City approves development framework for core with aim to attract thousands post-pandemic
Judith Veresuk says the recently approved City Centre Core Framework (CCCF) gets Regina ready for the next decade of development.
“We're hopeful this will demonstrate there's a shared vision within our city for the future of our City Centre,” said Veresuk, executive director of the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District (RDBID).
Veresuk said things are looking “bullish” coming out of the pandemic in terms of development and investment in Regina.
“We want to be ready with guidance if and when those developments happen,” she said. Council unanimously approved the framework and the creation of a City Centre Core Development Advisory Committee this week.
The partners in the CCCF are Regina Exhibition Association Ltd. (REAL), RDBID, Regina Warehouse District and city administration.
Veresuk said part of the plan is to attract 5,000 residents to downtown Regina and an additional 5,000 elsewhere in the city's core.
The framework outlines what primary land uses are expected within each district and what kinds of developments go where in the core neighbourhoods.
Tim Reid, president and CEO of REAL, said through the framework and the advisory committee, the member groups will be able to consult with one another when approached by a developer or organizer. He hopes the groups will no longer be “fragmented.”
The framework could mean passing up an opportunity and directing it to another partner.
“If that opportunity might be more impactful in one of the other districts downtown, then we'd put our hands up and say `Hey, this really doesn't fit at Evrazplace. Any chance we can connect you with the Warehouse District or RDBID?'” said Reid.
For example, educational buildings and corporate offices will be designated outside of REAL owner property while large events with more than 10,000 people will be designated for REAL.
Included within the CCCF are the lands where Taylor Field used to stand.
Activist Jim Elliott said on Wednesday that he felt there should have been greater public consultation prior to the framework rolling out.
He added that the existing neighbourhood plan should guide the framework and the not the other way around, especially for the Taylor Field lot.
“Regina Exhibition is simply a sports-and-entertainment complex manager and the Taylor Field lands are principally a housing project, so I don't necessarily get the connection,” said Elliott.
Coun. Bob Hawkins (Ward 2) successfully proposed an amendment to change the name of the plan from its former, cumbersome and “Shakespearean” name to City Centre Core Framework.
“The name is too cumbersome for words,” said Hawkins. “I'm trying to get eight words down to four.”
Council unanimously approved naming the plan the CCCF from the City Centre Core Partnership Framework and Action Plan.
Coun. Lori Bresciani (Ward 4) said this was something the prior council sought, since it appeared that the various districts were at times competing with one another over businesses, events and construction opportunities.
“This is something we've been asking for, for quite some time,” said Bresciani.
Mayor Sandra Masters said the framework and collaboration between the organizations will be a boon to development in the city coming out of the COVID -19 pandemic.