Dozens turn out for sneak peek of future downtown

Residents got a sneak peek Jan. 31 of what Sudbury's downtown might look like 30 years from now.

The City of Greater Sudbury Development Corporation held a Speak Up Sudbury session at St. Andrew's, inviting the public to view and give feedback on the final draft plan and action strategy that foresees downtown as a destination and centre for celebration, beauty, creativity, innovation and urban living.

The majority of the 77 people who attended seemed to approve of the overall plan, but a few residents say there are elements that still need to be addressed.

"We have a few heritage buildings left," Steve Ripley said. "I’d like to make sure that those buildings are protected and improved upon, basically restored to their original beauty."

Gordon Drysdale admits the plan reflects a lot of positive ideas, but said they missed a couple of good opportunities.

"One of them is their version of the area west of the CP Rails to be developed," he said. "To me, it makes more sense to house people there in a high density urban village, rather than a high tech industry in the downtown core."

Residents were invited to view and give feedback on the final draft plan of the Sudbury Downtown Master Plan Jan. 31. From left, City of Greater Sudbury planners, Bill Lautenbach, general manager of growth and development, Jason Ferrigan, senior planner, Paul Baskcomb, director of planning services, discuss the plan. Photo by Heather Green-Oliver.

The final draft represents the culmination of more than 16 months of work. It incorporates 61 possible opportunities to improve downtown Sudbury, including a multi-use conference centre and four-star hotel, a visitor centre, improvements to the Rainbow Centre, and a multi-use recreation centre that would measure at least 55,000 square feet.

Renovations to the Sudbury arena have been identified in order to accommodate larger-scale concerts and conventions, new and improved pedestrian and cycling connections, the extension of Larch Street to the west across the rail corridor and the extension of St. Anne Road through to Frood Road.

Former councillor Janet Gasparini was in attendance during the meeting, and said she's very excited about the plan.

"I think the community needs to make this plan their own," she said. "I think there has to be enough of us in the community who say ‘I want to live in a city that has a downtown as beautiful as that,’ and really get engaged in making that happen."

Sudbury Downtown Master Plan is available online at www.growdowntown.ca/blog.

Posted by Arron Pickard