Art Knapp site on Springfield in Kelowna to be redeveloped

Worman Homes is applying to redevelop the site of the former Art Knapp Plantland and Florist building on Springfield Road in Kelowna.

The property was sold in February of 2017 and the store was closed in July of that year after operating at 1994 Springfield Rd. for 34 years. The business is now concentrated at Art Knapp’s Benvoulin Road location.

The plans, which were submitted to city hall yesterday, Oct. 22, call for four buildings with mostly underground parking.

There will be 26,600 sq. ft. of retail space, 26,900 sq. ft of office space and 96 rental apartments.

“The concept with the multiple buildings is to create a vibrant, open and walkable development,” states a letter accompanying the application. “Using smaller footprint buildings and allowing pedestrians and traffic to flow through the site creates a more welcoming and neighbourhood feel.”

The land will need to be rezoned so the application will go to a public hearing.


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Rob Munro

Rob Munro has a long history in journalism after starting an underground newspaper in Whitehorse called the Yukon Howl in 1980. He spent five years at the 100 Mile Free Press, starting in the darkroom, moving on to sports and news reporting before becoming the advertising manager. He came to Kelowna in 1989 as a reporter for the Kelowna Daily Courier, and spent the 1990s mostly covering city hall. For most of the past 20 years he worked full time for the union representing newspaper workers throughout B.C. He’s returned to his true love of being a reporter with a special focus on civic politics