There are a lot of plans in the works for Sudbury’s downtown core.
Lines of patio lights are expected to stream across streets throughout the downtown core, a new arena/events centre and library/art gallery are both in the works and more in-ground planters have been proposed.
An updated Downtown Sudbury Master Plan is slated to set a long-term vision by June 2025, for which a public feedback campaign will mark a “major launch” this summer.
These and other updates to the happenings of the city’s downtown core were provided during the Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Area’s annual general meeting at Place des Arts on Thursday evening.
The lights, which make up the “Light Up The Core” project, will see lines of lights stream across streets throughout much of the downtown core, potentially as early as this year.
“Downtowns can look amazing in the winter,” co-chair Jeff MacIntyre told Thursday’s audience composed mainly of leaders from the downtown business community.
“We can create that magic downtown after 4 p.m.”
After the meeting, MacIntyre said the project will be funded by Downtown Sudbury, which is currently getting cost estimates.
“They’re quite popular in a lot of places,” he said. “Montreal has them in a lot of locations, and they have one location with pink balls.”
The city updated its bylaws a few years ago to allow for lights to hang over streets, and it’s something Downtown Sudbury has been looking to do for “a long time,” he added.
Thursday’s meeting also included presentations by Mayor Paul Lefebvre and senior city planner Ed Landry, who highlighted the city’s plans for Downtown.
Previously expected to take place this month, Lefebvre told Thursday’s audience that city council’s vote on whether to proceed with a renovated Sudbury Community Arena or a new events centre build will take place on April 16. At that meeting, he said that city council will receive advice from a team of architects.
“Whatever we do, we need to figure out what we do with the ‘old barn,’” he said. “I favour renovating it, however, if it’s not feasible, if it’s not doable and makes no sense, we can’t do it ... but if it’s possible, let’s explore that option.”
During his wide-sweeping remarks, Lefebvre also said he has been impressed by what he has seen with the in-ground planters the city installed on Larch Street this year, and expressed support for the project to expand throughout the downtown core.
Landry offered an update on the Downtown Master Plan, which was last updated in 2012 and has become outdated in various ways. Place des Arts was an idea in the 2012 document, and Thursday’s event was held within the building in question.
With various projects moving forward, such as the Cultural Hub at Tom Davies Square library/art gallery and the arena/events centre project (which has included the city’s purchase and demolition of various properties), he said, “It’s the perfect time for a Downtown Master Plan update.”
In October, J.L. Richards & Associates Limited, which has offices in Sudbury, was the winning bidder to undertake the update, at a cost of approximately $221,000.
They’ve already been receiving insights from various groups and individuals as “an early sounding board” and will launch a widespread public consultation process this summer, with a goal of completing the master plan by next summer.
During Thursday’s meeting, Go-Give Project representative Shannon Scodnick provided the downtown business community with an update on the Welcoming Streets program.
The program is a partnership between the Go-Give Project and Downtown Sudbury to introduce additional outreach workers to work with downtown business owners to address “social disturbances,” and divert calls which might otherwise go to Greater Sudbury police.
The program launched on Feb. 1, and as of Thursday night’s meeting has seen team members respond to 28 calls. Within the previous few days, she said one call had to do with a man who appeared frantic and was knocking on businesses’ windows.
“Upon arrival, once we did find him and sit down and chat with him ... a chat and a coffee was all he needed to be on his way,” she said.
In another case, earlier in the day on Thursday, they dealt with someone who was sitting outside with just a blanket on. Outreach workers were able to guide them to the warming centre.
Some other updates provided during Thursday’s AGM were:
- The Downtown Sidewalk Sale is coming back this year.
- Although some people have recommended shifting Greater Sudbury Police Service operations to 199 Larch Street, Lefebvre said it doesn’t meet their criteria.
- The largely vacant Mackey Building at 56 Elm St. is on city council’s radar, Lefebvre affirmed. “I think the Mackey building is a beautiful building,” Lefebvre said. “Why is it empty? I’ve asked that question. I’m trying to get in front of the owner and asking the question, saying, ‘We should do something. There are opportunities here.” Rather than punish building owners for having vacant buildings, he said he’d like to create an environment wherein they want to invest in their properties.
The annual general meeting capped off on a positive note, with MacIntyre crediting the current city council with moving forward on major investments.
In recent years, he said the city has “a bit of a laughing stock” in the eyes of developers for their inability to move forward with projects.
“In the last year ... we’ve had way better conversations with people about what they want to do downtown, because the city’s talking about a new area,” MacIntyre said. “They're showing that they're going to do things.”
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
