Civic space
Enhancements to regional headquarters will face budget review.
Plans to transform the front lawn of Niagara Regional Headquarters into a “unique, inviting civic park” will need to pass another hurdle before they can proceed.
While Niagara’s planning committee supported a recommendation to proceed with the first steps of developing an International Plaza at Regional Headquarters at this week’s meeting, the project must first get the OK from the Region’s budget committee and Regional council.
Niagara’s manager of urban design planning Ahmad Khaldoon described the project — part of the Regional Headquarters Campus Master Plan — as “a unique, inviting civic park that reflects the character of the community … and tells Niagara’s story to a uniquely global audience.”
The plan will be developed in four phases, starting with development of an International Plaza and courtyard, located on Regional Headquarters property fronting on Sir Isaac Brock Way, between Schmon Parkway and Merrittville Highway.
About $1.59 million has already been set aside in the 2017 budget to pay for the first phase of the project.
The second phase includes an “orchard courtyard” at the intersection of Sir Isaac Brock Way and Schmon Parkway, highlighting the Niagara’s tender fruit industry, as well as other amenities. It is expected to cost about $1.33 million to be considered as part of 2018 budget deliberations.
The third phase will add an Indigenous People’s Commemorative Plaza as well as a new entry plaza, and the final phase will add a new parking area, crosswalks and fitness stations to the property.
Cost estimates for the final phases of the project have yet to be calculated. Niagara Falls Coun. Bart Maves, however, said he’d prefer to use the initial funding set aside for the project to help Niagara College pay for an Agri-Food Research Complex under construction at its Niagara-on-the-Lake campus.
Earlier during the meeting, college president Dan Patterson requested $1.6 million in funding from the Region, adding to the $34.2 million already earmarked for the college - including $23.9 million of college funds, $8.7 million from the federal government and $1.6-million from the province. The college’s request was referred to the Region’s budget review committee for consideration.
Maves suggested delaying plans for the International Plaza and instead provide the funds to the college.
“Maybe we can keep it on the books and do it in future years,” Maves said.
Niagara’s planning commissioner Rino Mostacci pointed out that the plans for the Regional Headquarters are intended to “enhance the image of the Region” when the Canada Summer Games take place here in 2021.
“If we don’t do it, nobody else will,” Mostacci added.
St. Catharines Coun. Bruce Timms said if the project is delayed by a year or so, it should still be completed long before the Canada Summer Games are held.
But according to the Region’s current timeline for the project, the final phases of construction would not be completed until 2021.