How new provincial housing rules are boosting and hurting development in Central Okanagan
iNFOnews looked at how B.C.’s 2024 housing rules played out on each side of the William R. Bennett Bridge, including at Westrich Bay.
In March 2024, iNFOnews reported on how new provincial housing rules were landing differently on either side of Okanagan Lake. The story looked at the province’s new rules for housing investors, including a new tax on homes resold within two years of purchase. In downtown Kelowna, one developer told the outlet he had paused a planned high-rise because presale buyers had not materialized under the new conditions.
West of the William R. Bennett Bridge, on Westbank First Nation land, the picture was different. Westrich Bay’s sales manager told iNFOnews the project had a waiting list of more than 100 people at the time, and described what sets the community apart:
- True waterfront. Owners walk out of their homes and onto the beach, with no road or row of houses in between.
- An approved marina. The property came with a foreshore licence, so the marina was already fully approved.
- The location. Westrich Bay sits directly across the lake from downtown Kelowna, close enough to enjoy everything downtown.
The article also noted that excavation had started for the waterfront villa foundations.
Read the full story at iNFOnews. For current homes and prices, see our floor plans and pricing.
Source: iNFOnews (opens in a new tab)