The growth of the suburbs and regional malls, the consolidation of retail commercial activity into the hands of a few chains, tax regimes that favoured greenfield development and new construction, and urban renewal projects that decimated traditional neighborhoods were taking their toll and by the 1960s Canada’s downtowns were endangered.
In our community a newly energized revitalization plan is about strengthening our Downtown over the short and longer term. While the efforts will be primarily market driven, under the direction of the City, businesses and residents will also play an active role. Our Downtown vision is a thriving centre for the community – day and night. Our Downtown’s rich history, civic presence, specialty shopping, culture, and spectacular views of the North Saskatchewan River combine to make a sound foundation for our future success.
This Plan was developed in close liaison with City of North Battleford staff through technical meetings, community surveys, downtown business interviews and City Council strategic planning. The Plan responds directly to input provided by community members through these surveys and individual letter submissions. The Plan creates a framework of practical steps to start the job right away even with short-term slow redevelopment projections.
The work has just begun. The City will take a leadership role with the Downtown Redevelopment Working Group in facilitating the further improvement of the Downtown. The next steps include the city working closely with City Council and the feedback from the Downtown Redevelopment Working Group to develop new and update downtown policies and bylaws.
The following are publications related to the Downtown Redevelopment Initiative to date:
