Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/124234
W West Harbour by Robin Brunet f a stranger parachuted into the middle of West Harbour he might think he'd landed in the middle of a trendy new housing complex on the shore of Lake Como, Italy. From all angles, everything seems Mediterranean: the distinct tile roofs, the stucco accents, the handsome courtyards and of course the jewel of the lake and the distant lights of the far shore. But West Harbour is located on Lake Okanagan in Kelowna, just a stone's throw from Highway 97 and the new William R. Bennett Bridge. That said, Troika Developments principal Brad Klassen admits achieving the look and feel of Italy – to the point where his company researched properties bordering Lake Como – was the main design intent of his 44 acre/220-home project. "We determined early on that a Mediterranean/Tuscan appearance would fit very well with Kelowna's hot, dry summer and gorgeous spring and fall," he says. "The colour palette conforms to naturally occurring hues found in the surrounding area, to complement the site instead of sticking out dramatically. Additionally, the environmental benefit of concrete, stucco and stone exteriors contributes to the sustainability of the buildings. But perhaps most of all, it would be a departure from the West Coast influence that dominates so many master-planned communities in B.C." Location 1600 Marina Way, Kelowna Developer Troika Developments and Quadra Homes General contractor CorWest Builders Architects & interior Designers Oasis Design; Mullins Drafting & Design Civil Consultant CTQ Consultants Ltd. Total area 220 homes/approx. 45 acres Total cost $128 million West Harbour p58-63Bow_West Harbour.indd 63 photos courtesy Troika Developments I West Harbour was designed as a vibrant neighbourhood complete with boat slips, a swimming pool and a recreation/ community centre. Ten exterior home plans of 2,100 to 3,500 square feet were created, with careful attention paid to site placement. "For example, visitors passing through the large entry gates of West Harbour find themselves driving along a 'grand boulevard' that divides the community in two and offers an unobstructed view of the lake," says James Haasdyk, owner of Oasis Design, who along with Mullins Drafting & Design were responsible for creating the home plans and other components. Klassen first examined the property seven years ago and thought it would be ideal for 1,500 multi-family homes. "It was beautiful . . . all grassland and a gentle slope to the water," he recalls. For the next three years Troika Developments worked with the property owners and ultimately signed a 99-year prepaid lease that enabled Mullins Drafting & Design's Lee Mullins to commence conceptual design in 2007. But that same year, the multi-family residential market collapsed in the Okanagan. "We were fairly far along with the conceptual designs but not full bore into working drawings, so we stopped dead in our tracks and reconsidered the entire project," recalls Klassen. The decision to create 220 single-family homes was made quickly. "Between 2008 and 2009 Lee developed our first five floor plans, and we retained James Haasdyk to develop the other five," says Klassen. "Having two designers with different design ideas became crucial in order for us to avoid creating a cookie cutter single family community." Although stucco, stone, raised entrances and a colour scheme of deep burgundies, mustard and earth tones contributed to a Tuscan esthetic, Haasdyk says another contributing factor "was undoubtedly the use of concrete tile for the roofs. We were lucky to retain Madge Contracting Ltd. to supply and install these tiles. The quality and finish is outstanding." Prominent arch, bridge and fountain features throughout the community help fulfill the design objectives. Ground broke in the winter of 2009. "Troika resculpted the entire site to include rolling hills and other topographical features," says Haasdyk. "The terracing nature of the natural slope was enhanced to allow for lakeview lots throughout the development." Troika retained long-time prime contractor CorWest Builders as well as CWL Contracting, and although the first batch of homes was completed in time for Christmas of 2011, Klassen notes that there was no power, water or paving until November and December of that year. "We had to truck in the water, and run generators for power," he recalls. "It made our sales people crazy because they had to drive potential buyers to the property, point to a specific area and tell them 'That's where you new home will be.'" Nonetheless, Troika sales representative Bruce Merrifield sold 15 homes in this fashion. The construction schedule was also complicated by Troika's insistence that the marina be built at the same time as the first batch of homes. "Typically, houses are built first and then buyers wait years for amenities to be completed, so we wanted to do things differently," notes Klassen. That said, Troika is waiting until 70 homes are finished (anticipated to be sometime in 2014) before breaking ground on the community/recreation centre. "That way the residents will be able to tell us what they want the centre to consist of," says Klassen. "We initially thought it would be good to have an indoor tennis court, but that may not be what the community wants." As of late February, 20 homes had been completed, another 15 were under construction (to be finished in the summer), and 10 were in the design process. Some units are heated and cooled using geothermal systems, and Troika's commitment to sustainability will take the form of extensive green spaces and pathways, indigenous plantings throughout the property, xeriscaping and water conserving landscaping. As for Mullins and Haasdyk, they continue to work for Troika. "We'll be involved for a number of years before everything is wrapped up," says Haasdyk, adding that because of the unusual shape of some lots and because some owners want their own designs, he is on hand to provide customtailored houses based on the existing plans or from scratch. For his part, Klassen couldn't be happier with West Harbour's evolution. "We're currently developing a new product – two-storey walkups we call 'Villetas' – that are 2,200 square feet in size and will round out our objective of giving everyone from first-time homebuyers to people with more resources a chance to experience upscale lakefront living," he says. "It's been seven long years of development, but West Harbour is turning out to be everything I'd dreamed of." n april 2013 /63 13-04-05 2:12 PM