Draft Lower Level Master Plan - March 2014 (1) (5)

2014 CITY OF ST. CATHARINES

LOWER LEVEL VALLEYDESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION MASTER PLAN

DRAFT

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LOWER LEVEL VALLEY DESIGN AND IMPLIMENTATION MASTER PLANCity of St. Catharines

2014

VISION

That the Lower Level Valley lands be improved through a well-connected and attractive combination of new facilities and public spaces, which together will help to enliven these lands, support continued reinvestment, recognize the valley’s cultural heritage, and promote the ongoing revitalization of the broader Downtown community as a vibrant commercial and cultural hub.

GOALS & PRINCIPLES• To integrate the three major new facilities with the

fabric of downtown and with each other through improved connectivity.

• To create a built environment that is more attractive, more useful, and more conducive to continued investment and revitalization.

• To provide a connected series of comfortable and useful public spaces.

• To create an environment that recognizes and builds upon the area’s distinct cultural heritage and architectural character.

• Toprovideadesignframeworkthatisflexibleandcan respond to changing circumstance and new opportunities.

• To ensure that the properties along the upper edge of the valley are cohesively integrated and thattheirpotentialismaximized.

• Tomaximizegreeningopportunitiesbyreforesting

the valley slope and lining streets and trails.

INTRODUCTION

The Downtown Lower Level Valley is undergoing a significant transformation. By the fall of 2015, threemajor new facilities will have been constructed and will operating in the valley including the Meridian Centre, thenewPerformingArtsCentreandBrockUniversity’sMarilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. These transformative projects will reawaken the former canal valley and will help to spur additional investment and renewed vibrancy.

The purpose of this Master Plan is to lay a framework for the spaces and relationships between these three facilities and to the broader downtown community. In order for the transformative potential of these major investments to be realized, they must be well knit into the fabric of downtown and with each other. The balance of the valley lands must also set the stage for continued reinvestment in the buildings that line its upper edge through improved access, exposureand quality surroundings. This is a plan for the spaces between the buildings.


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STUDY AREA & HISTORY

ThisMasterPlandealschieflywiththevalleylandswhichliebetweenthe rear of buildings that line St. Paul Street to the north and west, and Highway406tothesouthandeast.Thisareaiscommonlyknownonlyas the Lower Level and has been primarily vacant, save for the former Canada Hair Cloth Company, for several decades. The study area is identifiedonFigure1(below).Someactions identified inthisplanmust however reach beyond the valley to address integration with the broader community.

The first and second Welland Canal once cut through the valleyand influenced much of the iconic development pattern whichsurvives on St. Paul Street, including the curvature of the street and its cantilevered buildings which project out over the valley atop steel trusses. The Welland Canal was later rerouted to the east and this sectionclosed in 1915. In the1960sand70s, thecanal valleywaswidenedand filled to accommodate the construction of Highway406.ThemorphologyofthevalleycanbeseeninFigures2(opposite).

The valley lands have most recently been used as parking for people workingdowntown.The lowerfloorsofbuildingswhichfrontedontothe old canal are intact, but primarily vacant and in poor repair. The lands have remained primarily dormant and underused for years. The three major new facilities beginning to take shape in the valley seek to again transform this environment.

Figure 1: Subject Lands

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Welland Canal meanders along the south edge of Downtown St. Catharines.1890s

The Welland Canal has been rerouted and the valleyfilled.Aparkingareaiscreated.1960s

Highway406nowmeandersthroughtheformerconal valley, with associated ramps.2000s

Figure 2: Morphology of the Canal Valley


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CONTEXT

Three Major Facilities: In2007, theCity initiatedtheDowntownCreativeClusterMasterPlantocreateaguidingframework for the revitalizationofdowntownSt.Catharines throughcontinued intensificationand reinvestment.Thefinalreport(2008)identifiedanumberofkeyinitiatives,includingthecreationanewcivicculturalfacility,therelocationofBrockUniversity’sSchoolofFineandPerformingArts,andthepossibleexpansionoftheGardenCityArena. These three initiatives have all since come to life in the Lower Level Valley and, at the time of writing this plan, are now funded, approved and under construction.

NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTREThe new Performing Arts Centre is a four-venue academic andculturalcomplexlocatedatthecornerofSt.PaulandCarlisle streets. The facility includes a 775-seat concerthall,a210-seatdance/theatrevenue,a300-seatrecitalhall,anda187-seatfilmtheatre.TherecitalhallandfilmtheatrewillbesharedwithneighbouringBrockUniversity.Thefacilityisanticipatedtohost600eventsand125,000visitors annually. The facility fronts onto St. Paul Street but will also have a dramatic presence and integration with the valley, both architecturally and through new public space.Opening:Fall2015

MARILYN I. WALKER SCHOOL OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTSBrock University’s Marilyn I Walker School of Fine andPerformingArts (theWalker School)was formed in2002and will soon relocate to downtown St. Catharines in the renovated and expanded former Canada Hair Clothtextile factory. The school will be integrated with andhelp to sustain the neighbouring Performing Arts Centre andhasbeendesigned toaccommodate50 staffandover500 studentsdaily. Inaddition to theconversionoftheformerfactorytooffice,studio,teaching,andsupportspace,anew280-seatflexiblestudiotheatreisalsobeingconstructed.Opening:Summer2015

MERIDIAN CENTREApproved by City Council in December of 2011, theMeridian Centre is a new sports and entertainment venue thatwillaccommodate6,000spectatorsforconcertsand4,500 for hockey games, butwill also host conventions,trade shows, and spectacles such as the circus and professional wrestling. The primary tenant of the facility will be the Niagara Ice Dogs. The facility is being constructed in the centre of the former canal valley and will be connected to St. Paul Street and downtown parking via twonewpedestrianbridges.Opening:September2014

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REPORT ORIGINWhile the three major facilities will each individually generate activity, they must be integrated with the fabric of downtown and with each other to maximize their transformative potential as catalystsfor investment and renewed vibrancy in the City. The balance of lands in the Lower Level Valley must serve to link these facilities to one another and to the broader downtown community. This notion was the impetus for developing this Master Plan.

At theirmeeting of June 18, 2012, Council directedstaff to prepare a Design and Implementation Master Plan for Lower Level Valley Lands of the Downtown. The motion directs that the Master Plan address the following:

• That the Master Plan promote excellent urbandesign in a seamless and well-functioning public realm, supports Downtown revitalization and attraction of economic development and private sector investment; and

• That the Master Plan facilitate the development of the public realm connecting the new Performing Arts Centre, the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts and the City’s Spectator Facility in the lower level valley lands of the Downtown; and

• That the Master Plan take into account site plan considerations; landscape and public art features; connecting links to St. Paul Street and neighboring valley lands; completion of active transportation connections through the valley; enhanced cycling route connections; and engagement with the owners of the private lands at the rear of St. Paul Street; and

• Thatthevisionforthesevalleylandsexpressedinthe Garden City Plan; the Downtown Creative Cluster Master Plan; and the landscape plan developed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in conjunction with Claude Cormier and Associates; the principles behind the Urban ForestryManagement Plan; and the design principles outlined in the Urban Design Guidelines for theDowntown, be taken into consideration in the development of such plan.


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TheCity’sOfficialPlandesignatesthevalleyasbeingthesoutheasternextentoftheCommercialCoreandpartofNiagara’sUrbanGrowthCentre. The--UrbanGrowth Centre is intended to be a catalyst area and focus for investment in institutional and public services, as well as in a vibrant and active public realm. The area “is intended to attract and accommodate the highest concentration, mix and range of activityand transit supportive residential and employment accommodation within the municipality”. The Plan includes a number of general provisions for Downtown (Section 11.3) that will inform how the valley landsevolve and are improved. They include the following:

• The provision of public amenity space and/orfacilities shall be required in all major development or redevelopment.

• The City shall plan, fund, and maintain pedestrian level lighting, street trees, landscaping and street furniture as a standard component in completing roadway improvements.

• The City shall better delineate and whenever possible create or extend active transportationroutes to link together the Downtown’s major activity centres, landmarks, green spaces, residential and employment neighbourhoods, the Downtown transit terminus, public parking areas, as well as to support active transportation connections to areas outside the Downtown.

• Major activity centres should be appropriately and adequately signed, and should where possible incorporateculturalexpressionandpublicart.

• Pedestrian access between St. Paul Street and the Lower Level area to the east shall be encouraged andwhereexisting,protected,intheconsiderationof any development or redevelopment proposals on lands on the east side of St. Paul Street and the Lower Level.

• All surface parking lots shall be designed to ensure perimeter landscaping, and where feasible, interior landscaping, and should not be located in frontorflankingyards.

