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The Nanaimo South Downtown Waterfront Visioning Initiative was a long-term, high-level consultation and visioning process to guide the transition of a 59 hectare active industrial area into a future urban hub for Nanaimo. A far reaching community consultation strategy, with multiple platforms for input and information, galvanized widespread community interest and support at the outset of the project. This strategy included a dedicated active web-site, pop-up surveys, digital and analogue awareness campaigns, public lectures, discussion forums and the most well attended community open house in Nanaimo’s recent history. 

The results of the successful public consultation led into a Waterfront Visioning design charrette guided by CitySpaces urban design team. While the diverse stakeholders, industrial and commercial uses, encumbrances and right of ways with multiple ownerships and jurisdictions created for a challenging charrette, the outcomes of the process led to a surprising level of consensus.  After several months of community consultation and design charretes, the final report provided a clear waterfront vision for this important city building opportunity for Nanaimo; one that is unparalleled in the city’s history. Perhaps more importantly however, the process opened up a community dialogue that is critical to ensuring the high aspirations set out in the vision.

 

PROJECT TEAM:  
Deane Strongitharm    Shelley Gadsden Palmer