Sit down, stay awhile

Times Reporter    

 

One of the first steps to the downtown revitalization plan will be coming soon. At the June 4 council meeting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Linda Nelson spoke to council about the portable patios that will be placed downtown. Councillor Rocky Blokland asked to be excused from the discussion to avoid any possible conflict of interest. 

“What these are, are portable patios that we are going to place adjacent to sidewalks on parking stalls,” said Nelson.

Administration has determined two locations they are hoping to place the new patios, and were seeking council’s blessing on June 4. 

The first location will be next to the Calgary Co-op. The tables are about 20 feet long and eight feet wide; there will be railings around them for safety and possibly flags to see them from the street. 

The location is immediately adjacent to the Co-op parking lot, there are three parking stalls, and administration would like to see it placed in the centre stall and possibly block off the stalls of either side. 

The second location being looked at is a parking stall in front of Rocky’s Bakery, and the one adjacent to it, in front of Lil Hoots and Aurora Capital. 

“The reason we’re planning that location is we’re planning to put in a cafeteria type of table, so we want somewhere where people can go and get a beverage or something to eat and bring it outside,” said Nelson.

Further down the street the only other possible location would be in front of More Than Ice Cream, but Nelson said they already have Heritage Park there with tables, and so administration thought this would be a better location.

Councillor John Rempel said he thinks both locations are very desirable for the patios because they are in locations that people will really have the opportunity to enjoy them for the above stated reasons. 

The portable patios could be moved around once a month, they were designed to be relocated often, but administration thinks that for this year they may leave them in the same location so people can get used to the idea and next year, Nelson said, they would likely want to build a few more.

There are many different things that can be done with the patios each year – furniture can be changed or the town could have a busker come in and entertain people downtown. 

If a business does not want the patio in front of their location, Nelson said that administration would then look at different locations, no one would have to have the patio.

“Love the idea … it’s something different for our downtown area,” said Councillor Pat Fule. 

Council approved the recommendations and the new patios should be making their appearance in the next few weeks.