The Loop property sold, day space operators given 20 days to vacate

“You can put fences up around this place, people will just gather outside the fences because they have nowhere else to go and this is their home,” said Loop Owner Glenn Hilke.

The Loop serves as a day space for the street entrenched population of Kamloops, providing a warm place to stay and a hot meal. It’s the only space of its kind on the North Shore of Kamloops and that has Hilke concerned.

“To not have our services on the North Shore — whether they are here or somewhere else — is just contributing and deepening the crisis and will contribute to chaos on the North Shore,” said Hilke.

The Loop still has almost 20 months remaining on its current lease agreement, but new ownership has sent a letter informing Hilke will have to vacate the property by the end of the month.

“We are not in arrears financially in terms of paying for rent,” said Hilke. “Some of the details I’m aware of now for the termination, we find petty and actually common to what many businesses have been experiencing.”

That new owner is local real estate agent Brendan Shaw, who has acknowledged the role The Loop plays in helping the underserved population of Kamloops, but referenced the nuisance property declaration from the city along with continued fines in his effort to end the lease.

“There was a lot consultation both with the non-profit community, the City of Kamloops, the North Shore BIA, to make sure that those individuals have adequate care,” said Shaw. “And I think the support services that are offered through those organizations that are part of the access hub — I do think there are short-term solutions that offer better capacity for those individuals.”

The plan for the property at 405 Tranquille Road is to create a new commercial space to help revitalize the corridor.

“I would like to see that site repurposed. I think it’s an ideal location for a rental-commercial, bit of office. Perhaps a spot for our North Shore office that we currently house here on Oak Road,” added Shaw.

While Hilke now has 20 days to vacate the property, he is simply looking to tonight and then tomorrow, reiterating the need for services.

“Why is it so hard for the powers that be who have deep pockets, deep connections, to come up with a solution? We do need services here and The Loop will continue to provide services in one way or another,” said Hilke.