By: Cheyanna Lorraine
June 26, 2023
Construction on Kelowna’s next rental residential development is set to begin, as crews prepare to break ground at the site of the forearm Building Blocks childcare centre on Gordon Drive.
On Wednesday, June 28, PC Urban Properties, Nicola Wealth and Kelowna City Council will be in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony.
The six-storey building will have 192 rental units and a 3,800 square foot daycare centre on the ground floor.
A release from the developer says the old daycare building was at the end of its life and required and the new one will be a state-of-the-art replacement with 50 spaces for children.
“PC Urban is committed to providing much needed rental housing, and this is attainable new housing in an area with a below 0.6% vacancy,” said Shawn Smith, PC Urban CFO.
“This is the only rental building in Kelowna with a secured, in perpetuity daycare providing convenience to families both living in the new building and those families in the nearby downtown core.”
Kelowna council issued the development permits for this project in March.
The project will sit atop a two level parkade, which would have 213 parking stalls. Twenty-eight of these would be dedicated to the daycare and visitors.
There will be 91 one-bedroom apartments, 74 two-bedrooms and 27 three-bedrooms provided in a mix of apartments and a few townhomes on the ground floor.
The complex will feature a large outdoor amenity space located on the second floor which would include a community garden, a barbecue and dining area, a fire pit and an indoor gym.
“This is a really well envisioned and planned project that we are thrilled to see in Kelowna,” said mayor Tom Dyas.
“These purpose-built rental homes are exactly what we need to fill in that missing middle housing that is suitable for families and with great amenities included.”
This project is a part of PC Urban’s new brand, which aims to develop permanent rentals for communities throughout the province. Urban Flats currently has about 900 units under construction with another 650 in the development and approvals stage.
