Another good reason for this project

[DuaneT]

Here is another reason to allow the construction of Lawson Landing. On Monday February, 6th operators of commercial passenger boats on Okanagan lake will be going to city council discuss better downtown moorage for these cruise boats. They will be asking the council to look at developing a large docking facility at the foot of Bernard Ave. This would probably be built with taxpayer’s money, unless of course the CRCP and opponents of this project are willing to provide the millions of dollars that it will be required to build this facility.

Part of the Lawson Landing Proposal is having the developer build exactly what these boat operators are asking for. He is willing to build a wharf project that will allow boats to park on one side and create dozens of public moorage for boats on the other side where there is none at the moment.

This will be a win-win situation for the city, for the boat operators and the developer.

[DuaneT]

This is the acticle printed on CKOV's website about the downtown Moorage.

"City council has ordered up a staff report about the shortage of boat moorage on the downtown waterfront. But Mayor Sharon Shepherd says there's not much the city can do about the situation in the longterm, until some waterfront redevelopment proposals actually come before council.

Shepherd says the Lawson's Landing highrise proposal is still before the federal government, as the developer tries to find out how much of the lake he'll be allowed to fill. She expects the project will come up for council consideration later this year.

Two commercial cruise boat owners were at council yesterday (Monday), saying they and other operators have no place to regularly moor their vessels, because the city has only one commercial-sized dock for lease, and it's taken by a passenger-carrying houseboat.


Posted on Monday 06 February 2006 - 20:00:56"

www.ckov63.com/news.php

[jared]

Has there been any news at all lately about this project?? I'm starting to wonder if this one is dead in the water.... or dead on the waterfront. Hope not though!!!

[DuaneT]

As far as we know they are still waiting for some sort of word from the department of fisheries. Once they get the word we will know if they are able to contuine.

[jared]

Sure is being dragged out.... The Dept. of Fisheries must be pretty thorough.

[Administrator]

Actually, another word comes to mind ;D

[KevDreger]

So... Is this project canceled or what? I don't see the Development signs posted on the buildings that would have be torn down for this anymore. I'm somewhat glad its not being built. 5 Towers that all look practically the same is weird I think. The discovery point, lagoons, and dolphin towers alone look kinda ugly when they all look the same but whatever. I don't want our skyline looking like a bunch of groups of Identical towers. I would be for this project if they were maybe just building the two tallest ones and further back from the lake. I think we need to build 15 storey and shorter on the lake shore and then build taller further back. Make a layered effect for our skyline. Yes? No?

[jared]

I really hope that this one still has a chance! i agree with you Kev about the clusters of towers that all look the same. Judging form the renderings I think that this project has enough differences between the buildings (the building footprint of the lagoons/dolphins/discovery point, is pretty well identical between the three, so it looks like you have the same tower x3 with one just being a little taller) to give each tower an individual look apart from the rest, same exterior design but different shapes. As for the stepped back look, i believe that in a perfect world thats a great idea but realistically how many areas along the lakeshore are really suitable for highrise development, and anything new that is likely proposed for the downtown area is already going to be two or three blocks in from the lakeshore. With the few highrise proposals that kelowna recieves in the course of a year the most of them are likely already going to be fairly far inland (park place and centuria), aside from the old cn rail lands. This is such an opportinity for the city to give the bernard ave. corridor a big kick of life, not to mention the economic spinoffs. Possibly draw a few more developers to look a little closer at areas south and east of it like lawrence/leon and the rest of bernard. I dont think anything like this will ever come around again for that area, and the city would be crazy to let this one slip through their fingers.

[KevDreger]

So you don't think these towers should be moved back from the lake a little bit? And as for the leon,lawrence, and bernard streets... There has been other highrise proposals there such as two 14 storey buildings on bernard that weren't approved. City hall is also stronger considering building a new city hall building roughly 10 stories tall on leon or lawrence or something. I heard that they really want to clean that area up by building a highrise there which would hopefully bring more developers to the area to build more highrises there.

[jared]

I really dont see too much of a problem with having it as close to the lake as it is... it ties in so well with the wharf and shoreline walkway. The city would spend millions of dollars improving that shoreline at the foot of bernard and would likely never come close to creating something as grandiose as whats proposed. Why blow all that public tax money when a developer is willing to do it all out of their pocket (im sure they will still profit quite nicely) and still leave it all open and accessible to the public. Still all for it!!! Any reason that the city didnt approve the two 14's on bernard? was that where the bargian barn currently is?

[KevDreger]

I'm pretty sure... Those two 14's were gunna there... Don't know why they were cancelled so quickly. That kinda sucks.

[jared]

Well, thats too bad. I guess that it leaves the property open to different proposals still. Maybe something even better than what was initially proposed. possibly something a little more commercial, and upbeat. Bring a little more life to that part of bernard. i think duane mentioned that the st. paul project may have impacted the outcome of the original proposal.