LIVING IN DOWNTOWN KELOWNA

BRIXX meets downsizing needs

As Kelowna’s downtown commercial and residential district rapidly emerges, so too does the demand for homes that will meet the needs of an equally fast growing demographic in the Okanagan Valley — baby boomers who want to shed their large and expensive singlefamily homes in the city ’s suburbs, a local condo marketer says.

“More and more people with these big 4,000- to 5,000-squarefoot homes are realizing ‘we are not actually using this big space so we don’t need it,’” says Don Warkentin of Fortune Marketing.

Adding to their rethink of their concept of home are rising property taxes and utility costs, as well as yard work, a consideration as they grow older and perhaps begin to winter elsewhere.

“What they need is 1,600 to 1,800 square feet and they want to be where it is walkable to go for coffee, go to a restaurant or a play in the evening,” Warkentin says.

In recognizing this evolving environment, local developers Majormaki & McLean decided to build BRIXX, a collection of 12 townhouses located in Kelowna’s cultural district and on the edge of the downtown.

Development partners Dwayne McLean and Trevor Rennie have been working together for 10 years and have previously done a heritage revitalization in Kerrisdale. Since then, they moved their families to Kelowna.

The development’s name is a tribute to the red bricks used in the old local railway station.

The bricks are part of a design by Calgary architect David Watkin that features both the old and the new elements in the development.

The four-level homes, all with entrances at street level, are larger than most of the offerings in Kelowna’s downtown, Warkentin says.

“The problem with a lot of these condo buildings going up is that you can get a 1,000-square-foot unit with one parking spot, but that’s too small for (this group),” he says.

At BRIXX, the homes range between 1,600 square feet and 1,800 square feet.

All homes feature rooftop patios measuring 150 square feet to 250 square feet and each comes with two side-by-side parking stalls. There is also an option for a small private elevator to take homeowners to the living levels and a small flex space with a door opening to the rooftop. The developer is offering two kitchen options: one called City Contemporary, with wood-panelled cabinetry and ceiling; and another called Downtown Heritage, with grey cabinetry. All kitchens are equipped with premium appliances by Miele and have large quartz counter islands, and have wine coolers, under-cabinet lighting, and pendant lights.

The homes, which feature higher-than-standard ceilings, are equipped with European oak hardwood flooring, with the option to have it extend throughout the entire space in place of plush carpeting. There are heated tile floors in the master and main bathrooms, which include a modern frame style shower stall with dual water controls, and floating vanities with an expansive mirror and distinctive pendant lighting.

The homes will be rentable and are covered by a 2-5-10 year warranty.

The new BRIXX development, seen in a rendering, is a collection of 12 modern, three-bedroom townhomes with rooftop patios and street level entrances, ranging up to 1,800 square feet.

These units are larger than most of Kelowna’s downtown spaces, have higher-than-standard ceilings and are finished with oak hardwood flooring.

The bathrooms have heated tile flooring, floating vanities with plenty of mirror space, modern frame shower stalls and distinctive pendant lighting.

The City Contemporary kitchen option has wood-panelled cabinetry. The light fixtures takes their cue from old railway crossing lights.