More moderate and middle income housing is on the way for Revelstoke

The Revelstoke Community Housing Society announced it has been selected as the non-profit partner that will work alongside BC Housing to transform the vacant site at 420 Downie Street into 166 new housing units for moderate and middle income families, seniors and young workers. 

The housing society’s involvement includes the construction and operation of the housing project, which is located in Revelstoke’s Southside neighbourhood.

In a statement posted to its website, housing society co-chair Sheena Wells said the society is excited about the opportunity and the project “represents a significant investment in our community’s future, and we are committed to working with BC Housing and our local partners to see it come to fruition.”

The project has been in the works for years, with the province purchasing the three acre property from the Revelstoke Board of Education for $1.5 million back in 2019. The property is the former home of Mount Begbie Elementary School. Built in 1967, the school closed down  in 2012. The building was demolished in 2016, as the Revelstoke School District began disposing several surplus properties as part of an agreement with the Ministry of Education.

Following the purchase, BC Housing held a number of community engagement sessions before submitting a rezoning and Official Community Plan amendment application to the City of Revelstoke in May 2021. Final reading and approval of the rezoning and amendment application took place in April 2022.

Construction is anticipated to begin as early as Spring 2025.