The Mission Record Thursday, July 11, 2013 15
BusinessTRACK Mission Chamber of Commerce
connect • influence • prosper
Downtown plan implementation now underway
T
he downtown planning process is now complete and the implementation of the plan is well on its way. Two important components of the planning process were to consider implementation of the plan right from the beginning of the process; and to ensure meaningful public engagement throughout the process. As the process unfolded, the participation by the community built enthusiasm and a vision for downtown as the community gathering place that it was in the past. People would start with, “I remember coming downtown for …” and often veer into nostalgia or a fit of laugher as they recalled happy times in the area with family and friends. The plan has 10 Big Moves framed around five Fundamentals. Fundamentals are givens; things that are so important or expected that they are considered fundamental to the economic, social and environmental health of Mission. They include multimodal transportation, a mix of high-density land use at the core of the community where there are services and transportation connections, high-quality public realm, parks and open spaces for the community to enjoy and share with visitors, social needs and community issues emphasize the importance of a safe and vibrant downtown, and economic conditions for success of a thriving community with the downtown as a key indicator of a vibrant community economy. The planning process has brought attention to Mission from businesses and developers who may not have looked this far east in the past. The five fundamentals link downtown initiatives with other activities happening within
A reworked post office area on Welton Street is part of the suggestions in the downtown plan.
Mission such as tourism and the Municipal Forest project, the fact that existing buildings at the Silvercreek Industrial Park are at capacity, and increasing interest for developing the waterfront. By clearly articulating the direction for re-development of the core of the community, the downtown economy will improve along with the sense of pride for the community. As the plan is implemented, any business thinking of moving to Mission will get a positive feel for the community by visiting downtown.
The 10 Big Moves represent a series of actions intended to invest in public spaces and prepare the downtown for private investment. They include moving the regional traffic off First Avenue and lining the streets with trees, benches where shoppers can rest and plazas where pedestrians can enjoy community events. Organizing and promoting events within the downtown and other venues within Mission will give people more reasons to come downtown. Creating a sense of excitement will turn downtown
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into the urban village it wants to be; a place where residents can live, work, shop, learn and play. The plan emphasizes the importance of the downtown as a civic and educational centre that supports retail and service uses. Incentives for developing downtown are proposed for a short period of time to improve the viability for development. A new approach to improve safety and security is proposed. It combines an ambassador and clean streets program, both of which have proven successful in other com-
munities. While moving regional traffic off First Avenue will improve the experience for pedestrians, the enhanced streetscape, gateway features and public art will draw people to downtown’s plazas, parks and businesses. The public investment proposed for public spaces will invite people to come to downtown to celebrate Mission’s rich culture and authentic urban village setting, which other communities strive to create, but that Mission already has in its unique compact downtown.
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