The Creative Cluster Master Plan provides a revitalization framework for Downtown St. Catharines that focuses on intensification, an increasedcultural and academic presence, and public realm improvements. The Plan outlines a number of key initiatives that would contribute to downtown revitalization as a creative cluster, many of which have already been implemented or are underway, including:therelocationofBrockUniversity’sSchoolofFine and Performing Arts, the creation of a new civic cultural facility, the reconstruction of the Carlisle Street parkinggarage,andupdatestotheOfficialPlanandCommunity Improvement Plan.

The strategy did not anticipate the construction of a new spectator facility in the valley but it does include a number of recommendations related Lower Level Valley that remain relevant, and have informed this Design and Implementation Master Plan. These recommendations include:

• The creation of a continuous east-west green walkway across the Lower Level, from Carlisle to McGuire Streets;

• New vertical connections between St. Paul Street and the Lower Level;

• Potential for an east-west cycle path at the Lower Level, through a new series of open spaces and pathways;

• The creation of new high quality outdoor spaces, informal and attractive seating areas, and restaurant patio areas on sidewalks; and

• The creation of a new gateway at the corner of Carlisle and Race streets.

PREVIOUSSTUDIESANDVISIONAvision for the Lower Level Valley lands is expressed in some of theCity’s key policy documents and in otherrecent studies. This vision has consistently focused on three general priorities, being: the attraction of development and reinvestment to reactivate the valley; the improvement of pedestrian linkages between the valley and the broader downtown; and the visual enhancement of the valley through façade restoration and landscaping. The recommendations of the Design and Implementation Master Plan have been informed by, and built upon, these previous works. These policy directions and study outcomes are summarized below.

THE GARDEN CITY PLAN(2010) THE DOWNTOWN CREATIVE CLUSTERMASTERPLAN(2008)

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The Guidelines, which are Council approved, outline design expectations for new and reconstructedbuildings and streets in the Downtown. They provide a framework for helping to ensure that design solutions are compatible and support larger Downtown revitalization objectives. The Guidelines recognize the Lower Level Valley as a special district within the Downtown and provide detailed architectural direction which recognizes the character and history of the valley and are focused largely on the rear facades which overlook the valley. The Guidelines also provide some direction for the public realm in this area and how it relates to these buildings, including the following:

• Window and door openings should be reinstated and/or introducedtoopen-upandactivate therear facades;

• The addition of balconies, terraces, rooftop gardens and other forms of private outdoor amenity space is encouraged;

• The use of blank wall sections for traditional painted signs or mural art works is generally encouraged.

• Vertical pedestrian connections up to St. Paul Street should be enhanced through landscaping, pedestrian-scaled lighting, public art and pedestrian amenities.

• A continuous pedestrian corridor along the back side of St. Paul Street should be established. This could include improved connections to the Twelve Mile Creek and Centennial Park trail networks.

URBAN FORESTRY MANAGEMENTPLAN (2011)The Urban Forestry Management Plan outlines alist of actions for the City to undertake to achieve a more substantial and sustainable canopy cover. The Management Plan does not speak specificallyto planting objectives in the Lower Level Valley, but includes a general direction for the City to increase tree planting and maintenance on municipal property, to incorporate trees plantings into street construction projects, to adopt and aggressive tree replacement policy, and to plant large stature trees where possible. These aspects of the Management Plan will be implemented in the Lower Level Valley.

Diamond Schmitt Architects was selected to design both the new Performing Arts Centre and BrockUniversity’snewMarilyn I.Walker Schoolof FineandPerforming Arts. Claude Cormier and Associates also acted as the landscape architect for both projects. In 2011, they prepared a conceptuallandscape master plan for how these two facilities might integrate with the balance of the valley lands and the broader downtown fabric, with a focus on restoring a picturesque quality to the valley. Like the Creative Cluster Master Plan, the Concept Plan didn’t anticipate a new spectator facility occupying the majority of the valley, but many of the concept plan’s recommended interventions related to connectivity, relationships, public space and greening remain highly relevant. These recommendations included:

• Reinforce the presence of the upper stairway landings to create windows overlooking the valley;

• Replant the forested slope with native species to create a continuous greenbelt;

• Trace the formal canal path with an allée of weeping willows to buffer Highway 406 and toreinforce the campus-like quality of the valley. The use of weeping willow is a reference to their planting along the old canal path in Centennial Gardens and to the willow grove at BrockUniversity’smaincampus;

• Create a forested quality along the edges of Highway406tocreatethefeelingofaparkwayandbetterreflecttheedgeconditionsthatonceflanked the old canal, with strategically framedviews of Downtown; and

• the creation of a campus courtyard between the new Performing Arts Centre and the Hair Cloth building that also serves as public space for the City and in informal amphitheater.

