Columbia Precinct development

[skye]

I've been watching the progress on the Columbia Precinct housing development for a while.

In total the development on the provincial precinct lands will add around 1,000 dwellings to the area and I want to make sure it includes connections to the Xget'tem' Trail and the protected 6th Ave Bikeway to make Active Transportation a viable option for those residents.

BC Builds development on Columbia Street slated to begin construction in 2026

https://cfjctoday.com/2025/07/20/bc-builds-development-on-columbia-street-slated-to-begin-construction-in-2026/

KAMLOOPS — Construction on a massive new housing development in Kamloops on land owned by the Provincial Government is expected to begin in the spring of next year.

The BC Builds project at 515, 523, and 527 Columbia Street will include 249 rental homes – up from the inital estimate of “approximately 200 units” – on a site that used to house two provincial office buildings, which were demolished last year.

“[It] will include studios, one-, two-, and- three-bedroom units with a focus on accessibility, connectivity, community and site ecology,” a statement from BC Housing said. “BC Builds is an accelerated rental housing program that speeds up the development of homes that middle-income households can afford.”

“This plan will contribute almost 1,000 new homes to the area,” the statement said. “The Province and BC Housing will continue to work closely with the city to create an integrated and cohesive community where all those who live, work and play nearby will feel welcome.”

[skye]

Back in December 2024 I did a thread on Bluesky about the development

https://bsky.app/profile/skyenott.bsky.social/post/3ldex5rxdo22r

It looks like BC Housing has taken down the Feasibility Study from the link in the first post but I saved a copy. Here are some highlights from that thread:

Feasibility analysis: "As informed by the CoK, a protected bicycle lane is provided on 6th Avenue, north of Columbia Street. A minor street bikeway is also currently provided on 5th Avenue, extending approximately 400 m south from Columbia Street and connecting to an existing multi-use pathway.

So from that it sounds like BC Housing - or at least the consultant they hired to write this study - is aware of the existing AT infrastructure and presumably will incorporate site design to connect to those features.

"A future MUP will be developed in conjunction with the improvements envisioned for the Columbia Precinct and the Steering Committee is currently working to determine the most feasible location."

"Construction of the Peterson Creek MUP should help improve the Site’s Bike Score significantly"

I know I've seen plans somewhere that showed the city intended Glenfair Drive to be the connection between the 6th Ave Bikeway and Xget'tem' Trail (aka Peterson Creek MUP) and I think there's still signage up that directs cyclists to go up Glenfair. However in the latest site plans and renderings you'll notice there's a new, very wide MUP going around the new residential buildings along the 5th Ave Extension:

Note that it's labeled "Proposed Peterson Creek Multi Use Path" in that plan even though it actually goes along 5th and not next to the creek. But a Peterson Creek MUP seems to be a requirement in some form.

I don't really have a preference in terms of where the new Peterson Creek MUP goes as long as Xget'tem' and 6th Ave are connected properly and all the Precinct lands residents have access to a good AT path between them. The layout is constrained by the choice of 6th Ave for the bikeway, but what's done is done.

I'm going to contact BC Housing and try to find out if a final site design has been chosen for the first phase at 515, 523, and 527 Columbia Street (breaking ground in the spring) to verify that the new MUP is in the plans and it connects to the 6th & Columbia intersection.

[skye]

Response from the BC Housing Community Relations Team:

This development is still in the planning phase and the documents you obtained from the Property Opportunity Notice & Feasibility Study last year are the latest available.

As part of the planning process, we are working with our development partners and the local government on infrastructure upgrades, including Multi Use Pathways and other amenities for site connectivity. The final routes for these have not yet been determined.

[skye]

Asked BC Housing Community Relations Team about design feedback... sounds like the only channel is through the city.

Will there be any opportunities for public feedback on final path design or is feedback only through the municipality?

Feedback at this stage is only available through the municipality as it falls under their jurisdiction.