SOMASS LANDS
In 2021 the City purchased key waterfront parcels of land to move forward with their strategic redevelopment for the benefit of the community. It's the most significant purchase in the City's recent history.
Making the most of the waterfront.
Somass Lands Purchase
“With the purchase of the smaller parcels, the City gains full ownership of Harbour Road and the rail corridor that provide access to waterfront properties. This will enable a strategic and well-planned redevelopment of these key areas,” continued Mayor Sharie Minions. “Ownership of the Dry Creek corridor provides the community with an attractive loop option for the Quay to Quay Path.”
The purchase price for the five properties was $5,326,375.

Press Releases
Source: portalberni.ca
- City Opens Portion of Somass Waterfront (June)
- Port Alberni Purchases Five Properties from Western Forest Products (August)
- City of Port Alberni Redevelopment Plans, Somass Lands (August)
- Port Alberni Serves Notices of Expropriation to Western Forest Products (June)
Photo credit: Susie Quinn / AV News

Media
- City of Port Alberni Begins Salvage of Somass Lands Alberni Valley News (October)
- City of Port Alberni Looks for Ideas on Somass Lands Alberni Valley News (September)
- Port Alberni Seeking Developers with Ideas for Former Mill Property (September)
- Somass Sawmill Site a Gem to be Honed on the Port Alberni Waterfront Vancouver Island Free Daily (June)
- City of Port Alberni Discusses Waterfront Redevelopment Plans with Tseshaht - Ha-shilth-sa Newspaper (September)
- Port Alberni Poised for Waterfront Transformation After Buying Sawmill Lands - Times Colonist Newspaper (August)
- Port Alberni Council Envisions Multiple Uses, Public Access to Waterfront with Somass Purchase - Alberni Valley News (August)
- City of Port Alberni Buys Somass Sawmill Lands for $5.3 Million - Alberni Valley News (August)
- Port Alberni Plans Massive Downtown Waterfront Development - Check News (August)
- City of Port Alberni Serves Western Forest Products with Expropriation Notice for 43 Acres of Waterfront Land - CBC News (June)
Photo credit: Karly Blats / Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper
Banner photo: Karly Blats / Ha-Shilth-Sa Newspaper