DOWNTOWNURBANDESIGNGUIDELINES(2012)

CONCEPT LANDSCAPE PLAN(CLAUDECORMIERANDASSOCIATEDANDDIAMONDSCHMITTARCHITECTS,2011)


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DOWNTOWN URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES (2012)TheValleylandsareidentifiedasgreen,whichindicates that development is subject to some area-specificguidelines.

CONCEPT LANDSCAPE PLAN (2011)Overall landscape concept plan for the valley prepared by Claude Cormier and Associates with Diamond Schmitt Architects.

GARDEN CIY PLAN (2010)TheValleylandsareidentifiedasred,whichindicatesthat they form part of the City’s Commercial Core

CREATIVE CLUSTER MASTER PLAN (2008)Open space system map showing recommended pedestrian network and new urban open spaces.

Figure 3: Relevant Policy Documents and Previous Studies

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DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION MASTER PLAN

The Downtown Lower Level Valley is undergoing a significant transformation, largely driven by threenew destination facilities and associated new public spaces. The following is a strategy for how the balance of the valley lands are anticipated to be transformed over the short to medium term. These interventions will help to create a built environment that is more attractive, more useful, and more conducive to continuedinvestmentandrevitalization.Itisexpectedthat the valley, as with all of the Downtown, will continue to be an evolving urban landscape and that thisPlanmustbeflexibleenough to respond tochanging circumstance and new opportunities. The City will continue to work closely with the property owners that ring the valley to help ensure that their lands are cohesively integrated and that their potentialismaximized.

The Master Plan for the Lower Level Valley is illustrated in Figure 4 (opposite page). The Plan integrates anumber of actions within the valley and its surroundings that will help to create and restore an environment that the City has envisioned. The actions generally fall into three themes: Connectivity; Restoration and Activation. The 22actions described in this PlanareidentifiedFigures4,5and6.


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MASTER PLAN FOR THE LOWER LEVEL VALLEY

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Figure 4


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MILLRACE PATHThe route of the old millrace that once ran behind the Hair Cloth building will be retraced by a multi-use pedestrian pathway that will link Carlisle Street to McGuire Street. Brock University has alreadycommitted to constructing the pathway section that spans their property and the City will complete the eastern and western ends. This path will link all three facilities and serve as the backbone for the improved public realm in the valley.

ACTION 1: Eastward Path ExtensionIn order for the Millrace Path to join Carlisle Street, a short extension of approximately 28 metres willbe constructed. As a result of the change in grade between the pathway and Carlisle Street, stairs will be used to provide the most direct path. An accessible ramp should also be included but will require the use of switch-backs.

ACTION 2: Westward Path ExtensionThe portion of the pathway being constructed in conjunctionwiththeWalkerSchoolterminatesat176StPaulStreet(thewesternedgeofBrockUniversity’slands).Atthispoint,thepathwaymusttaperslightlytocontinueunderneaththebuildingat176St.Paul,andthencontinuewestwardtomeettheexistingcentralstairswhichemergebehind156St.PaulStreet.Atthispoint the pathway swings southward, underneath one of the new Meridian Centre pedestrian bridges, to join the plaza space and a walkway connection in front of the Meridian Centre.

Elevation changes from north to south necessitate that the path will gently slope downward over the course ofthiswesternextensionatapproximatelya5%grade.The path will be wide enough to accommodate occasional service vehicles, but personal vehicles should be prohibited. The owners of neighbouring 114 St. Paul Street currently use a portion of this land to access a parking area, therefore a new driveway connection to the Parkway should be installed to provide a new access route to this parking area. The rear portion 168 St Paul Street will also need tobe acquired to accommodate the widening of the pathway and required grading.

VERTICAL CONNECTIONSThe stairway connections that link to Lower Level Valley to St Paul Street are integral to the character andexperienceof this place.While newaccessiblevertical connections will be provided through two pedestrian bridges and internal paths through the Performing Arts Centre, these bridges and associated elevators will not always be available and the stairs will still be well-used as the most direct paths.

