Centretown Streetscape
Revitalization Strategy
Summary & Key Points
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
What is it?
The Streetscape Revitalization Master Plan is intended to establish a cohesive
theme for the designated areas to address our connectivity issues and barriers to
waterfront pedestrian access.
The final document going forward would give the city, community, stakeholders
and groups a practical, phased implementation strategy.
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Areas of Focus
The framework would integrate unique natural and cultural
heritage characteristics of each of the following components:
Downtown BIA
Low Level Bridge
Le Village
Cornwall Square
Waterfront
Cotton Mills
St. Lawrence College
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Background
Previous Revitalization efforts in Cornwall
Several CIP and urban design reports have been
prepared over the last decade
FORREC (2003)
CIP (2005)
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
STREETSCAPES (2011)
Revitalization in Progress
Improving the look, function and feel of our Centretown areas
• FORREC – Presented a bold vision for the downtown. Many of the
suggestions for storefront revitalization within that document have
been carried out with support from Heart of the City’s Community
Improvement Program (CIP) funding.
• CIP - Since 2006, just over $3 million in Community Improvement
Program funding has led to nearly $13 million in private investment
in repairs and upgrading to businesses in the Centertown areas.
• Streetscape Report - The report identified a number of issues and
made recommendations both for site specific changes and for more
pervasive alterations to streetscape elements throughout the area.
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Moving Forward
EDA and Continued Revitalization
These past projects have identified the “what” and “why” of
improving public realm elements. It is our intention to have
EDA build on the most recent Streetscape Report to provide
the “how” by providing a cohesive vision and a practical
implementation strategy for carrying it out.
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
EDA Collaborative Inc.
Who Are They?
• Operating since 1978 in Toronto
• 20 Planners, Landscape Architects, Urban Designers and
support staff.
• Won 35 Planning and Design Awards of excellence
• Developed the Ganonoque Lowertown Master Plan
• Sault Sainte Marie Waterfront Master Plan
• Carrville District Centre Urban Streetscape Master
Plan
• Projects in York Region, Toronto, Bruce Mines,
Algoma, Woodstock and Edmonton among others.
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Goals & Objectives
Increase connectivity between key areas within Centretown
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East-West between Downtown BIA and Le Village along Water St/Montreal Rd
North-South connections between both BIAs and the waterfront
Connecting the new Cotton Mills residential and commercial areas to the BIAs
Connections to downtown from the planned exit of the low-level international bridge
Improve access, connectivity and appeal on inner-block parking areas within the downtown core
Streetscape Design Vision
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Generate a cohesive theme for public spaces within the study area
Maintain distinct character for existing BIAs while creating an overall cohesiveness
Create a vibrant public Main St. feeling for Downtown and Le Village business areas
Transform Water St from a highway/bypass to an urban boulevard
Create a welcoming entrance to the city from the low level bridge
Implementation & Phasing Plan
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To be a phased in plan base on City’s timelines for infrastructure and repair
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Downtown Cornwall Streetscape
Redevelopment Team (DCSRT)
The Streetscape Redevelopment Team is comprised of members of various local committees.
Eric Lang – DCSRT Chair, Waterfront Committee
Ken Bedford – City of Cornwall Senior Planner
Michel Dubuc – Le Village BIA
Pat Finucan – St. Lawrence College, Heart of the City
Tony Lacroix – Centretown
Norm Levac – City of Cornwall Engineer
Bryan Merkley – Centretown, Downtown BIA
Denis Carr - Heart of the City
Lezlie Strasser – Chamber of Commerce
Anna Froehlich – Queen’s University School
of Urban Planning - Graduate Student
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Designated Revitalization Area
North
The Northern boundary is less easily defined, however is roughly
limited to:
• The Water St corridor west of York St
• Extending north to Fourth/Fifth St between York and Adolphus
• South of Montreal Rd from Adolphus to Belmont
East/West
Beginning at the
International Bridge at
Brookdale Ave with the
study area reaching as far
east as Belmont St
South
The southern boundary extends to the St. Lawrence River
throughout, as connection to the waterfront is seen as a
key objective of this plan.
The Streetscape Revitalization Master Plan is intended to establish a cohesive theme for the designated areas
to address our connectivity issues and barriers to waterfront pedestrian access.
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy
Initial Reaction & Support
In initial meetings, stakeholders have demonstrated an overwhelming
enthusiasm for this project even in its early stages.
Unanimous support has been offered by the following committees and groups:
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Centretown
DBIA
Le Village
HOTC
Waterfront Development Committee
The Streetscape Revitalization Strategy