Reimagine the Row

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This rendering is shown for illustration purposes only and may not be the exact representation of the final development.The City of Campbell River has strategically acquired properties in Downtown Campbell River, including 1302 Shoppers Row (Downtown Safety Office), 1342 Shoppers Row (The Harbourside Inn), 1352 Shoppers Row and 1362 16th Avenue. The intention of these purchases and their subsequent redevelopment is to increase the sense of vibrancy and safety downtown via the development of a mixed-use building that includes purpose-built middle-income rental housing that helps address the City’s low rental vacancy rate. In addition to housing, the City envisions a variety of commercial, retail and civic uses at the ground level of the development that aims to invigorate and animate both Shoppers Row and 13th Avenue.

Social Services Support

City staff met with the Laichwiltach Family Life Society, which operates Hama?elas Kitchen and Kwesa Place, ahead of purchasing the Harbourside Inn in December 2024. The City noted that tenancies would remain in place for seven more months, until June 30, 2025, to allow the groups an opportunity to find a new location or explore opportunities to consider changes to service delivery. Staff continue to meet and work with Hem'?aelas Community Kitchen and Kwesa Place to confirm zoning compliance for proposed relocation properties and to respond to any requests. If the operators were able to identify a new location, the City would work to expedite application processing if an application did not comply with the City’s Zoning Bylaw.

While staff will continue to support coordination of more permanent food security and hygiene services in the community, the City has identified some interim solutions, to ensure a continuity of services during this transition. These solutions include:

  • The City is organizing a dinner program run by the Salvation Army that will provide sandwiches and wraps for takeaway from June 30 to August 31, 2025.

  • The City will provide free access to showers at the Campbell River Community Centre through August 31, 2025.

  • To support continuation of laundry services, the City is funding a voucher program to local laundromats.

To support the continuation of food and hygiene services, staff will be initiating discussions with the Strathcona Regional District to explore the creation of a Community Development Coordinator function, which will be responsible for identifying gaps and linking government support and non-profit resources in response to growing challenges faced by the City’s vulnerable population. An anticipated first task of this role will be to continue work with community partners to support more permanent food and hygiene programs after August 31, 2025.

Tenant Relocation Support

Harbourside Inn Residents: When the City purchased Harbourside Inn, approximately 40 rooms were used as monthly rental units. Many tenants were low-income seniors or individuals with complex care needs that required medical care, mobility assistance, and related supports. These units did not offer these vital daily, on‑site services and often created poor living conditions, compounded by the presence of bed bugs and other pests.

Working with Island Health, BC Housing and other community partners:

  • We have found homes for 39 out of 45 tenants
  • Of the 5 remaining tenants – a majority are in the process of being placed into BC Housing owned facilities or Long Term Care provided by Island Health.

We continue to work with the remaining tenants and community partners to offer supports including help with applications. housing subsidies, and relocation expenses.

These placements have enabled many tenants who did not previously have adequate support to receive the care they need and improved living conditions.

Expression of Interest

The City has issued a Request for an Expression of Interest with the intent of partnering with a qualified, visionary developer eager to invest in Campbell River and collaborate on this redevelopment. In partnership with the City, the successful partner will be responsible for financing and constructing the development in line with City’s vision. Once constructed, the City will maintain ownership of the ground floor, with the developer owning and operating the residential component above the ground floor. The City has evaluated the submitted proposals and is working on a Partnership Agreement with the successful proponent. The successful proponent is expected to be announced in the near future, with demolition of the existing building commencing later in the summer.

More About the Project

Downtown is the heart of Campbell River. It’s the cultural center of our community. It’s where we come together as neighbours and friends. It continues to be a priority for the social and economic well-being of the City.