ACTION 3: Central Stairs and TerraceThe central staircase that descends from a lookout at 136 St. Paul Street beforemeeting the newMillracePathextensionwill likelybethemostheavilyusedoftheverticalconnections.TheMillracePathextensionfeatures a long sweeping curve for service vehicles and cyclists, but a more direct path to the Meridian Centre is also needed to best suit most pedestrians.

a) Thestairwaysectionbetween156StPaulStreetandtheMillracePathwillneedtobeextendedto meet with the new grade of the Millrace Path.

b) WheretheextendedstairsjointheMillracePath,a small terrace will be created by widening the path in this area.

c) A new staircase will descend from the terraceand provide a direct walkway connection to the main entrance of the Meridian Centre and its associated plaza.

CONNECTIVITY

“Old Tannery Road” descents from St. Paul Street, beneath three buildings.

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ACTION 4: Old Tannery RoadThe upper section of the central staircase that descends from St. Paul Street and meanders beneath three buildings (142, 152 and 156 St Paul Street) isone of the valley’s most iconic elements and one of its most underused assets. The path was previously known as the Old Tannery Road and once featured commercial activity along its edges which have since disappeared. However, the buildings and pathway remain largely intact. Today this pathway is in disrepair and feels like a threatening environment for users.

In the short term, this pathway tunnel will need to be made more comfortable through improved lighting and cleanliness. A more comprehensive restoration strategy is also planned to reimagine this corridor as a more vibrant and welcoming public space. This workisdescribedingreaterdetailinitem20,façadeactivationanditem21,publicart.

ACTION 5: Improve Stairway LinksIn addition to the larger central staircase, two additional existing metal secondary staircases alsoprovide access to the valley from along St. Paul Street, one at the base of James Street and one at the baseofWilliamStreet(historicallyknownasMcArdlesAlley). Thesemetal staircasesarenotanticipated tobe replaced in the near future and their industrial character suits the valley environment. This plan does however envision improvements to the short walkway connections that link these stairs to St. Paul Street. This includes improved surface treatments, lighting,wayfindingsignageandlandscaping.Wherepossible,thedesignconditionshouldbereflectiveofthecorridorbeingcreatedalongthewesternflankofthe new Performing Arts Centre to create harmony between these pedestrian corridors.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

In addition to the improved connections between valley uses and St. Paul Street, the central location of the valley lands also means that this area will play a role in better connecting the Downtown with the broader community through improved active transportation corridors. These active transportation linkagesareillustratedonFigure5(over).

ACTION 6: Merritt Trail Downtown RouteWhile the 11km Merritt Trail follows the path of the old canal, linking Merriton to Port Dalhousie, it presently takes an awkward and circuitous detour around Downtown between Centennial Gardens to the east and Twelve Mile Creek to the west. It is recommended:

a) That the trail gap be bridged by providing animproved connection that runs along McGuire Street to Geneva Street. The path will use a widened sidewalk along the north side of McGuire.

b) At Geneva Street, two new off-road trailalternatives are envisioned to provide direct access to the Merritt Trail where it currently terminates inCentennialGardens. Bothoptionsrequire the use of lands within the Highway 406 corridor. Presently, to get from CentennialGardens to Geneva Street, trail users must use a staircase at the base of Riordon Street.

c) AsecondnewtrailconnectionwillalsoconnectCentennial Gardens to Westchester Crescent. This trail connectionwaspreviously identified intheCentennialGardensRevitalizationPlan(2010)which RCS staff continue to implement.

d) Crosswalk improvements will be required atthe intersections of McGuire Street and St. Paul Crescent, and at McGuire Street and Geneva Street to improve safety and comfort for trail users.

ACTION 7: Cycling RoutesSimilartoitem6above,McGuireStreetwillbeusedasan on-street cycling route to link the trails along Twelve Mile Creek and in Centennial Gardens. McGuire Street will also leadcyclists from the new Burgoyne Bridgebike lanes down to the Lower Level Valley. Cyclists will also use the Millrace Path to access the three facilities, with bicycle parking at each location. In the longer term, opportunities to create a dedicated off-road multi-use trail along the south side of McGuire Street shouldalsobeconsidered,asidentifiedintheRegion’sBikewaysMasterPlan.

ExcerptfromtheCentennial Gardens Revitalization Plan(2010)showingnewtrailconnectionsforimproved park access.


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TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING

While it is anticipated that the vast majority of visitors tothevalleywillexperiencethespaceaspedestrians,after arriving Downtown by other means, limited vehicular access and parking in the valley will be provided. Transit access and facilities will also be improved.

ACTION 8: Transit FacilitiesThe City’s central transit terminal is located less than a fiveminutewalktoallfacilitiesinthevalley,providingexceptionaltransitaccess.Anumberoftransitroutesalso pass through the valley along McGuire and Carlisle streets. Improved transit facilities will be installed at the following locations:

a) A large lay-by will be installed along McGuireStreet in front of the Meridian Centre to accommodate the loading of transit and event buses. This lay-by could also be used as a taxistandduringevents.Busshelterswillbeinstalledadjacent to a widened McGuire Street sidewalk.

b) New transit stops are anticipated on CarlisleStreet, near McGuire, which would provide the most direct access to Brock University’s maincampus. Crosswalk improvements at Carlisle and McGuire streets will also be introduced to improve safety.

ACTION 9: New Parking Area (Parkway Lot) Notwithstanding the supply of available public parking in Downtown’s commercial core, it is recommended that an additional small new public parking area be created to help facilitate the redevelopment of the buildings that line the valley. By providing a sharedparkingfacilityincloseproximitytothebuildings,theCity will better enable their conversion into productive spaces, while mitigating their demand for individual parking facilities. The City also will collect revenue from the parking lot and can use it as overflow forthe Meridian Centre, if required. The lot should be operated as pay-and-display to generate turnover. The new walkway described in Action Item 3c will provide access to this parking area. A short walkway connection should also be provided between the parking area and the neighbouring Walker School.

a) An overall strategy will be devised for allDowntown Lower Level parking areas, including this parking area.

ACTION 10: DrivewaysHistorically, few of the buildings that front onto St. Paul Street have had driveway access to the valley. Some buildings have introduced rear parking areas over the years, which they may retain, but new driveway connections to The Parkway will be restricted. The creation of new private parking areas and additional driveway connections to the Parkway would undermine the vision and intent of this Plan and should be avoided.

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Figure 5

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LANDSCAPINGGreeningandlandscapequalitywillplayasignificantrole in revitalizing the valley through the creation of a more lush, beautiful and comfortable environment. Landscapingwillbeusedtodefinetheedgesof thevalley, line key corridors, frame spaces, and for visual screening.

ACTION 11: Valley Slope ReplantingThe valley slope that lines the Millrace Path opposite the Hair Cloth building contains primarily unkempt invasive species. The City will work with the property owners of this slope to implement a replanting strategy that creates a more dense attractive edge condition to frame the Millrace Path.

ACTION 12: Parkway PlantingsPlantings along the west side of The Parkway will also be intensified with the same species that are usedalong the Millrace Path. These additional plantings will continue the lush green corridor edge condition and will help to frame The Parkway. Plantings will also screentheexistingraisedparkingareasinthislocation.The balance of The Parkway will be lined with typical street trees.

ACTION 13: McGuire Street PlantingsBroad-canopiedstreettreeswillbeplantedwithcloseregular spacing along McGuire Street. In front of the Meridian Centre, two rows of trees will be provided, one on each side of the widened sidewalk.

ACTION 14: Landscape ScreeningA dense and visually interesting landscape strip will be planted along a portion of McGuire Street to screen views of the Meridian Centre’s front parking lot. Additional landscape screening will be used in the valley to help hide unsightly elements such as hydro transformers.

ACTION 15: Slopes Beneath LookoutsAt 136 St. Paul Street, a small existing plaza spaceprovides a lookout over the valley. With the introduction of two new pedestrian bridges, this lookout will be retainedandasecondlookoutwillbecreatedat40St Paul Street. To maintain views down to the valley, and to account for the shade condition created by the bridges, the steep slopes directly beneath these spaces will be planted primarily with a shade-tolerant groundcover such as ivy.

ACTION 16: Highway Corridor GreeningImprove the forested quality along the edges of Highway406tocontinuethefeelingofaparkwayasis found to the west, approaching the Downtown, and betterreflectthemoreverdantconditionsthatoncelined the old canal. Colourful plant material could be used create a more dramatic sense of arrival. This work will require collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation.

