New plans submitted for trio of high rises in Prospera Place parking lot

Plans for a set of residential towers in Prospera parking lot have been resubmitted to the city.

An application submitted by ICR Projects Inc. on behalf of GSL Group, who owns Prospera arena, was received by the city earlier this month.

According to the application, the developers and the city have been discussing the proposed project since April but the mega-project was first proposed back in 2018.

The developers are seeking a text amendment to the proposed building heights for their project, which is proposed for 1241 Water Street.

Under the existing Downtown Urban Centre zone building heights are restricted to 12 storeys or 44 metres.

The developers are proposing three towers that would be 13, 22 and 26 storeys in height and would sit on a podium of about 16 metres.

The application says the developers are hoping for “early consideration” to gain direction on how or if to proceed with plans for a formal public parking proposal in the towers.

“The possible inclusion of arena event public parking as part of the future development of Lot 2, 1241 at Water Street has been in discussion for several years as it appeared to have been of interest and of value to the City of Kelowna,” the application says.

The application says the preliminary concept drawings don’t show additional parking, but there is a possibility of adding a partial level of underground parking with about 95 parking stalls that could be used by event participants at Prospera.

“As the developer would be incurring the project’s additional cost to construct approximately 95 additional parking stalls, management of any event public parking should be provided by the developer,” says the application.

“Parking rates during events to be agreed upon between the City and the developer with proceeds to be retained by the developer.”

A whopping 457 units are being proposed with a breakdown of 75 bachelor units, 209 one bedrooms and one bedrooms with dens and 173 units with two or more bedrooms.

Since the developers have yet to smooth out any requirements for parking, their preliminary “assumed parking” would include 442 residential stalls, 64 stalls for visitors and 25 stalls for commercial.

Retail uses would be provided in a “double height level” with three levels of parking above.

“Through the site’s redevelopment, this existing surface parking lot, under-utilized at most times, will be transformed into a space that will enhance the cultural vitality and increase the vibrancy of the downtown core,” the application says.

“Retail, proposed on all sides of the development and well-designed residential lobbies, along with the levels of much needed housing above, will bring more activity to the area at all times of day, encourage pedestrian movement around the site and help foster a human centred compact and complete neighbourhood with places to work, live and play.”

This application has yet to be circulated around the city’s development and planning department and more information may be required before it is forwarded to council for consideration.