A six-storey development just outside Penticton's downtown core is almost ready to have occupants.

The 70-unit apartment at 650 Eckhardt Ave. has been under construction for all of 2024 and is "nearing completion," said the city's director of development services Blake Laven.

"This will certainly help with our rental vacancy and our rental housing stock in the community," Laven said about the mixed-use development, which will also feature commercial space on the first floor.

"It's very close to occupancy now."

On Feb. 11 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” in a quarterly presentation to Penticton City Council 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ” Laven also provided updates on other housing projects currently under construction, including a BC Housing-supported downtown development on Main Street.

He said the development, located at 603 Main St. will represent the first five-storey building on Main Street.

"It will be interesting to see how it impacts other development proposals on Main Street," Laven said of the 28-unit project, which will be operated and maintained by the M'akola Housing Society.

Laven added that a pair of five-storey buildings, located at 286 Rigsby St. and 123 Front St. respectively, are also seeing progress with respect to construction.

The latter is the site of the former Slack Alice's in Penticton.

Both developments will feature 48 housing units, Laven said.