3 Tower Project on Leon Ave Approved

[CrystalCity]

Crystal mentioned that the original plan was much taller buildings, but the developer decided against it, and you seem to be disappointed. So, when the developers go higher you don't like it, when they go lower you don't like it either?

I don't think anyone really appreciates when agreed terms get altered after the papers are signed, and there are those who don't want to see a repeat of what happened with the Central Green or the yo-yo variances of the Westcorp Hotel happen with another development. It doesn't reflect well on the city a whole, and 3 strikes usually puts people out. They say skeptics are deep down just disappointed idealists.

[CrystalCity]

Well since this thread mentioned the OCP...I tried to fill out the city's most recent survey about it...and it glitched and locked up.

[dirtybiker]

...and it glitched and locked up.

That sums up our government as a whole right there....

[Scrobins94]

Just wanted to say this officially in here. But I think sales and shovels to the ground this year is a pipe dream. Sorry Anthony Beyrouti. Kelowna does not have the population base to support your mega project. At least not right now. Even Mission Group has scaled down their last 2 buildings on Central Green. You'd think they'd scale back if they felt they could sell more? The market post-pandemic has shifted. Not everyone wants to be cooped up inside a tiny apartment and crossing over others in a hallway to the elevator during a lockdown. At least not as many do as before. We need more 2-3 bedrooms and a bit more healthy human-centered designed spaces.

[lifegives]

Just wanted to say this officially in here. But I think sales and shovels to the ground this year is a pipe dream. Sorry Anthony Beyrouti. Kelowna does not have the population base to support your mega project. At least not right now. Even Mission Group has scaled down their last 2 buildings on Central Green. You'd think they'd scale back if they felt they could sell more? The market post-pandemic has shifted. Not everyone wants to be cooped up inside a tiny apartment and crossing over others in a hallway to the elevator during a lockdown. At least not as many do as before. We need more 2-3 bedrooms and a bit more healthy human-centered designed spaces.

The number of units in Central Green is actually higher than originally planned with the two 12-story towers. I've read a couple of places that the soil in that area was found to not be up to sustaining the planned height so the changes had to be made.

People in Europe have been living in apartments much more than we have, they actually have a pretty good feeling of community from what I remember. Agreed that we need more 3-bedroom units for the kids. And Rowcliffe park has turned out great for people and dogs to enjoy in a myriad of ways.

[cv23]

I've read a couple of places that the soil in that area was found to not be up to sustaining the planned height so the changes had to be made.

Yet there is an existing 14 storey tower right across the street and towers of 16-46 going in a few blocks away?

[Even Steven]

I've read a couple of places that the soil in that area was found to not be up to sustaining the planned height

Was it Castanet? Because Castanet experts are sure of very interesting things sometimes lol.

[Mrmarvingardens]

Why there are two 6 storey buildings and not towers as originally envisioned by council?
Soil instability has nothing to do with why the project changed.
The reason is that city officials in their ineptitude did not have that agreement in writing.
The developer used poor soil conditions as a reason to build what is now under construction.
The original plan was for 717 suites.
The plan now: 32 mini suites;22 studio 139 -1 bedroom; 21- 2 bedroom.
Developers build mini and tiny suites because they are cheaper to build and produce higher profit margins for investors.
Such construction is common in Kelowna.Tiny suites, high rents.
Non involvement by the city in providing guidance as what housing the community really needs, letting the developer do what is wants is the result of what Central Green (and other developments) has become.

[lifegives]

Initial plans called for the buildings to be 12 storeys high, which were nixed due to soil conditions.

Initial plans called for the two buildings located at the corner of Richter Street and Harvey Avenue to be 12-storeys high before it was determined the site's soil conditions couldn't handle the density.

Most all our local news outlets had some variation on this statement.

[Catsumi]

Just wanted to say this officially in here. But I think sales and shovels to the ground this year is a pipe dream. Sorry Anthony Beyrouti. Kelowna does not have the population base to support your mega project. At least not right now. Even Mission Group has scaled down their last 2 buildings on Central Green. You'd think they'd scale back if they felt they could sell more? The market post-pandemic has shifted. Not everyone wants to be cooped up inside a tiny apartment and crossing over others in a hallway to the elevator during a lockdown. At least not as many do as before. We need more 2-3 bedrooms and a bit more healthy human-centered designed spaces.

The number of units in Central Green is actually higher than originally planned with the two 12-story towers. I've read a couple of places that the soil in that area was found to not be up to sustaining the planned height so the changes had to be made.

People in Europe have been living in apartments much more than we have, they actually have a pretty good feeling of community from what I remember. Agreed that we need more 3-bedroom units for the kids. And Rowcliffe park has turned out great for people and dogs to enjoy in a myriad of ways.

You're right that people have been living in smaller apartments much more. But this isn't Europe. The culture of people in Canada is much more similar to that of the USA. Driving a car (often times a big pickup truck) and having land and space is part of the North American dream. Heck, people here are even bigger than in Europe.

Mission Group is so full of BS. When there's a will there's a way. If the soil isn't ideal, you can engineer around it. Pilings, etc. Hey, they can do it for Ella, Brooklyn, and whatever their other buildings are called. They're doing it for Aqua too.

Anthony Beyrouti is also full of BS. First he asked for short rentals variance saying that that was required to make the project feasible. Then the pandemic changed the story (Airbnb's are now suddenly empty) and as such now that such short term rentals variance request is no longer so essential to make the project "viable financially".

All these developers lie, knowing full well the city cannot prove or disprove their claims of having to have X, Y, or Z Variant to make the project viable. Often the excuse is used to ask for exceptional height (therefore violating the OCP), reduce parking, or not provide the right mix of units (2-3 bedrooms) because that's just not as profitable for them. All while they the very community they're looking to benefit from and claiming to be trying to help.

The Leon Ave towers design is not just not world class, or very good. It's honestly total and utter s*. It's such a disappointment to propose such ugly monstrosity in one of our main corridors entering downtown. With no consideration to heritage, human scale, or materials to tie better to its surroundings.

[CrystalCity]

...and it glitched and locked up.

That sums up our government as a whole right there....

Reminds me of the scene in Armageddon...contacted and built by the lowest bidder.

[Mrmarvingardens]

Just a note.
References are made to the latest two and final buildings on the Central Green project.
The developer is Stober, not Mission Group.
It was Stober that used "unstable ground" as the reason for not constructing the original towers.
The company representative said this with a straight face before council.
I believe Mission Group is finished at Central Green.

[lionchild]

I did a quick illustration off of a recent photograph from "Digital Nomad Photography" on Instagram. It's not an accurate depiction of what will be built, but you can sort of get a feel of how the core might look like in the not-so-distant future if the city continues going this direction. Again, not accurate or to scale.

[Even Steven]

Not going to lie, that looks pretty awesome.

[just_browsing]

Not going to lie, that looks pretty awesome.

This is a pretty clueless statement lol. I prefer safety, quality, and function over perception. This is coming with neither. Once again, 23 fire personnel in the entire city of Kelowna, protecting what takes the rest of the world well over 100 personnel?! Thinking with their instagram account rather than their head.