City-owned former Kamloops hotel and strip club to be demolished
The City of Kamloops will tear down the old Northbridge Hotel within months.
The City hasn't confirmed a date for the demolition, but it did say the former hotel and strip club will be torn down in "early 2023" before it's sold to a developer, according to a City of Kamloops news release issued today, Jan. 9.
The hotel, the former home of The Duchess strip club, housed 54 tenants when it was purchased in 2021. The $7.1 million deal included the 346 Campbell Ave. lot behind the hotel, which will be soon sold to B.C. Housing for $3.8 million for an 80 unit seniors housing development.
The City always planned to sell the hotel property at 377 Tranquille Rd. to a developer as part of an ongoing effort to redevelop parts of the city's North Shore.
"The decision to demolish the existing building is with the intent to appeal to a broader development market, decrease liability associated with the vacant building, and improve the safety and general aesthetic of the area," the news release reads.
It wasn't clear before today's announcement if the City planned to demolish the building before selling.
“The demolition of this building is positive change for this area,” deputy mayor Dale Bass said in the news release. “We look forward to realizing the development potential of this key site to bring more market housing to this neighbourhood.”
It's not clear how much the City expects the razing of the Northbridge to cost, nor whether that will be factored into the sale. The City will also issue a request for proposals when selling the property, which will include certain conditions setting out what the municipality wants to see in the redeveloped property.
"The Tranquille Market Corridor is the historic commercial heart of the North Shore and is identified as one of the key redevelopment areas in the North Shore Neighbourhood Plan. This area is envisioned as a walkable, mixed-use corridor that is pedestrian and transit oriented," the news release reads.
The 54 tenants were rehoused with the help of ASK Wellness, which temporarily managed the hotel after the City bought it. Some were rehoused into B.C. Housing facilities, including supportive housing.
Others were moved to seniors housing and some didn't work with ASK Wellness to find new housing, according to Glenn Hilke, local homeless advocate and coordinator for The Loop outreach centre.
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