Brooklyn at Bernard Block 1471 St. Paul Street Kelowna 178 homes in a 25-storey mixed-use tower by Mission Group
High on the outlooks at Brooklyn at Bernard Block
Michael Bernard
The Vancouver Sun
Brooklyn at Bernard Block
Project address: 1471 St. Paul St., Kelowna
Project scope: A total of 178 condo homes in a 25-storey commercial-residential highrise in downtown Kelowna, the first of three buildings on the 1.5-acre site. Panoramic views of the city, Okanagan Lake and the surrounding mountains. Rooftop terrace for residents with outside seating and indoor club lounge amenities. Walking distance to restaurants, boutique shops, waterfront walks and city park
Price: One bedroom, one-bed and den and two-bed homes (491 to 871 sq. ft.) with some sub-penthouses. From $349,900 to $669,900 for two-bed homes. Sub-penthouses from $599,900
Developer: Mission Group
Architect: NSDA Architecture
Interior Design: i3 Design
Sales Centre: 560 Bernard Ave., Kelowna
Hours: By appointment and website registration
Website: http://www.liveatbrooklyn.com
Completion Date: winter/spring 2021
Normally, the best views from the top floor of a concrete highrise are reserved for those willing to pay the top price for a penthouse suite. But in Kelowna, a progressive developer is opening up that favoured space to all the owners of the new building’s 178 suites.
The top floor of Mission Group’s 25-storey concrete highrise—Brooklyn at Bernard Block—will boast the city’s highest rooftop terrace and indoor lounge. At 200 feet up, residents will enjoy views of the city below and a panoramic vista of Okanagan Lake and the surrounding mountains. The terrace will also feature barbecue facilities and a firepit with seating, while the indoor lounge will have 12-foot-high ceilings and a kitchen and lounge facility.
“The best views are from the top floor, so why not give that space to the residents rather than to a penthouse?” asks Luke Turri, Mission Group’s vice-president of development.
The idea for putting the lounge on top was inspired by examples in New York, where putting such amenities high up is becoming more of a trend, Turri said.
That’s not the only feature that distinguishes Brooklyn from other highrise projects in the city’s downtown core, including Mission Group’s own projects, such as the nearby 20-storey tower Ella being built on Bernard.
The sizing of the suites in each building is also different. Most of Brooklyn’s suites will fall into a range of one-bedroom homes from 491 square feet up to a two-bedroom, two-bath corner model at 871 square feet, with a handful of sub-penthouse offerings. Ella’s suites range more broadly from 311 square feet for a studio to 2,115 for the penthouse.
The price range for each building reflects the different markets to which Mission Group is appealing. For Brooklyn, Mission Group is aiming to attract single and professional couples who seek the urban lifestyle with selling prices ranging from $349,900 to $669,900. By contrast, Ella was intended to appeal not only to first-time buyers with studios at $269,900, but also to well-heeled downsizers able to pay up to $2 million for a penthouse.
Another feature Mission Group expects will attract buyers is the freedom for owners to offer their homes as short-term rentals, Turri said. The in-fill project is being built on property zoned for hotel use, which made it easier for city council to approve rentals shorter than a month.
Turri said the downtown core is already attracting young buyers who are drawn to the Okanagan city of 130,000 by opportunities in a rapidly growing high-tech industry, which now accounts for more than 6,500 jobs in the region and more than $1 billion in economic activity. Add to that magnet, the arrival of large employers such as Interior Health Authority and the RCMP, which has expanded its divisional presence in the city.
Turri said Kelowna’s $14-million revitalization of Bernard Avenue has also contributed to the accelerated densification of the city’s downtown core. It also accounts for the high 98 out of 100 walk score accorded to the building.
“This trend of going up, not out, is not something you need to convince people of anymore,” said Turri, who formerly worked for the city’s planning department when it envisioned the massive renovation of the downtown core. “That conversation has passed.
“Now we are getting into a more sophisticated urban community here where we are not being asked whether the building should be 20 storeys or 23 storeys. It’s more about what can the building and the streetscape bring to the community here.”
The building, located on a lot formerly occupied by a bargain retail outlet and before that a Woolworth store, will have a distinctly traditional exterior look compared to the more modern appearance of Ella. It earns its New York namesake from its use of red brick and black railing features.
Inside, there are two colour choices offered by i3 Interiors, premium wide-plank vinyl flooring throughout the main areas and carpeting in the bedrooms. Kitchens feature quartz countertops complemented by subway-tiled backsplashes. All homes feature designer stainless steel appliances, including a counter-depth fridge, built-in wall oven, cooktop and dishwasher, and matte black finish cabinet hardware and faucet.
Bathrooms feature designer floor tiles, quartz countertops with undermount sinks and black faucets, black-framed mirror and towel bars. Subway tile surrounds are used for tubs and showers.
Individually controlled heat pumps in each home provide personalized heating and cooling and include heat-recovery ventilation to maximize energy efficiency. Hot water, supplied by a central hot water system is included in the strata fee.
Secure parking spaces, separated from retail parking for the businesses in the building, are provided for every home.
While Mission Group has been holding meet-and-greet sessions in Vancouver and Kelowna this summer, appointments have been through website registration. Sales will formally begin in early next month.
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