Nanaimo's Diana Krall Plaza is due for a new look, with one group wanting to spruce up the area and make the area more accessible and attractive to residents and businesses. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

revitalize the downtown

Group pitches “Instagrammable” revamp of underused Diana Krall Plaza

Oct 27, 2021 | 5:23 AM

NANAIMO — A key, underused part of the downtown core is in the spotlight, with the goal of making Diana Krall Plaza a bustling community hub.

Councillors heard a detailed plan, formulated over the last two years, during their governance and priorities meeting on Monday, Oct. 25 to revitalize the area along Commercial St., between the Port Theatre and the Vancouver Island Regional Library.

Dr. Dave Witty, former provost and vice-president academic at VIU, spearheaded the project and told the committee Diana Krall Plaza is key part of the downtown, both in location and potential; but it does require work to make the place more lively.

“If you travel to some of the most vibrant European cities, this is exactly what you find in their successful squares and plazas. Places of note, Lima, Peru to Freiburg, Germany, to Barcelona, these are all well-animated and clearly when we take a look at Diane Krall Plaza, not so much.”

Community art, musical performance spaces, more green areas, bike racks and making the area more accessible were all ideas on how to make the plaza more prosperous and beneficial to the community.

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Witty observed while the area has a dynamic exterior with quick access to Commercial St., Front St. and the waterfront walkway, but he called Plaza a void space with limited existing uses.

Diana Krall Plaza sits empty during most days, with only occasional foot traffic from people walking through the downtown core. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Their plan included a number of consultations with area businesses, the public and design teams before coming up with the overall concept.

Also included was a dedicated space for Indigenous people to showcase their art, culture and history, ideas mentioned during a public forum held in March 2020.

Some of the key findings of the business survey included having car-free days along Commercial St., outdoor movies and staged events and making the area more “Instagrammable”, according to Witty.

The group also wants to pay proper tribute to Krall herself, the world-renowned jazz pianist and singer who was born in Nanaimo. Witty wants to make sure she is properly honoured.

“About 15 to 20 years ago, I was sitting in Shanghai having lunch and a Diana Krall CD came on and played for a good hour as we sat there on the Yangtze River…20 years ago. She’s well known across the world and I don’t think we’ve done the right service to that name here.”

Witty was assisted by the students from VIU’s Masters of Community Planning program who had received $20,000 from the City to complete the concept.

No decision or direction was provided by councillors, with the group’s ideas due to be incorporated into the Commercial Street Revitalization Plan, which is scheduled to start this fall.

More information can be found at reenvisiondkp.com.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow