Downtown plan touted, but too good to be true?
Poll
Do you agree with the city’s decision to collapse certain advisory boards into one, nine-member Community Vibrancy Board?
Yes
According to some observers a new vision for downtown looks similar to long-standing plans and could be difficult to achieve, but might be worth it in the end.
Featuring the South Saskatchewan River has been in high-level city plans for years, and more recently planners have alluded to a “Waterfront District” that was revealed Tuesday at the State of the City address.
At its centre, a new amphitheatre built on the slope below Riverside Veterans Memorial Park would lead to a pedestrian promenade along River Road. A raft of other changes and incentives could be brought in along the one-kilometre stretch of shoreline.
An overview of a “Waterfront District” headlined the annual State of the City address by Mayor Ted Clugston on Tuesday as a video showed administrators calling the city-led development a “billion-dollar opportunity.”
The potential transformation of most of River Road into a pedestrian mall, Finlay Bridge, a focus on higher density housing, and changes to Riverside Veterans Memorial Park over the next 10 to 15 years were shown in the online speech that usually involves an outlaying of civic accomplishments and priority projects.
“For many years we’ve feared the river due to flooding, but now it is time to celebrate it,” said Clugston while introducing a video of staff walking through the proposal.
By Tiffany Goodwein
Upcoming development projects rose to the forefront, as Mayor Ted Clugston delivered the 2021 State of the City.
One of the main highlights was the proposed waterfront development district which is intended to capitalize on 1 km of riverfront land stretching from the Library to Athletic Park. A first step vision of the proposal was displayed during the State of the City address. An enhanced riverside walkway, a natural playground, and market commons that could provide up to a dozen commercial opportunities were among some of the features in the proposal.
The proposal also features a community square that could host a number of outdoor events, from outdoor concerts to fitness activities. Space is also proposed for food trucks and outdoor markets.