By Pepper Parr
May 23rd, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Council likes what has been proposed for the revitalization of Civic Square. It is now in the hands of the public who will be given a number of opportunities to let the planners know that they think.
The City has worked with consultants and used feedback from residents, businesses, community partners and Indigenous and First Nations groups to create three concepts of Civic Square, City Hall front entrance, façade and streetscapes. Residents, community partners and businesses are asked to view the concepts and answer a short survey either online at getinvolvedburlington.ca/civicsquare or in-person. The online survey will be open until June 9.
An in-person drop-in session is scheduled at City Hall (426 Brant St.) on Wednesday, June 5 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Staff will be in the City Hall lobby with concepts on display to take feedback and answer questions. Parking downtown after 6 p.m. is free on weekdays.
Residents can not only pick the concept they prefer, but also select aspects of the other concepts to combine into a design that uses the best features of all three concepts.
The area the planners looked at; the shaded block in the centre right is the 400 Brant Street restaurant – former Queen’s Head
Providing your feedback will allow staff to create the best design that will help us turn the area into a vibrant, exciting and accessible space where people can connect in the downtown core.
Some of the intended final design objectives for the refresh are:
Enhancing community connections – Focus on walkability and amenities for pedestrians
Versatility
Developing community identity – Bring together arts and culture through festivals, events and ceremonies
Creating a welcoming, accessible and comfortable public space – A public space that is vibrant, safe and comfortable for all
Construction on the space will begin in the summer of 2025. The project will be complete in 2026.
Now for the design options the city has presented:
Option 1; labelled canopies.
Option 2; labelled Atrium
Option 3; labelled Portals
We don’t know just who put together the material the public will be able to interact with – but it is a very good first step to real public engagement. The challenge will be to determine if the city really listens. What if Council doesn’t like what the public suggests? Are they going to listen?
Marion Rabeau, Manager, Parks Design and Construction said “This project exemplifies a public participation process in the development of a preferred concept. We are just over a year away from having shovels in the ground and reinvigorating one of our prime outdoor public spaces, so I encourage everyone to look at the online concepts and take part in the final survey.”
Reivigorating is not what we have been waiting for since Council approved budget for a SAFE (failed paving) and ACCESSIBLE Civic Square and staff produced a great plan after much public input. for completion 2019. Did Council listen no;
2026 completion date for budget 2018 Council approved is not acceptable regardless of whether we are listened to or not.
The access and safety issues we have had to unnecessarily live with contrary to legislation is just as unacceptable as a property tax budget we are told is a much lower percentage increase than is the truth. Too little Civic Square at too much ballooned cost is what we have to remember and this is not any responsibility of staff. Their 2019 completion plan was absolutely what public wanted, legislation demanded and previous council before Mayor My Way got the chain of office approved for completion 2019.
Our new CAO needs to be informed of the full story here so he can begin to understand what taxpayers are told versus truth.