Penticton’s Sokana: Resort-like amenities appeal to buyers

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Local attractions such as golf courses, wineries and trails combined with the convenient location and resort-like amenities at Riverview, the second phase of Kerkhoff Develop-Build’s Sokana development in Penticton, are attracting a range of buyers — many of them with an eye to future retirement while families and friends buying together as a vacation condo is also a popular option.

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Sokana, comprising Riverview and Boardwalk, is being built in a coveted position in Penticton’s north end, says Bruno Jury, Kerkhoff’s senior VP of Development.

“The convenience of local attractions and all necessary amenities close by simplifies the hosting of friends and family. Directly outside your door, you’ll find extensive walking and biking trails along the well-known Penticton Channel, enhancing the convenience of daily activities and special gatherings, making it easy for residents to walk or cycle to a variety of attractions,” he says.

A planned pedestrian breezeway will connect Sokana to Riverside Village Mall, providing easy access to shops and amenities while Okanagan Lake Beach and Lakeshore Drive with its restaurants and shops is just a short walk away.

“The Penticton Golf & Country Club is also within walking distance, as is the South Okanagan Event Centre and the lively Brewery District,” says Jury noting that for wine enthusiasts, Naramata Bench, famous for its award-winning wineries, is a short drive from Sokana.

Jamie Squires, president of Fifth Avenue Real Estate Marketing adds that for winter sports enthusiasts Apex Mountain Resort, renowned for its skiing and snowboarding, is a 20-minute drive away, and there is also ice fishing at nearby Twin Lakes.

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Currently under construction on a 2.2-acre site on Riverview Drive, Sokana will include 234 units, 96 in Boardwalk (phase one, sold out) and 138 in Riverview (phase two), when completed.

Comprising a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom condos, the six-storey building designed by architectural firm Formosis captures the essence of the Penticton landscape while also including distinctive features, says Jury, noting the use of horizontal lines and crisp white balcony railings evoke the flat terrain of the area and the varying earth tones add a touch of individuality to each unit.

“The bronze-coloured band framing the top storeys creates a striking visual landmark,” he says, adding an emphasis on functional living with features like kitchen islands and large balconies ensures the design is not only visually appealing but also practical for everyday living.

Natalia Kwasnicki, partner at Portico Design Group, also looked to the landscape — and the Okanagan River — for inspiration, combining those ideas with a contemporary Scandinavian and minimalist approach.

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“The goal was to create elevated and serene homes that reflect the river and lake country lifestyle,” she says. “We wanted the interior to complement the great views. When you live in an apartment, it’s really the view that is ever-changing. A lot of the decisions (we made) focused on maintaining simplicity so the views could stand out.”

The design team created two colour schemes, Sandstone and Slate. The two palettes share the same flooring (luxury vinyl plank) with the cabinets, countertop and bathroom tile reflecting the main differences between the two choices. Sandstone features oak and warm off-white tones while Slate is slightly moodier with rich walnut and warm grey tones.

Given the style esthetic the cabinetry features flat-slab doors for streamlined and simplified silhouettes, most evident in the upper cabinets where the doors have hidden finger pulls for a clean look.

The wood finish on the living room-facing side of the kitchen islands (according to floorplan) was included to balance out the colour of the flat-slab cabinet doors and provide more warmth and organic texture, says Kwasnicki.

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“Visually this also helps continue the interest into the living room and connect the two spaces as well as (making the island) feel more like a piece of furniture,” she adds.

The kitchen islands and/or peninsulas accommodate the sink and dishwasher while longer peninsulas and islands have additional lower cabinets for storage, otherwise a full height pantry is provided.

In the bathrooms the tile with its shale texture and subtle movement continues from the floor to the walls, says Kwasnicki, explaining that minimizing the number of different finishes creates larger planes and the illusion of a more spacious area. “A very Scandinavian minimalist touch!”

She says the bathrooms are her favourite features of the Sokana interior design.

“We wanted to emulate spa-like atmospheres both in the suites and beside the outdoor pool. The wood (vanities) and the stone are great in the suite bathrooms, very Nordic influenced.

“Traditionally, pool bathrooms can look stale and functional, so we chose a wood-look porcelain tile for the walls and teak foldable seats to create a sauna/spa-like experience,” she says.

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A wide range of amenities will be available to residents in Riverview and Boardwalk. These include an outdoor pool and hot tub, an alfresco barbecue area and a lounge with fire pits for relaxation and social gatherings. A yoga and flex space plus areas designated for outdoor games are also planned, says Jury, noting these outdoor amenities are situated on the third-floor area between the two buildings. Indoor amenities include a fitness centre, coworking space, a kitchen and lounge.

Each unit comes with a parking stall and a storage locker, says Squires, adding there are extra storage lockers and bike lockers available for purchase.

With construction already underway, completion of the Boardwalk building is anticipated in 2026 while Riverview is expected to be move-in ready in 2028 or before, she says.

Project: Sokana (Phase two — Riverview)

Project address: 270 Riverside Drive, Penticton

Developer: Kerkhoff Develop-Build

Architect: Formosis

Interior designer: Portico Design Group

Project size: Two phases total 234 units: Riverview 138 units; Boardwalk — 96 units (sold out)

Number of bedrooms: A mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom

Price: Starting in the high $300,000s

Sales centre: 1102 Burnaby Avenue, Penticton

Centre hours: Tues. to Sat., noon to 5 p.m.

Phone: 250-462-5183

Website: liveatsokana.com

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