ARCHITECTURALThe three new facilities in the valley have each been designed to blend, as much as reasonably possible, into the established built fabric of the valley through the use of compatible materials, and massing techniques tobreak-upthebulkinessofthefacilities.Itisexpectedthat as the buildings that line the valley are improved, they also will maintain the distinct character and integrity of this area.

ACTION 17: Facade ImprovementsThroughtheCommunityImprovementPlan(CIP),theCity may provide facade improvement grant money toassistpropertyownerswithexteriorrestorationandimprovement work. This Plan recommends continued support for that program, but on the condition of strict adherence to the Lower Level Valley design criteria describedintheDowntownUrbanDesignGuidelines(Section 4.4.3). Funding priority should be given toprojects that will be most visible from the Millrace Path, and that introduce active uses along this corridor.

RESTORATION

Completed facade restoration of 108 St. Paul Street. The brick was uncovered and repaired and large new windows installed.

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PUBLICSPACEThe transformation of the valley will result in the creation of several new outdoor public spaces, including an amphitheater-like courtyard between Performing Arts Centre and the Walker School, and a gathering and events plaza in front of the Meridian Centre. An improved pedestrian environment and the creation of useful and attractive gathering spaces will improve place image and better facilitate investment into the private lands along St. Paul Street that line these spaces. Two additional public spaces will need to be completed to better achieve these objectives. They include:

ACTION 18: 40 St. Paul Street PlazaThe City recently acquired two vacant properties at thebaseofWilliamStreet (40and44St.Paul)whichaccommodate one of the two new pedestrian bridges into the Meridian Centre. This south bridge will be the most direct route to the Ontario Street parking garage. A plaza space will be created in front of the bridge to complete the St. Paul Street frontage. The plaza will be designedasahard-surfacedflexiblespacethatcanbe used for special events associated with Meridian Centre, and as a much-needed outdoor green space for downtown. Shade tree plantings and seating should be integrated, with planter beds to delineate theedges.Thisspacewillbetemporallyfinishedwithgrass and a concrete path connection between the pedestrian bridge and the sidewalk until such time as the plaza is constructed.

ACTION 19: Lower GreenThe area of land on the north side of The Parkway, west of the Walker School will accommodate three related elements that will support the improvement and reactivation of the St. Paul Street perimeter buildings: the westward extension of the MillracePath, the construction of a shared parking facility, and the creation of a new green space. This space is envisioned as a simple green space to contrast with all the other hard surfaced spaces in the valley and to retain a sense of openness. This green space, together with the Millrace Path, will provide a foreground for several of the existing buildings that line the valley’supper edge, increasing their exposure and creatingan environment more conducive to reinvestment and active commercial uses.

BUILDINGACTIVATION

Several of the buildings which line the upper edge of valley once featured commercial activities in their lower floors, directly accessed from the canalvalley. These uses disappeared long ago, but the structures and framework remain largely intact. This Plan attempts to facilitate the reactivation of these buildings and places, particularly along the improved Millrace Path where the potential is most apparent.

ACTION 20: Active Commercial UsesThe City will work with private land owners along St. Paul Street to help introduce active uses, particularly along the Millrace Path and along the central stairs (OldTanneryRoad).TheCitywillutilizetheCIPprogramasan incentive and to ensure that where grant monies are made available for properties, that they accomplish this goal. The City will also work with landowners to facilitate the creation of new private outdoor spaces in the valley, including patios and terraces, which will tie into the improved pedestrian circulation network. It is not anticipated that the City would construct these commercial patios, but they may need to encroach on City lands. In some locations, there may also be opportunity for compatible new building construction. A concept plan that illustrates how the valley could intensify with commercial activity is included as Figure 6(pg.19).

ACTIVATION

Inspired by Toronto’s Philosopher’s Walk (pictured above), the Millrace Path and the Lower Green will create an improved foreground and exposure for the adjacent buildings.


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PUBLICART

BoththeMeridianCentreandthenewPerformingArtsCentre project will include a public art component for the site or the surrounding public realm. These public art initiatives could also be combined. The integration of public art into the valley will strengthen its sense of place and help to express the identity, culture andhistory of the both the site and the evolving downtown community. Additional partnership opportunities may also be available to bring art projects to this dynamic space. Two key opportunities are described below:

ACTION 21: Central Stairs ReimaginingThecentralstaircase(OldTanneryRoad)thatdescendsfrom St. Paul Street beneath three buildings is an iconic and critical pedestrian link to the valley. The corridor is currently in disrepair, feels unsafe, and needs to be improved.Thisconfinedspaceprovidesanexcellentopportunity for the City to join with the arts community to develop and implement a strategy to beautify and enliven the space, while also making it safer and more comfortable for users. This gateway space requires a creative and memorable solution and is a priority site forpublicartinitiatives.TheCityandselectedartist(s)will also collaborate with the property owners whose buildings frame this space.

