6 minute read
As I See It
Investing in downtown
by Rob Johnson
With the start of the redevelopment of the Island Hotel – from a building in dire need of repairs and upgrades to a new and much-needed residential housing complex – the nature and character of downtown Ladysmith are continuing to evolve. The rebuild of the Islander, as it is now being called, is just the latest example of a quiet and ongoing trend to preserve our downtown heritage buildings while gradually expanding the downtown core.
Over the past decade or so, noticeable and not-so-obvious changes have been occurring. One of the first buildings to be renovated was the building at 431 First Avenue. Today, the building is home to Plantitude Restaurant, In the Beantime and White Space Living, with three rental units on the top floor.
Owner Karen Olenik invested well over $1.5 million to save the 125-year old building, which needed major structural upgrades. These upgrades have added another 100 years or more of life to the building.
Another significant investment is in the former Home Hardware store. It was modified by the Ivens family at great expense to become the Fox and Hounds Pub. The Ivens family invested well over $750,000 dollars into the well-loved and respected establishment, creating employment while meeting the needs of the area. Across the street from the Fox and Hounds, in the former location of In the Bean Time, new owners of the building are investing over half a million dollars in renovation and equipment to open the new Owl’s Nest, demonstrating their faith in the community.
Another excellent example of a place where the owner is giving new life to a character building is the Temperance Hotel. Owners Stefan Queitsch and Denise Bergquist have invested over $1.5 million and countless hours of sweat equity to create a unique boutique hotel experience offering accommodation in the heart of downtown.
Along First Avenue, there are other renovations and improvements underway in many of our heritage buildings. Some are obvious changes like Zack’s Lounge, with its outdoor patio. Other downtown changes include combining the Wild Poppy and Old Town Ice Cream shops, as well as renovations to the bookstore, now called Boundless Books.
Some renovations are not apparent from the street. There is now an updated two-bedroom apartment above Appetite Food for Thought. The owners of the Johnson Shoe Building, as well as the owners of the Worldly Gourmet and Pemberton Realty, have invested a lot of money in upgrading the apartments above their buildings, creating desirable residences.
Recently, the building housing the Old Town Bakery and the apartments above it was purchased by Kate and Geoff Cram, owners of the Old Town Bakery. They have plans to make further improvements that complement the investment they have made in making the building even more sustainable for the coming year.
Farther along First Avenue, the Ladysmith Health Care Auxiliary purchased additional land and expanded its thriving Thrift shop. Over the last few years, they have invested nearly $2 million to expand their store, enabling them to raise even more money to support the health and well-being of those in our area.
At the other end of First Avenue, Bayview Brewery owner Rod Alsop and his partners, Johnny Ludtke, Alfred Elviss and Geoff Alsop, have also shown their faith in the future of the community by spending more than half a million dollars to change what was once a residential home into a 30-seat local gathering place.
FMC, a local company owned by the Crucil family, has invested a vast sum of money to clean up what was a contaminated gas station and garage site, and has developed Dalby’s on Dogwood – a multi-unit condo complex on the site. The new building offers some of the finest views of Ladysmith harbour within walking distance of downtown.
But this will not be the most significant residential development along First Avenue. A company called Framework Projects owned by Tom Awram, has submitted plans to the Town to redevelop a quarter of the 300 block of First Avenue, constructing a $50 million, six storey, 142-apartment complex that includes more than 10,000 square feet of commercial space.
Today, the most apparent sign of confidence in the future of Ladysmith is the renovation of the Islander Hotel site. This is no small task. It is an investment of more than $12 million and two years of the owners’ time in this venture.
What is it that drives people to invest in our community? I believe that there is a commonality in their thinking.
One developer (First Avenue Freeholders) summed it up: “We like Ladysmith because it represents the best of the old and the new.” Randy Repass went on to say, “We like the culture and the overall feel of the area, especially the carefully restored town of Ladysmith, with its large working harbour. We admire the dedication and strong civic involvement of the many people who invest their time and resources into making downtown Ladysmith a unique town that has retained its charm and history. These many upgrades are bringing needed housing and commerce – all within walking distance.”
Personally, I find it most interesting that all these projects are privately driven. Today, various governments are either unwilling or unable to underwrite investments to help revitalize our historic downtown core, as they did in the 1980s – a time when numerous grants were available for downtown redevelopment. Back then, many businesses took advantage of these grants, and the town’s appearance underwent a dramatic transformation. Today, the private sector is investing its money in the future of our town, particularly its heritage downtown core. Ladysmith is changing, like it or not.
I, for one, appreciate that our heritage buildings are being preserved where it is practical, even if some significant alterations are needed to meet today’s needs. I hope that developers recognize the value in Ladysmith’s heritage look and will want to preserve our remaining heritage buildings, finding a new purpose for them in their future.
Developing more housing in the downtown area is key to keeping our city core alive and exciting – although I do have concerns about increased traffic and its impact on parking in the downtown area.
These individuals are taking significant financial risks that, in my opinion, will significantly benefit our town. I plan to support the commercial businesses that are part of these developments, at least, that’s as I see it.
