Major redevelopment of iconic building pitched for Highway 97

A radical redevelopment of an iconic building along Harvey Avenue will reshape the neighbourhood and corridor.

The New Life Church property on Highway 97 is in the process of being sold, according to a media release issued Tuesday.

“The globe has changed, and so has the church world,” Senior Leader Matti Koopman said in the release. “The pandemic exposed the fragility of traditional models of church. We recognized we needed to adapt and change.”

The prospective new owners are Impact UPstream Ventures, a Kelowna-based company headed by Al Hildebrandt. He’s worked on several other local community projects, such as Foundry Kelowna, JoeAnna’s House, and Kelowna’s Child Advocacy Centre.

The vision for the site is “to build a modern model of community living” called Vitae Village.

“In the ‘mid-town’ of Kelowna, we will be developing a family-friendly village, with homes, eateries, a co-working space for social innovators, and agencies seeking to make our community a safer, healthier place to live,” he is quoted as saying. “And the New Life Church family is looking to be central to that vision.”

The proposed development will feature two residential towers, a commercial podium, and will include New Life Church’s newly designed multi-purpose space. The goal for the space is all-week availability by multiple groups like schools, non-profits, and individuals.

The residential suites will be a combination of for sale and rental units.

The purchase is expected to clear before the end of the month.

The land will not need to be rezoned for the project.

The current building is home to a number of businesses, most notably the Wood Fire Bakery, and has long been the spot for annual ski-swaps.

It’s not yet known what will happen to these businesses or when the building could come down.