An artist's conception of a "Waterfront District" showS potential major changes to River Road and other public property as part of a downtown rejuvenation plan outlined in Tuesday's State fo the City address.--SUPPLIED IMAGE
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
An overview of a “Waterfront District” headlined the annual State of the City address by Mayor Ted Clugston on Tuesday as a video showed administrators calling the city-led development a “billion-dollar opportunity.”
The potential transformation of most of River Road into a pedestrian mall, Finlay Bridge, a focus on higher density housing, and changes to Riverside Veterans Memorial Park over the next 10 to 15 years were shown in the online speech that usually involves an outlaying of civic accomplishments and priority projects.
“For many years we’ve feared the river due to flooding, but now it is time to celebrate it,” said Clugston while introducing a video of staff walking through the proposal.
“It’s not a planning document or a static planning document; it’s only a first step envisioning,” he said.
The overarching plan to boost investment and activity in the city centre was outlined in the latest updates to the city’s long-term development plan, but ideas to boost the fortunes and usage of downtown have been bandied about for decades.
Some action will likely take place this year as the city awaits final approval for federal grants to three projects involved in the planning area that stretches along the shores of the South Saskatchewan River from the downtown Public Library branch to Athletic Park.
Planning general manager Kent Snyder and Invest Medicine Hat official Jon Sookecheff both said the final look will depend on feedback and buy-in from the private sector development community.
“Prime waterfront land is an untapped opportunity waiting, a bold vision to capitalize on one of Medicine Hat’s best features,” said Snyder.
The effort would require and involve an estimated $300 million in private-sector investment, said Sookecheff, and that would lead to $700 million in increased business, business sales and economic activity.
Officials have signalled that concentrating on building up the population base in the city centre would be a priority.
The MyMH development passed in 2020 states planners should concentrate on developing downtown as an urban living space with a strong commercial presence rather than a traditional business district.
Immediate actions came in the form of three construction projects the city has awaiting federal stimulus grant awards, which must be completed in 2021.
They would see a revamp of the 603 First St., parking lot (repaving and providing some gathering “festival” space”), an expansion of city offices located in the former Canada Post branch across from city hall, and a $3-million modernization of Athletic Park.
As well, a video from New Rock Development teased the local developer’s “Alto” condo project on the site of the Medicine Hat Arena. That “premium living” condo project was announced in late 2018 as council awarded the property tax abatement program to help clean up the site.
General sketches show the potential closure of through traffic on River Road as a turnaround bulb would be built near Finlay Bridge to accommodate a walking promenade and amphitheatre space below Riverside Veterans Memorial Park. The park itself would see paths widened and existing elements, such as the Cenotaph and bandshell, stay in place.
Sixth Avenue however, could eventually be closed to traffic and become a walking mall joining the city hall square to the park where a potential market garden site could be located.
State of the City
Tuesday’s event was hosted online to comply with COVD pandemic health restrictions on mass gatherings.
Emcee Ken Sauer returned to hosting the Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce event after a year’s absence. He noted the special circumstances before a pre-recorded message from the mayor.
Clugston began his speech by touching on the pandemic and economic flux of 2020.
“I wish it a hearty good riddance, though there were many positives,” he said, adding that he himself was “spooked” by early modelling and health implications of the coronavirus effect.
He said council acted steady under pressure and “was the only council in Alberta in my opinion” who kept their heads.
As accomplishments, Clugston said the city accelerated gas well abandonment, as well as accelerated the financial fit budget with $14.7 million in cuts, and introduced on-demand transit. He thanked unionized municipal workers for accepting a two-year wage freeze.
A COVID-relief package, totalling more than $8 million from city reserves, provided business grants, and halted a tax increase in 2020. Later budgeting extended that to 2022, he said.
“On a per-capita basis, no major municipality has done more,” he said.
For 2021, Clugston pointed to the “Waterfront District” initiative and said the re-organized Invest Medicine Hat office was pushing ahead with the YXH Gateway airport commercial land project and with planning for an industrial park in the city’s far northwest.
The presentation also included tribute to small business owners who struggled throughout the year to meet operating guidelines and capacity limitations in the spring and late fall.
Clugston also dedicated a portion of the event to highlight a rash of suicides and showed a CBC report that featured local families and himself discussing mental health.
He said there has been resilience in the face of the pandemic, but also “terrible scars that will never heal … it’s all a tragedy.”
