Tranquille 'agri-hood' development in Kamloops will contribute $608M to local economy

It's called an 'agri-hood.'

And in the case of Tranquille in Kamloops it will be a unique-in-Canada waterfront village, farm and winery.

"There are certainly other master-planned communities in Canada," said project manager Tim McLeod.

"But we are different with our plans including a working farm, orchards, vineyards and winery, gardens, pasture, cows and even goats for cheesemaking."

Other master-planned communities in the Thompson Okanagan include Wilden in Kelowna, built around ponds and wilderness areas, Predator Ridge near Vernon surrounding two championship golf courses and Sun Rivers in Kamloops around a golf course.

But Tranquille is the only one in the region to incorporate and to be built around a farm.

Now in the hands of Vancouver-based The Ignition Group, Tranquille is moving toward final approvals and the start of development on 469 acres at the confluence of the South Thompson River and Kamloops Lake.

Only about a quarter of the land will actually be used for 1,500 homes and village development.

About a quarter will be a public park on Cooney Bay, public trails along the river and lake, a boat launch and dock and wilderness areas.

And more than half, at 265 acres, will be the farm.

Next year, infrastructure such as streets, water, sewer, electricity and natural gas is expected to go in so home construction can start in late 2022.

It will take many phases and a projected 14 years, but in the end Tranquille will be 1,500 homes surrounding a lakeside community centre, hotel and pub restaurant, 265-acre farm, hiking trails and wilderness areas.

The housing will take many forms from lakeside estates, single-family homes and cottages to townhouses and condominiums in low-rise buildings.

"Kamloops is growing at 3% annually, so we're expecting the people who buy at Tranquille will be a mix of millennials, families, empty nesters and retirees from both Kamloops and those moving to Kamloops for the lifestyle and diverse economy," said McLeod.

Tranquille's estimated $608-million impact on the local economy was calculated by Urbanics Consultants and is based on 4,340 full-time years of employment over the 14 years of development; municipal and regional property taxes; property transfer taxes; hospital and school taxes; and spending for materials and services at local retailers.

The total value of the completely built-out Tranquille will be more.

"Impressive as these economic numbers are, and they are very impressive, they pale in comparison to the unique health and wellness living experience that the New Tranquille will bring to Kamloopsians and the local ecosystem in our post-COVID world," said McLeod.

Although Tranquille is unique and isn't modelled on any other 'agri-hood,' McLeod does cite a couple of other communities built around farms in the US.

Agritopia, outside of Phoenix, is a village built around 11 acres of urban farmland producing peaches, tomatoes, olives, artichokes, zucchini and honey.

Serenbe, outside of Atlanta, is touted as a wellness community surrounding a 25-acre organic farm.

Tranquille, by the way, is the French name 1800s fur traders gave Secwepemc Chief Piqemus for his tranquil, or peaceful, disposition