The purchase of the Shoppers Row properties aims to address:

  • Downtown Reinvestment – The City investing in downtown signals to private investors that they have a strong vision and intend to work with the private sector in its revitalization. Initial efforts have intentionally focused on Shoppers Row as the epicenter of downtown reinvestment and with the goal of seeing revitalization continue to expand outwards.
  • Housing – Campbell River has less than 1% apartment vacancy rate, and the development of purpose-built rental housing with a variety of unit types (studio apartments to 3-bedroom units) for middle income households will create a significant amount of additional housing downtown
  • Community Safety – The City purchased the Downtown Safety Office in 2023, and the purchase of the additional properties is a continuation of our plan to build Shoppers Row into a hub in the cultural heart of the community. The new building is intended to house the Downtown Safety Office and be a space where residents can speak to Bylaw Enforcement Officers about neighbourhood concerns, while also being a hub for Bylaw’s regular downtown patrols and clean-up work.
  • Vibrancy and Livability – There are opportunities to implement strategic urban design initiatives that enhance the character and sense of place downtown while reanimating its streets, increasing its livability and expanding affordable housing supply within walking distance of key amenities.
The rendering shown is for illustration purposes only
and may not be the exact representation of the final development.

View the Conceptual Site Plan which outlines a potential layout of the site. This is conceptual only and may not be the exact representation of the final development.

The purchase of the properties directly supports City Council’s 2023-2026 strategic priorities, Downtown Refresh (“Refresh”) and the City’s Official Community Plan (OCP), which place a significant emphasis on the revitalization of the downtown core through the development of mixed-use buildings that include residential and commercial spaces.

Other City of Campbell River Initiatives

Acquiring properties on Shoppers Row is just one step the City is taking to revitalize our downtown. We are also:

Stay Informed

We invite you to share your questions, sign up to receive updates, or get in touch with us as planning continues.

For more information, please subscribe to project updates using the subscribe button on the right.

This rendering is shown for illustration purposes only and may not be the exact representation of the final development.The City of Campbell River has strategically acquired properties in Downtown Campbell River, including 1302 Shoppers Row (Downtown Safety Office), 1342 Shoppers Row (The Harbourside Inn), 1352 Shoppers Row and 1362 16th Avenue. The intention of these purchases and their subsequent redevelopment is to increase the sense of vibrancy and safety downtown via the development of a mixed-use building that includes purpose-built middle-income rental housing that helps address the City’s low rental vacancy rate. In addition to housing, the City envisions a variety of commercial, retail and civic uses at the ground level of the development that aims to invigorate and animate both Shoppers Row and 13th Avenue.

Social Services Support

City staff met with the Laichwiltach Family Life Society, which operates Hama?elas Kitchen and Kwesa Place, ahead of purchasing the Harbourside Inn in December 2024. The City noted that tenancies would remain in place for seven more months, until June 30, 2025, to allow the groups an opportunity to find a new location or explore opportunities to consider changes to service delivery. Staff continue to meet and work with Hem'?aelas Community Kitchen and Kwesa Place to confirm zoning compliance for proposed relocation properties and to respond to any requests. If the operators were able to identify a new location, the City would work to expedite application processing if an application did not comply with the City’s Zoning Bylaw.

While staff will continue to support coordination of more permanent food security and hygiene services in the community, the City has identified some interim solutions, to ensure a continuity of services during this transition. These solutions include:

  • The City is organizing a dinner program run by the Salvation Army that will provide sandwiches and wraps for takeaway from June 30 to August 31, 2025.

  • The City will provide free access to showers at the Campbell River Community Centre through August 31, 2025.

  • To support continuation of laundry services, the City is funding a voucher program to local laundromats.

To support the continuation of food and hygiene services, staff will be initiating discussions with the Strathcona Regional District to explore the creation of a Community Development Coordinator function, which will be responsible for identifying gaps and linking government support and non-profit resources in response to growing challenges faced by the City’s vulnerable population. An anticipated first task of this role will be to continue work with community partners to support more permanent food and hygiene programs after August 31, 2025.

Tenant Relocation Support

Harbourside Inn Residents: When the City purchased Harbourside Inn, approximately 40 rooms were used as monthly rental units. Many tenants were low-income seniors or individuals with complex care needs that required medical care, mobility assistance, and related supports. These units did not offer these vital daily, on‑site services and often created poor living conditions, compounded by the presence of bed bugs and other pests.

Working with Island Health, BC Housing and other community partners:

  • We have found homes for 39 out of 45 tenants
  • Of the 5 remaining tenants – a majority are in the process of being placed into BC Housing owned facilities or Long Term Care provided by Island Health.

We continue to work with the remaining tenants and community partners to offer supports including help with applications. housing subsidies, and relocation expenses.

