THE WAY WE LIVE CIVIC PRECINCT MASTER PLAN HIGHliGHts 2013 2 3 COntents THE OPPORTUNITY 4 THE CIVIC PRECINct MASTER PLAN 6 INFORMED BY StAKEHOLDER INPUT 10 What We Heard - Phase One 11 What We Heard - Phase Two 13 Festivals and Events 15 For the Love of Winter 15 Governance 15 Law Courts 15 BEST PRActICES 16 CIVIC TRANSFORMATION 18 GUIDING PRINCIPLES 20 1. Amplify Civic Identity 22 2. Balance Everyday Activity and Special Programming 24 3. Create Unique Areas Within the Civic Precinct 26 4. Develop Measures to Animate the Square 28 5. Evolve a Green City Centre and Connect to the River Valley 30 6. Foster the Year-Round Pedestrian Experience 32 FIVE DEVELOPMENT AREAS 34 PARTNERSHIPS 36 Recommended Governance 37 Public Art 37 MOVING FORWARD 39 STAKEHOLDERS 40 4 THE OPPORTUNITY 5 Master Plan Context Downtown Edmonton is The permanent closure of 102 A The renewal of Jasper Avenue and Avenue between Sir Winston Churchill proposed improvements to the Stanley experiencing a once-in-a- Square and City Hall Plaza, the new A. Milner Library, the Citadel Theatre at-surface14 southeast to west LRT and the Francis Winspear Centre for generation transformation. Civic Precinct Master Plan | January 16, 2013 line transfer hub at Churchill Station, Music add to the transformation of the The Civic Precinct is positioned construction of the new Royal Alberta heart of Edmonton. as a pivotal element to Museum northeast of City Hall, the downtown arena development and The Civic Precinct includes Edmonton’s create a vibrant, pedestrian- proposed performing arts centre public spaces north of City Hall to focused integration of several will attract an increasing number of south of the Stanley A. Milner Library. people into the downtown core. The area includes City Hall Plaza, projects that are transforming Centennial Plaza (south of the Stanley Edmonton’s downtown. A. Milner Library) and the public spaces leading up to the exteriors of the buildings along 99 Street on the east, 100 Street on the west, 103 A Avenue on the north and 101 A Avenue on the south. 6 THE CIVIC PRECINct MASTER PLAN The Civic Precinct Master Plan is a long term plan that would be implemented in stages as opportunities arise KASIAN | Gehl Architects | gh3 7 8 THE CIVIC PRECINct MASTER PLAN The Civic Precinct Master It recognizes the unique character It charts a course toward achieving of this centrally located mix of major the vision of The Capital City Plan is a long term plan to cultural and civic amenities. It takes Downtown Plan: guide and integrate the the civic core beyond the idea of a hub • Creating a vibrant urban core where to create an open heart that elevates Edmontonians gather year round. development of public spaces these amenities, creating pedestrian • A well-designed downtown. in the heart of Edmonton into priority zones and opening up north- • A green and environmentally south and east-west connections to sustainable downtown that is safe, a lively, year-round place that sustainable transportation, automobile inviting and accommodating to all. connects and inspires, a place traffic and Edmonton’s iconic river, meshing the heart of downtown into It also advances the Winter City that Edmontonians will want the larger urban context. Strategy, a made-in-Edmonton to visit again and again. approach to celebrate our northern It is a vision that starts and ends with climate by creating public spaces that people. are inviting and attractive even on the darkest, coldest days of winter. This plan is about bringing more Edmontonians downtown into the The WinterCity Strategy calls for heart of the city. It’s about: streets and buildings designed with • Meshing the vibrancy of Edmonton’s Edmonton’s climate in mind where festivals with everyday life. light is used to create warmth and • Making spaces that work as well in luminescence and where snow and ice winter as in summer. are considered valuable resources. • Giving people reasons to want to walk outside. • Engaging businesses, politicians and citizens in city-building projects that make Edmonton a greener, more beautiful and welcoming place. 9 This is a plan that catalyzes The Civic Precinct Master Plan is a It also is informed by The Capital City long term plan to be implemented in Downtown Plan four principles of connections to public open stages as opportunities arise. creating a downtown Edmonton that is: spaces...reshaping City Hall • SUSTAINABLE: A green and Advancing Edmonton’s Vision environmentally sustainable place Plaza to create a sheltered, The Civic Precinct Master Plan vision • VIBRANT: Welcoming and open all all-season micro-climate and for a people-centred city centre builds day, every day, year round on the long range goals of The Way • WELL DESIGNED: Robust, lasting redistributing Edmonton’s Ahead: Edmonton’s Strategic Plan. and beautiful renowned festivals along a These goals include: • AccESSIBLE: Safe, inviting and • Improving Edmonton’s livability accommodating to all new ceremonial spine. • Transforming Edmonton’s urban form • Preserving and sustaining Edmonton’s environment • Shifting Edmonton’s transportation mode Where we are today Strategy CONCEPT Design Build Operate PHASE The Civic Precinct Master Plan is a This plan is at the CONCEPT phase. long term plan to be implemented in Further public consultations will stages as opportunities arise. inform the phases of implementation. 