Downtown Kelowna is a vibrant and exciting place to live. Included in North Downton Kelowna is an area known as the Cultural District. It’s here where you’ll find an interesting mix of housing options, shopping, live theatre and music. A short walk is all it takes to get you to urban wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries. And yes, they are usually open for tastings Housing consists of small to large sized condos and single family homes.
For those who want a lifestyle that doesn’t involve driving everywhere, North Downtown is the place to be.
Location
North Downtown is located just north of HWY 97 and encompasses the area along the waterfront and back towards Ellis and Richter Streets. Getting to downtown, public parks, museums and the beach, is rarely more than a 10 minute walk.
History
The area that is now North Downtown and the Cultural District was once the center of the Okanagan’s historical Fruit Packing Industry. Today, the packing houses are gone; however, the pioneering spirit still lives on.
Back in 1905, Kelowna was a bustling town of 600 people. Today you can imagine what it was like in the early days by visiting the Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum at the Laurel Packing House on Ellis. The packing house is now one of the hubs of activity in this area and is used for conferences, fundraisers, art shows and other social events. Another historical building is the Old Cannery Building, now home to BNA Brewing and Eatery.
North Downtown Amenities
The list of amenities in North Downtown Kelowna is huge. Amazing restaurants, upscale boutiques, mom and pop stores, coffee shops, cafés, museums, two live theatres, opera and the symphony, as well as the marina are all right here.
Want to go bowling? No problem, BNA Brewing has a 6-lane alley on site. Prefer bird watching? Take a stroll down the boardwalk that connects Rotary Marsh Bird Sanctuary to City Park. Those who want to play a game of beach volleyball are minutes away from Hot Sands Beach in City park where you’ll find multiple courts. If you get too hot, simply jump into the lake for a swim.
When you’re looking for entertainment, this area is where you want to be. From the Kelowna Farmers’ Market satellite location to block parties, to live music in the park to outdoor and indoor big name concerts, it all happens here. For more information on happenings in this area visit Tourism Kelowna’s website. This truly is the best place to be a tourist in your home town.
Schools
Schools in this area consists mainly of colleges and trade schools. A short drive to the south side of HWY 97 is where you’ll find elementary, middle and secondary schools, including French Immersion and private schools. There’s also an elementary school a little further north. Camosun College is a 15-minute drive away, with the University of British Columbia Okanagan about a 30 minute drive. There are also several art and technical schools a short drive, bike or bus ride away.
Demographics
This area is a true melting pot of people and personalities.
North Downtown Kelowna average age: 55
North Downtown Kelowna average Income: $67,000
North Downtown Kelowna households with children: 20%
Home Values
Downtown Kelowna has some of the best options to choose from when you want to live the Okanagan lifestyle. Partial ownership can range from 1/12 to 1/4 of the property and ranges from $45,000 for 1/12 ownership to $200,000 for 1/4 ownership. Strata and Owner Association Fees are extra. Full ownership condos in this area start at around $260,000 and go up to $950,000 depending on size and view. Townhomes will run you anywhere from $525,000 to $1,100,000. There are some single family homes in the area, with an average price of $750,000.
Walkability
The Walkability score for North Downtown Kelowna is 76, meaning you can do most of your day to day errands on foot. It’s also rated 99/100 for a bikers paradise, with quick access to all amenities and several trails in the area. Transit in this area is highly accessible as well.
An area’s walkability score is based on the following:
90–100: Walker’s Paradise – Daily errands can be done on foot
70–89: Very Walkable – Most errands can be done on foot
50–69: Somewhat Walkable – Some errands can be done on foot
0–49: Car-Dependent – Most to all errands require a vehicle
Artfully uniting extraordinary lives with extraordinary homes is what we do. Whether you are curious as to your home's current value, or you wish to discuss what improvements and staging you can do to your home that will translate into increased value when selling, let our expertise guide you. Complete this form and we will contact you to discuss how we can be of value.
Client Feedback
Thank you for everything. I am so happy we chose your team as you were all so fantastic. You made the process very seamless. I will totally recommend you to others.
Ryan and Natasha H.
We’ve been working with Justin for two years with much success. Justin and his group are organized, professional, efficient, available, and get the job done without chaos and confusion! Justin handles the clients calmly and professionally and keeps things running smoothly. We highly recommend him!"
Scott & Gina Tyerman
Moving from another city, it was easy to see Kelowna offers many choices when it comes to choosing a Realtor®. If you are looking for a knowledgeable, well-connected professional, look no further than Justin O’Connor. He is thorough in his appraisal work and negotiates with a quiet confidence. Justin takes the time to get to know his clients, listens to their plans and stay focussed on their goals. It was a pleasure to work with Justin and his Sotheby’s team. They always kept the process enjoyable and stayed in touch. Justin and his team know how to ease the stresses that come with making big decisions and… he has a great sense of humor!
Anne Johnston
I think I was still in shock last night when we went through this process. Grant and I have loved our home over the years and have always taken pride in updating it for our own enjoyment. When we decided to move to a view lot and build our dream home, we knew our home would be attractive given the location and lot size. Your advice regarding further updates and staging was obviously very advantageous. Thank you!! I would also like to let you and Justin know (as I said, I think I was in a state of shock last night) since I didn’t say so last night, we are so appreciative of everything you have done for us to make this sale happen. I totally understand all of the behind the scenes work you both did with gathering information and providing immediate response to any agent query. You both represented Grant and I very, very well! I know we can’t totally celebrate until March 23 however, the heavy lifting is done. I would not hesitate to recommend the Justin O’Connor Group to anyone buying or selling!
Grant and Joyce
Working with Sotheby's was nothing less than professional. From start to finish everything went smoothly. It's good to choose a realtor that puts the client's interest first. I would recommend anyone selling their property to not hesitate going with Justin and the team!!
Ernie and Sue
When selling your home, it is essential that you are using the most professional and experienced people to guide you through this often complex process. The Sotheby’s group met all of our criteria and requirements to ensure we valued our house at the right price and made sure the entire experience was handled properly from day one all the way through to the final closing. We would highly recommend their friendly expert services.
Guy and Sonja
We have worked with the Justin O Connor team for both the sale of our show homes over the past 5 years as well as for our own personal home sales. The professionalism and knowledge ensured the process proceeded smoothly.
They do their research and deliver first class service throughout the sale process which carries through to the after-sale support as well. As a custom homebuilder it is important that we have a smooth transition to our clients as we turn over our homes.
I recommend the team for your real estate needs. You need a great team in the ever-evolving market here in the Okanagan.
