Construction will begin this summer on a 14-unit townhouse project for Revelstoke's Southside neighbourhood that opened to sales Wednesday evening, promising to keep the homes as low-priced as $300,000 and prioritize offers from locals.
Boxfort Homes, a Calgary-based boutique real estate developer that's run previous housing projects in Southside and elsewhere in town since 2021 or 2022, filled Mt. Begbie Brewery the night of March 12 with dozens of local homeowners as it showcased plans for its newest ambition, Peaks Revelstoke.
Planned for around Humbert Street and Fourth Street East, close to Southside Market, each 500-square-foot home unit will include two to three bedrooms, a parking space and backyard access to a nearby park. Short-term rentals won't be allowed. The fourth pointed roofs atop the complex will mirror Revelstoke's most iconic peaks, including Mount Begbie.
"Every single project we've ever landed, we've always tried to make it for locals," Boxfort founder Chris Pollen told Black Press Media, adding the interest and response from locals leading up to sales had been pretty strong.
Boxfort's previous Revelstoke development, Hemlock Revelstoke, delivered 39 townhouse units with three to four bedrooms and private garages.
"Lots of locals definitely found a home," Pollen recollected, calling this newer Peaks Revelstoke development "an innovative project we'd been playing with."
He draws a hard line about Boxfort's work in town not being social housing, or even affordable housing, but rather attainable housing. Pollen said Boxfort has worked closely with the city to align these developments with Revelstoke's housing action plan, including breaking down the space used for a traditional single townhouse to fit multiple units.
Asked about what types of people or families Peaks Revelstoke is targeted toward, Pollen answered that he avoids projecting customer archetypes and prefers "to think about space and how it'll be used."
"It's not often you see a community like Revelstoke," he told a room full of prospective buyers, explaining how Southside, unlike other communities, already has markets, parks and other amenity even without a huge influx of housing so far.
Pollen shared that, while Boxfort had received substantial offers from out-of-town people even before sales opened Wednesday evening, his team won't consider them until locals' interest in Peaks Revelstoke has been fully served.
Brad Van De Walle, a Calgary Realtor with 13 years in the real estate business, is working with Pollen to market the townhouses. He echoes Pollen's sentiments about serving Revelstoke's community first, saying that opening sales to outside markets "doesn't solve the housing crisis."
Van De Walle said Revelstokians can rest assured that if the housing market takes a hit from looming 25 per cent U.S. tariffs, Boxfort won't raise its prices for Peaks Revelstoke.
"This is it," he explained. "If we lose money, that's on us."
The purchasing period for Peaks Revelstoke lasts a total of 150 days starting March 12, requiring a 20 per cent deposit. Deadlines include a 10 per cent deposit by next Wednesday, March 19, five per cent by mid-June, and another five per cent by mid-October.
On the feasibility of Boxfort incurring development costs to keep units as low as $300,000 a piece, Pollen said, "I don't know how we're going to do it, but I'm committed."
While Boxfort isn't revealing how many residents have put in offers until after the initial seven-day review period, Pollen said Thursday, March 13, that they've already received a substantial number of offers.
Van De Walle shared that Boxfort is also already planning a subsequent development for Southside, slated for early 2026.
