Churchill Square by design
New plan approved by St. John’s council, but many phases left before work gets done
The design plan to give Churchill Square new life was given the official green light from St. John’s city council Monday.
But work may not get underway for several months.
The project will be added to the city’s long list of capital works requests.
“It will go through that process and see what happens in the next little while …,” Mayor Danny Breen said during council’s regular meeting.
Breen later told The Telegram that the capital works requests are reviewed at the beginning of each year, with costsharing programs considered at that time to help pay for it.
The project — which will cost a total of $3,225,100 for design and construction — will need to co-ordinate with other pieces of work, as this cost excludes any potential water and sewer rehabilitation.
Nonetheless, councillors were excited to see the plan advance to the next stage of development.
“It’s a facelift that, when done, is long overdue,” Breen said. “It’s certainly going to make a big difference to the area.”
After a year of consultations with advisory committees and extensive public consultation, it was decided the new design — by Mills and Wright Landscape Architecture Ltd. — include several changes and improvements.
They include widened sidewalks, better accessibility, with 23 accessible parking spaces, the addition of a pedestrian plaza in the centre, enhanced lighting, as well as sidewalks and a bike lane down the centre, and better access to the Terrace on the Square building.
“These are really positive improvements to the area,” said Coun. Ian Froude, who is council’s lead on the project.
“There’s quite a bit of excitement in the neighbourhood, as well as from the (Churchill Square) Business Association for these changes.
Froude said he understands there were some concerns with the plan, such as the lighting choices, but he said they can be addressed at the detailed design stage, more pedestrian and less parking.
“I believe this is a good balance and a good step forward,” said Froude who noted several businesses in the square are adding parklets this summer, which would give them more space.
Froude said there also a hope of a better integration of Churchill Park across the street, but Breen had noted a few weeks ago that the park could potentially be Phase 2 of the project.
Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’leary commended the developer for coming up with a plan that serves a diverse community, with residents, business, schools and transit users.
“We’re seeing a real resurgence, a real restoration and renaissance of Churchill Square and I’m very pleased to see the project going forward,” she said.
Coun. Sandy Hickman said, “I think the design overall is brilliant and it’s going to change the way we think about Churchill Square.”