An underutilized and formerly run-down lot along the railroad tracks in Langford is now lined with retrofitted shipping containers and other improvements as it looks to nurture arts, culture and business.

Langford teamed up with the Island Corridor Foundations to revitalize the spot at the corner of Station Avenue and Veterans Memorial Parkway. The site is called the Langford Station Cultural District and opened on Friday.

The district includes six artist studios, six business incubators and a community arts workshop. ThereB次元官网网址檚 also a stage for performances, an area for food trucks, an off-leash dog area, parking, washrooms and other activities.

The reworked site hosts added trees, a redone streetscape and grass areas.

As the community grows and as the downtown densifies, the people living in new central condos and apartments will need a place to connect with the community, Mayor Stew Young said at the opening.

B次元官网网址淭his is really important now because we want to make sure there is a place to go, a place to congregate, a place to hang out,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hat sense of vibrancy and community in our downtown core, which we all strive for, is really important.B次元官网网址�

Larry Stevenson, CEO of the Island Corridor Foundation, said that while theyB次元官网网址檝e long been pushing for a return to rail, ensuring the lineB次元官网网址檚 infrastructure is going to good community uses has also been their focus.

B次元官网网址淲e want to be part of these communities because weB次元官网网址檙e in these communities,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f you look down this boulevard and see whatB次元官网网址檚 happened, (itB次元官网网址檚) absolutely amazing.B次元官网网址�

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The district hopes to let artist showcase their talent and let emerging businesses test the waters of the marketplace before they commit to a brick-and-mortar location.

Julien Pilon, owner of the Grumpy Cartoonist, said running his business out of his home didnB次元官网网址檛 give him the opportunity to interact with people. His work now has a central home in one of the shipping containers.

B次元官网网址淭his is an amazing opportunity for myself, my fellow artists (and) my fellow business owners to get a spot where we can build community and work and interact and showcase our talent,B次元官网网址� Pilon told a crowd that had assembled for the districtB次元官网网址檚 unveiling.

FridayB次元官网网址檚 opening revealed the first phase of the project. The next step is to add overhead as well as interactive lighting, murals and locally-designed sculptures. Phase one was funded by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities gas tax fund and two grants.

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