Uptown District Revitalization Strategy

The City of Port Alberni has developed the Uptown District Revitalization Strategy (UDRS), which will revisit and build upon the goals outlined in the City of Port Alberni’s Uptown Waterfront Report(External link) from 2007.

The City’s 2019-2023 Corporate Strategic Plan(External link) has refocused efforts on the Uptown District. The UDRS was developed to understand the area's needs and identify priorities that relate to social and economic revitalization. The outcomes and initiatives developed as part of the UDRS will also help inform the City’s next review and update of the Official Community Plan.

Phase 1

To help gather feedback from the public, the City launched a public survey which was available from April 30, 2020 to May 21, 2020. The survey received nearly 600 responses and was well received by the public, with feedback generally supportive of the strategy's development. There is clear support from the public to address social challenges faced by residents of the area and work towards broader economic development goals.

Phase 2:

The Phase 2 engagement strategy was adapted to promote public safety during COVID-19 by primarily utilizing online platforms to gather information and input.

Phase 2 of the project involved more locally targeted stakeholder engagement and focused public engagement designed to help develop specific actions, timelines, and partnerships to inform the UDRS recommendations. In this phase, residents, businesses, social service providers, and those experiencing homelessness, poverty, and other social challenges were engaged directly. This phase of engagement assisted in gaining insight into the neighbourhood through the experience of community groups in the area.

Find the final UDRS report here.