An artist's drawing of the Westcorp hotel on the shore of Okanagan Lake in downtown Kelowna.
Image Credit: Westcorp
February 10, 2016 - 11:30 AM
KELOWNA - The start of construction on a massive hotel project in downtown Kelowna has been pushed back, from this spring to the fall.
Westcorp was planning to break ground in March but according to a release from the developer, some elements of the design are still being finalized.
One of the reasons for the delay, spokesperson Gail Temple says, is the high water table.
“We have decided that the window for construction of our foundation during low water table levels has now become too tight to begin construction in March,” she says. “As a result, we will wait until after the summer when the water table recedes to begin construction.”
The 26-storey boutique hotel is being built by Calgary-based Westcorp, which has owned the property since 2003. Construction is expected to take roughly two years and be completed in late 2018 or early 2019.
“It remains our intention to time the opening of the hotel with the slow part of the tourist cycle in order to properly ramp up operations,” Temple says.
The existing buildings on Water Street, including the Metro Community shelter, will be torn down this spring and Metro moved to a temporary location.
“The leadership of Metro Community are excited and supportive of the new development,” Temple says. “They are keen to see it proceed and plan to vacate the premises on March 1.”
To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016