Port Alberni Vancouver Island British Columbia - Port Alberni city council will be discussing the future of the city-owned train station during a committee of the whole meeting on Monday, 15 Jul 2019.
 
The former E&N station, located at Argyle Street and Harbour Road, was built in 1911-1912.
 
The city purchased it, and in 1990, the building was restored by volunteers from the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society (WVIIHS).
 
Parts of it are used as a museum to display the history of the railway, while the WVIIHS uses the upstairs as a meeting space.
 
In 2017, the city leased the train station to the McLean Mill Society (MMS), but the society was unsuccessful in attempts to sublet the station.
 
According to a report from CAO Tim Pley, the city received two high quality expressions of interest in redeveloping the train station in 2018, partly through the efforts of the MMS.
 
But before any redevelopment can be considered, some preliminary work has to be done, including an assessment of potential contaminants, a structural engineering review, an energy needs assessment, and architectural considerations.
 
At a special meeting in September 2018, council agreed for a consultant to be retained to undertake this work.
 
Architect Will King will be in attendance on Monday to provide insight into what it might take to update the train station and make it suitable for new occupancies.
 
Public input and comments will be welcome.
 
The COTW meeting takes place at 16:00 in council chambers.
 
Elena Rardon.