10 INFORMED BY StAKEHOLDER INPUT The Civic Precinct connects The Civic Precinct Master Plan was Framing the future informed by ongoing discussions with Additional interviews, focus groups and touches many private stakeholders throughout its evolution. and one-on-one discussions were sector, civic and institutional conducted with various stakeholders The Civic Precinct Master Plan takes when the Civic Precinct Master Plan groups who have knowledge, an expanded view of the heart of the was initiated in the fall of 2011. This history, experience, as well city to re-imagine it in an integrated input informed the draft plan and its fashion as a larger, consolidated and guiding principles. as a vested interest in the identifiable precinct. quality, vitality and growth This draft plan was presented at This plan looks at a larger boundary a November 6, 2012 public Open of Edmonton’s continually that integrates existing and proposed House at the Art Gallery of Alberta. evolving city core. civic, cultural and institutional Edmontonians provided their feedback elements. It creates a complimentarily on the draft master plan at the open civic space that is unique in its own house and in an on-line survey. The right and, at the same time, makes draft plan story boards were displayed connections to these places. in the City Room at City Hall from November 19 to November 30 for Building on the past further public input. From settlement to city, this area is the heart of Edmonton, evolving and changing as the city has. The Civic Precinct Master Plan builds on the May 2010 public consultation about creating more everyday use of Sir Winston Churchill Square. 11 WHAT WE HEARD - PHASE 1 Festival use is good, stakeholders >> A DEMOCRAtiC PRECinCT, November 2011 to April 2012 said, but the majority of city life ROOM FOR ALL is between festivals. Citizens Create a welcoming feel for all, >> PEOplE REFERRED TO THE AREA said they wish to use the area for programming that intrigues and AS A PARK their ongoing enjoyment, spring attracts all ages, all peoples. On This comment came from many to fall, in a comfortable manner weekdays. On weekends. At lunch people including those who were that provides more predictable time. A place for people who gather not familiar with Sir Winston recurring activities. together, watch out for each other, Churchill Square’s previous enjoy their experience of Edmonton form that featured grass and >> PERCEptiON OF SECURitY, THE together. interlocking brick. The Greening of StiGMA OF SECURitY PATROLS the Square in the heart of the city The presence of uniformed security >> CREATE AN IDEntitY, AN ICOniC was a recurring important feature in the area, from Peace Officers to AREA FOR EDMONTON in creating daily livability and City of Edmonton Police Service, Times Square in New York. greater variety of spatial uses. sends a signal that the area is Trafalgar Square in London. Palace unsafe. There is also a perception Square in Russia. These are iconic This consistent comment informed that the area is unsafe due to squares — gathering places people the current Civic Precinct Master past incidents and how media has go to, simply to say they were Plan design which features an communicated these incidents. one of the legions of people to urban square that functions as experience that gathering place. green space and has hard a surface. People who look out of the main Give us a central gathering area stream say they are often made to that creates a destination icon of >> NEED AND DESIRE FOR DAY-TO- feel unwelcome in the area by one Edmonton stakeholders said. DAY ACtivitY or more levels of security. There was a strong call for regular daily programming so Edmontonians Stakeholders say more people, create the habit of coming to the more eyes on the Square would add precinct to enjoy casual use, visit, to the feeling and the perception see some entertainment or simply of safety. They point to the Alberta sit and enjoy urban life. Legislature grounds which attract scores of people of all ages for casual use with less security presence. 12 INFORMED BY StAKEHOLDER INPUT >> LIGHtinG FOR PEDESTRIANS, >> THE CiviC PRECinCT NEEDS >> DOWntOWN IS COOL. Hip. BRinG A WALKinG SCALE TO SIGNAGE AND WAY FinDinG COMMUniCATE THAT. THE AREA Like London. And New York. Point Get the word out. Campaign up. The lighting on 104 Street downtown people to the river valley, the arts Create a buzz and a really but is pedestrian scale lighting.