Hundreds of housing units proposed for old Kelowna Farmer’s Market location
The old Kelowna Farmers' Market location could be getting a drastic new look and purpose.
A developer has proposed two, six-storey buildings connected by a common level of underground parking with 294 residential units at the northeast corner of Dilworth Drive and Springfield Road, and the City of Kelowna staff will consider it before bringing it to council in the new year.
Empowered Development on behalf of Springfield LP applied to put a mixed-use residential building on the old farmer's market location.
The buildings would have 169 rental units and 125 condos a short walk from Orchard Park Mall, Parkinson Recreation Centre and other amenities.
Most of the condos would be for one or two people including 30 micro suits, which are typically between 250 and 300 square feet, and 60 one-bedroom units.
The developer has decided to partner with the car share service Modo to put in two or three car share stalls since the service is becoming increasingly popular. The plan also includes charging stalls for electric vehicles, close proximity to public transit, and a bike repair station with long-term bike parking.
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The application cites a well known fact that Kelowna is the fastest growing city in the country and more work is needed to meet the increasing housing demand.
“The 2021 StatsCan Census confirmed that Kelowna has the fastest population growth in Canada, with a population jump of 14 per cent since 2016. In addition, the Kelowna Housing Needs Assessment projected that the total demand for market rental dwelling units for 2021-2031 will be 4,360-6,000 units and 9,500-13,600 market condos. It is also forecast that 48 per cent of future housing demand is expected to be for rental housing. Our proposal consists of both stratified units and market rentals, with market rentals making up 57 per cent of all proposed units,” the developer wrote in the proposal.
This application comes as the city revealed recent developments have helped increase the apartment vacancy rate to 3.8 per cent, which is within the city’s target range of three to five per cent.
The developer said the project aligns with the city’s plan from its Housing Needs Assessment to diverse transportation options, but time will tell if the city agrees.
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