FAQs

The City has purchased and will be redeveloping several properties on the 1300-block of Shoppers Row into purpose-built rental housing with a variety of unit types (studio apartments to 3-bedroom units, with 10% being affordable housing), with commercial, retail and civic uses on the ground level that will invigorate and animate Shoppers Row and 13^th Avenue.

The primary focus of this project is to advance Campbell River’s downtown revitalization. It will also address Campbell River’s less than 1% vacancy rate through the addition of up to 200 middle-income rental units and affordable rental units and improve the sense of safety along Shoppers Row.

The redevelopment is designed to boost the local economy, offer more housing options and establish an attractive, vibrant downtown that draws residents and visitors alike.

The City purchased the select properties in the 1300-block of Shoppers Row for $10.6 million, using a portion of the $10.4 million in funding from the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). Grants, such as the HAF, and City reserve funds will also be used to advance this project with no direct impact to taxation.

The City is partnering with Seymour Pacific Developments Ltd. (SPD) and Broadstreet Properties Ltd. (BSP) to deliver the Reimagine the Row development project in Downtown Campbell River.

Seymour Pacific Developments Ltd. will lead the design and construction of the new mixed-use building in the 1300 block of Shoppers Row. Broadstreet Properties Ltd. will own and operate the new rental housing through a long-term lease with the City that applies only to the residential airspace parcel above the ground floor.

In February 2025, the City issued an Expression of Interest seeking a qualified partner to lead the development of the site. Seymour Pacific Developments Ltd. and Broadstreet Properties Ltd. (collectively, the developer) has been selected as the successful proponent.

Their proposal was consistent with the City’s objectives and aligned with its vision for a collaborative, partnership-based approach to redevelopment. The developers are long-time Campbell River residents, having moved here in 1947, and the company’s corporate headquarters are located in Downtown Campbell River. This development represents an opportunity to reinvest locally and contribute to the renewal of the downtown core.

The developer will hold a long-term lease for the residential component, which grants rights to build and manage the residential portion of the development. The developer will also be responsible for all design, financing, construction, following City bylaw and approval processes. The City will retain ownership of the land and ground floor commercial and civic uses.

Community feedback is welcome! You can use the ‘Who’s Listening’ section of this page to reach out to City staff. There will be community pop-ups taking place throughout the summer. Check back on this page to see updates on confirmed dates.

Here’s what you can expect to see on site over the next few months:

• August to early 2026 – Preparation for and demolition of buildings on site
• May 2026 – Building Permit issuance and site works
• Summer 2027 – Building completion and occupancy

Pre-demolition work and hazardous material abatement is nearing completion. Demolition of the building at 1342 Shoppers Row is expected to begin in late December 2025, followed by of the remaining City-owned structures within the 1300-block Shoppers Row project area in early 2026.

To help facilitate this work, the laneway behind the Harbourside Inn is temporarily closed until until the end of March 2026. The sidewalk in front of the building will also be temporarily closed starting in late-December to support public safety once demolition begins.

Approximately 200 units are in the initial plan, though the exact number will be determined by the final design.

A variety of unit types including studio apartments to 3-bedroom units will be available for middle income earners.

The City will continue to monitor what this means for the community demands for these services as City staff continue to explore opportunities to best support vulnerable members of our community, including food security, supportive housing, and targeted outreach.

When the City purchased Harbourside Inn, it housed around 45 low-income tenants, many with complex needs. But the building lacked the on-site care and support that many individuals required, and living conditions were poor.

City staff and partners have worked to complete assessments and match individuals with better housing. Every resident that required support and provided consent was offered housing should they want it—many with improved supports, accessibility, and proximity to services and family.

City staff met with the Laichwiltach Family Life Society, which operates Hem'?aelas 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.

The Downtown Safety Office has relocated to the Centennial Building at 1235 Shoppers Row during construction to maintain essential services to the downtown core. Regular hours of operation will continue: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To contact the Bylaw Department during times that the office is not open:

• Email bylaw@campbellriver.ca
• Phone at 250-286-5776

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

• Working with neighbours to complete clean-ups
• Increasing RCMP and Bylaw presence (four new RCMP and two Bylaw positions have been approved this year)
• Implementing the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan
• Delivered new temporary housing units with support services at 1299 Homewood Road