A consulting firm working on a development plan for Mid-Centretown is taking an innovative approach to public interaction with a blog to keep residents informed.
“It’s kind of an experiment,” says Eric Turcotte, project designer with Urban Strategies, the consulting firm in charge of the rejuvenation project.
Turcotte says the blog, called Mid-Centretown Tomorrow, is designed to reach out to the public, especially young people and young families – a large percentage of this area – who often don’t have time to attend public consultation meetings.
Residents can visit the blog at: http://midcentretown.wordpress.com.
The Mid-Centretown Community Design Plan is a city project to revamp the area by examining what is currently working and what improvements can be made to meet the needs of the residents.
According to the blog, Mid-Centretown is roughly bound by Highway 417, and Gloucester, Kent and Elgin streets.
The blog is updated weekly with posts that outline the work being done. For example, residents can download files that explain how the Ontario Municipal Board reviews plans for Centretown, or how Centretown did in its “Amenities Audit,” which rates how well the community’s facilities meet the needs of its residents.
Turcotte says the blog is a “very good way to reach a broader audience.”
He says the project will take feedback and incorporate it as much as possible.
Robert Spicer, project manager for the plan with the City of Ottawa, says the reason Mid-Centretown was chosen for the study was due to its development potential. He adds that other areas in Centretown, such as the Golden Triangle, are stable areas and not in need of a study.
He says the community is a good place to live since many people can walk to work or retail areas.
The project began in May of this year and is in its second phase. Turcotte says in this phase, Urban Strategies will be exploring different options and directions for the area such as transportation concerns, facilities needed to meet the needs of the population, and heritage issues.
Charles Akben-Marchand, corporate secretary for the Centretown Citizens Community Association, said in an e-mail that he hopes the project will help to plan future developments.
“We need consistent and clear rules that state what type of development is acceptable in the area,” said Akben-Marchand.
Turcotte says he agrees that Mid-Centretown needs more consistency in its development regulations.