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Langford cultural district opens along downtown railroad stretch

Aims to showcase artists and give emerging entrepreneurs a place to grow

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. There’s 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.

“This 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,” he said. “That sense of vibrancy and community in our downtown core, which we all strive for, is really important.”

Larry Stevenson, CEO of the Island Corridor Foundation, said that while they’ve long been pushing for a return to rail, ensuring the line’s infrastructure is going to good community uses has also been their focus.

“We want to be part of these communities because we’re in these communities,” he said. “If you look down this boulevard and see what’s happened, (it’s) absolutely amazing.”

READ MORE: Beer truck on tap for new Langford Station space this summer

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 didn’t give him the opportunity to interact with people. His work now has a central home in one of the shipping containers.

“This 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,” Pilon told a crowd that had assembled for the district’s unveiling.

Friday’s 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.

READ: New beer festival on tap this summer in Langford


jake.romphf@blackpress.ca. Follow us on Instagram. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


Jake Romphf

About the Author: Jake Romphf

In early 2021, I made the move from the Great Lakes to Greater Victoria with the aim of experiencing more of the country I report on.
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