Crews recently demolished a run-down building on Front and Chapel Streets to make way for a six-storey hotel. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Downtown revitalization

Forgotten portion of downtown Nanaimo sees huge development push

Sep 5, 2019 | 10:10 AM

NANAIMO — A previously underutilized part of Nanaimo’s downtown is receiving a significant development boost.

Construction is underway or planned for numerous mixed-use developments in the Chapel St. and Front St. area around the Nanaimo court house which is slated to attract several hundred new residents.

A 24-storey, 110 unit condo tower at 77 Chapel St, which received a development permit earlier this year, will anchor the upstart neighbourhood.

Bill Corsan, the City’s director of community development, said it’s encouraging to see developers flocking to an area “forgotten” in the past.

“We’ll see downtown extended, revitalized, more people living downtown, more shops being introduced down there. It should really add to the vibrancy of downtown.” _{Bill Corsan}

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Construction is nearing completion on the six-storey, 61 unit condo at 91 Chapel St., located behind the Dallas Square Park war memorial on Church St.

A building permit was issued earlier this year for a six-storey, 90 room hotel on Front St. at Chapel St. A dilapidated former pizzeria beside the Globe Hotel was recently flattened to make room for the new hotel development.

Corsan said not only new housing options are being constructed but also the road improvements, new sidewalks and street lighting which come with them.

“This whole area of downtown will be refreshed and integrated with the rest of the heritage downtown.”

Mayor Leonard Krog said vastly increased density in the area around the court house is positive on many levels.

“That’s good for the community, it’s good for the environment and it’s good for the cost of City services.”

Krog recognized condo towers alter the city’s sky line and not everybody’s happy about it.

“The City is conscious about proving developments going forward that don’t create a wall along the waterfront that’s going to block everybody’s view,” Krog said.

The City reported in July the value of all construction projects in Nanaimo was more than $300 million, which was three times more than all of 2018.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes