Local Community Advertising
As we lurch upward in the rough metal lift, it's hard not to feel a bit of acrophobia rising in the pit of your stomach. But stepping off on the top floors, the feeling is utter astonishment. Kelowna's highest perch provides a perspective like no other.
As construction nears completion on One Water Street, we took the long ride to the top floors for a preview.
"Previous to this," said construction manager Robert Camacho, "other than a helicopter ride or flying over on an airplane, you don't get this view in Kelowna. It's very unique and expansive."
Expansive and expensive. Kelowna's highest condos come at a luxury price. The least pricey of the 442 units are all sold, with those remaining starting at around $1 million.
Camacho appeared willing to accept $10 million for the penthouse suite during our brief tour. "If you want to write a cheque today, we'll gladly provide the penthouse to you and we won't launch it in a few weeks," said Camacho with a smile.
"The interesting thing about the penthouse," he explained, "is it's only 4,500 square feet on the inside, but we're offering with the penthouse another 3,000 square feet of exterior space, so it is really quite something once you get up to that level."
One Water towers over it's closest rival in the race to build skyward. Nearby Waterscapes is a mere 26 stories. But Camacho believes Kerkhoff Construction may soon have company in the same altitude range.
"I hope so, I really think density in key city centres is important as we grow in population," he suggests. "I welcome the challenge of other developers, fellow developers coming to Kelowna and building at these heights and even greater."
And he added that if other developers don't exceed the height of One Water, his company may do it themselves.
"We do have some plans of our own in the future to possibly go a little higher as well," revealed Camacho. "We do aspire to being a little taller."
Local Community Advertising