Downtown Vision
As John Stewart of the Red Deer Advocate says:
It’s Time for Downtown Vision:
“After Oct. 18, we need a council that is prepared to map out a downtown plan that shows creativity, function and durability.”
So, to both candidates and voters, what is your vision for the downtown core?
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- Forums:
Downtown Vision
In February 2009 Council adopted The Greater Downtown Action Plan Update (GDAP) which lays out a vision and concept plan for the Historic Downtown, the Riverlands, and the Railyards. The plan updated and expanded on the Greater Downtown Action Plan which was completed in 2000. The updated plan is the result of many months of work and involved over 500 Red Deerians. Throughout the planning process citizens spoke about their desire for great streets, great places and connectivity - to one another, to the river, to our history. People said they want all of these areas to be authentic to Red Deer, sustainable, and vibrant. The lead consultants on the plan were Grandview Consulting, John Hull Architects, as well as Michael Van Hausen and his team from Burnaby, B.C. The Greater Downtown Action Plan Steering Committee dedicated many hours to the plan and recommended 10 priorities for action to city council.
Today we can see some of the plan coming to life; Veterans' Park and the plan for pedestrian improvements along Gaetz Avenue (in the downtown core) were both recommendations from the GDAP. There is work being done to prepare the Riverlands area for redevelopment as well with both an Area Redevelopment Plan and a zoning review underway. Plans to improve pedestrian access and roadway linkages to the Riverlands from the historic downtown will be coming to council soon. The GDAP provides a strong vision for the downtown core and the private sector has shown strong support for the plan. When you think about all the activity in the downtown: Executive Place, Sorensen Station Parkade and Transit Terminal, Red Deer College announcing the Donald School of Business with 500 students/day coming into the Millenium Centre, development on several sites including two brownfield sites, and the projects brought forward by the GDAP it seems the downtown is gaining momentum.
The citizens of Red Deer have created a very strong vision for the downtown and we are making progress. The complete GDAP as well as a summary document entitles "Progress and Potential" can be viewed on the City of Red Deer website at http://www.reddeer.ca.
Downtown? Yes, but not solely.
The heart of the community is extremely important but not the only part of Red Deer. We need policies and thinking that guide healthy business development throughout the city. We need to build solid equitable relationships with builders and land developers, that support 'healthy' residential living and commercial development in the downtown and other commercial centres. When we do this well we build a strong tax base that helps to hold our taxes steady.
The City currently has some policies that are a disincentive to the very thing we want as a community. We must quickly find ways to encourage the right types of development in the right locations.
Economic development is about attracting new businesses and helping existing businesses to thrive, but there’s more. It also encompasses the health and well-being of the people living here over a sustained period. Economic development requires vision, innovation, and creativity. It requires attention to all aspects of the community, with careful attention to amenities that attract and retain skilled workers. People move to cities that are vibrant and alive; they stay because they are happy and have jobs they enjoy that provide good incomes. Healthy communities must be enjoyable to live in, to learn in, as well as profitable to work in.
My experience:
I own and operate Sunworks in the downtown. Within my buildings, I also lease space to several other businesses. Through creativity and innovation, I’ve been able to utilize the spaces that back onto the alley to create an interesting cultural space that also increases safety in the downtown. I’ve acted as a mentor to many business owners throughout my career. I believe strongly in being fiscally responsible, but also taking calculated risks to improve opportunities for growth. I understand budgeting and can read and understand financial statements. As an independent and successful business owner, landlord of both residential and commercial spaces, and community consultant, I’m able to use my understanding of business and facilitation to discover innovative ways for economic development that reflect our unique city and its values. In the past, I’ve served as a Board Member and Chair of the Downtown Business Association.
My commitment as councillor:
To learn more about me and my platform, I invite you to visit my website at www.paulharrisforcouncil.ca and to follow me on FB at www.facebook.com/harris4rd or on Twitter at twitter.com/harris4rd.
I've been at the market every Saturday morning since July 17, and will be there until the election Stop by and give me your two cents worth.
Paul Harris
Downtown Vision
Downtown's are often compared to as the living room of the community and many times we treat the living room as the place where we have guests and formal gatherings rather than the casual more relaxed space of the family room. We need to make downtown more inviting as a place to live and enjoy rather than just work. I recall what our downtown looked like in 1995 when I first was elected to City Council, that term all of council put in a great deal of effort to turn it around and I am very proud of the outcome, our downtown is far more vibrant today however it needs more work.
