Forty-two floors. More than 130 meters high.
The next higher building in downtown Kelowna was approved, along with two other large towers on Leon Avenue.
During a meeting on Tuesday evening (January 12th) the council gave the go-ahead for the massive three-tower development that will represent an almost complete revitalization of the street. Councilors Charlie Hodge and Gail Given were the two votes against the motion by Vancouver-based developer Anthony Beyrouti, owner of ticket reseller VenueKings.com.
On the corner of Leon Street and Water Street, in the heart of downtown next to City Park, the towers will be 24, 28 and 42 stories tall. The development, dubbed Water Street by the park, is set to include 650 condominiums, office space, a parking platform with 727 parking spaces, 566 long-term bike parking spaces, and a bridge connecting one of the towers to the two on the opposite side of the street.
Passed. The council approves a massive three tower development with 7 to 2 votes. Councilors Gail Given and Charlie Hodge opposed it. https://t.co/KTIP2HgvTS
– Michael Rodriguez (@MichaelRdrguez) January 13, 2021
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While the council approved the project, it did so with clear reluctance. Coun. Hodge made an ardent plea of his fellow councilors when he announced his non-support for the project.
“We are all fed up with the state of Leon,” said Hodge, speaking of the long and ongoing social challenges in the region. “But three massive towers next to our park and so close to our waterfront are not the answer. It’s not right for Kelowna and I know it in my heart. “
City planner Terry Barton said that there was very little interest in the area from other developers, mainly due to the “bad shape” of the street. Hodge said the council, which Leon has long been grappling with, shouldn’t cause councilors to approve the project out of desperation.
“I’m afraid because we’re so sick of it we’re just accepting something that is not in our best interests,” he said.
The condition of Leon Avenue was mentioned in several letters of support for the project. Letters from the August Family Foundation, Global Okanagan, Prestige Hotels and Resorts and Hotel Zed mentioned all of the predominant issues, including drug use and corporate churn. Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said these letters “suggest that such gentrification will solve these social challenges.”
“It’s really important that we all step back and realize that the work we do on the social side and actually accommodate people is what is actually going to solve this. Not bringing rich people to Leon – that won’t solve the social challenges we have, ”said Wooldridge.
Mayor Colin Basran said the benefits of the project outweigh the disadvantages, but by a very small margin. The mayor has raised several concerns and is not sure if work on the project will begin this year. Its main priority, however, is the final revitalization of an area that is “in dire need”.
“Given the bulk and density, this is when you have someone who may not be familiar with the local market, who overpays for property and then needs to find a way to get the value out of it.
“This is a prime example.”
In the course of the project deliberation, it received little input from the public. Coun. Ryan Donn attributed this lack of participation to residents’ changing perceptions of major downtown developments.
Do you have anything to add to this story or anything else we should cover? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
@ Michaelrdrguez
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