Jordan improvements approved
Project includes closing part of Main Street to create a pedestrian square
The wait is almost over for Jordan Village.
More than a decade after enhancements to the hamlet were proposed as part of Town of Lincoln’s secondary plan, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has greenlighted the $6.4-million Jordan Village improvement project — including additional parking, building a new street to be called Snure Lane, and closing part of Main Street to traffic to create a pedestrian square in front of the Jordan Hotel.
Twenty Valley Tourism Association executive director Kris Smith said the overwhelming majority of area business owners are “overjoyed that this is moving forward.”
“They’re elated that it’s actually going through,” Smith said. “They’ve been waiting for this plan to come to fruition for some time now.”
Lincoln chief administrative officer Michael Kirkopoulos said artist drawings and the vision for the area “have really excited people, in terms of being able to see what we’re going to do.”
But despite the eagerness to see the project begin, he said it’ll be a few more years before visitors to the area are able to enjoy the enhancements.
Although the town’s goal is to begin this as soon as possible, Kirkopoulos said detailed designs will likely take until early 2019 before they’re approved. And the year-long construction project probably won’t begin until 2020 — pending budget approval.
Businesses in the tourist area only have a few months of the year to attract most of their customers, and the work also needs to be scheduled to have minimal impact during the busy tourist season.
“There’s always an ability to accelerate those timelines, but, as folks always tell me, my timelines are probably more aggressive than we can deliver on,” Kirkopoulos said.
Smith said area business owners know they’re in store for a few years of construction, with the redevelopment of Jordan Historical Museum also slated to start in 2019.
“The long-term gain is worth the short-term pain of getting through the
construction process,” she said.
Twenty Valley Tourism Association has been working with the municipality and Niagara Region “to make sure it’s business as usual as much as we can through the construction process,” Smith added.
The project — it also includes improvements to the intersection of Nineteenth and King streets, as well as streetscaping and other enhancements — received conditional ministry approval last week, after concluding an environmental assessment was not required for the project.
The ministry, however, added conditions to the project, including potentially adding dedicated bicycle lanes, holding at least one public open house to discuss the design of the pedestrian square on Main Street, and to consult with Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority to identify additional strategies for controlling stormwater management.
Kirkopoulos said the town will tap into its development charge reserves to pay for its share of the project, while Niagara Region also pitches in for intersection improvements. The town will also apply for upper-tier infrastructure funding to put towards the project, he added.
He described Jordan Village as a quaint community with a small-town character.
“It’s a great place for people to gather and enjoy everything from fine art to great chocolate fudge,” he said, referring to a few of several shops and restaurants in the area.
Smith said the Jordan Village improvement project is designed to enhance that unique atmosphere.
“We see this as just expanding and animating that micro-destination,” she said. “The plans are to build on the character of Jordan Village.”
Smith said she hopes the project “attracts more tourism businesses to the area, to really build on the concentration that’s already there.”