NNN’s Last 10: A time capsule for Nanaimo’s future

“The revitalization of its downtown core will bring more foot traffic downtown. With the new buildings finalized and new residents moving in downtown, there will be sustained economic growth. More vendors taking up the rebuilt commercial building spaces, local businesses will feel the positive boom.”

Rogers added lower-income housing would spread out to other areas of the city, and the region would see an increase in multi-layered support for those living unhoused.

“Overall positive changes over the next ten years. It’ll continue to get cleaner, nicer, grow better overall! Super excited!”

Anita Rinfret had a similar hope regarding housing, specifically the price and availability.

“I predict that the rents will come down because of the many affordable apartments that will be built over the next ten years.”

Several readers also suggested density will increase substantially over the next 10 years.

“It’s going to be a city with more high-rises and condos with the population getting way bigger,” Martin Nagy added.

Cheryl Germain had a unique idea of using existing commercial properties to increase housing stock.

“I predict that there will be residential towers/mid-rise housing situated on some of what are now our numerous/under-utilized shopping malls.”

A large number of readers predicted, or at least hoped, the downtown would be a more vibrant place.

“Downtown “hole” old Jeans Burns building is finally no longer an eyesore. Perhaps an appealing park/people space,” Linda Hensel predicted.

One major project seen as a near-certainty to be developed over the coming decade, according to readers, was the Departure Bay walkway.

Kimberley Phillips said it will turn into a key connection between neighbourhoods.

“An extension of Departure Bay Beach to the Nanaimo harbourfront is built and creates more exploring options for both locals and tourists.”

Some readers took a more pessimistic outlook on the decade to come, including Alister Market.

“It hasn’t changed much over the last 30 years, the next 10 will be more of the same. Lots of Albertans, rednecks, ambulance sirens every 15 minutes, roaring engines, increased traffic, inadequate infrastructure, and still stuck 20 years in the past.”

Others were more imaginative.

Seba Magued pitched the idea of a Masterpiece District, with some substantial adjustments to one community landmark.

“The historic Bastion is wrapped in a giant, community-knit yarn bomb,” Magued said, adding other improvements could result. “Urban deer and raccoons form peaceful, synchronized street-sweeping squads, completely trading out their garden-raiding habits for neighbourhood cleanup initiatives.”

Magued also suggested Nanaimo could become a “cup-of-sugar network’ community, where “Nanaimo neighbours become so incredibly close-knit that property lines are replaced with communal outdoor kitchens and shared backyard pizza ovens.”

Other prognostications from readers included a new, or at least improved, highway from Nanaimo to Parksville, continued improvements to local healthcare options, and one prediction of a “HUGE snowstorm.”

Whatever it is, our team is excited to cover the events of the next 10 years.

Thank you for reading.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

NNN’s Last 10: A time capsule for Nanaimo’s future

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