High-rise proposed for parking lot in downtown Kelowna

KELOWNA – A parking lot in downtown Kelowna could become a 20-storey high-rise if a development proposal going before city council gets approved.

The Mission Group wants to build the high-rise at Ellis Street and Lawrence Avenue in downtown Kelowna, according to a report from the Community Development Department.

The 20-storey building at 1558 and 1580 Ellis St. would have commercial retail space on the ground floor with four floors of parking above, the report says. The rest of the floors would be residential condos. In the current proposal, there are plans for 116 units including studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments.

The building is to be constructed primarily of concrete and glass to create an “interesting modern design,” the report says.

For the building to go ahead, city council would have to approve two building variances relating to the height of the building. One variance would alter the maximum height of the building and the other would alter the height of the podium, or the first 5 floors of the structure.

Mission Group purchased the two properties from the City of Kelowna, for more than $2.6 million earlier this year. The City of Kelowna initially purchased the two properties for $1.97 million in 2012, and is currently using the two properties for parking.

The development proposal is set to go before city council at their meeting on July 25.

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