ELLA by Mission Group has it all

Mission Group’s new project, ELLA, will change the way people live in downtown Kelowna. The new high-rise, located on the corner of Ellis Street and Lawrence Avenue, offers many firsts – the first concrete high-rise in the Bernard District; targeting the first LEED® concrete tower in the area; the first residential tower with unobstructed views; and the first Kelowna condo tower with a Walk Score of 97 out of 100.

This week, ELLA received it final approvals from City Council. The 20-storey building features 116 condominiums and each home will have a view. The homes start on the sixth floor, residents will have views on all sides – lake views from southwest to northwest and mountain and city views to the east. Service commercial will occupy the street level, with residential parking on floors two through five.

“ELLA has it all,” says Jonathan Friesen, CEO, Mission Group. “Every home will have a view, its contemporary concrete design features innovative living spaces, a greened roof terrace and its located in the highly desirable Bernard District.”

Condominium sales continue to rise in the Okanagan. According to the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board (OMREB). In June 2017, there were 261 condo apartment sales, a 10 per cent increase from 237 sales in June 2016.

In addition, according to Statistics Canada’s 2016 Census, fewer Canadians are occupying single detached homes and the demand for multi-family homes is on the rise. The decline is especially prominent in British Columbia where the number of single-family homes fell to 44 per cent in 2016 from 60 per cent in the 1980s.

ELLA’s proximity in the heart of the Bernard District and a block away from the newly revitalized Bernard Avenue, with its engaging neighbourhood, along with the retail that will occupy its main floor, means residents will have a truly true downtown urban living experience, while still being a short walk to Kelowna’s popular beach and lake activities.

“This location offers a lifestyle where daily errands don’t require a car,” says Luke Turri, vice-president of development at Mission Group. “This dynamic neighborhood offers all of life’s amenities within a few block radius.”

The downtown location is expected to attract a variety of demographics, from younger home-buyers to retirees, while still drawing people with a similar mindset — those interested in living in the heart of the Bernard District. With its $13 million revitalization the Bernard District has transformed into a vibrant destination with trend-setting local cuisine, creative social houses, boutiques, culture and entertainment destinations. Because of its closeness to these amenities, ELLA’s extraordinarily high Walk Score of 97 out of 100 defines it a Walker’s Paradise.

The Walk Score is enhanced by easy access to various modes of transportation, such as the Queensway Transit Exchange, as well as outdoor recreation, including Okanagan Lake, the new Kelowna Yacht Club and the recreational City Park and waterfront boardwalk.

Besides the assortment of retail, food, shopping and entertainment, Kelowna’s core is experiencing an overall financial resurgence.

The city is now home to a new Interior Health Authority building, which will bring more than 800 jobs into the downtown core, and the Okanagan Centre for Innovation, a new hub for tech-sector businesses.

This makes ELLA the ideal location for a live-work experience.

In addition to its views and high Walk Score, ELLA offers another breakthrough by targeting LEED-certified concrete construction – a first in Kelowna for market concrete condominiums. The building follows Mission Group’s ‘Inspired Green’ approach with all its communities. Their aim is to lessen their environmental footprint in five areas – energy, water, air quality, recycling and climate change.

“In accordance with Mission Group’s Inspired Green approach, or goal is to lessen our environmental footprint,” says Turri. “This first and only LEED concrete condominium building in Kelowna. We continue to demonstrate our commitment to our Inspired Green strategy as we raise the standard of excellence in construction,”

Headquartered in Kelowna, Mission Group specializes in residential and commercial real estate development and construction. Each Mission Group community is given careful thought and consideration long before construction begins. Their goal to create and nurture homeowner relationships, as well as their modern and well-built designs has earned them numerous industry awards over the years. These include the Canadian Home Builders' Association Tommie Gold Awards for Excellence in Creating a Low-Rise Multi-Family Development (2016), Excellence in SemiDetached or Town-Home Development (2016), Built Green B.C. Builder/Renovator of the Year for Winsome Hill in 2012 and Multi-Family Builder of the Year (2014).