FIELD OF BIG DREAMS
Mayor Michael Fougere, right, And Saskatchewan Minister of Government Relations Warren Kaeding hope $33.6 million in funding for the Railyard Renewal Project will help kick-start the revitalization of Dewdney Avenue over the Coming years.
Across the street from the former CP Railyard in Regina’s Warehouse District, three levels of government on Friday announced $33.6 million in funding for the Railyard Renewal Project.
The empty former container yard spans 4 ½ blocks on the currently uninviting south side of Dewdney Avenue.
This funding will help “animate and give some life to Dewdney Avenue,” said Regina Mayor Michael Fougere.
The municipal, provincial and federal governments each invested $11.2 million as part of this announcement, which took place at Brewed Awakening on the north side of Dewdney.
The city hopes to revitalize Dewdney Avenue — reducing automobile traffic from six lanes to four in favour of creating wider sidewalks to accommodate pedestrian traffic, restaurant patios and potential bike paths. The new tree-lined street would include traffic lights.
“The idea is that you have a street that’s actually welcoming, and Dewdney Avenue now is not so welcoming. It needs some tender, loving care. It needs a context,” said Fougere.
“But we need as a city to invest in public infrastructure to show the private sector who will build on the Dewdney lands to say we’re serious about having this happen now.”
Mark Heise of Rebellion Brewing Co. is looking forward to having neighbours.
His business is currently one of two adjacent to the vacant 17.5acre former railyard site.
“Right now our neighbours are a whole lot of dust and a whole lot of wind. So we’re going to be really excited to have some neighbours, whether it’s other businesses, whether it’s residents, all that kind of stuff, get some more green space,” said Heise, who is also chair of the Warehouse District board of directors.
He said this investment is “a tipping point to start moving in the direction that we’ve always envisioned and the city’s always envisioned.”
Leasa Gibbons, executive director of the Regina Warehouse Business Improvement District, agreed.
“We’re very excited that it’ll be a catalyst to further investment and development,” she said.
Fougere expects to see some activity on the site in 2019, with the “major transformation” beginning in 2020, after requests for proposals are issued.
It will likely take 15 to 20 years before the entire revitalization is complete on the vacant land, which will include a pedway to connect the Warehouse District with downtown.
“Things like the Forks took a long time. I don’t expect this to be an overnight solution,” said Gibbons.
“But I do see some interim solutions that involve parking and green space and active spaces, potentially a pop-up dog park. We want to see some community gardens, maybe a place to play pickle ball, and a place to sit down and have your lunch that is a nice, welcoming, inviting space.”
The Warehouse District is “missing some of the key places that really help neighbourhoods develop,” added Gibbons. “So some of those things I think will be answered as we work through an interim use and then the redevelopment of Dewdney.”
The city will release a concept plan and design for the project — Phase 2 of the Regina Revitalization Initiative — next year, after the past couple of years seeking public input.
The concept plan will address parking and capacity.
Fougere emphasized that this revitalization project is meant to complement — not detract from — Regina’s downtown.
“It’s going to be an area that enhances the downtown experience,” said Fougere.
“It will be new, different and exciting and will bring people downtown.”
The two areas will be connected once a pedestrian bridge is built.