The City of Nanaimo is collecting input on a strategic parcel of downtown land it’s recently purchased.
The city recently bought the former Jean Burns property that was destroyed by fire and two other adjoining businesses in the downtown core.
“It’s been a little bit barren for a while but we would certainly like to revitalize it, rehumanize it, bring people down here, make the connection to commercial so when you have the night market or those kinds of events, people actually pull into this side as well,” said Mike Elliot, the City of Nanaimo’s project planner
The city’s main concept for the land is a bus exchange, along with what it calls open public space improvements, which could include things like bike storage, fountains, or buildings with commercial space.
But already, there is opposition.
A petition against a bus exchange for the site has been signed by more than 530 people and a number of people at an open house on Saturday believe it would move downtown in the wrong direction.
“I have a lot of logistical concerns about it. I don’t think it’s a big enough location to support a bus station that is big enough to make Nanaimo a bus using user-friendly city,” said Willow Friday, who owns the downtown business Iron Oxide Art Supplies.
“What it’s going to do is cut the downtown in half. That’s not going to revitalize anything and what’s to tell me you’re not going to have fencing around it to stop people who aren’t taking a bus from spending the time there,” said Susan Oakley, a Nanaimo resident.
Already two nearby downtown parks have been fenced off to prevent the homeless from gathering there and the fear is a repeat at this site.
Kevan Shaw, the President of the Victoria Cresent Association, says he also believes it’s the wrong location for a bus exchange.
“What I’m hearing from people, none of the above. None of this is a good solution to helping revitalize our downtown. It’s creating more crime [and] more of a traffic nightmare. More problems. You need to put more retail here where the Jean Burns building was with a few little cafes. You need to put density above,” said Shaw.
But the city’s project planner says nothing is set in stone and the team is open to all ideas.
“Today we’re out here asking the public to feedback what do they want to see in regards to the public space. Do they want to see open space? Do they want to see a building? What kind of uses do they want for this property?” said Elliot.
Nanaimo residents are urged to add their voices by filling out a public survey. The city is gathering feedback until Oct. 4.
Kendall Hanson
