Kamloops, B.C. - As residents and developers on Kamloops’ North Shore, the team at ARPA Investments (ARPA) has always been supportive of social services, provided they are the right project, in the right location, and run by the right operators.
“The City of Kamloops made clear they were pursuing a Community Access Hub on the North Shore of Kamloops to meet the needs found in this community,” shared Joshua Knaak, partner of ARPA. “Our team recently acquired the property at 142 Tranquille Road, as well as 118 Tranquille Road, and are now starting plans to develop both sites. This will be an extension of the residential/commercial developments we have already built at The Station on Tranquille, The Colours on Spirit Square, Stollery Suites, Thompson Landing on Royal, and The Innova on Tranquille.”
ARPA has entered into an agreement with BC Housing to lease the 142 Tranquille property for a 20-month period to facilitate the operation of a shelter and Community Access Hub. This will provide ARPA with time to design a new project for this site.
“By leasing this space to BC Housing, we were able to ensure that the North Shore Business Improvement Association’s key principles for social service facilities for people who are unhoused were met, as well as other requirements we believe to be necessary to ensure a positive integration with the community,” noted Knaak. “We understand there may be concerns about this project and we share many of those concerns, as we have a vested interest in the success of this North Shore community, both as residents and investors.”
Knaak sees ARPA’s partnership with BC Housing as well as ASK Wellness as an opportunity to help alleviate many of the concerns for North Shore residents and businesses as well as ensure the developer can directly influence the outcomes of the Community Access Hub.
“ASK Wellness has been a neighbour of ARPA for many years as our offices are next door to their offices and their Stollery Suites housing and The Colours on Spirit Square share space,” said Knaak. “ASK Wellness has demonstrated a strong commitment to being good neighbours and we have confidence they will be excellent operators of this site.”
The ARPA team see the shelter and Community Access Hub as not “just a shelter” but a new concept being piloted in Kamloops which will include 24/7 on-site health services, counselling, showers, washroom facilities, referrals to housing, and much more.
“We look forward to helping facilitate this much needed Community Access Hub and working with BC Housing, the City of Kamloops, and ASK Wellness to ensure this integrates well in our community,” said Knaak. “And in a few years’ time, we anticipate breaking ground on new developments at these sites that will further add to the vibrancy, energy, and growth the North Shore of Kamloops is already experiencing.”
For an interview with ARPA Investments:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison, 250.574.0221 | aleece@amplifyinc.ca
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