KELOWNA, B.C. — A development that was recently approved by Kelowna’s city council is set to transform the city’s skyline and crown a new tallest building for B.C.’s interior
Water Street by the Park will add three towers, 650 homes and 45,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space to Kelowna. Its tallest tower will reach 132.7 metres. The project is situated along the 1600-block of Water Street, in the middle of downtown Kelowna.
The three towers will be 24, 28 and 42 storeys with a mass timber bridge running parallel with Water Street connecting two of the towers.
From its location at the eastern end of the William R. Bennett Bridge, only one block from Kelowna City Park and Hot Sands Beach, the project will give residents views of Okanagan Lake as well as mountain and valley views. The project’s design also includes a year-round heated pool.
The base of each tower will provide several levels of street-facing commercial space.
“Having travelled to Kelowna countless times over my life, it’s easy to see why so many people want to live here, and our goal is to help them realize that dream,” said Anthony Beyrouti, co-founder of Orchard Park Properties, the project’s developer, in a statement. “As committed as we are to building this project and these beautiful homes, we’re equally committed to being great corporate citizens that will work collaboratively to enhance Kelowna’s status as a great place to live and work.”
Sales for Water Street are anticipated to begin in late spring 2021, with construction expected to begin later this year.
Now there’s an unfortunate intrusion on the Kelowna skyline. With so much development potential in the central city, other than greed, you have to wonder what’s driving the out-of-scale vertical format?