By Ian Holmes

Redevelopment of old Madill site to transform Bowen Rd. area

Sep 8, 2017 | 3:51 PM

NANAIMO — Big changes are slated for a key section of central Nanaimo, as an old landmark gives way to significant new development.

Island West Coast Development’s Pat Brandreth said tearing down the old Madill buildings on Bowen Rd. near the Island Hwy. for three new car dealerships and a seniors care home signals a new era.

He said a shopping plaza was originally planned but “the numbers didn’t work in terms of where we were restricted with our traffic study and the amount of trips that were generated with that type of development.”

Brandreth expects the car dealerships to be built along the highway beside Laird Wheaton GM will be complete in 2019.

“Car dealerships have a very low trip generation rate and they fit nicely in terms of size and in terms of location for this development.”

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He said nearly 200 units offering a mix of seniors’ housing options, where the old SPCA building is, is still several years away.

The City of Nanaimo’s manager of current planning and subdivision Lainya Rowett said improving traffic flow will help pace smooth redevelopment of the former Madill building area.

She said extending Kenworth Rd. to Labieux Rd. and including a roundabout will create easier access to the site and distribute some traffic away from Bowen Rd.

“It will tie into the existing road network, have a connection through for Kenworth and also have a future long-term opportunity for an extension through to Rock City Rd.”

An official community plan and zoning amendment requires final approval from Nanaimo Council.

The entire site between Bowen, Labieux and the Island Hwy. is nearly eight-acres in size.

ian@NanaimoNewsNOW.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes