Hundreds show for Riverside open house
Residents keen on finding out what the future holds
Hundreds of Riverside residents showed up to an open house Tuesday to discuss the future of their community.
The mature, tree-lined community nestled across the river from downtown suffered two blows this winter with the announced closure of both Riverside elementary school and the city-run Heald outdoor pool.
In response, the planning department launched an “Area Redevelopment Plan” process in the community, touted as a “blueprint for the neighbourhood into the far reaching future” to guide potential development.”
About 40 residents were waiting when the doors opened at 4 p.m. By 7 p.m., more than 150 had viewed poster boards drawn up by five city departments with projects slated for the area.
Officials from the parks planning offices, fire services, environmental utilities department and the land and properties office were on hand.
“It’s a first point of engagement,” said planning superintendent Robert Sissons. “We wanted to introduce the project and outline some of the issues that the neighbourhood is facing, and what the responses could be.”
The plan, due this summer after followup consultations, would also determine future land use, not only of the school site, but also throughout the community.
Attendees on Tuesday were asked to rate their preferences for residential use, from singlefamily homes to condos, town houses or a seniors’ complex.
“I’m quite encouraged,” said Anne Bernhardt, who has lived on Third Street NW for the past 44 years. “It’s very sad to see the school go but you can understand it.”
Her main concern was redevelopment of the school and playground, and keeping the property from becoming rental units.
Another longtime resident, Annita Pinder, was intrigued by possible trail development.
“Change is going to come, we know that,” said Pinder. “But we need to think it out, come back and have a good plan that’s palatable.”
There are a number of city projects under development.
Land and properties is listening to proposals for residential land development on the north side of Third Street, west of Fourth Avenue NW.
The fire department plans to build its new Station No. 1 on land beside the Maple Avenue bridge and open it next year.
Environmental utilities will eventually expand a sanitary sewer main under Second Street, with initial phase (on Third Street NW) slated to take place in 2018.
Further stages, in the interior of the community, could be coupled with new intersections and expansion of the trail system, considered excellent according to city documents, but still shows gaps.
A conceptual plan shows current shoreline paths in the east and west joined via a loop in the middle of the community that would also reach the rail overpass and stairs near Heald Park, in the north.
Some attendees said it’s a nice idea but wondered about timelines and feasibility.
“They would be some nice projects,” said Aaron Gray, who lives in the area with his spouse. “But if they’re closing to pool to save money, how would you justify them?”
Manager of parks development Maureen Mudry said the pool closure was a financial decision based on operating costs and capital expenditures, and the same pressures still exist in city budgeting.
However, “something will have to be done with the (pool),” which is slated to not reopen this spring.
Possibilities outlined on Tuesday include general greenspace expansion, a spray deck or skating rink.
The current high rink board, located next to the school, is not scheduled to close but the future use of the school land is still to be determined by SD76.
The planning office will also determine residents’ tolerance for things like front garages, duplexes, multi-family housing, commercial zone expansion and infill development throughout the area.
That occurs when typically older, lowvalue homes are demolished and new homes built in their place.
The planning department hopes to compile information gleaned this week and bring it back to residents in early June for further discussion. A draft area redevelopment plan would follow, and that could go before council for approval as early as August, said Sissons.