Dreams for downtown

Times Contributor

 

Like Kevin Costner, in the movie Field of Dreams, the Town of Strathmore has a beautiful dream to spruce up and revitalize the downtown area. They are advocating the old saying build it and they will come. The downtown redevelopment overlay presents suggestions for a special theme, based on a set of regulations and architectural controls for buildings in the downtown core. They are asking downtown business owners to choose what they would like, suggest how it should manifest itself and to invest their money into making it a reality. 

Town representatives were on hand to listen to a group of about 50 business and building owners at the Legion on May 23, and discuss the initial overlay suggestions.

“The beauty of an overlay, it does not happen immediately, it happens over time. We are talking about the overlay and asking for input from the stakeholders in the downtown area,” said Linda Nelson, deputy chief administrative officer for the town, to those present. “The whole idea of the overlay is not so much about limiting you, it is giving you additional alternatives and opportunities. That is the beauty of an overlay.”

The overlay will include special allowances to change to the land use and building requirements. The bylaw could allow things like greater population density of buildings, adaptations for creative use of unused buildings, allow vertical or basement building permits, change the requirements of how storefronts and area in-fills look, to give a more cohesive and attractive esthetic. There are green spaces, paving or stonework, fountains, entertainment, restaurants and people places suggested to enhance people’s enjoyment of the area. The suggested themes are Railway, Old town/western, or Victorian. Langdon, Rosebud, and Cochrane are among the many towns that have employed the tactic to revitalize their towns. The Town hopes to have the bylaw in place by the end of August.

The downtown area currently has many empty buildings. There have been complaints of unsightly, poorly maintained areas and declining business, due to the highway and commercial expansions elsewhere in the town. Some of the things that downtown owners want to do to their premises are not currently allowed under the existing bylaw requirements for the zone.

“I really believe that’s the beauty of this overlay system. I think the sooner we designate a special area of the downtown, there will be more of an emphasis on premises. We want to be proud of our downtown. I personally want to see our downtown as an attraction. I want to see it as a place where people want to go. I want to see it as a unique area,” said Councillor Bob Sobol. “The alternative is we all get up and leave and continue to see our buildings go away. I am trying to suggest we can do something. If the bylaw is in place, some ideas from the community will come forth to council, then council can approve some of these projects.”

Business owners have some concerns about the project. They voiced that there was an expectation of investment from businesses, but the Town’s commitment was unclear. It was indicated that the Town would be responsible for the infrastructure development in the area. Any other contributions or commitments have not been determined. The overlay does not include any research or documentation, regarding why people are not currently patronizing the downtown, or types of businesses or activities that would bring businesses to the area.

“This is step one, just an initial small step in us moving forward. I just want to see us moving forward. The reason why we went to consultations, we prefer to have people tell us and give us ideas,” said Sobol. 

“I would really like to get across that this council is trying, we know that it is a problem. The town needs to come together and listen to you business owners,” said Councillor Pat Fule. “The overlay is a way to come together with some ideas of what we want to see.” 

Fule said the bylaw might be written so it allowed greater population density in the downtown and vertical expansions over businesses, but qualified that safety concerns and structural integrity would have to be considered for all building modifications.

“We need to find a way for people to live downtown and work downtown .We need to incorporate unique ideas. We have lost bigger businesses from the downtown and I am worried that there are more to follow,” said Fule. 

Councillor Rocky Blokland is a business man in the downtown. He indicated that all small towns go through cycles of high and low business activity. 

“It’s a very good meeting here today with lots of ideas. Downtown is the heart and soul of small town Alberta. This Town Council is committed as a group to improving the town. The overlay is just a part of the whole big picture,” said Blokland.

Fule said that the Town is currently looking at paving the pathway in Kinsmen Park to make it more accessible year round and may consider moving the Town offices downtown in the future. He said they were open to hearing revitalization ideas from the public. Those in attendance were given surveys and questionnaires, to gather more information. They wanted volunteers for a working group to work on the overlay process. Nelson said meeting dates and the working outline for the group would be determined later. Interested parties can sign up to participate in the working group or get a survey, by contacting the Town of Strathmore office at 403 934-3133, or contact Nelson at, LindaN@strathmore.ca.