Port Place Mall renovations?

[BigMac]

Both of the pictures in post #125 were taken prior to about 1965. Sears and Safeway (both shown in the photos) were built in 1952 as a small strip mall, and Harbour Park was expanded upon the property and opened in 1967. Both of the photos also do not show the Centennial Building (former museum) in the park behind Harbour Park (now Port Place) which was built in time for the Centennial in 1967.

I was hoping that you would hop on board Smokey, as I too was questioning the date. The date was supplied with the photos & I quoted the source. I was born here in 1960 & never remember Sears & Safeway looking like that. As you say, Harbour Park was built in 67 & that is how I remember it as a child, not like the photo shows. Interesting though that they have decided to use this same old design, which I think, may work to the better. We shall see, I guess. Thanks for the info

[Smokey©]

This image is circa 1970. As you can see the Centenial Building 1967 (the octogon one at Pipers Park) and Harbour Park first expansion 1967 is visible. The highrise on Front and Chapel Streets was built in 1965. I cannot see the addition of floors on the Shoreline (Dorchester) Hotel though. Gordon Street is filled in but I cannot see if the Gabriola Ferry Terminal was relocated from CPR (Seaspan) to it's current location. *Flugel Horn might know when the terminal location happened* This photo was obviously taken on a Sunday as there are no cars in any of the parking lots such as City Hall, the Credit Union, Eatons, Harbour Park or Gordon Street. I cannot tell if the Yacht Club is there or not.

The photos shown in earlier messages show the Gabriola Ferry at the CPR location and Gordon Street does not look finished. Other photos from the Ladysmith Archives show the Shoreline Hotel with only one floor off of Church Street and only the dinning room and pub floors on Front Street. I do not know which year the extra floors were added but know they were there for the 1968 bathtub race because friends rented a room on the fourth floor at the corner of Church and Front and I have seen the photos from the street of them hanging out the windows as a 1968 Pontiac drove by.

[BigMac]

Your right Smokey, I think I missed this photo. You can see Harbour Park as it was in 67+ That's how I remember it. I remember being at the original 67 race with my dad, man was it exiting!! Seebees flying around everywhere!!People lining the harbour . Good times!! Thanks again

[Wyatt Earp]

A search thru any Government of BC agent will show what easements, etc., are attached to property titles.

Yup, and I'm sure it is still there.

[nanaimoboy]

Nanaimo News Bulletin

By Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: June 08, 2010 5:00 PM

A city design panel and Port Place Mall owners are edging closer to an agreement about how a complete revamp of the shopping centre will look.

The massive project will involve demolishing most of the existing mall, while keeping Thrifty Foods, London Drugs and the Medical Arts Centre intact.

It will also feature an eight-storey commercial and residential building and, likely to be built as the last stage, a 26-storey condominium tower.

At a meeting last week, First Capital Realty also asked that a planned four-storey commercial and residential building, attached to the main mall, include an additional floor to accommodate 19 more residential units.

Gary Noble, the city’s development approval planner, said compromises by both sides were made over the past two years and the likelihood of a development permit is edging closer.

“With a project this big there are many pack-and-forths.” said Noble. “At [last Thursday’s meeting] our design panel made some recommendations to the architects based on our official community plan – what council would like to see based on its guidelines and community interest.”

While the general plan – which includes the shopping, commercial and residential buildings being dissected by a road connecting Terminal and Front streets, as well as a corridor leading from the shopping centre to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre – is accepted, many details need to be considered.

“The design panel raised concerns over details like what kind of empty spaces there might be that would attract crime, crime prevention, are there empty spaces in the parking garage that might attract criminals and what kind of lighting will there be?” said Noble.

Barbara Densmore, a member of the South End Community Association, said many nearby residents have expressed concern with how the final product will meet their day-to-day shopping needs.

“We’ll leave the design and architecture up to the panel and architects,” said Densmore, who blogs on behalf of the association at http://seca1.wordpress.com. “What people who live here want to know is will the new mall be able to meet their shopping needs in the future as it has been doing?

“Many people see Port Place as the centre of our community, where they can get what they need without the use of a car. If we don’t know what shops and services are going in, and how expensive they will be, it’s kind of unsettling.”

On her website, Densmore also notes that a few minor changes were made Thursday, including scrapping a bicycle lane and traffic circle on Front Street. The highrise condo will also be moved from the southeast corner of the property to the northeast, and the existing Italian fountain will be the central focus of a plaza at the mall’s front entrance.

Esthetics are also considered. New buildings must fit in with current surrounding buildings to keep the area’s flavour, and decoration is also considered.

“You don’t want residents looking out their windows to see a big, concrete wall. Sometimes our design panel can see things the architects don’t,” said Noble.

The goal of the project is to increase population density in the downtown core, while improving economic and commercial activities.

Once a development permit is provided, the plan will shift to a rezoning phase. Once in place, the first phase will consist of rebuilding the mall, followed by the addition of the residential/commercial buildings.

[vanislandrev]

Time for a much needed change. If you look at what is working, it's outside strip malls - like the ones in Vegas!

[Pastilla]

I've been reading a couple of Nanaimo history books, one written by Lynne Bowen and the other by Joseph Barraclough --- both mention Eaton's as a landmark.

Was Eaton's where Port Place is now? Can you see it in this photo?

[sheena]

I've been reading a couple of Nanaimo history books, one written by Lynne Bowen and the other by Joseph Barraclough --- both mention Eaton's as a landmark.

Was Eaton's where Port Place is now? Can you see it in this photo?

The old Eatons building is still there - it's across the street from the Thirsty Camel - the Queens - at the corner. There are condos on the top floors now - not sure what is on the ground floor.

[Flugel Horn]

The old Eatons building is still there - it's across the street from the Thirsty Camel - the Queens - at the corner. There are condos on the top floors now - not sure what is on the ground floor.

The last time that I was in the old Eaton's building was to renew my BC Drivers License; back when it was the BC Access Centre. The last time I was in the building when it really was Eaton's was likely for an elementary school Christmas choir "sing on CHUB" gig in the late 1970's.

[Wyatt Earp]

I can't say for sure but it would sit right where the that large flat building is. In fact just behind it you can see the top floors of the queens hotel.