Businesses in downtown Nanaimo are feeling the "construction fatigue" with ongoing work in the area, with the City of Nanaimo taking another look at the timelines to help ease a bit of the pressure. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

break for businesses

City examines Commercial St. timelines amid construction fatigue

Feb 20, 2025 | 4:35 PM

NANAIMO — City Council appears to be on board with adjusting timelines of the ambitious Commercial St. renewal project to ease impacts on beleaguered downtown businesses.

The plan was endorsed for consideration during the Feb. 19 finance and audit committee meeting which explored adjusting construction timelines on several phases of the project during upcoming budget discussions.

Vice-chair of the Downtown Nanaimo Business Association (DNBA) Steven Johns spoke at the meeting, stating while the DNBA supports the project, it has left downtown businesses in a “state of fatigue”.

“Ongoing construction has left many feeling vulnerable, struggling and deeply concerned about whether they will even be in business by the end of the year. Many have expressed the urgent need to re-think the construction approach, as the current visual markers, the orange flags, the blue fencing immediately signal disruptions to patrons, often driving them elsewhere.”

Phase one of the project between Wharf and Church St., which began in early September, is scheduled substantially complete by the end of May.

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Johns, who owns Red Shelf Decor on Commercial St., said they’re also in support of aligning the Terminal Ave. transit exchange project with the next phase of overhauling Albert St. to Terminal Ave.

He said it’s a “critical” project, which is why they’re advocating for construction to begin on this phase by next year.

“Not only would this keep the project moving forward efficiently, but it will also have minimal impact on the downtown business. In fact, the shift will allow for a much-needed break from the ongoing construction on Commercial St., offering some respite to businesses on the main part of the street but while continuing to progress on key areas.”

He said they are urging the City to adopt more aggressive construction timelines for construction in the downtown to be complete before the summer of 2029 to ensure the long-term success of the downtown business community.

Revised phasing under consideration to revitalize the street-scape of the heart of the city’s downtown. (City of Nanaimo)

Virginia Coverdale, owner of My Undies on Commercial St., admits while she’s new to the business world after only two years in operation, she’s worried construction has driven Nanaimo residents away from the downtown.

“In my opinion, local boutiques and restaurants, brick and mortar buildings that depend on walk-in clientele, require at least two full seasons, two full unhindered summers, and two full unhindered Christmases, to try and earn back the trust of locals who I believe would love to shop downtown, but who really don’t even have us on their radar anymore.”

Coverdale said that while she supports the project, lagging sales have left her in a “grim financial status,” and she worries that many Commercial St. businesses are in the same boat.

She would like to see any further Commercial St. construction stalled until at least January 2027 to give her and other businesses a chance to recover.

Photos showing wear and tear of the waterproof membrane at the Harbour Front Parkade under the front portion of the Diana Krall Plaza. (City of Nanaimo)

Another issue brought up during the meeting was the state of the Harbour Front Parkade waterproof membrane under Diana Krall Plaza.

Currently scheduled for replacement in 2030, a recent inspection suggested replacement should happen within the next three to five years, as it’s showing signs of leaking and will continue to deteriorate if not replaced.

Coun. Hilary Eastmure was the lone vote opposed to endorsing the consideration, saying she wants more data and community feedback on the phased aspects of the project, along with clearer direction as to why a change in timelines is needed.

Her concerns were largely centred around the timeline associated with upgrades along Albert St. to Terminal Ave.

Further discussion on any changes to the project will be discussed in the fall during deliberation of the City’s five-year budget.

More information on the project can be found here on the City’s website.

Investments to Commercial St. involve underground utility replacements and surface-level enhancements intended to make the downtown core a more pedestrian-friendly, event-ready space.

Ongoing phase one work on Commercial St. between Church and Wharf streets has been complicated by a mine shaft void pushed closer to the road’s surface than what City officials expected, requiring grout infilling to be done.

Free parking incentives in the Commercial St. area, as well as the second and third levels of the Bastion Street Parkade on weekdays, was implemented in an attempt to offer some form of relief to area merchants.

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