Reimagine the Row

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.

July 2025 Update:

Harbourside Inn Residents

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 tirelessly 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.

Social Services Support

The City recognizes the importance of social services in supporting the city’s vulnerable community members and is actively exploring the coordination of more permanent food security and hygiene services in the community in the long-term. Staff are exploring the creation of a dedicated community development 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. In the short-term, we have identified interim solutions to ensure a continuity of services during this transition. These solutions include:

• The City has organized a dinner program run by the Salvation Army that will provide sandwiches and wraps for takeaway until August 31, 2025. This interim meal program is not a long-term solution, which is why the City is exploring long-term solutions that will meet the needs of the City's most vulnerable. In the meantime, however, this meal program ensures folks have nutritious food to eat at dinner time, which supplements the hot lunch programs that are available through the Salvation Army Centre of Hope.
• The City will provide free access to showers at the Campbell River Community Centre through August 31, 2025.
• The City is offering a weekly laundry service in the Community Centre Parking Lot (next to the electrical vehicle charging station). Individuals can drop off their laundry on Wednesdays between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. and pickup on Wednesdays at 4:30.

View a summary of the interim social services available.

Staff continue to work with the Laichwiltach Family Life Society and respond to questions regarding relocation efforts.

Read the FAQs for more information on how the City continues to work with Laichwiltach Family Life Society on relocation efforts.

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

• July 2025 – Site mobilization and initial setup including installation of site fencing and signs
• July to November 2025 – Hazardous Materials Abatement
• August to December 2025 – Preparation for and demolition of buildings on site
• January to February 2026 – Complete all remaining demolition activities.

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:

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

Stay Informed

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

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