Downtown improvement project will have to wait

A proposed streetscape improvement project for the Sault's downtown will be put on hold.

City engineering and planning department staff will recommend city council accept its proposed improvements to Queen Street, between Bruce and Dennis Streets, as an information item only, not an action item.

A small but vocal group of business and property owners from the Downtown Association voiced their concerns to the proposed streetscape project at an open house at city hall Wednesday.

The group felt there had not been enough consultation from the city regarding the proposed plan, having only been shown the plan at a Downtown Association board meeting last week.

"Any time we get to sit down with the city and council and discuss options and ideas for the downtown it's a success, it's just that when we don't have an opportunity to talk and things just happen that problems get missed, and issues don't get dealt with because they're not being voiced," said Steve Alexander, Loplops owner, speaking to SooToday.

"There needs to be more of a discussion."

The plan calls for the addition of several elements to the block between Bruce and Dennis Streets as a pilot program.

Those elements are shared soil trenches for new trees to replace dying ash trees, custom benches, totem pedestrian lighting, open planting beds and paving stone edgers at open planters.

If considered a success, the same elements would be added to the other blocks along Queen as time goes by and funding becomes available.

Downtown Association members also felt there had to be more discussion among its own people.

"Get all the building owners from East to Dennis and have a vote on it,"  said Roberta Pozniak, owner of two buildings between Spring and Brock.

"What makes that block (between Bruce and Dennis) so special?  I want my block done first," Pozniak said.

"My opinion is do it all or nothing.  I don't think it should be a pilot project."

Paul Scornaienchi, owner of Ergo Office Plus, agreed one block should not be preferred over another.

"There are other members on four other blocks that would want it…we are a group, we are one vision.'

"By doing one fifth of a vision you're giving one child everything and say 'everybody else wait,'" Scornaienchi said.

"That can't happen within our association."

"The downtown merchants who came here tonight, I don't think, were opposed to it, but they felt it is being rushed and they need more time to discuss it with their membership," said Don McConnell, planning director.

"(They need to) get a better sense as to what the long-term plans are for a total project, rather than just doing a one block pilot project, and based on that we've agreed to defer asking council to make a decision on it until more consultation has been done."

Even though the project will not take place this year as a result of a council deferral, McConnell said funding for the project from the federal and provincial governments will still be available next year.

The city and the Downtown Association also have funding put aside for downtown improvement as well.

"I'm happy there were members here that voiced their concerns," said Duane Moleni, Downtown Association manager.

There are approximately 250 businesses and 130 building owners in the Downtown Association.

What will go ahead for certain is removal from Queen Street of dying ash trees which have been struck by emerald ash borers.

"That has to be done this year, it's a safety issue," McConnell said. 

(PHOTO: Totem pedestrian lighting. Photo courtesy of city of Sault Ste. Marie)