Third attempt at mixed-use development across from Gyro Beach

Photo: Contributed

Will the third time be the charm?

The corner of Richter Street and Lakeshore Road might finally be getting developed if the City of Kelowna likes what it sees from documents submitted over the weekend.

Meiklejon Architects submitted plans for two six-storey buildings — called Caban — that would rise on the land that is current vacant across from Gyro Beach.

The site was originally eyed for development more than a decade ago by Vancouver’s Cressey Group, but the 2008 global financial crisis put those plans on hold.

The project was resurrected in 2017, with plans submitted to Kelowna council once again, but did not go anywhere for the second time in a row.

The plans are back for a third time, and they are essentially the same as they were three and a half years ago.

It would feature 130 residential units and eight retail locations. The most notable feature is a 520 square-foot waterfall that would face Lakeshore Drive on the west side of the development.

The application is asking for a development permit and a development variance permit for setback alterations along Lakeshore and Richter, as well as the back of the development.

“The architectural design for the building is a direct response to the urban fabric of the South Pandosy neighbourhood, bringing elements of the beach and lake into the project,” Meiklejohn wrote in its report. “The neighbourhood continues to increase in density and is known for its high quality of life and buildings. Several multi-unit residential developments have been completed or are currently being designed in the direct vicinity of Caban bringing several hundred new units to the market.

“We have designed Caban to be the focal point of this newly emerging densified neighbourhood.”