Provincial facility torn down

A provincial office building in downtown Kamloops has been demolished as part of a project expected to bring hundreds of new homes to the city.

On Monday, heavy machinery could be seen at 515 Columbia St., working among piles of rubble — all that's left of the old B.C. Forest Service building.

The site, part of the Columbia Precinct, was added earlier this year to the provincial government's BC Builds website. Through this database, proposals are being sought for a residential developer and a housing operator who can help deliver housing at 515, 523 and 527 Columbia St. The submission deadline is Nov. 20, 2024.

Earlier this year, province said about 200 housing units would be built on the site, aimed at families and individuals with middle incomes.

The provincially-owned Columbia Precinct has long been eyed by Kamloops city hall as a site that could help deliver housing for several demographics.

According to the BC Builds website, four buildings will be demolished to make way for the project, which will happen in two phases. Construction on the first phase is expected to start in 2025, and the second phase should start in 2027.

In May, Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s former minister of housing, was joined by City of Kamloops staff and elected officials on the steps of the now-demolished building at 515 Columbia St. to announce plans for the development and other housing projects that will be spread out across the city.

“These homes are critical for the vibrancy of this healthy community," Kahlon said.

"We have next door a hospital, and we're going to be able to ensure that people that are working in the hospital, those that are working at city hall, those that are working for police, fire, or teachers are able to afford affordable rentals here in this community."

According to BC Builds, the 3.5-acre site has been owned by the provincial government since 1959.