City of Nelson staff unveiled final plans for the future of downtown and the waterfront Monday.
City manager Kevin Cormack presented the finished version of the Sustainable Downtown and Waterfront Master Plan, which is intended to guide the future of the two areas.
“We are lucky to be approaching this from a place of strength. We have a vibrant downtown community and a compact, walkable city,” said Cormack.
He reflected on how far the city has come since adopting a downtown revitalization plan 30 years ago.
“Before then there was no Capitol Theatre, no Touchstones Gallery and Museum. Music venues like The Royal and Finley’s have been revitalized,” he said.
The Sustainable Downtown and Waterfront Master Plan will continue to focus on the Baker Street area as the economic hub of the city.
Cormack said the plan would look at how to increase development in some undeveloped lots and parking lots in the city, such as the now-vacant lot where the Kerr Apartments stood.
Increasing residential units to the downtown and waterfront areas is also a key focus of the plan.
The plan summary said modern multi-use buildings will add 200 to 300 residents downtown.
The City intends to look at vacant lots around the waterfront and develop new multi-use neighbourhoods.
“These neighbourhoods will accommodate the living and working needs of up to 2,000 to 2,500 new residents in multi-family homes,” said the summary.
“Green spaces such as parks at the mouth of Cottonwood Creek and Red Sands will help support the new neighbourhoods,” said Cormack.
Cormack said plan’s goal is to give direction for the city over the next 30 years and it’s designed to work with current initiatives.
For further details, see nelsonstar.com.