Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 23/00) - What could revitalize the downtown core?

Imagine a distinctive sodded side-street corner perfectly illuminated by the summer sunshine. Or, imagine a pedestrian in the dead of winter warming his or her feet, by a wood stove placed near a street bench.

These are just some of the ideas a group of about 35 citizens came up with at Monday night's Downtown Visions workshop.

"I think that a lot of really solid ideas came across," said Lisa Harvey of Yellowknife, who brought her viewpoint to the workshop at the Yellowknife Inn.

Harvey said she believes the first stage of the recently initiated City of Yellowknife Downtown Enhancement Study is proof the city is serious about revitalization.

To get the project running, the city hired planning experts this summer from MacNaughton Hermsen Britton Clarkson Planning Limited of Kitchener, Ontario, who've teamed up with Yellowknife firm Terriplan Consultants Ltd.

Improvements wanted

Harvey said she thinks most citizens have a desire to see improvements to the downtown core to make it a cleaner, safer and more attractive area for residents and tourists.

"There's just not enough places downtown to attract us; we walk with huge strollers and with kids in minus 30 weather," said Jill Hockin, who attended the workshop.

Some suggestions brought forward included constructing more overhead passes between buildings, creating more meeting areas, more parking areas, more downtown activities and better winter lighting.

Overall, Harvey believes the city is taking these suggestions seriously.

"I think the vision needs to be caught by everybody that lives in Yellowknife. To be part of it, to see it carried through, otherwise it starts and won't get finished, which happens in many places."

Harvey also suggested that the city start rewarding merchants who make improvement changes on their own.

"They (merchants) have a big role to play, but I also think that they need incentives and encouragement."

Monday's workshop ended with the commitment for another public meeting to be held in October or early November. The consultants will put together their own plan by December to present to the city.