Downtown ReImagined: A Collaborative Revitalization Story

Activating Our Downtown Spaces... Diana Krall Plaza (DKP) is at the heart of Downtown Nanaimo. The space has plenty of potential, but with vast open space and few amenities, most days it serves as little more than a space to pass through. The community is reimagining DKP’s future as an animated and welcoming space that invites both day-to-day use along with community celebration.

A Street for Everyone... Commercial Street has long been Downtown Nanaimo’s primary business hub. Today, it has a traditional streetscape with roadway, curbs, and sidewalks. In recent years, the street has also become a space where community life happens: streetside cafes, store displays and events are more common than ever. That means it’s time to create a Commercial Street that meets the needs of today — an inviting and inclusive streetscape.

Want to learn more about the Design Commercial project: Visit Design Commercial - Downtown Reimagined!

Vision, Collaboration, Perseverance... In the late 1990s, Downtown Nanaimo’s charm was fading; fewer people were visiting, businesses were leaving and buildings were falling to disrepair. Action was needed! Partners came together around the idea for a downtown conference centre and hotel. While the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) came to life in 2008, it took patience, perseverance and the right partners to complete the adjacent hotel in 2023, finally realizing the vision for a full-service conference destination in Downtown Nanaimo.

Removing Barriers to Redevelopment... Terminal Avenue’s “rocky” past is affecting its future. Historical infilling of the inlet created the corridor, but has left behind redevelopment challenges. Community partners have worked together to overcome many of these challenges and continue to leverage collaboration to break down barriers that stand in the way of the vision of a welcoming downtown gateway.

Fixing First Impressions... Terminal Avenue is the gateway to Downtown Nanaimo. After decades of a highway-oriented streetscape that prioritizes the automobile, Terminal Avenue is being reimagined. Starting from early visioning and grassroots efforts by the community, a series of streetscape improvements, including a new location for the downtown transit exchange, are transforming Terminal Avenue into a welcoming entry to Nanaimo's downtown.

Stimulating Redevelopment... Few things make a worse impression than vacant buildings and lots. Unfortunately, that’s what people are greeted by at the high profile Commercial/Terminal intersection. The southwest corner is a hole, empty since a fire destroyed the heritage Jean Burns building in 2016. With little private interest coming forward for redevelopment of this iconic site, the City purchased the land in 2021 to remove development barriers and help get it back to productive use. The northwest corner is also home to a long-vacant building, but encouraging plans are emerging for its revitalization as well. The vision for an active and attractive Commercial Corner is within reach.