It’s too early to know if Mayor Nolan Crouse’s political instincts about downtown revitalization have set him apart as a strong visionary or scapegoat. At the very least he’s demonstrated the attributes of a leader who is not afraid to stand by the courage of his convictions, even if that means taking a few punches on the chin in the process.
City council this week unveiled its vision for a re-invigorated downtown bustling with people and businesses, a place to enjoy the arts, entertainment and shopping. Council also announced its eight objectives for the upcoming re-write of the downtown area redevelopment plan (DARP), which begins at the end of this month. The objectives include revisiting the downtown boundaries, boosting the local population, mix of businesses, festivals and events, creating an architectural theme and beautification efforts, among others.
If most of the eight objectives sound familiar, it’s because many were suggested through the Mayor’s Task Force on Downtown St. Albert, a community brainstorming session led by a hired consultant. Council will refine its vision over the coming year as the DARP review process unfolds. Members are expected to approve the DARP terms of reference June 29.
Rather than wait for the process to begin, the mayor took an unusual step by publicly presenting his own “perspective” on the downtown. Over 16 minutes during Monday’s council meeting, he read through a much more in-depth vision for the downtown which includes a 30-point plan to change the sleepy area’s economic fortunes.
Many ideas in Crouse’s 20-year vision are controversial, including the suggestion to scrap plans for a branch library in favour of a new 60,000-sq.-ft. facility (double the current size) on the corner of St. Thomas Street and St. Anne Street. Crouse also mused the library building might house civic offices, an underground parkade and commercial storefronts. Other ideas include exploring whether to close St. Anne Street to traffic north of St. Thomas Street or narrow Perron Street to two lanes. He’s in favour of building a civic plaza in the central parking lot, adopting an architectural theme for residences and businesses, stricter landscaping standards, more festivals and events, and much more.
Many of these ideas also were in the downtown task force report, while others reach back to unfulfilled ideas from the original DARP. The library suggestion, however, stands out as uniquely Crouse’s. It’s no secret the mayor has been less than convinced about the immediate need for a branch library and in fact publicly cast doubt on the project at budget time last year. Crouse has been just as skeptical about a new office building for civic employees, last projected at $27 million.
Combining the two projects, which presumably wouldn’t happen for several years, accomplishes several goals. For starters, it keeps library traffic downtown rather than spreading visits to the northwest where branch libraries have been suggested. It also frees up the former library space in St. Albert Place for the MusĂ©e Heritage Museum, which is undergoing expansion. Perhaps most significantly the idea could rescue the city’s plan to solve an office space crunch at St. Albert Place. An office building alone would carry little public favour, but adding a library and storefront could sway opinion.
The mayor deserves praise for taking the initiative to share his downtown “perspective,” which is not to be confused with council’s vision. But one also has to wonder why the mayor felt the need to present his ideas solo, on the same evening council presented its vision. However admirable his intentions, the mixed message puts councillors in an awkward position, as they will be called into account for ideas they have not yet embraced. Crouse seems content to have stuck his neck out further than the rest, for better or worse.
