Plans for 144 rental units, childcare centre on Coronation Avenue submitted at Kelowna city hall

Several applications have been submitted at city hall for a proposed high-rise development on Coronation Avenue.

A developer, using the name Coronation Holdings, is looking to add the rental only subzone onto 659 Coronatine Avenue, which is currently zoned as UC1 – Downtown Urban Centre.

According to the application, the developer is proposing a 19-storey (56 metre) building with 144 purpose-built rental units with a childcare centre on the ground floor.

In this area of downtown, the city only allows 12 storeys. The developer’s project meets the 56 metre maximum height allowed, but a variance is still required for the height.

The application says the developer is reducing the maximum floorplate 15% below the maximum allowed to reduce massing and shading and reducing the podium height to close to 40% less than allowed and further stepping down height onto Coronation Avenue.

The tower will also explore using pre-fabricated and modular construction materials when possible.

“The project is also one of the first high rise rental buildings in Kelowna designed for modular construction which has the potential to make housing more affordable and significantly reduce construction waste,” the application says.

According to the application, the developer claims that close to 30% of materials are wasted during “conventional construction” and concrete is responsible for close to 8% of CO2 emissions.

The building will include a mix of one, two and three bedroom units. According to the application, there will be four “artists residences” on the ground floor, fronting onto Coronation Avenue.

“This is aimed at offering affordable living spaces to local artists and integrating art into the community,” the application says.

“The resident’s art pieces can be displayed throughout the development at pre-designated locations inside the lobby, amenity space and the gym creating a dynamic fluid art space and a chance for the artists to represent themselves to the community.”

Other amenities will include a private dog park, community garden, gym and a children’s play area for residents.

Staff in the city’s planning and development department have circulated this proposal, however, more information might be needed before it is sent off to council for consideration.

This section of Coronation Avenue, near the intersection of Richter Street and Clement Avenue, has been experiencing a lot of residential development in recent months.

Earlier this month, the city issued building permits for a 60-unit apartment building at 620 Coronation Ave., which is behind another 66-unit condo building going up across from the Kelowna RCMP building.