The Village of Nakusp could soon have a more attractive, accessible and people-friendly downtown and it would cost $1.9 million to make it happen.
That’s the findings of a four-month downtown revitalization study submitted to village council last week.
The report, by Victoria’s Barefoot Planning and Design and LARCH Landscape Architecture of Golden, envisions a facelift for Broadway Avenue and the streets that cross it, leading down to the waterfront.
“The downtown’s greatest strengths are a strong sense of community and friendly, welcoming people,” the report says in its opening paragraphs, continuing that the local environment, industrial heritage, waterfront and arts community also contribute to Nakusp’s unique character.
On the other hand, the downtown has uneven and cracked sidewalks, ugly streetlights, poor signage, unhealthy trees and lack of people space.
The fix, the report says, is in carefully redesigned curbs and sidewalks, consistent signage and improved access to the waterfront.
Both the potential and the potential problems were identified through intensive public consultation, workshops, and online surveys done over the summer.
“The effect of this approach was reflected in the evolution of feedback received from the community and advisory committee – such as an increasing desire for people spaces and for a unique streetscape identity,” the report says.
The report, which was paid for through a $100,000 grant from the B.C. government’s Rural Dividend Program, identified several initiatives that could improve the downtown’s appeal for both tourists and locals, including:
• improved street elements:
• better streetlights, sidewalk surfaces, benches, trash cans, and landscaping
• corner ‘bulb-outs’ and mid-block curb extensions that calm traffic, provide public living space, better crosswalk safety, and other functions;
• better signage
• low-maintenance landscaping
• areas for public art
• better parking, both for cars and RVs travelling through;
• the creation of ‘parklets’, or sidewalk extensions into the street for local businesses to create patio space
• better drainage systems for rainwater, which currently flows directly into the lake after a storm.
The landscaping and construction materials used should be high quality, and consistent, in order to provide a sense of stability and pride of place, the report suggests.
“In order to be contextual and authentic, an emphasis on raw materials — namely wood and steel — are proposed,” the authors say. “Recycled plastic also presents an opportunity for a durable, eco-friendly alternative.”
But the project comes with a price tag: $1.943 million dollars. The consultants recommended the village stagger the full development in phases, paying as they can, rather than go cheap on materials or cutting out aspects of the project. The village should first start improvements from 6th to 3rd Avenue, then move from 3rd east to Nelson Avenue.
The price tag was “a bit of a shocker” Mayor Karen Hamling said after the report’s presentation, though she told Arrow Lakes News it’s something the town will make happen.
“Oh definitely, we just have to go out there and get the funding,” she said. “We’ll work on it in stages. We are a small community, we don’t have a big tax base to finance it.
“But certainly we can do this.”
Hamling said work could start on sidewalk and curb improvement as soon as next spring. The village will also have to get permission from the B.C. government, as Broadway Ave falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport.
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