>> So Gagan, throughout the downtown tour,
you talk about streetscaping. What exactly is streetscaping?
Are we sitting in streetscaping? >> So we are sitting in streetscaping.
That's a great question. Streetscaping is a
really broad term that
encompasses so many different aspects. So it can really refer to
anything like we're looking at——we're looking down
on Colborne Street right now and it can include
the different types of benches that you
have—— that we're actually sitting on. >> And we're actually
outside the Y building. >> We are.
>> And this is some recent streetscaping
that’s been done downtown and this is, I think, a very good example
of what streetscaping can be and what it is.
And so with the Downtown Renewal, because all the
roads are going to be all ripped up to redo all the infrastructure,
this gives us a once in a lifetime opportunity to do——
don't have to be necessarily what this is,
but this is streetscaping and we're going to see it
throughout our downtown because you
pull up the road, then
you might as well redo the sidewalk. You might as well rethink
what you're putting back in. >> Exactly,
so it can include things like what type
of sidewalk are you putting in? Are we going to put in bricks?
Is it going to be interlocking streets?
Is that what we're going to be doing? >> Is it going to be a narrow
sidewalk? A wide side? >> Exactly,
so the width of the sidewalk. Is there going to be all concrete?
Are we going to do different colors? Are we going to be doing, you know,
extended wider sidewalks to allow for more pedestrians to travel?
Or are we going to do wider lanes? >> And are we going to have these
kinds of light standards? We go to a
different kind of light standard. >> Exactly. Yeah,
the different types of trees as well. So, you know,
something that we hear is that trees, 00:15:07.62 obviously, they add a lot of greenery
and a lot of uniqueness to downtown. But one thing
is that they also add shade, which makes it
a lot more pleasant for folks who are walking down
the street when they're shopping. >> The reason where
we are right now, I mean, there's this lovely landscaping here.
You can't see it, but to our right is this beautiful grass.
>> Yeah. >> I feel like I'm in a savanna,
but that's what it does. I mean, it's streetscape. It gives——
it creates the atmosphere for downtown, the feel,
and that's what we're looking for. It's going to be what's the
theme going to be. >> Yeah.
>> Because once you have a theme, then the streetscaping follows.
>> Yeah, for sure. So when we are
soliciting feedback from the community, one of the questions we're
going to be asking is what type
of streetscaping do you want to see? And with that question,
what we really mean is when you're standing on
Dalhousie Street or on Colborne Street,
what is your vision for the street? What do you see? Do you
want to see more trees? Do you want to
see different types of benches? >> But don't
forget the theme, so it could be you want to emphasize
the history of the downtown, which would be a different look.
You want to emphasize the fact that we're now, I think,
a forward looking progressive downtown,
for example, the Y building behind us. I mean, many people
don't like the Y building, but it does make
a statement about our future and so should
the streetscaping use that as a theme? Or should it be a combination?
That's why, you know, I really
find it exciting when you think of what this——the potential this has to transform
our downtown. >> Yeah.
>> Gagan, what's the timeline to complete this project?
>> Yeah, that's a great question. So for environmental
assessment such as these, it really varies
depending on the complexity of the project, whether you're going to be ripping up
all the infrastructure and putting in
brand new infrastructure or if you're just going to be doing
intermittent upgrades that as well
as the different types of studies that are legislated
by the provincial government. Those play factors,
and as well the number of public information centers
you're expected and required to hold. So for this project,
for Downtown Streetscaping specifically, we're going to be doing
two public information centers between now and next year,
and the actual expected timelines notwithstanding any major delays,
we're expecting the EA to be completed around the end of 2021
or the beginning of 2022. >> And Councillor Wall,
what do you hope people will do? >> I want people to be involved.
I want this to be a discussion with the community.
We are at the start of this project. It is a big project
and there's a long way to go. So have your voices heard.
Let us know. Contact the office. f you can't make it
to the public information session, you can always send
in your emails or you can call. Let's hear from you.