Left to right: B.C.'s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson joins Kamloops mayor Ken Christian, Bob Hughes with ASK Wellness Society, Arpa Investments partner Joshua Knaak and Jasbir Mahal at a ground breaking ceremony in Kamloops, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 at the site of a new affordable housing project.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - A Kamloops development company has been working for the last two weeks to clear the vacant lot behind Spirit Square on the city’s North Shore to begin construction of a new affordable housing development.

Officials from the province, the city of Kamloops, Arpa Investments, ASK Wellness Society and Interior Health Authority gathered at Spirit Square for a ground breaking ceremony for the 43 units of affordable housing that will benefit seniors, people with disabilities, and people with mental health challenges.

The first stage of the project, which is called Tapestry on Spirit Square, was clearing the site on Mackenzie Avenue, says Joshua Knaak, a partner with Arpa Investments.

“We sent the excavators offsite right now because we are digging for the waterline,” Knaak says. "So as soon as that site is cleared again, there’s going to be excavators moving and water lines going in.”

Knaak says once construction for utility services are complete, work to dig the foundation will begin, probably next week. The entire project is expected to take 16 months to complete.

"I know (executive director of ASK Wellness Society) Bob Hughes wants us to do it in 12 (months), we will push as hard as we can," he says.

The city of Kamloops finalized the land deal with Apra Investments back in February. Of the 43 units to be built, 28 units will be designated for singles, seniors, persons with disabilities, and people with mental health issues living independently. The remaining 15 will be for people with mental health issues receiving clinic care through Royal Inland Hospital.

The affordable housing units will be managed by ASK Wellness Society.

The project will also include 7,000 square feet of commercial space which will include 30 to 35 units of market housing, Knaak says.

Construction of the new affordable housing complex is now underway in the vacant lot behind Spirit Square.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

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