From its log-barricaded start, Victoria has developed into a tourist destination with a lovely, inviting harbour and a gentle skyline.

However, City Hall, with its historical origins in the early fort, now sits in our busy commercial hub. Is that the proper place, surrounded by shops and noisy traffic? Contrast that with a new image of city hall sharing company with our legislature, with its stately lawn, gardens and fountain.

For anyone looking forward to the next century, it would seem logical to think about relocating City Hall from downtown to somewhere near the legislature precinct, and with an architectural image worthy of headlining a tourist brochure.

James Bay has two large parking lots adjacent to Menzies and Superior streets, close to Five Corners, Irving Park green space and the legislature, and with a sightline to the Inner Harbour, with its interesting, still-standing, iconic blue treasure (the last of its kind in North America).

Now, before everything in James Bay is built over with concrete, let's consider putting all those parked cars underground and, instead, replacing those ugly spaces with a magnificent city hall worthy of Victoria.

Are you listening, Mayor Fortin?

Redner Jones

Victoria