Kelowna

It's a mega-project that will change the landscape of Kelowna and it's moving full steam ahead.

Kelowna Mountain, the brain child of local developers Nicola and Mark Consiglio, includes plans for the construction of a ski hill, natural golf course and even a Capilano style suspension bridge located on the South Slopes of Kelowna's Upper Mission.

Mark Consiglio says Kelowna Mountain includes two phases. The first phase sits on 36 acres in the Chute Lake Road area followed by the development of a whopping 640 acres that will accommodate an equal amount of residential units -- 20 per cent of which will be dedicated to affordable housing.

Consiglio says more than 30 lots of the 55 available lots on phase-one are already pre-sold at roughly $400,000 a piece -- 20 per cent went to Albertans looking to relocate to the Okanagan.

He says there's also a lot of interest at home.

"We're trying to appeal to people who want a little bit larger lot than is currently being offered in the Valley with lots of amenities and a spectacular view."

Consiglio says he's working with the City of Kelowna on the zoning of phase-two dedicated to the 640 residential units. He says it's going to be a slow process.

"We will sell about 10-12 lots per year for the next 20 years."

Consiglio says adding amenities like a ski hill and suspension bridge make sense.

"We're at the same elevation as Crystal Mountain and we face north instead of south. So we thought this has potential for a local mountain. And we think that the suspension bridge could be the Okanagan's version of the Capilano Suspension Bridge. We hope we're going to be a great addition to Kelowna. We put a lot of thought and effort into trying to compliment Kelowna's booming tourism industry. Changing it and complimenting it is what we're trying to do."

Kelly Hayes' interview with Mark Consiglio.

Link: kelownamountain.com