Areas along Front St. are expected to be developed in the years ahead as part of an expected mixed-use property. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

1 Port Drive

City provides update on long-envisioned south downtown Nanaimo waterfront plans

Feb 14, 2024 | 4:17 PM

NANAIMO — More than a decade after purchasing an unsightly waterfront lot, the City of Nanaimo believes extensive preparatory work will help unlock its potential, but it’s not clear when.

Nearly 27 acres of industrial land and water rights at 1 Port Dr. bought from CP Rail in 2013 (10 acres of which is developable) was the focus of a committee level overview this week.

Bill Corsan, the City’s corporate and business development director, expanded on potential of the lot just south of Port Place Shopping Centre at a Monday, Feb. 12 governance and priorities committee meeting.

With a variety of development options available, Corsan said a draft concept centres around mixed use, featuring commercial usage, housing and public space.

Consultations need to occur with Snuneymuxw First Nation before a re-zoning application is put before City councillors at a yet to be determined date, he said.

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“I don’t think you want just housing, you want to have something else that will draw people down here,” Corsan said, pointing to community desires to create a more vibrant south downtown waterfront area.

Completed site remediation work included removing old buildings, docks and a wharf, while geotechnical and environmental studies have also been done.

A second access to the property by extending Front St. in 2019 was important, Corsan said, pointing to the previous lone crossing link to the area off Esplanade being an old trestle near the end of its life.

The City also hopes to extend Farquar St. into the south waterfront area at some point in the future, which would also benefit the Nanaimo Port Authority property, home to Hullo Ferries and Helijet.

An archaeological assessment identified what Corsan said is believed to be an original Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN) village site buried beneath an old pallet business off Front St. near Esplanade.

“We had an archeological monitor on site and as we removed the foundation we did come across one of the old longhouses was down there.”

Conceptually, a pair of residential towers up to 12 stories tall, supported by lower level commercial uses are envisioned, along with other multi-family developments.

Conceptual design of clustered developments in four areas along Front St and Esplanade. The red shaded area represents a planned Snuneymuxw First Nation public square. (City of Nanaimo)

Corsan said 1 Port Dr. is ideally suited to increase the number and type of housing options in the downtown area.

“It’s a great development site, it really changes the way Nanaimo’s waterfront looks, but it’s maybe not as many buildings as we might once have thought.”

Corsan said consultations on future development plans for the property will take place with SFN.

He said it’s unclear when a proposal to council to rezone the property would happen.

Referencing the high cost of living, Coun. Ben Geselbracht told the meeting he hopes low cost housing can be included at 1 Port Dr.

“…seeing how we can leverage for increasing the stock of affordable housing through whatever arrangement, private or even BC Housing involved in some aspect.”

Additional information on Corsan’s presentation can be found here.

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes

The City of Nanaimo continues planning development of 1 Port Dr. (City of Nanaimo)