Street Beautification Project Passed to Staff
By 250 News
City Council is in support of Downtown Prince George's call to step up the process in “Streetscape Beautification”.
D.P.G.’s presentation outlined that such a project is important as downtown is “the living room “ of the city and visitors to the community form opinions on what they see. A beautification program would go a long way to attracting tourists and investors.
The presenters say property values in the downtown have been on a downward slide since 2000, falling about 45% in those six years. That, says DPG, shrinks the tax base.
The program they would like to see put in place would bulb out the intersections throughout downtown, making it easier for pedestrians to cross from one side of the street to another. They also envision stamped concrete, interlocking stone, and decorative lighting.
There are ideas in the works says Sheri Greene, President of Downtown Prince George. She pointed to increased residential, a performing arts centre, a year round public farmer's market and a Town Square as some of the projects which are in the idea and/or development stage.
Although they would like the City to make such a program a 5 year Capital plan priority, they can’t really put a final price tag on how much this kind of project would cost. The changes to Third Avenue cost about half a million per block, but DPG says that project was more involved and there is more experience now to know how to be more cost effective.
Funding for these projects could be shared, as DPG says property owners would pick up half, and the City would be asked to pick up the other half, although the City does have some avenues for funding, like the UBCM and dollars from the Terasen Gas deal or Community Gaming.
Downtown Prince George says things could get rolling right now with the setting up of a project team, and a project facilitator so a project for 2007 could be identified.
D.P.G. has also asked the City to initiate a Neighbourhood plan for the downtown, so there would be “A sense of community and to solidify a common vision.”
Councilor Don Zurowski says its time to take the next step and he supports the idea of a beautification program. He is interested in going forward to see if there is a way to get some of the funds recently made available through the Province's new Spirit Square project. That project would see the Province contribute one half (up to half a million dollars) towards the development of a square where people can gather and celebrate B.C.'s 150th anniversary.
Presenters say they have canvassed business property owners and while there may have been issues about which street should be "next" for beautification they are in agreement that the beautification has to continue.
The Mayor says while street beautification is a plus, there needs to be more, in the form of getting more people to live downtown. "I think the tax incenctive we have and some of the changes we have already made is that now everyone agrees this (downtown ) is the number one priority." says Mayor Kinsley " I just don't want to see more trees that vandals can damage or lighting that can be kicked over." He advised the group to identify the street they would like done soon, so that the appointment of a team facilitator could be considered in the budget talks. He also suggested that if they are going to try to get some of the funding for the Spirit Square, they should apply sooner rather than later.
Council has agreed to refer the street beautification requests to Staff to see what kind of time lines can be developed, the budget implications and a possible project.
As for the request on a neighbourhood plan, Council has referred that to Staff for "comment."
Council also agreed to have Staff look at the idea of a project team.
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Posted by: owl on October 30 2006 11:03 PM
I hear people wondering where we would build one.
Ever since it was built, I looked to the Civic Plaza as the town square. There have been some events there, but not the number there could be. What else is needed for a town square, I wonder?
In Toronto, Nathan Phillips Square is the "town square". It has a reflecting pool which turns into a skating rink in the winter, similar to our situation. We even have the balcony of the library, which gets virtually no use at all, to equate to the raised perimeter of the square in TO.
If the Inn ever builds an expansion, they should be encouraged to build it to the south so that the first two floors could "service" the civic plaza with outdoor "people" spaces.
Another opportunity will come when the police station is vacated, including the parking there. A development there could add people services which would populate it more at times other than civic celebrations.
In fact, the city could take a leaf from the development book in Ottawa, where some 30 years ago they tore down the old library and rebuilt a modern library with air rights to an office development. The first couple of floor of the library have a visual design quite different from that of the office tower above.
I suggest that the library could do the same with its addition, giving air rights to a high rise apartment development of say 10 to 15 storeys high - possibly 40 to as many as 90 units depending on suite size and space available.
That would provide the housing in a "better" part of centre town, enhance the civic plaza's perimeter with people oriented development, and act as the seed for further housing development.