Port Alberni’s heritage train station is available for lease, as the city seeks creative ideas to revitalize the community.
The offering includes the station and accompanying garage totalling 6,700 square feet, a 6,300-square-foot outdoor courtyard and another 10,000 square feet of parking area.
“We are flush with space,” economic development manager Pat Deakin said this past week. “The possibilities are endless, I think.”
Port Alberni is on a mission to increase economic activity and foster local businesses and innovation. It has laid out plans for parks, mixed-use developments and its deep-water port.
The opportunity to bid on leasing the station closes June 17.
When it comes to possible uses, the city would “like to see where people take it,” said Deakin, adding interest has previously been expressed in using the station for a brew pub or restaurant. It would also suit an adventure tourism business, art gallery or something train-themed, he said.
Individuals, businesses, social enterprises, groups or organizations could lease the property on their own or in partnership. A lease would be multi-year and renewable, he said.
Located at the corner of Argyle Street and Kingsway Avenue, the station has been designated a heritage property by the city and by Canada’s Historic Sites body.
It was constructed in 1911 as part of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway, which offered freight and passenger service. The building is a typical 1.5-storey Canadian Pacific Railway building, with brown wood siding with cream trim, a Waymark Architecture report for the city said.
The city is carrying out seismic improvements on the building and ensuring there are no leaks in the roof or walls, Deakin said.
Anyone interested in leasing the building should be aware of the possibility of reinstating the now-closed train service between Port Alberni and the old McLean Mill national historic site, Deakin said. The service last ran in the 2018 tourist season. Council decided in early 2019 to put the train service on hold due to its cost.
