Council backs Tom Davies courtyard revamp

The somewhat drab courtyard at Tom Davies Square could soon be transformed into a public art space.

Meeting this week, city council voted to apply for federal funding for courtyard improvements, under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program.

The national program, announced through the federal government's Economic Action Plan 2015, commits $150 million to municipal infrastructure across the country, part of plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.

The fund will be distributed over two years and will be delivered by regional development agencies across the country. The investments will support projects that "celebrate our shared heritage, create jobs and improve the quality of life of all Canadians," said a release from the federal government.

In Northern Ontario, preference will be given to projects that require less than 50 per cent of eligible costs; are construction-ready, and can be materially completed by Dec. 31, 2017.

While the fund is $150 million, city staff told councillors to expect something in the range of $50,000 to $100,000 in support of whatever project they choose.

In addition to courtyard improvements, estimated to cost $4 million when fully complete, projects council considered were the re-greening of the parking lot at the former St. Joseph's hospital ($950,000); expansion of existing city parks for splash pads ($1 million); and a ski lift replacement at Adanac Ski Hill ($1.8 million).

But Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan was concerned about the rules governing the Canada 150 program, specifically the requirement that the projects be finished by 2018. Council hasn't made a final decision, for example, when the hospital parking lot will be regreened, Kirwan said. But if they apply for funding for it, they will have to commit to it.

“Because we get $50K?” he said. “This is a frightening thing to ask for.”

Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier suggested just applying for the courtyard funding, since it's a project that will have to be done. Maintenance work is needed to ensure the integrity of the parking garage underneath the courtyard.

“It's the one we have to move forward on if we want to keep having a parking garage at Tom Davies Square,” Cormier said.

Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann suggested adding a public art component to the application may help them get more grant money, since the fund is intended to help Canadians celebrate the nation's 150th anniversary.

“Just a suggestion,” she said.

Landry-Altmann first floated the public art idea during budget talks in the spring. The courtyard used to be home to a large fountain, but it was taken out over structural and maintenance issues. Inviting the public to take part in the process would make it a truly community project, she said.

"The goal would be to redefine the character of the space," Landry-Altmann said in April. "This is the most important meeting place in the city, and it should create the environment we want to project ... We have the opportunity to involve the school of architecture, which would be very, very enthusiastic about a project such as this.”

In the end, councillors agreed to make the courtyard the sole project for the city's Canada 150 application.