna hotel

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