A new development is taking shape at the top of Dundalk Avenue in Port Alberni, off the Port Alberni Highway. The collection of units is the Port Alberni Industrial Block, and developers are hoping it will form a unique "neighbourhood" of business owners in the Alberni Valley.
The block is a project of DG&3 Holdings Ltd, led by Port Alberni resident Gord McIntyre. McIntyre said he was inspired to create the industrial block because of the struggles he had getting his own business off the ground in Port Alberni.
“We had nowhere to go,” he explained. “There was nowhere zoned appropriately for what we needed. Cities like Courtenay and Nanaimo have a business block, but there is nowhere like this in Port Alberni. This is a huge thing for businesses to have that opportunity to have a space for them to grow.”
When the land on Dundalk Avenue came up for sale, McIntyre said it was the perfect fit. The plans have been in the works for a couple of years, said McIntyre, but permits weren’t finalized until January of this year.
“We started digging in mid-January,” he said. “We hope to be completed construction by next month, so it’s gone really well.”
While there are many empty buildings and storefronts in Port Alberni, many of them come with existing infrastructure and architecture that business owners have to work around. In contrast, the industrial block offers a build-to-suit option. Each of the nine units is 1,000 square feet or larger with its own washroom. Units are also independently metered for utilities. The rent is a flat rate of $2,100 without “triple net” fees (or fees for things like property taxes, insurance, waste removal and utilities).
The location, close to Highway 4, makes deliveries and shipments easy. The block is also located close to a number of nature trails.
“This is an absolutely brand-new blank canvas,” said Tanice Mast, who is in charge of marketing and administration for the Industrial Block. “It’s an exceptional price for an exquisite space. It’s been exciting to see how it’s shaping up.”
Mast says the goal is to create more than just an industrial block — she and McIntyre want to create a neighbourhood.
“It’s going to be a space where local businesses can grow and thrive,” said Mast. “You can reap the benefits of the neighbours you have. We really have loved seeing the different businesses that have come in and how they feed off of each other.”
Both Mast and McIntyre were “surprised” by the response from businesses. They initially expected the space to be popular with independent contractors.
“What we’ve actually been seeing is a lot of the businesses in the health and wellness industry,” said Mast. “It was a bit of a surprise for us, but we’re thrilled about it. There’s definitely a need for this commercial space in Port Alberni, and we want to provide what these businesses need to do well in Port Alberni.”
The industrial block has nine units in total, three of which have already been leased. McIntyre says he also has a number of “potential” tenants lined up for the remaining units. “The interest is heavy,” he said.
One of these units is being leased to the Junior ‘A’ hockey teams Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Port Alberni Bombers. Bulldogs head coach Joe Martin says both teams will use the space for strength and conditioning training. The teams are currently using a unit at the bottom of Johnston Road, but the Industrial Block will offer them more space and opportunities for growth.
"We're super excited about it because it's brand new," said Martin. "It's the first time in a long time we've had something new. It's pretty cool for us having a strength and conditioning coach like Nicole [Ruel] and our equipment is brand new, too. I think our players will be happily surprised and our incoming guys will be blown away."
McIntyre says that getting the Bulldogs as one of their tenants was a huge grab because the team has such a large presence in the community.
“We’re excited to have a tenant like that, but we’re also so excited for what a space like that will do for them,” added Mast.
To learn more about the Industrial Block, visit www.dg3.ca.