With the additional activity of individuals who primarily appear during the night we need to secure our downtown and make it safer 24 hours a day. One way to do that is by encouraging more restaurants, hotels, and people living downtown. We have had some success with adult living complexes however the residents in that style of facility do not typically spend time in any sort of night life and we need young professionals living, working and enjoying our downtown. Council can create the policies to encourage that, perhaps we can provide tax incentives to encourage owners of vacant or underutilized land to develop into more intense properties with a residential component above the first or second levels.
I have seen many downtown's around the world and I have seen some good examples and some bad examples. Overall our downtown is not bad but we have made some mistakes and we have done some smart things too. I would like the Alexander Way plan to move forward and see 300 to 400 condos built in the next 4 to 5 years. With home ownership in the downtown comes ownership in the community and these people will soon deter the insecurity felt now.
These two pictures show a vibrant
pedestrian friendly downtown with well lit streets in the evening.
Perhaps Alexander Way will someday offer this style of development with some vehicular and bicycle traffic.
Visit electdawson.com for more about my ideas.
Downtown revitalization
Hi there all! I'm pleased with the conceptual plans our city has adopted for the Downtown, Riverlands & Railyards districts. I do wonder what city officials do to promote our city and attract that big 5 star hotel/convention centre into building in our fair city? How are we marketing our city to get those developers to build those condo complexes on the river? How are we postioning the city to get an Ikea, Red Lobster & Olive Garden, or maybe an Outback to neighbor that new hotel @ the old city yards location.
Lori Allison
Local Benefit
Hi Lori,
Thank-you for the post. As a consumer, I want Red Deer to have the best amenities and selection for shopping, eating, hotels, and entertainment. Your specific suggestions could increase job growth and enhance the options of our citizens as consumers. However, it would be of a greater benefit for our community to assist local companies and entrepreneurs to become the national and international brands like the ones you mentioned. If companies start here and locate their head offices in Red Deer, there will be many more residual benefits than just trying to attract branded companies to have a storefront location in our great city.
Best Regards,
Chris Stephan - For City Council
Promotion
Lori,
Thank you for your comments and questions.
I think we as a city do an excellent job in attracting industry to the City and the region. We are members of Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP) and Red Deer Regional Economic Development. Our focus is to encourage industry which expands employment opportunities. helps diversify our economy and enhance and grow existing industry by helping locate consumers of raw products. For example attracting a company that processes grain into a cereal for example rather than shipping raw grain to a cereal plant elsewhere is an example of an enhancement of local industry.
Businesses such as Ikea, and the chain restaurants will locate where the business is, if we grow our economy they will come, perhaps not Ikea as there are only nine in all of Canada and we have two within 90 minutes away but for sure the other businesses will come here if we provide the land for retail development, offer a strong diversified economy and have a welcoming attitude. These efforts along with an excellent Economic Development department will help developers and assist them to conform to our values when comes to development standards.
Visit electdawson.com for more about my ideas.
Downtown Vision
In 1961 my mother moved our family to downtown Red Deer from a farm east of Bowden. It was one of the best decisions that she ever made. Downtown Red Deer had it all! Close proximity to the Hospital, shopping, recreation and entertainment. My brothers and I would spend much of our free time at the Recreation Centre and would enjoy the Westerner Fair at its former downtown location. We later moved from downtown Red Deer to West Park and then to Eastview. Downtown Red Deer continued to be the place to go to until Parkland Mall was constructed in 1970. The character of downtown Red Deer changed allot over the next three decades and developed a reputations for being less safe.
I have a lot of respect for the efforts made by The Red Deer Downtown Business Association for making downtown Red Deer a destination once again. Most recently, I had a excellent time at the Fiestaval Latin Festival. I have a passion for this area of our City and would work hard on City Council to insure accessibility, adequate parking, family friendly events and responsible development.
I agree with the major points of the Red Deer’s Greater Downtown Action Plan, which was adopted by City Council in February 2009. I would welcome comments from the public on the GDAP and would bring them forward to City Council.
Calvin Yzerman