Port Alberni is set to reclaim its waterfront with the signing of the Somass Lands master development agreement between the City of Port Alberni and Matthews West Developments Ltd. (Matthews West), a private Canadian development company based in Squamish, BC.
In 2023 the City of Port Alberni selected Matthews West as the development partner for the transformation of the 43-acre waterfront property and adjacent parking lot (the Lands), previously known as the Somass Division sawmill.
“This is a transformational step for the City of Port Alberni. We purchased the land in 2021 and have been working toward this day ever since,” said Sharie Minions, mayor of Port Alberni. “Matthews West’s reputation in delivering large-scale, community-focused developments makes them the perfect partners to execute and deliver this ambitious project,” concluded the mayor.
With a signed agreement in hand, the City will begin sharing investigative studies from remediation and site preparation work completed to date. This will establish the foundation for securing all necessary provincial and federal permits, enabling both parties to collaboratively establish a development concept aligned with the intended land use.
Learn more: https://www.letsconnectpa.ca/somass-lands