The City of Airdrie has unveiled its draft plan for a long-term revitalization of the downtown core.
Community Growth Manager Stephen Utz presented the downtown draft Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) to City council at the Feb. 1 regular meeting. The 85-page document outlines a 20- to 30-year objective to “establish the vision and principles for revitalization and to guide the redevelopment aspects of revitalization in a manner that is complementary to council’s aims.”
In his presentation, Utz noted that improving the vibrancy of Airdrie’s downtown is one of council’s strategic priorities.
“This has been a lot of effort and I want to thank and compliment staff members from many different departments who have contributed to making this a reality,” he said. “Being in front of council today, in our opinion, is following through on a promise.”
The launch of the draft ARP comes after the City conducted a downtown visioning exercise in 2017 and various open houses, stakeholder meetings, forums and design charrettes in 2019. According to the ARP, a successful revitalization of Airdrie’s downtown would be described as the following:
“A revitalized downtown has more people living, shopping and spending money there,” the plan stated. “Businesses stay open in our downtown. Residents are proud of downtown Airdrie. It is an important part of Airdrie’s brand, identity and economic development.”
Early into his presentation, Utz said Airdrie’s downtown is currently underutilized, with a “tremendous economic and social” potential. He added downtown has the servicing capacity and infrastructure to support an additional 7,000 people and jobs – comparable to the neighbourhood of King’s Heights and the Kingsview industrial area, which Utz noted required 16.5 kilometres of new road development and 18.5 kilometres of new pipes.
“That is something that is not necessarily…required at all with the downtown, where roads and pipes are, by and large, already in place,” he said.
Currently, according to the ARP, downtown Airdrie – as defined by boundaries set out in the draft plan – is home to just 432 residents and 1,898 jobs. The ARP outlines the objective of maximizing the area’s servicing potential.
“Whatever we do with the downtown and however we realize the economic potential…we want to ensure there’s a public rate of return," Utz said. "This isn’t about making downtown cool for the sake of being cool – there’s no such thing as a free lunch. The ultimate objective here is to achieve something for the population of Airdrie.”
The ARP includes four sections, 10 guiding principles and more than 100 municipal actions to make downtown the “heart of the city” and to “reimagine Main Street” as the area’s central axis. According to the plan, a redeveloped Main Street would be a "complete street,' accommodating pedestrians, transit, vehicles and cyclists. It would also offer landscaping and place-making elements, as well as vibrant street frontage that incorporates building façades.
“It should also be an organizing feature in the downtown, with traffic, building frontages, landscaping, plazas and gathering spaces spread throughout the street accordingly,” the plan stated.
Other guiding principles in the ARP include investing in downtown’s future, making it “the place to be” and creating an accessible and well-designed urban centre.
With the ARP now unveiled, Utz said the City will conduct a communication strategy and public engagement period from Feb. 1 to March 1, when residents will be able to learn elements of the plan and offer feedback. After the engagement period, Utz said updated and finalized versions of the ARP will be unveiled to council in the third and fourth quarters of 2021.
“On airdrie.ca/downtown, over the coming days, we’re going to be putting on more formalized versions of maps and figures in various sections,” he said. “We’re also working on an overall vision diagram that speaks to the ultimate vision people articulated to us through the downtown visioning exercise, the downtown charrettes and some of our policies here within the draft document.”
In addition to the ARP, the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce submitted a letter to council, which was included in the agenda package’s correspondence. The letter, attributed to the chamber’s executive director, Marilyne Aalhus, stated the chamber is “excited about the potential of recreating our downtown as the place to be, making it right for business, and connecting our community.”
“We believe that a strong downtown core will benefit our community, creating greater opportunity for all businesses that have already invested in Airdrie, and for those businesses who have yet to experience our great city,” Aalhus stated.
“With a population of over 70,000 residents, there is tremendous potential in creating an attractive, inviting, and vibrant downtown for residents and tourists to enjoy as a memorable destination and experience. The redevelopment plan and incentives for developers and businesses to invest in our downtown will be vital to the success of this proposal.”
After Utz's presentation and an ensuing discussion, council voted unanimously on a motion to accept the report for information, but extend the public engagement period until April 30, rather than March 1.
“It’s been a long process – something this council in this term has been focused on,” Coun. Kelly Hegg said. “We’ve eagerly awaited to see the works on paper and I think for so many people – this topic keeps coming up over and over again, on social media or in conversation – it’s something we can grab onto right now and give feedback to."
For more information, visit airdrie.ca/downtown
Scott Strasser, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @scottstrasser19
