St. Joseph's parking lot ideal for market: Rivest

Ward 6 Coun. Andre Rivest has thrown another suggestion into consideration for the future location of Market Square.

The parking lot of the former St. Joseph's Health Centre, which the city already owns, would be an ideal location for Market Square, he said. There is ample room for vendors and it would allow the market to operate year-round.

“It's an excellent location; I wish I would have thought of it,” he said.

The idea was brought to his attention when he was talking with a group of residents. He said it's his job as a municipal representative to bring forward such ideas, especially when they make as much sense as this one.

The benefits of the location are clear, he said. There would be no cost in purchasing the land, it's located on a main artery in the city near an intersection controlled with traffic lights, and it's next to Bell Park, a “gem in the city,” where hundreds of residents go every day.

“This has to be investigated, because it's a legitimate idea that comes from the community,” Rivest said. “The parking lot is a hop, skip and a jump away from downtown. The group (of residents who brought up the idea) believes this site has a lot of potential, and I agree.”

The city has set up a committee to find a new home for Market Square. Laurentian University purchased the land occupied by Market Square to build its school of architecture.

Thirteen people comprise the Market Square advisory panel, with representation from the city, market vendors and residents with a vested interest in seeing the new market set up in the best possible location. Prior to setting up the committee, five possible locations were presented to council: the southern part of the existing Market Square site, the former police station at the corner of Larch and Paris streets, the Tom Davies Square court yard, the municipal parking lot south of the Sudbury Theatre Center, as well as the land that currently houses the CP train station.

The panel met for the first time on Jan. 13 for a formal introduction of its members. The committee is set to meet again Feb. 2, Jason Ferrigan, senior planner for the city, said.

The panel is in the “earliest possible stages” of its work, Ferrigan said. Its mandate is to advise council on the best option for location, type of facility, its governance structure and business plan.

The panel brings together “great group of people who are clearly excited by the task that has been assigned to them by city council,” Ferrigan said. “There is an awful lot of work ahead of them, and this is a significant decision.”

The five options have been forwarded to the panel, and it will be up to the panel members to decide, if any, what options they wish to throw into the mix as part of the location analysis for the new market, Ferrigan said.

Posted by Arron Pickard