A project nearing completion downtown is a combination of infrastructure repair and some funky art concepts that will offer improved access to Memorial Park, and a stained-glass structure that will be visible at night.
The Brady Green Stair is a $1.2 million job that involves repairing a storage building and hydro vault that provides structural support for the nearby ramp, as well as Durham and Elgin streets.
While the building had to be fixed, it also provided a chance to make some progress on the Downtown Master Plan, which calls for improved access to nearby Memorial Park.
Kris Longston, the city's manager of community and strategic planning, said public consultations were held in 2016 to find out what residents wanted to see go in the area once work began.
The public wanted a multi-use area, with some seating for small gatherings or concerts, as well as unique design features. As a result, Longston said they changed the design so it can host small concerts, food trucks, chess tables, water and hydro hookups.
"And we lit it in such a way that it can be used at night," he said.
It's been designed to reduce the chance of crime, with lighting and sightlines aimed at ensuring the area is open.
"We took out some shrubbery proposed for the corner, because you wouldn't be able to see the area too well from the street,” Longston said. “So now all parts of that area are visible."
Originally, the plan was to put a multi-coloured dome on top of the building, to ensure no once can get on top of the structure, as well as to create a distinct area.
"But there were a few issues with snow loading that wouldn't allow the dome,” he said. “So the consultant redesigned that feature to be what you see going up there."
Work crews are busy this week on scaffolds as the September completion date nears.
"It will represent an actual mine once it's finished," Longston said, of the triangular-shaped multi-coloured structure going up atop the building. "When it's done, it will be a nice visual feature for the downtown."
There will also be a mural along the back wall, expanding the public art offerings in the area, as called for in the Downtown Master Plan.
Once the courtyard project is complete at Tom Davies Square in the next year or two, residents will have once large linear park space going from Paris Street to Durham, through Memorial Park. A mural is also planned for the newly renovated Elgin Street Underpass.
There will eventually be a continuous walking trail linking downtown to Science North, via the Nelson Street Bridge, Longston said, but no schedule is in place to have that work completed.
"We're still working on the design for than and seeking funding opportunities, so there's no timeline on that," he said.
For more information on the project, there are more details here.
