Scott DiGuistini Co-Founder & Managing Director of Acciano Developments
COMOX VALLEY – There’s a new place to do business, live and play in the Comox Valley, on the Bevan lands.
Acciano Development Inc. has unveiled Phase 2 of its Bevan Living Workplace Industrial Development in Cumberland, featuring 43 acres that have been subdivided into 17 lots averaging 2.25 acres in size.
The entire project is 165 acres, as Acciano undertook Phase 1, which consisted of 16 acres, in 2022, and the lots were sold within five days. Drewry Electrical, Knappett Industries and Tree Island Yogurt, a company owned by Acciano founder and partner Scott DiGuistini, were amongst the new tenants.
“The Bevan project is exactly what the Comox Valley needs,” says DiGuistini. “We are committed to forward-thinking development that supports the health of people, business and the local ecosystem. The Bevan lands represent over 84 percent of the industrial zoned lands in the Comox Valley – which is a lot of potential for growing business and community.”
As the largest site in the Valley with industrial property, which is in high demand, and because it’s only four minutes off Highway 19, it’s an ideal location for companies to build products and ship them throughout Vancouver Island and beyond.
Because of the close proximity of Comox Valley International Airport, and being just over an hours’ drive from deep water ports in Nanaimo and Port Alberni, Bevan would be ideal for light industrial, warehousing, storage and manufacturing operations.
Arial view of next phase of Bevan, a new light industrial development located in the Comox Valley
Yet it’s not just the industrial site which is garnering attention. Phase 3, which is a centrally located 100 acre parcel, creates some interesting opportunities for the community with potential for residential land development on parcels ranging from 1-10 acres, which will come to market in the third quarter of this year. All lots will be graded, leveled, serviced to the lot line and have paved access. The Bevan project is looking to become a new community node and the economic engine of the Comox Valley.
“We believe the residential component of the Bevan project presents a unique opportunity for companies that want to have a Comox Valley location for their business, and have first class, affordable residences for staff members within walking distance of the office,” DiGuistini explains. “Mt. Washington ski resort is just up the road, Comox Lake within minutes, biking trails are everywhere and there are a number of other great healthy lifestyle activities close by. This is a healthy environment where workers can buy single family dwellings and walk to work and enjoy the outdoors.
“The whole idea is that like-minded people are attracted to move somewhere like this because of the synergies that go with that in regard to recreation and lifestyle, which develops a cluster around the place they work.”
The residential component is significant. For example, a company on the lower mainland that relocates to the Comox Valley can take advantage of the lower land costs for their main building premises, plus offer employees the opportunity to buy their own single family home, which they couldn’t afford living near Vancouver. Plus raise a family on one income in many cases.
“There’s high demand for the types of usage that the Bevan lands offer,” DiGuistini notes. “The land prices are lower here than in Victoria, for example, as is the cost of housing.”
The Town of Cumberland is also eager to see the lands develop, which means significantly less time obtaining development permits. Elsewhere, the cost of building is higher due to the length of time it takes developers to obtain the necessary permits, meaning they’re having to carry interest charges for multiple months before a project can actually start construction.
“That won’t be an issue at Bevan,” says DiGuistini, stating Cumberland is able to move from initial presentation to commercial building permits within four months. “The town has been excellent to work with, and they want to see this project proceed quickly. In our dealings, we’ve found that Cumberland really is open for business.”
Business Examiner Staff
