Image Credit: Total Concept Developments

By James Peters

Housing Proposal

190-unit housing complex proposed for Kamloops North Shore must clear no-build covenant hurdle

Jan 24, 2024 | 10:52 AM

KAMLOOPS — A proposed development that could see nearly 200 units of rental housing built on a North Shore corridor took a step forward at Kamloops council this week.

But project manager Sheila Minten of Total Concept Developments says The Pulse on 8th still has a few hurdles to clear before it is a go.

Total Concept is proposing the mixed-use housing and commercial development for the 1000-block of Eighth Street on property currently occupied by Country Auto Sales.

The 190 units would be split between two, six-storey buildings, with one building offering affordable rental suites for seniors. Commercial spaces would be built on the ground level of both buildings.

“I think it’s an underutilized area, currently,” Minten told CFJC Today. “It’s mostly vacant land so we’d be looking to maximize the use of that land into much-needed housing and, potentially, we’d like to get some shops… in the bottom that would aid the neighbourhood and help with the revitalization of the North Shore.”

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At its regular meeting Tuesday (Jan. 23), council sent the project to public hearing. If council gives the project its okay, it will need to discharge a 10-year-old covenant that prevents construction on a large portion of the east side of the property.

In its report to council, city staff said the covenant was put in place in 2014, when part of the land was subdivided from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church property to the north. The neighbourhood voiced concerns about construction close to residential properties on Seventh Street to the east and Berkley Place to the south.

“The covenant impedes the buildable area, so it basically reduces the setbacks on the property to the highest in all of the City of Kamloops,” said Minten. “It just makes it not that usable of a piece of property.”

If all goes according to plan, Minten predicts the project will take about three years to plan and build.

She notes Country Auto Sales plans to continue operating and is now looking for a new home.

Total Concept will host an open house Thursday (Jan. 25) to address questions from the neighbourhood. The open house will be held at Country Auto from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

For more information, visit this site.