Work to replace this temporary modular housing building on Missions Flats Road is already underway. (CFJC Today File Photo)

By Victor Kaisar

BC Housing Projects

BC Housing expects to break ground on two affordable housing projects in Kamloops this year

Aug 17, 2025 | 3:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — BC Housing has confirmed that it expects to break ground on a pair of affordable housing projects in Kamloops before the end of this year.

It is planning to build 60-units at 604 Lorne Street downtown and a 29-units at 210 Oak Road on the North Shore. Both those projects were among a suite of new developments announced by former provincial Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon last year.

The Lorne Street project, which will be called Marquee, is being built in partnership with the Kamloops branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. BC Housing told CFJC Today that the project is currently pending the municipal permitting approval process.

“[We] are working on the building design and application for the building permit,” BC Housing said in a statement.

According to BC Housing, the Oak Road project – which is being built in partnership with the Connective Support Society Kamloops – is expected to break ground this fall while the Lorne Street one will do so in “late 2025.”

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Both projects will feature affordable rental units for individuals, families, seniors and people living with disabilities who have low or moderate incomes.

Work underway at Mission Flats project

BC Housing also said work to build 97 homes with support services at 777-809 Mission Flats Road in Kamloops is underway. These new units will replace the existing Mission Flats Manor building, and current tenants will be considered first for these new units.

“The temporary modular housing was a short-term, emergency response in 2018 to provide safe shelter ahead of the winter season,” BC Housing said. “This building was only meant to be used for a few years, and a replacement is needed.”

While the project was initially expected to include 98 units, BC Housing said it reconfigured plans to add more kitchen space.

ASK Wellness, which currently operates Mission Flats Manor, will operate these units as well with construction now expected to wrap up in 2026.

Update on Columbia Precinct projects

BC Housing is also working on a slate of projects in the Columbia Precinct area, some of which were also announced by Kahlon last year.

Construction at 515, 523, and 527 Columbia Street is expected to begin in the spring of next year. BC Housing also confirmed CFJC Today reporting that the 249-unit BC Builds development will be operated by the Connective Support Society Kamloops.

“More information about the project will be shared once project plans are further along in development and necessary municipal and internal approvals are achieved,” BC Housing said.

Construction on a 40-bed shelter at 1055 Glenfair Drive is expected to get underway this year, pending municipal approvals. A petition is circulating calling on the BC Legislature to reject the shelter and any future shelters adjacent to the Peterson Creek Nature Park.

“BC Housing will continue to engage with the community regarding this shelter,” it noted, referencing a May 2025 open house and a July 2025 meeting it had with shelter operator The Mustard Seed, the president of the Sagebrush Neighbourhood Association, and the and chair of Columbia Precinct Committee.

“We will continue to reach out directly to neighbours to provide more information about the project timeline and at key milestones,” BC Housing added.

A proposed three-storey, 20-unit complex care facility is currently in the planning stages. BC Housing hopes to start construction by next year with occupancy by 2027 or 2028.

As for the redevelopment of the seniors housing buildings at 1100 Glenfair Drive, BC Housing said it is working with operator Interior Community Services (ICS) to support existing tenants with their relocations.

“ICS has hired dedicated staff who are actively working with tenants on their relocation plan,” BC Housing said.

The plan is to replace the existing 80 affordable seniors’ homes with with four, six-storey buildings totalling at least 340 housing units. Eighty units will be rent-geared-to-income affordable homes for seniors with the rest set to be affordable rental housing.

“This is an opportunity to modernize Glenfair Senior’s Housing and to create additional, much-needed low to middle income housing for Kamloops,” BC Housing said. “As with any redevelopment of this scale, considerable tenant engagement, planning and design work has, and continues to take place before construction can begin.”

At the May open house, BC Housing said construction on the seniors project will take place in phases to “minimize tenant relocations and disruption.”

“No one will be without a home because of the development process,” BC Housing said, noting the first building is expected to be complete between 2029 and 2031.

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