A renovation for the former A&B Sound building with frontages on Commercial St., Terminal Ave. and Wallace St. is under review with the City, drawing mixed reaction from readers. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Water Cooler: Future of the A&B Sound building in downtown Nanaimo

Apr 23, 2022 | 7:46 AM

NANAIMO — The Water Cooler is NanaimoNewsNOW’s letters to the editor-style segment, featuring conversations about the news in Nanaimo and Oceanside.

This week’s feature deals with substantial feedback on the latest development poised for the downtown core and the former A&B Sound building at Commercial St. and Terminal Ave.

Lady W., Nanaimo: I’m totally in favour of the revitalization of the A&B old building. It’s been an eyesore to our downtown since A&B closed. The sooner it is renovated and restored plus the empty lot kittie corner to it, the better. With the new hotel opening within the year, it’s time to spend some money to make the downtown attractive to residents and tourists alike.

Nanaimo has the potential to be a beautiful harbour city but past shortsightedness and squabbling have seriously negatively impacted on its development. The current council has showed leadership in moving forward. I for one hope it continues.

Bob, Nanaimo: So this is what we have waited 20 years for? Paint the building white and new windows. This is an opportunity to make something special in Nanaimo’s downtown along with the hole from Acme foods. Don’t build some generic looking dentist office. Have some vision.

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NanaimoNewsNOW: These were two of the letters we received in addition to hundreds of comments on social media about the proposed A&B Sound changes, but a renovation of the long-time vacant building certainly drew polarizing opinions.

Many were like Lady, who praised the new design and its proposed function as a Granville Island-style marketplace with offices and a restaurant. They saw it as an opportunity to create a central spot for gathering and shopping at one of Nanaimo’s most well-known intersections.

They saw the project as a big step forward for the boarded-up building which had done nothing in the City for well over a decade. A change in this building combined with plans for the neighbouring Jean Burns site, revamps to Commercial St. and the overarching “Hub” project in the area, the downtown area finally has a considerable amount of momentum

Then there was the other side, perhaps not exactly mirroring Bob’s comment which thought the design was lacklustre, suggesting it was a waste of money and wouldn’t have a positive impact on an area rife with challenges.

Some thought it was a City project, of which it is not, while others suggested issues of social disorder needed to be addressed before anything positive could happen.

It’s a little like the chicken and the egg.

Do you “solve homelessness” and resolve social issues plaguing the area (much of which stems from issues which are not the City’s jurisdiction or responsibility) then build, or do you build it and use change to move the area in a better direction?

Developers obviously believe change is better than waiting and at least for now, the City agrees.

According to the architect for the project, the City’s feedback on their plans is positive and they’re expecting to be able to move forward in the weeks to come.

It’s also worth noting, that a day after our story on this development, the City of Nanaimo pledged $2.5 million annually towards a downtown action plan in a bid to make the area safer for residents and businesses.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

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