By Spencer Sterritt

Charting a course for downtown Nanaimo

Apr 28, 2019 | 11:02 PM

NANAIMO — Words like sketchy, dangerous and unpleasant were found to be often used when describing downtown Naniamo, but it’s hoped brighter days are ahead.

A research project by a collection of Vancouver Island University students known as ACE Nanaimo discovered many people wouldn’t go downtown because they considered it a dangerous, hard to access place where “nothing ever happens and if it does, I don’t hear about it until it’s over.”

At the centre of concerns was the intersection of Commercial St. and Terminal Ave., the main access into downtown scarred by a long-standing derelict building and the fenced off hole where the Acme building used to stand.

“That corner of downtown is our main intersection and it’s not appealing,” mayor Leonard Krog told NanaimoNewsNOW. He said turning the A&B Sound building into an outdoor public art gallery has brightened the corner but serious issues still remain.

“Diana Krall is clearly underutilized…right now it’s a very cold place. But on the other hand, if we get federal money for the addition to the Port Theatre, there will be an entrance way off the Plaza which can be used as a gateway to revitalizing the area.”

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Despite the negative connotations which swirl, often online, about downtown Nanaimo, mayor Krog said he’s optimistic crucial work will be done to continually boost the area.

“I think it’s fair to say there will be a greater emphasis on public art, on public spaces. There is a strong consensus around the council table it has to get done…it’s not something we want to put off or plan or discuss to death.”

Krog said council agreed with recommendations from ACE Nanaimo, such as more signage and brighter colours to further bring a positive atmosphere to downtown, though he couldn’t discuss specifics.

For all the talk of why people don’t go downtown, Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce CEO Kim Smythe said the area has already made great strides.

He came to the area more than 25 years ago, when he said downtown was full of pawnshops and social service buildings.

“It was fairly rough and tumble. But over the last five to 10 years we’ve seen downtown coming into its own. We’ve seen retailers open up which are destination shops. People don’t just trip over them, they come downtown for them.”

Smythe said retail space in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre is finally fully rented out and the businesses are thriving.

At the Nanaimo Business Awards, handed out by the Chamber, two Commercial St. businesses actually tied in the best new business category.

Both Smythe and Krog also pointed to the Gordon St. Hotel and new condo buildings being built throughout downtown as reasons to be optimistic for the area.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit