Creemore BIA gets main street feedback
It is precisely because of the engaged, passionate nature of the community that Creemore thrives, according to Nancy Johnston, president of the Creemore Business Improvement Area (BIA). Interested citizens packed Station on the Green on a sunny Sunday afternoon for the unveiling of various concepts for new streetscapes in the village’s downtown core. The meeting was an opportunity for the public to review these preliminary ideas and offer feedback.
Johnston told the crowd that the streetscape project is a collaboration between the BIA, the Creemore Community Foundation and Clearview Township. “It’s about creating a space that works better for everyone.”
The firm of ERA Architects (ERA), who previously worked on the Village Green space, has been engaged to examine issues including transportation, how pedestrians exist in the public realm, the character and identity of the community, sustainability, and the potential for cultural and economic development.
Rui Felix of ERA says the appearance of the Mill Street corridor hasn’t changed much since streets were initially paved about 100 years ago. The project will focus on Mill Street between Edward and Francis, as well as the intersections of Caroline and Elizabeth streets.
Phase 1 of the project was an inventory and analysis of the current situation. Information was gathered through interviews and an online survey, with 274 responses received. ERA then developed some broad concepts to kick-start the discussion. Felix stressed that nothing is etched in stone at this stage. “We will consider the comments on the initial concepts and make adjustments. Then we will re-engage with the public in Phase 2.”
From the earliest days of Creemore, Mill Street was the social hub of the community, according to Felix, and the challenge is to differentiate Creemore from other small towns while maintaining that strong core. “The concepts we are presenting are about creating safe and comfortable outdoor gathering areas, and ensuring pedestrian safety and access. In addition to the aesthetic enhancements under consideration, including improvements to the tree canopy, we are looking at increasing available parking and making it easier to find with improved signage. We are examining a variety of traffic-calming measures.”
“The vision is not necessarily something that will happen quickly, but more of a five- or 10-year plan,” according to Johnston. “There are some ideas which I believe we could start implementing within the next year.”
People who missed the meeting are encouraged to view concepts and complete a survey at https://bit.ly/m/ Mill-Street-Streetscape by Aug. 3.
