REIMAGINE NANAIMO

less density

forcing many people to live in a confined area

Incorporate green spaces everywhere

More larger parks in new developments. Turn some of the bigger streets like Bowen, Wakesiah, Townsite, etc. Into tree-lined boulevards or gardens down the median. Turn aome of the decrepit corners of the city into gardens, and add some planter boxes downtown.

If You Want More Bikes, Build a Bike Friendly City

It’s simple, create more and more routes that connect to get cyclists safely from any imaginable destination and make sure they are well lit. Have crossing buttons accessible from a bike, have safe spots for bikes to wait at intersections, have recycling bins easy for cyclists to dispose of cups etc. Incentivize drivers to get cycling, make it unbearable to drive and incentivize companies to have safe bike storage and showers for employees.

Homeless & addicted people in the City Centre must receive housing & treatment so it feels safe once more to walk on city streets.

FOOT FERRY to the Mainland

We should be looking at all ways people can be housed. Bylaws could be relaxed to allow tiny homes and RVs to be attached to cityservices

Townhouses for young families

Nanaimo is in need of townhouses for young families. Preferably wheelchair/stroller accessible. Preferably not looking like grey boxes (like everything else in Nanaimo).

Provide offî:site designated parking with pay for use 2 provide funds in landscape with trees , shrubs barriers 4 ped.:access shoreline use

Plant hedges or trees on parts of the E&N multi use path that are big wind traps.

The section between Northfield Rd and Bowen Road (along the old highway) is so exposed to the wind that it becomes unbearable in the winter.

Create a minimum grid of safe, relatively flat, and coherent bike routes throughout viable neighborhoods.

This seems like it could be done from Northfield / Newcastle in Central Nanaimo through to the south end of Harewood / South End without major infrastructure upgrades.

approach Ikea about opening up an outlet in the hub city. They could occupy the old Sears outlet..

Medium to high speed rail to and from victoria

Especially service leaving Nanaimo in the morning and coming back in the evening.

Create a Communication Platform

Nanaimo's public communication is simply to skimpy. It actually always was. A well set up Platform, (combination of Website, News paper/letter, App) where Businesses, City and Public can take notice of their initiatives, there struggles and gains, their plans, their relationships, their worries, their pride, will give a big impulse to Nanaimo because we not only need to make money and create jobs but even more important...trust, value, learn about each other. Create a professional team of creatives and executors and go for it!

Can we support a business incubator?

Discourage "Land Hoarding" in Commercial Real Estate

Owners who let buildings sit empty instead of lowering rent should be subject to sufficient tax to discourage the practise. Commercial space needs to be protected from prospecting in order to remain affordable to small businesses.

More primary industry

We need more employers (especially locally-owned ones), specifically for jobs not in the service sector. Primary industries bring money into the economy while service jobs just spread it around. We need money injected into the economy.

Strong relationship between VIU and the City to develop the workforce for the future, not the quickly changing past.

Cities that are thriving have strong linkages to post secondary institutions to build the workforce of tomorrow.

Pioneer plaza

This space is a big barren slab of concrete. The only thing that really happens here is the downtown farmer’s market which doesn’t do very well I gather. I think it does have potential for hosting events, but it’s not very welcoming the way it is right now and it needs tweaking. Versailles is famous for their citrus trees that are in moveable box containers. Thinking about this big open space, the idea of the moving planter boxes would be nice because you could have trees to give shade and then they could be reorganized when hosting events to make open spaces. Depending on the size of the event, the trees could be reconfigured in different ways, so as to give just the right amount of room... too much room like when at the farmers market is depressing and uninviting, so it would actually help events like that and to attract new events. Tree choice would play a big roll in the mood... obviously, citrus trees won’t work without having glasshouses to store them in (they were more just the inspiration for this idea

When new development occurs be more aggressive in creating large public spaces. Public squares, grassy parks, or pedestrian corridors.

An issue across Nanaimo is the distinct lack of quality public urban spaces.

Walkable waterfront from Gabriola ferry terminal to Departure Bay ferry terminal

Move the marinas elsewhere and let's have a nice, walkable waterfront with shops, cafes, patios, ice-cream parlors for locals and tourists to enjoy. Nanaimo has the potential of being a much more exciting place for tourists than Victoria. There could also be a pedestrian/bike bridge over to Newcastle Island. Would make a fantastic touristy place. There are barely a couple of tables to sit down at and enjoy the view by the Bastion Place, when there should be hundreds on the waterfront. And that multi-storied eyesore of an apartment building is not only covering all the sunlight, but it creates a wind corridor that makes it really unpleasant to be there.

Attract employers

More employers = more workers in downtown = people to support downtown restaurants and other businesses.

In the 19th century the British renamed parts of Nanaimo. Let's change them back to the names given by the Snuneymuxw.

Interactive Art Installations

We need to be creating an alternative reputation for our city that does not include homelessness, drugs and crime. Nanaimo should be known as a creative hub on the Island. Somewhere to stop and marvel at rather than pass through to get to more tourist-friendly communities. We should look into bright, colourful and interactive projects. Waterparks, outdoor fitness centres, climbable installations, etc.. What we need is unique and fun attractions that provide unique and fun experiences and can be considered "instagram-able." We are already off to a great start with our Marine Festival, our existing installations, and our wonderful murals. We should strive to create and environment where people feel empowered and excited to have fun in our city, and especially our downtown. And while it is a contentious issue I strongly feel that live music should be allowed and encouraged in the Spring and Summer months as it draws locals to the area.

Invest in our kids

The best way (long term) to fix issues like homelessness, addiction, crime etc. is to invest in our children. Make sure they have good homes, food, clean water, education, access to leisure and healthy socialization, healthcare (including mental) AND THEN see the stats turn in everyone’s favour.

Make commercial street a one way

Make commercial street a Single lane one way people can park angled. So more people can park downtown. My idea would be; because of the increase in parking spots, new art structures, chairs and ect would be built in some of their places. A more bike and pedestrian friendly downtown, while allowing the same if not more cars to park downtown.

Multi-generational

Multi-generation housing and activities.

New Addiction Treatment & Mental Health Facility

We have a number of empty buildings/lots in Downtown Nanaimo that we could look into purchasing with joint funding from private citizens, corporations, municipal and provincial funding. While I understand health care is a provincial responsibility, we cannot be complacent. The number 1 topic of conversation in Nanaimo is the addiction and homelessness issue, and this has become attached to our reputation as a community. We should be challenging the Provincial government to address this issue by presenting a proposal for a new mental health complex that can be a safe place for people to access mental health services and treatment beds. We should also be looking at community outreach and support that could be a joint effort with VIHA and the RCMP. We should mobilize the community to step up with fundraising in order to address this crisis. We clearly cannot rely solely on the Provincial government to help us and right now people feel hopeless, frustrated and scared. I had to attend counselling in the building across from the Police Station in the evening after work and stopped going during the winter months, as I didn't feel safe in that area after dark. Most of the community buildings in Nanaimo are close to passing their useful life in terms of assets. We need to be creating new assets that better reflect the needs of this community. Let's stop ignoring the problem and shine a bring light on it.