"This sounds a lot like West Kelowna."

A recently published paper titled Planners' Perspectives on British Columbia's Small and Mid-sized Downtowns: Strengths, Weaknesses, Challenges asked planners from communities across British Columbia what makes downtown revitalization successful—and what often gets in the way.

The study found that successful downtowns aren't simply places people drive through. They're places where people choose to live, shop, work, meet friends, attend events, and spend time.

To make that happen, planners consistently pointed to several priorities:

• More people living downtown through higher-density housing.

• A walkable, pedestrian-friendly main street with shops, cafés, and mixed-use buildings.

• Less dependence on cars.

• A wider variety of businesses with longer operating hours.

• Attractive parks, plazas, and public gathering spaces.

• Revitalization that supports existing businesses while encouraging new investment.

Many of the findings are already outlined in West Kelowna's Official Community Plan for the Westbank Urban Centre.

The research also asked planners what communities already have working in their favour. Four strengths stood out:

• Community events and festivals that bring people together.

• Street-oriented shops and businesses that encourage people to walk.

• Civic buildings and public services located downtown.

• Parks and green spaces that make the area enjoyable year-round.

West Kelowna already has many of these ingredients. The real opportunity may be finding better ways to connect them and create a downtown that people want to visit—not just pass through.

Of course, the study also identified some common challenges facing West Kelowna. Among the biggest were:

• Not enough people living downtown.

• Limited public transit.

• Too few shopping and dining choices.

• The absence of a nearby post-secondary institution that helps bring energy and activity to the area.

The researchers also identified six barriers that continue to make revitalization difficult:

• A shortage of downtown housing.

• Rising development costs, regulations, fragmented land ownership, and community opposition.

• Difficulty attracting and keeping businesses.

• Streets designed primarily for vehicles rather than people.

• Safety concerns and perceptions about security.

• Limited public investment in downtown infrastructure and public spaces.

What's encouraging is that none of these challenges are unique to West Kelowna. Communities all across the province are working through many of the same issues.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that creating a vibrant downtown isn't just about constructing new buildings. It's about creating a place where people actually want to spend their time—a place where they can meet friends for coffee, enjoy community events, shop locally, stroll through attractive public spaces, and feel connected to their community.

As West Kelowna continues its Urban Centre Revitalization project, this research offers reassurance that many of the City's long-term goals are on the right track. It also reminds us that building a successful downtown takes patience, thoughtful planning, and a shared vision for the future.

It will be exciting to watch how the Westbank Urban Centre evolves over the coming years. There's every reason to believe West Kelowna can create a downtown that becomes the heart of our community.

What do you think is the most important ingredient for a vibrant downtown? More housing? Better public spaces? Local shops and restaurants? Or something else entirely? The conversation is just getting started.

July 27

One of the most exciting opportunities arising from the Westbank Urban Centre Revitalization Project is the chance to create a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly "high street"—a place that becomes the heart and soul of West Kelowna. But before we can build it, we need to ask an important question:

What should Westbank's future high street look like?

The City's Official Community Plan envisions a lively, walkable urban centre that brings together housing, shops, restaurants, public spaces, and community gathering places. The challenge is determining where that vision should take shape.

There are several possibilities worth considering, and each offers its own advantages and challenges.

Option 1 – Brown Road as the High Street

Brown Road is currently identified in the Official Community Plan as the primary mixed-use corridor within the Westbank Urban Centre. 

With wider sidewalks, street-level businesses, outdoor patios, and public plazas, Brown Road could become a vibrant destination for residents and visitors alike.

The challenge? Highway 97 divides Brown Road into two distinct areas. Can a street bisected by one of the busiest transportation corridors in the Okanagan truly become the heart of West Kelowna's downtown?

Option 2 – Remove Highway 97 and Return Main Street

For more than a decade, planning documents have contemplated removing the Highway 97 couplet and restoring Main Street as Westbank's traditional downtown corridor.

Main Street has history, character, and a natural connection to many existing businesses. Returning it to a pedestrian-friendly, community-focused space could create the kind of authentic downtown found in many successful cities and towns.

While this option would undoubtedly be more complex and expensive, some residents believe it offers the greatest long-term opportunity to create a true Main Street experience for future generations.

Option 3 – Create a New Civic High Street

What if West Kelowna created an entirely new high street?

A new pedestrian-oriented street running parallel to Main Street—between City Hall and the future George Pringle Elementary School—could provide a unique opportunity to design a downtown from the ground up. Imagine a street lined with cafes, boutique shops, public gathering spaces, and community amenities that connect civic buildings, parks, and future developments.

