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.

  • CITY SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON SHOPPERS ROW

    Share CITY SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON SHOPPERS ROW on Facebook Share CITY SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON SHOPPERS ROW on Twitter Share CITY SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON SHOPPERS ROW on Linkedin Email CITY SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON SHOPPERS ROW link

    This project, named ‘Reimagine the Row’ is an important piece in the City’s strategic efforts to revitalize Downtown Campbell River

    The City of Campbell River (the City) is inviting expressions of interest (EOI) from qualified, visionary proponents eager to invest in Campbell River and collaborate on the redevelopment of four properties within the 1300-block of Shoppers Row in Downtown Campbell River, a cultural centre and hub for the community.

    At the end of 2024, the City announced the strategic acquisition of several downtown properties: 1342 Shoppers Row (Harbourside Inn), 1352 Shoppers Row (vacant lot) and 1362 16th Avenue (commercial building). This strategic investment aims to bring vibrancy to Shoppers Row and the surrounding neighbourhood, increase housing supply and further revitalize downtown. This next step in the ‘Reimagine the Row’ project signals that the City is ready to partner with the private sector to advance this development and power Council’s strategic priority of downtown revitalization.

    “Inviting expressions of interest is an exciting project milestone as it will help bring to life this Council’s vision for an animated, invigorated downtown,” says Mayor Kermit Dahl. “Revitalizing the downtown has been, and remains, Council’s top priority throughout this term. As this Council drives this project forward, we also continue our efforts in other areas with everything from increased bylaw enforcement hours and coverage, the smooth rollout of the 40-unit Homewood rapid housing initiative, extended parking times downtown to support local businesses, and so much more.”

    The EOI lays out the City’s vision for a variety of commercial, retail and civic uses fronting Shoppers Row on the ground level of the new development, with middle-income rental housing above. In partnership with the City, the successful developer will be responsible for financing and constructing the development in line with City’s vision. The City will retain ownership of the ground floor and will look to recoup the capital it invested to acquire the land and prepare the site for development.

    Visit the City’s Bid Opportunities Website to learn more and submit your expression of interest. Interested parties have until March 27, 2025, to respond. Background information such as geotechnical, environmental, and market-demand reports will be made available to registered parties.

    As part of its work to prepare for developing the properties, the City has obtained a demolition permit for the Harbourside Inn building. Notices to end existing tenancies were given to the remaining residents of Harbourside Inn in February 2025. The City is working with Parallel 50 Property Management to support Harbourside Inn tenants throughout this transition and support exploring options for relocation. 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.

    “The City is committed to supporting all tenants during the preparation phase of this project and ahead of tenancies ending in the summer of 2025,” says Andy Gaylor, Director of Community Planning and Livability. “We’ll continue to work with community partners at every step of this process as we move this downtown revitalization project forward and take important steps to ‘Reimagine the Row’.”

    Visit www.GetInvolved.CampbellRiver.ca for the latest information on the ‘Reimagine the Row’ project.

    ###

    Contact: Andy Gaylor, Director of Community Planning and Livability | 250-286-5707 | Andy.Gaylor@campbellriver.ca

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