Location Chosen for Proposed Nanaimo Events Centre

January 25, 2017

NANAIMO – At its January 23, 2017 meeting, Council announced the 1 Port Drive site as the preferred location of the proposed events centre.

Of the two potential site locations – Howard Johnson and 1 Port Drive – cost estimates for acquiring land and undertaking construction were higher for the Howard Johnson site than the 1 Port Drive site.

These costs included land purchase, building demolition, site contamination and access. In addition to its lower cost, the 1 Port Drive site also supported a better analysis of geotechnical issues and transportation requirements.

“Meetings with the Snuneymuxw First Nation concerning the 1 Port Drive site have been ongoing for several months,” says Tracy Samra, the City’s CAO. “The City will continue to reach out. The significance of this site to the Snuneymuxw First Nation is recognized, along with the significance of several others.”

To read the detailed reports on the 1 Port Drive location, please visit the following links: Preliminary Geotechnical and Environmental Assessment, Transportation Feasibility, Sanitary Sewer/Road Design

Quick facts:

  • Council determined 1 Port Drive offered the greatest certainty to base financial decisions surrounding the cost to design, construct and operate an events centre.
  • Council committed to exploring the possibility of building an events centre when it identified it as one of its strategic capital projects in 2016. Since then a number of steps have been taken to explore the feasibility of this project including, detailed site studies, a feasibility report, business case analysis and consultation with the public.
  • Information about the chosen site will be available at six upcoming open houses events starting Thursday, February 9. To learn more, please visit the Public Engagement page on the City’s website for all dates and locations.
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