Rather than working around existing transportation challenges, this approach would allow planners to build a high street specifically designed for people.

Option 4 – A European-Inspired Pedestrian Alleyway

Some of the world's most vibrant urban spaces aren't streets at all—they're pedestrian laneways.

Imagine a series of pedestrian-only alleyways running parallel to Main Street, lined with cafes, local restaurants, artisan shops, outdoor patios, public art, and evening lighting. These intimate spaces are common throughout Europe and have become destinations where people gather, dine, and spend time together.

A pedestrian alleyway district could give Westbank a unique identity while complementing surrounding streets and businesses.

What Do You Think?

The purpose of revitalization isn't simply to construct new buildings—it's to create a downtown that reflects the values and aspirations of our community.

Should we build upon Brown Road? Restore Main Street? Create something entirely new? Or think outside the box with a pedestrian-friendly urban village?

There are no wrong answers at this stage. Great communities are built through great conversations.

Westbank has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a downtown that residents will be proud of for decades to come. The question is simple:

If you could design West Kelowna's future high street, what would it look like?

July 20th 

Across British Columbia and Canada, downtown revitalization remains a priority for growing communities. As West Kelowna begins planning for the future of the Westbank Urban Centre, it is worth looking at what other communities have learned along the way.

A recent study published through The Erudit Research Repository examined downtown revitalization efforts in small and mid-sized cities across British Columbia, including communities such as Kelowna, Penticton, and Prince George. The research surveyed municipal planners to better understand what makes a downtown successful and what challenges communities commonly face.

The findings offer some valuable lessons for West Kelowna.

The study found that thriving downtowns tend to have several common strengths. These include vibrant civic events that bring people together, and street-oriented retail that encourages residents and visitors to walk, shop, and spend time in the community. These are the types of features that help create a welcoming and lively town centre that people want to visit.

At the same time, planners identified several common weaknesses that can limit revitalization efforts. These include a lack of high-density housing, limited access to post-secondary institutions, and infrequent public transit services. While not every community will face the same challenges, these factors often influence how successful a downtown can become.

One of the study's most important conclusions is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. What works in one community may not work in another.

For West Kelowna, this means that revitalization should reflect who we are as a community and what residents want their town centre to become. Creating a successful urban centre is about more than constructing buildings or redesigning streets. It involves creating places where people can gather, supporting local businesses, providing housing options, improving transportation, and encouraging community activities that make residents feel connected and proud of where they live.

The research also identified several barriers that communities regularly encounter when revitalizing their downtowns. While the study focused on planners' perspectives, it acknowledged that successful revitalization requires input from many voices, including residents, business owners, developers, and community organizations.

As West Kelowna moves forward with the Westbank Urban Centre Revitalization Project, these findings remind us that meaningful revitalization takes time, collaboration, and careful planning. Learning from the experiences of other British Columbia communities can help ensure that we create a town centre that is vibrant, accessible, and uniquely West Kelowna.

Revitalization is not simply about changing our downtown. It is about building a community where people want to live, work, gather, and invest for generations to come.

Tom Groat, July 17th

Every thriving community has a heart and identity. A place where people gather, meet friends, support local businesses, celebrate community events and enjoy spending time together. 

For West Kelowna, Westbank Urban Centre has the opportunity to rediscover that heart and identity.

The City of West Kelowna's Offical Community Plan (OCP) shares a clear vision for our Urban Centre as a thriving, walkable and attractive downtown where businesses, homes, parks and public spaces come together to create a vibrant community. A place where people want to live, work, shop and connect.

It's an exciting vision because it reflects what many residents value most—a community that feels welcoming, connected and full of life.

Creating that kind of place doesn't happen overnight. It grows through thoughtful planning, public investment, private development and, most importantly, community engagement. Every new business, every housing project, every streetscape improvement and every community event helps shape the experience of living in West Kelowna.

The places we love are built from the many elements that make them up—our streets, parks, buildings, public spaces and gathering places. When those elements are cared for and improved, people notice. Communities begin to feel more vibrant, optimism grows, and residents become excited about what's possible.

That sense of momentum is important.

Tom Groat, July 5th

There is no mystery to why certain streets thrive and others don’t. People are drawn to beautiful places. Not complicated, not controversial, just true.

When a street is irresistible, foot traffic follows. When foot traffic follows, shop owners notice. When shop owners notice, they compete for space on that street. When they compete for space, rents rise, buildings appreciate, and the surrounding neighborhood becomes more desirable. The homeowners nearby benefit. The tax base strengthens. The community grows.