ACTION 22: Potential Sculpture RelocationA second public art opportunity involves the potential relocation of an existing sculpture from BrockUniversity’s main campus. As Brock University valuespublic art and its integration throughout its campuses, therelocationofanexistingpiecewouldhelpto linkthis satellite campus to the main one, while providing interest and substance to the valley. Two public spaces in the valley would be appropriate venues for such a piece: the new Lower Green and the courtyard between the Walker School and the Performing Arts Centre.TheCitywillcollaboratewithBrockUniversityto secure an appropriate art piece and to provide appropriate siting in the valley.

“GhostSigns”at136St.PaulStreetlookout.Thislocation is also the access point to “Old Tannery Road” and a new pedestrian bridge.

“Path of Possibilities” (foreground) and “She Wolf” (background) sculptures at Brock University’s main campus.

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Figure 6

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EPTP

LAN


2014 20

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGYThefollowingtableprovidesasummaryof the22actionsdescribed inthisMasterPlanand identifiesthetriggersthroughwhich theywill be implemented,alongwithapproximate time frames,whereavailable.Manyof theseactionitemswillbecompletedbeforethenewPerformingArtsCentreopensin2015.Otheritems,suchasfaçaderestoration, will manifest incrementally, over time.

ACTION ITEM IMPLEMENTATION METHOD TIMEFRAME

1 EastwardMillracePathextensiontoCarlisle Street

Carlisle Street reconstruction 2015

2 WestwardMillracePathextensiontothe Parkway

Parkway parking lot construction 2014/2015

3a Centralstairsextension Parkway parking lot construction 2014/2015

3b Millrace terrace Parkway parking lot construction 2014/2015

3c Walkway link to Meridian Centre Parkway parking lot construction 2014/2015

4 Old Tannery Road maintenance and improvements

Meridian Centre bridge construction 2014

5 Improvedlinkagestoexistingsecond-ary stairways

StPaulStreetreconstructionand40St.Paul Plaza construction

2014/2015

6a Route Merritt trail along McGuire Street

McGuire Street reconstruction 2014

6b New off-road trail access from Ge-neva Street

Centennial Gardens Revitalization Master Plan

Long Term

6c New off-road trail access from West-chester Crescent

Centennial Gardens Revitalization Master Plan

Long Term

6d Crossing improvements associated with Merritt Trail alternate route.


7 Cycling route along McGuire Street with links to Merritt Trail


8a Transit lay-by with shelters on McGuire Street


8b Transit facilities on Carlisle Street Carlisle Street reconstruction 2015

9 New shared parking facility opposite Meridian Centre

Parkway parking lot construction 2014

21


2014

ACTION ITEM IMPLEMENTATION METHOD TIMEFRAME

9a Overall parking strategy for the Downtown Lower Level Valley lands

Prepare an operational strategy in consultation with the Ad Hoc Parking Committee

2014

10 Driveway access restrictions along the Parkway

Meridian Centre construction and ongoing

2014andongoing

11Replant the valley slope along the Millrace Path

Walker School construction, Parkway parking lot construction, and ongoing

2014/2015and ongoing

12Replant the valley slope along the Parkway

Meridian Centre construction, Parkway parking lot construction, and ongoing

2014andongoing

13McGuire Street tree boulevard tree plantings


14Landscape screening of parking lot McGuire Street reconstruction 2014

15Replanting of the steep slopes below the two lookouts

Meridian Centre construction 2014

16Highway406corridorreforestationand accent plantings

Ongoing, pending MTO support Long Term

17Façade improvement for rear elevations facing the Parkway

Community Improvement Plan Ongoing(CIP)

1840StPaulStreetplaza MeridianCentreconstructionand40St

Paul plaza construction2014

19Lower Green Parkway parking lot construction 2014

20Introduction of active building uses and outdoor spaces.

Community Improvement Plan and Parkway parking lot construction

2014andon-going(CIP)

21Central staircase public art initiative Public Art Initiative 2015

22Brocksculpturerelocation Walker School construction and Park-

way parking lot construction2014/2015