Artist rendering of the new BC Builds development on Columbia Street in Kamloops. (Image Credit: BC Housing)

By Victor Kaisar

Columbia Precinct Revelopment

BC Builds development on Columbia Street slated to begin construction in 2026

Jul 20, 2025 | 3:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — Construction on a massive new housing development in Kamloops on land owned by the Provincial Government is expected to begin in the spring of next year.

The BC Builds project at 515, 523, and 527 Columbia Street will include 249 rental homes – up from the inital estimate of “approximately 200 units” – on a site that used to house two provincial office buildings, which were demolished last year.

The housing project, which was announced by former provincial Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon last year, will be operated by the Connective Support Society Kamloops. The Province says the units will be geared for middle-income households like teachers, nurses, transit operators, construction workers, and small business owners.

“[It] will include studios, one-, two-, and- three-bedroom units with a focus on accessibility, connectivity, community and site ecology,” a statement from BC Housing said. “BC Builds is an accelerated rental housing program that speeds up the development of homes that middle-income households can afford.”

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Located along Columbia Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue, Kamloops councillors have long been pushing pushing for the development of the so-called Columbia Precinct Lands.

An overview of the proposed projects in the Columbia Precinct area of Kamloops. (Image Credit: BC Housing)

It is set to be located next to three other BC Housing projects proposed for Glenfair Drive.

BC Housing is working to replace the existing 80 affordable seniors’ homes with four, six-storey buildings totalling at least 340 housing units. Plans also include a new three-storey, 20-unit complex care facility and a new 40-bed shelter, which will be operated by The Mustard Seed.

There is a petition circulating to try and get the BC Legislature to try and reject the shelter, and to pass a Bill to prevent any form of a shelter from being built adjacent to the Peterson Creek Nature Park.

The range of housing options proposed in the Columbia Precinct of Kamloops. (Image Credit: BC Housing

In a statement, BC Housing said all four of the projects are part of a bigger plan to “support the growing and diverse housing needs of the City of Kamloops, adding it “compliments the goals of the municipality’s Housing Needs Report.”

“This plan will contribute almost 1,000 new homes to the area,” the statement said. “The Province and BC Housing will continue to work closely with the city to create an integrated and cohesive community where all those who live, work and play nearby will feel welcome.”