City’s building report shows more than 50 per cent decrease in 2021 construction revenue

“The last few years, we’ve had some big projects with the patient care tower at RIH, a lot of apartment buildings and stuff. This year we saw the strength from single family homes, and duplexes were a fair bit of growth in those two sectors,” says the city’s Building and Engineering Development Manager Jason Dixon.

The Canadian Home Builders Association says more than 400 residential permits were issued in 2021. Fifty-million dollars of that revenue was from single-family homes — meaning more lots need to be developed.

“There is the lot shortage but there is a lot coming on stream, around the city. So, up in Juniper, up in Pineview, and even in Orchards Walk,” said President of the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior Jere Lorenz.

Lorenz says supply chain interruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic and the November floods that shut down B.C. highways for more than a month made 2021 a challenging year for builders to get materials. However, those challenges taught them how to plan ahead.

“The biggest thing is most builders have to be proactive and order your materials before you start your house,” he told CFJC Today.

The City says its looking forward to some big projects in 2022 like ongoing work at Royal Inland Hospital. In the spring, shovels will go in the ground for City Gardens; a huge residential building coming to the 400 block of Nicola Street.

“The City Gardens project, which will be the biggest residential development that we’ll have seen in Kamloops. There will be two 20 plus story towers. As well as four other residential buildings,” Dixon explained.

Read the full building report here.

by Amandalina Letterio

City’s building report shows more than 50 per cent decrease in 2021 construction revenue

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