The former downtown “eyesore” is expected to be transformed into a new multi-storey head office for Seymour Pacific Developments.
“We are proud to share this news with the community, our staff, and our clients,” said company owner and founder Kris Mailman in a news release. “I started the company here and even though we’ve grown nationally, I wanted to maintain the head office in Campbell River.”
Demolition began Monday on the block of derelict buildings located directly across from Seymour’s current head office, a stone’s throw away from city hall.
The block of commercial buildings – on land bordered by Alder, Dubeau and Beech streets, and St. Ann’s Road – have been mostly empty for several years and were becoming decrepit.
The properties were recently bought by Seymour Pacific and Mailman wants to build a four- to five-storey head office for his growing team.
Over the last seven years, the company has grown from five people to over 250 employees across Western Canada. Head office has grown from five people to approximately 80 people. The office building will be built to accommodate current staff and potential future growth.
“This has been a great community for myself and my family,” Mailman said. “In some ways this is a monument to the fact that you can do business in Campbell River. This is a positive move for us as a company and for the downtown as well.”
Seymour Pacific Developments and Broadstreet Properties Ltd., are locally-owned companies with more than 25 years of experience in land development and construction of residential and multi-family housing.
Plans call for offices incorporating approximately 40,000 to 50,000 square feet. Energy-efficient LEED standards are being incorporated into the design and it is anticipated that the new building will enhance public spaces with improved sidewalks, lighting and innovative landscaping.
“We were looking at a number of locations in Campbell River and were of the opinion that we wanted to remain downtown,” said Sean Roy, CEO of Seymour Pacific Developments and Broadstreet Properties. “The opportunity presented itself and we are pleased to help revitalize the downtown core. The City of Campbell River is open for business and they have been great to work with during the process.”
A hazardous materials report was recently completed for the existing land and buildings on the site. It passed and demolition has started to remove the existing buildings. The company anticipates that demolition will be completed by the end of April.
For more information please visit the company websites at www.seymourpacific.ca and www.broadstreet.ca