11/05/2010 KamloopsThisWeek.com
Mission Almost Accomplished
It’s been more than two years since ground was broken on one of the more controversial and talked-about developments in Kamloops.
The first phase of the Mission Hill project is now in the home stretch — and the end couldn’t come fast enough for Mike Rink.
As the senior project manager with New Future Developments, Rink has had to routinely defend the development from naysayers and constant rumours.
The latest was that the development had run out of money and construction work at the site had once again stopped.
However, that’s not the case, said Rink, who blamed the gossip on people trying stir up trouble.
“It’s the way it is in this town,” he told KTW.
“They just love it.”
Rink conceded it may not look like much is going on to anyone who drives by the site.
But, under the large white tarp, there’s a sizable crew at work.
That crew is busy completing the interior of the building, from painting to plumbing.
Located at the hairpin turn on Summit Drive, overlooking the Thompson River, Mission Hill will eventually be home to five buildings and more than 200 units.
Rink expects the first phase of the development, which includes 54 units starting at $350,000, to be completed by the end of July.
A sales centre will open at the site in a few weeks.
However, it hasn’t been a smooth path for the development.
Rink acknowledged construction on Mission Hill is about three months behind schedule, noting time was lost at the beginning of the project because of problems with ground work.
Work also stopped just a few months after it began back in 2008, because New Futures failed to get the proper building permits from the city.
Since then, according to the city, the developer has paid all of its permits and fees and has settled all accounts at city hall.
Rink said financing for the development hasn’t run dry, noting the company paid close to $1 million in bills in April.