The City of Kamloops has chosen ASK Wellness as an interim property manager of the Northbridge Hotel on the North Shore.

In a letter to residents, Social, Housing, and Community Development Manager Carmin Mazzotta says the City is also in the process of finding a longer-term property manager and building operator for the site at 377 Tranquille Road.

He also says the City’s $7.15 million purchase of the hotel was finalized on Monday, Oct. 25. Also part of the sale was the adjoining property at 346 Campbell Ave.

“We acknowledge that the news of the building’s purchase announced earlier this month may have caused concern. The vision for this purchase is to create new, much needed, affordable and market rental housing in Kamloops,” Mazzotta said. “As noted in the previous tenant notification letter, you will be able to stay in your home as planning for redevelopment continues, and you will receive extensive advance notice prior to redevelopment.”

“When redevelopment occurs in the coming years, the City and BC Housing will work together to support you in finding an affordable housing option that meets your needs.

In an interview with NL News, he says the City expects to find a longer-term property manager early next year.

“The RFP needs to be posted on BC Bid in the next, I’m assuming, in the next couple of weeks and it will be about a four month process when we consider the application process, selection, interviews, etc.,” Mazzotta said. “So we anticipate having identified a longer term property manager in February.”

“We needed someone in this interim basis and…we hope to have applications from a range of non-profit housing providers [from the RFP process].”

The Campbell Ave. property was slated to house a new day space for homeless people called Envision, though it never materialized. The City has an agreement with BC Housing which will buy that property at a later date.

For now, residents at the Northbridge Hotel have been told to pay their rent to ASK Wellness as of Wednesday, Oct. 27.

“ASK Wellness had some preexisting relationships with some of the tenants. They provide outreach to them as well as rental supplements through the BC Housing homeless prevention program. They are located in the neighbourhood and they are a proven non-profit housing provider in the City,” Mazzotta added.

“So it really just made sense.”

Took a while to get it, but here’s a copy of the letter from the @cityofkamloops to residents telling them that ASK Wellness is taking over as mangers of the Northbridge Hotel on Tranquille Rd. for the time-being.

The search for a long term operator continues. #Kamloops pic.twitter.com/xK4YuHt9qb

— Victor Mario Kaisar (@supermario_47) October 29, 2021