Saving Echo Heights is just what the Chemainus business community needs.

Downtown Chemainus went through a major rejuvenation when the murals project first came on stream in the mid-1980s. Property changed hands and new stores opened to cater to a growing tourist trade.

Since then, the downtown core has gone through a lot of changes. A large furniture store closed, as did the town’s second hardware store. Clothing stores opened and closed. Restaurants changed hands.

Some members of the business community say things have been in the doldrums for the past 10-15 years. The whims of tourists – and the ever-changing weather – are always an unknown when it comes to business planning in Chemainus.

Meanwhile, the population of Chemainus has grown significantly in the past 20 years. There are now more than 2,000 households in the trading area from Westholme to Saltair. But even the dramatic growth over the past three years has not made business owners rub their hands in glee.

A major reason for this is because most people living in the Chemainus area live too far from downtown to walk to stores and services. They jump in their vehicles and, since they’re driving anyway, tend to travel to Ladysmith or Duncan where there are more stores and a greater variety of goods.

But continuing high gas prices will slowly erode the sprawl-a-mall mentality. Consumers will seek satisfaction closer to home.

Retail businesses everywhere need strong residential and daytime population generators. North Cowichan needs a holistic approach to planning and economic development. By encouraging residential developments near the downtown core, instead of in outlying areas such as Echo Heights, the municipality would kill several birds with one stone.

A focus on downtown residential development would provide the spark for a rejuvenated business community. And it would revitalize the downtown by having “live-in” shoppers on its doorstep during the day and evenings.

A thriving downtown would likely lessen nighttime vandalism and provide young people (not to mention the older ones) with more opportunities for entertainment and recreation.