Somass Lands

The City of Port Alberni is thrilled to announce that Matthews West Developments Ltd. has been selected as the development partner for the redevelopment of the Somass Lands. This significant milestone marks the next step in the transformation of the 43-acre waterfront property, formerly the site of the Somass Division sawmill.

“We are excited to announce Matthews West as our development partner for the Somass Lands Redevelopment,” said Mayor, Sharie Minions. “Their proven track record and commitment to community input align perfectly with Council’s vision for this waterfront property. Together, we will create a mixed-use site that provides public access to the waterfront, generating a vibrant waterfront community for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

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As the process of transformation continues, you’ll see the landscape starting to change at Somass Lands. Our endeavours have encompassed a comprehensive approach, involving the careful stripping, repurposing, selling, and salvaging of materials from the land. This concerted approach has led to the successful complete deconstruction of six buildings, marking significant progress in the project.

Noteworthy among this progress is the success derived from the salvage of valuable materials. Taking a methodical approach to deconstruction has proved favourable, allowing funds raised through the sale of salvaged materials to be directed toward future remediation efforts.

Education and partnership have played pivotal roles in the journey. Collaborations with North Island College have empowered students to gain hands-on experience in the field of deconstruction, fostering their growth and understanding of sustainable practices. This partnership not only benefits the students but also contributes to the broader goal of advancing responsible construction and development practices.

A significant milestone has been achieved with the commencement of remediation on a portion of the land, funded in part by a $1 million dollar grant awarded by the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP). This critical step paves the way for the forthcoming phase of development.

Amidst this momentum, we are pleased to share that discussions with a preferred development partner have begun, signifying promising prospects for the future. As these discussions unfold, there is a sense of anticipation and enthusiasm about the potential collaborations that will contribute to the realization of the vision for the future of the Somass Lands.
To stay informed about the latest developments, we invite you to visit our dedicated website at www.letsconnectpa.ca/somass-lands.

The City of Port Alberni opened a new waterfront space for the people of Port Alberni just in time for Canada Day. Beginning July 1st, daytime access will be enabled to a section of land bordering a portion of the former Somass Sawmill site.

News release can be found here

The City has successfully completed a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) process launched in early September 2022. A total of 16 responses were received, indicating a significant and diverse interest from organizations desiring to occupy a portion of the redeveloped Somass Lands and from developers interested in leading the redevelopment in partnership with the City.

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process will be launched in March 2023. Participation in the RFQ will be by invitation extended to developers that have demonstrated experience and capability. The qualified list of developers will be invited to engage with the City through a structured and detailed RFQ process. The RFQ may be followed by a Request for Proposals (RFP).

News release can be found here.

The City has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to enter into a contract with Franklin Forest Products Ltd., to identify and remove an itemized listing of sawmill assets for salvage and beneficial use at another sawmill in the Alberni Valley. To find out more details, review the full NOI here.

On October 27, the City issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to contract Bowerman Construction to provide project management services to secure and salvage assets within the Somass Lands.

As Project Manager, Bowerman Construction Ltd. will identify opportunities to remove outbuildings, components and equipment that could be salvaged and/or sold. The term of this contract is from November 7 to December 31, 2022. Read the Notice of Intent to Direct Award to learn more.

The submission period for the Somass Lands EOI closed on October 21, 2022. The City saw a large amount of interest and is now reviewing submissions, with a goal of issuing request for qualifications by end of 2022.