These placements have enabled many tenants who did not previously have adequate support to receive the care they need and improved living conditions.

Expression of Interest

The City has issued a Request for an Expression of Interest with the intent of partnering with a qualified, visionary developer eager to invest in Campbell River and collaborate on this redevelopment. In partnership with the City, the successful partner will be responsible for financing and constructing the development in line with City’s vision. Once constructed, the City will maintain ownership of the ground floor, with the developer owning and operating the residential component above the ground floor. The City has evaluated the submitted proposals and is working on a Partnership Agreement with the successful proponent. The successful proponent is expected to be announced in the near future, with demolition of the existing building commencing later in the summer.

More About the Project

Downtown is the heart of Campbell River. It’s the cultural center of our community. It’s where we come together as neighbours and friends. It continues to be a priority for the social and economic well-being of the City.

The purchase of the Shoppers Row properties aims to address:

  • Downtown Reinvestment – The City investing in downtown signals to private investors that they have a strong vision and intend to work with the private sector in its revitalization. Initial efforts have intentionally focused on Shoppers Row as the epicenter of downtown reinvestment and with the goal of seeing revitalization continue to expand outwards.
  • Housing – Campbell River has less than 1% apartment vacancy rate, and the development of purpose-built rental housing with a variety of unit types (studio apartments to 3-bedroom units) for middle income households will create a significant amount of additional housing downtown
  • Community Safety – The City purchased the Downtown Safety Office in 2023, and the purchase of the additional properties is a continuation of our plan to build Shoppers Row into a hub in the cultural heart of the community. The new building is intended to house the Downtown Safety Office and be a space where residents can speak to Bylaw Enforcement Officers about neighbourhood concerns, while also being a hub for Bylaw’s regular downtown patrols and clean-up work.
  • Vibrancy and Livability – There are opportunities to implement strategic urban design initiatives that enhance the character and sense of place downtown while reanimating its streets, increasing its livability and expanding affordable housing supply within walking distance of key amenities.
The rendering shown is for illustration purposes only
and may not be the exact representation of the final development.

View the Conceptual Site Plan which outlines a potential layout of the site. This is conceptual only and may not be the exact representation of the final development.

The purchase of the properties directly supports City Council’s 2023-2026 strategic priorities, Downtown Refresh (“Refresh”) and the City’s Official Community Plan (OCP), which place a significant emphasis on the revitalization of the downtown core through the development of mixed-use buildings that include residential and commercial spaces.

Other City of Campbell River Initiatives

Acquiring properties on Shoppers Row is just one step the City is taking to revitalize our downtown. We are also:

Stay Informed

We invite you to share your questions, sign up to receive updates, or get in touch with us as planning continues.

For more information, please subscribe to project updates using the subscribe button on the right.

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  • Share What progress has been made so far in finding new locations for the service providers and clients who will be displaced by this project? 'Summer 2025' is only 3 months away and no updated report has been provided to the public about the matter. on Facebook Share What progress has been made so far in finding new locations for the service providers and clients who will be displaced by this project? 'Summer 2025' is only 3 months away and no updated report has been provided to the public about the matter. on Twitter Share What progress has been made so far in finding new locations for the service providers and clients who will be displaced by this project? 'Summer 2025' is only 3 months away and no updated report has been provided to the public about the matter. on Linkedin Email What progress has been made so far in finding new locations for the service providers and clients who will be displaced by this project? 'Summer 2025' is only 3 months away and no updated report has been provided to the public about the matter. link

    What progress has been made so far in finding new locations for the service providers and clients who will be displaced by this project? 'Summer 2025' is only 3 months away and no updated report has been provided to the public about the matter.

    JN asked 4 months ago

    As this project progresses, the City continues to work with Parallel 50 Property Management to support Harbourside Inn tenants and explore options for relocation. At the time of purchase in December 2024, over 40 folks were long-term residents at Harbourside Inn. At the beginning of March 2025, under 30 residents remain in the building and continue receiving additional relocation support. The City is also seeking support from BC Housing and is working with community partners to rehome tenants before the tenancy end date of June 30, 2025.

Page last updated: 27 Jun 2025, 05:17 PM