Downtown Kelowna

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Stuart Park in Downtown Kelowna by: Kim Thomas

Members & Association


WELCOME TO DOWNTOWN KELOWNA!

If your business is located in the Downtown business improvement area (BIA), you’re a member! Check out the official map here. If you’re outside the area, we won’t hold it against you, but you’re not a member. Booooo Hoooo.

As the Downtown Kelowna Association (DKA), we’re responsible for assisting local property owners and business people to promote their business and further trade and commerce in the Downtown area. Worrying about that keeps us up nights, but don’t feel bad, we like our jobs.

If you own a new business in Downtown Kelowna, please complete the Business Information Form in the sidebar on your left. That way we’ll know who you are so we can stop by to say hello.

You can find more important membership information and learn more about our services on the Members Centre page here. Please email us with any comments and concerns, or come visit us at #200-287 Bernard Avenue. Bring donuts. We like those. Maple.


WHAT DOES THE DKA DO?

Advocacy – the 6 things that we are working on achieving in the next 1 to 5 years

  1. Bernard Ave Construction – completion as soon as possible with the least amount of disruption
  2. Revitalization of Leon and Lawrence
  3. Move the trucking route out of Downtown
  4. Better signage on the highway
  5. Kerry Park Plaza
  6. Parking


Marketing

  1. Branding Building – build awareness of Downtown, change perceptions of the brand, elevate the image, increase visitation
  2. Promotional Material
    Essential Guide – produce and distribution
    Advertising – to support events and promotions
    Signage
  3. Promotions
    Small Shop Saturday – March, June, October
    Taste of Downtown
    Bernard Ave – “It’s Happening”
    Christmas Campaign
  4. Events
    Downtown after 5
    Block Party
    Light Up
  5. Communications
    Website
    E-News
    Eye on Downtown
    Open Houses
  6. Media Relations
    Press Releases
    Answering Media Requests & Interviews 


Business Recruitment and Retention

  1. Maintaining  up-to-date information on the Website
  2. Attend the ICSC Conference and Tradeshow at Whistler
  3. In partnership with the City, produce a Downtown Information Brochure for developers and national chains


On Street Services

  1. Downtown on Call – Taking care of place is a crime prevention tool
    Street Patrol 6 days a week - clearing the streets and public spaces of sleepers and undesirables
    On site assistance, Security Alerts, Safe Walk Escorts
    Partner with Bylaws, RCMP and Social Services
  1. Clean Team (seasonal)
    Sidewalk sweeping
    Graffiti removal
    Garbage free alleys
  1. Concierge (seasonal)
    Staffing the Information Booth in Kerry Park – promoting Downtown businesses
    Patio Furniture Program in Kerry Park
    Updating the membership database


WHAT IS A BIA AND HOW ARE WE FUNDED?

  • Registered not-for-profit Business Improvement Area Association (“BIA”)
  • Section 215 of the Community Charter provides Council with the authority to establish, by bylaw, a Business Improvement Area
  • A BIA is a business association which is responsible for a defined area, and has a guaranteed funding source for the duration of the municipal bylaw
  • City of Kelowna BYLAW NO. 10010 – A bylaw of the City of Kelowna to establish a local area service for the purposes of annually funding the Downtown Kelowna Improvement Area (2009-2013)
  • The current boundary is a 42-square block

Levy Contribution by Downtown Property Owners:

2009

2010

2011

2012*

2013

$533,000

$570,000

$610,000

$652,000

$679,000

*the 2012 mill rate for every $1000 of assessed value is 1.357


WHO IS THE MEMBERSHIP?

Membership consists of the business and property owners located within the current 42-square block boundary. As of March 2012, we have 1120 members – 441 property owners and 679 businesses.

Top Ranking Categories

Restaurants

98

Beauty & Spa

36

Apparel & Accessories

35

Financial Institutions

29

Lawyer & Notary

27

Medical & Dental

23

Society Organizations

20

Art Galleries & Shops

18

Sports & Fitness

12

WHAT'S DOWNTOWN!

Parks & Public Spaces

Art Walk
City Park – volleyball, basketball, tennis, water park, playground, field, boardwalk, beach
Kasugai Garden
Kerry Park – the Sails, stage
Stuart Park – skating rink, stage
Waterfront Park – the Dolphins, beach board walk, public space, stage

Venues

Venue Name

# Seats

Art Gallery                 

150

Kelowna Actors Studio

230

Laurel Packinghouse

278

Rotary Centre of the Arts - Mary Irwin Theatre

320

Paramount Movie Theatre

750

Kelowna Community Theatre

850

Waterfront Park - Island stage

5,000

Prospera Place Arena

6,000

Total  

13,578


Kelowna Rockets, a franchise in the Western Hockey League, fans inject $15 million into local stores, restaurants and hotels

Lake City Casino, recently completed a $13 million, 10.000 sq.-foot expansion

Incentives

  • Low development cost charges – Downtown projects benefit from 29% lower development charges
  • Revitalization Tax Exemption Program
  • Rental housing grants –the City offers $200,000 in annual grants to encourage construction of affordable rental housing
  • Low parking requirements
  • Parking Credits for mixed use developments
  • Cash in lieu of parking provisions
  • Heritage Tax Incentive Program
  • Heritage Conservation Grants


WHAT'S NEW DOWNTOWN?

Residential developments since 2007 are:

Skye Tower     |    The Madison     |    Martin Lofts     |    Waterscapes


WHAT'S NEXT DOWNTOWN?

$14 million Bernard Ave Revitalization – the project will expand the sidewalk, enhance the pedestrian experience and offer more room for outdoor seating and retail  

The Kelowna Yacht Club – constructing a new 24,000-sq.-ft. Clubhouse facility, including rentable multi-purpose and banquet rooms.  In 2011, the Club added 300 slips to bring its moorage to 1000

$4.2 million Public Pier and Marina – new commercial pier will host touring boats while the public pier and marina offers boat rentals, public moorage and gas bar

$2.2 million Stuart Park expansion – addition of promenade and turf once old Yacht Club building is removed

$2 million Kerry Park redesign – continuation of the boardwalk from Stuart Park through to City Park and optimize function of the public space

$2 million Queensway Transit Exchange – construction of a building on the island at the Queensway Transit Exchange that will include a security office and convenience retail space

$55 million Aquila Development ‘The 24 Kelowna Residential Tower’ – proposed condo project is a mixed use, contemporary, multi-storey residential tower with 207 residential units, 185 parking stalls and commercial strip at the base of the building

$19 million Interior Health Authority  – proposed construction of new IHA administrative offices, new parkade and expansion of existing parkade

Davara Enterprises – constructing a 3 story office building on the corner of Bertram and Leon

Troika Developments – constructing a 5 store office building on Leon

Delta Grand Hotel – in the progress of a $14million upgrade and renovation

Argus Properties ‘Manhattan II’ – 8 level office building development with a scheduled occupancy date of spring 2013

Monaco Project – potential twin tower residential development


WHAT ELSE KELOWNA HAS TO OFFER - THE ICING ON THE CAKE!

Trading area     |    Quality of living    |    Tourism    |    UBCO    |    Okanagan College    

International Airport    |    New bridge    |    Road improvements