This is not a theory. This is how value is created.

The public sector’s role in this chain is straightforward: invest in a high-quality public realm and enforce your building codes. That’s it. You don’t need another survey telling you that residents prefer to live in beautiful places. They do. Everyone does. Act on that.

Cities that understand this stop treating aesthetics as a luxury and start treating them as infrastructure. Because that’s exactly what they are, the infrastructure that makes every other investment work harder.

Make your streets irresistible. The private sector will do the rest.

Jeff Siegler, May 27th, Revitalize or Die

Have you ever noticed how a clean, vibrant downtown just feels different? When storefronts are well-kept, sidewalks are clean, and the whole area feels alive and welcoming, it’s more than just pleasing to the eye—it can influence how residents feel about themselves and their community.

A thriving downtown isn’t just about visitors or sales; it’s about creating a shared sense of identity and pride. When you live in a place that’s cared for and visually appealing, it sends a message: This place matters. And if the place matters, so do the people who live there.

On the converse, when a town’s center is neglected, it can have a subtle but powerful effect on residents’ self-image. Empty storefronts, rundown buildings, or littered sidewalks don’t just make the area look bad—they can make people feel disconnected and disheartened. It’s like the space is saying, “We’ve given up,” and that energy can seep into how people view themselves and their role in the community.

Investing in the built environment—sprucing up facades, keeping the streets clean, and making public spaces inviting—transforms more than just the physical space. It tells the community that this is a place worth caring about, a place worth taking pride in. That pride builds momentum, creating a healthier, more positive self-image for everyone who calls it home. In short, when downtown looks good, we all feel a little better about who we are.

Jeff Siegler, Oct 7, 2024 Revitalize or Die

The most important thing a community can do to improve its economy, attract tourism, and enhance residents' quality of life is to create an attractive, walkable downtown. A place that makes people feel proud, joyful, and connected. When a downtown achieves this, it becomes a magnet for people, and where people go, businesses and investment always follow.

Successful places don't just look good, they make people feel good. They make us feel sophisticated, dignified, and inspired. Think about the spaces you love visiting. These places aren't just functional, they evoke emotions that keep you coming back. When a community creates a downtown that fosters those feelings, it transforms into a vibrant hub of activity and opportunity.

The best part? Every one of us already knows how to do this. Simply by being human, we understand what places feel good and which ones don't. The spaces we want to avoid versus those we can't wait to revisit. This isn't complicated. It's about creating environments where people naturally feel happy, comfortable, and connected.

When you focus on making your downtown a place where people want to spend time, the benefits ripple outward. Businesses thrive. Tourism grows. Property values rise. And your community gains a reputation as a destination. These places stand out because there are so few of them, making them wildly successful by their very nature.

Great downtowns don't just attract people, they create lasting pride. And that pride is what fuels a community's growth, stability, and future. This isn't about fancy plans or big budgets. It's about one simple goal: making people feel good.

When you do that, success always follows.

By Jeff Siegler, June 2026 - Revitalize or Die

There’s a lot of interest around the future of the Westbank Urban Centre—and for good reason. This project has the potential to shape the heart of West Kelowna for generations, influencing how people move around, gather, shop, work, and connect.

The City of West Kelowna has already taken the first step. A recent Design Workshop brought together staff, consultants, economic development representatives, and members of the business community to begin exploring ideas and opportunities. Those perspectives are valuable and will continue to play an important role as the project moves forward.

The good news is that the process is still in its early stages. That means there is still plenty of opportunity to bring more community voices into the conversation—not simply to review plans once they are developed, but to help shape the vision from the beginning.

After all, nobody knows West Kelowna quite like the people who live here.

Residents understand which streets feel welcoming, where people naturally gather, where improvements are needed, and what makes a community vibrant and connected. Families, seniors, youth, local business owners, and neighbourhood associations all bring unique perspectives that can help strengthen the planning process.

As revitalization moves ahead, the city could explore community design workshops, citizen advisory groups, and resident-led visioning sessions that allow community members to contribute ideas and identify priorities before key decisions are made.

There are also opportunities for resident-led initiatives, including community gardens, urban greening projects, public art programs, gathering spaces, and seasonal markets that bring energy and character to the Urban Centre.

The goal is not to replace professional expertise, but to complement it with local knowledge and lived experience.

The work completed so far has laid an important foundation. The next step is to widen the circle and invite more people into the conversation.

The future of Westbank Urban Centre belongs to the entire community. The best revitalization projects happen when residents are not just consulted—they are partners in creating the vision.

Tom Groat, Resident of West Kelowna – June 8, 2026