BC Housing plans to redevelop Fortune Drive property after tearing down part of motel

Photo: Tim Petruk

Excavators load rubble into a waiting truck Friday after crews demolished part of the former Fortune Motel on Fortune Drive. BC Housing says it is weighing its options for the site in terms of redevelopment.

BC Housing officials are “exploring redevelopment opportunities” for a parcel of land on Fortune Drive after tearing down part of a former motel last week.

Work crews demolished one of two buildings Thursday at Genesis Place, formerly known as the Fortune Motel, 654 Fortune Dr.

Genesis Place welcomed its first residents in September, more than a year after BC Housing acquired the motel for $3.6 million.

BC Housing told Castanet Kamloops the 12-unit building at the site — the one torn down last week — suffered “extensive” damage after a pipe burst last winter.

“Given the extent of the damage and the cost of the repairs that would be required, the building was slated for removal and redevelopment,” the agency said in a statement to Castanet.

“We are in the early stages of exploring redevelopment opportunities for the site and will share details with the community once they are available.”

BC Housing said it has opened 188 supportive housing units in Kamloops since 2017, with another 39 on the way.