The Fortune Motel was purchased by B.C. Housing in June 2021, and tenants are now expected to move in this Spring after flood repair.
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March 09, 2022 - 3:19 PM
When B.C. Housing purchased the Fortune Motel, it budgeted for more than $500,000 in repairs, but that was before a flood.
An early-January flood left both properties damaged, and while B.C. Housing is still planning future repairs, it seems the original budget will fall short of the work now needed.
The smaller building, which hosts 12 suites, took "considerable" damage, according to a statement from B.C. Housing. The former motel turned out to be one of the many victims of burst pipes during a cold snap that swept through the Interior early this winter.
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B.C. Housing bought the 654 Fortune Drive property in June 2021 for $3.6 million with the goal of bringing tenants in by the fall. The Crown agency originally planned to spend $578,100 on its first round of renovations.
Renovation work was underway this winter before bringing 40 people experiencing homelessness in as its new tenants. However, the building may not host the 40 tenants that were originally planned.
A spokesperson for the Crown agency could not say whether the building will have to be demolished, but did say it will be exploring alternative designs and use options.
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The larger building hosts 28 suites and B.C. Housing is aiming to open those this spring after the first phase of renovations are finished.
According to a B.C. Housing website, no operator has yet been chosen for the supportive housing site.
When an organization is chosen to manage the building, B.C. Housing will expect it to offer daily meals, skills training and references to health-care services when needed. It will also keep staff on the site at all hours of the week.
Tenants will also pay rent, similar to other supportive housing sites in Kamloops, like Rosethorn House and Spero House.
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