In the past, the area centered around JR Wakkanai Station developed as a "machi" (town), or familiarly called "town" by its citizens, where convenient living and public service functions were concentrated. However, as in other regional cities across Japan, the area has become noticeably hollowed out due to the slump in the fishing industry caused by the establishment of a 200-nautical-mile exclusive fishing zone and the decline of the shopping district due to the expansion of large-scale stores into the suburbs. In response, the city has taken the lead in promoting a redevelopment project in the area in front of the station in cooperation with the national government, Hokkaido, JR Hokkaido, and local merchants. The core of the project, the Wakkanai Interchange Complex, which includes JR Wakkanai Station and the redeveloped KITAcolor building, was fully opened on April 29, 2012 as a comprehensive center for transportation, information, tourism, and daily life. The complex also functions as a "roadside station.