Background

The Downtown Redevelopment Plan boundary area is defined between Maple Avenue SE to the east and 3 Avenue SE to the west.  The area is bound on the north by the South Saskatchewan River and 5 Street SE to the south.

Downtown Plan Boundary Map and Aerial Photo

In July 2008, Planning Services began the Downtown Redevelopment Plan (the "Plan") process to define a vision and conceptual development framework for growth over the next 20-30 years.  The Downtown Redevelopment Plan will also function as a foundation for the development of Phase 2 which is the Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan that will provide detailed regulations and guidelines for development and Phase 3 which is the Land Use Amendment process.

Approved Downtown Redevelopment Plan

The Downtown Redevelopment Plan was adopted by Council on December 7, 2009.  Please take a look at the vision and policy document that has now been approved and will guide development for a Historic Downtown Medicine Hat.

Downtown Redevelopment Plan

Downtown Redevelopment Plan – 2nd Street Revitalization Pilot Project

Based on input from the June Open House on the Draft Downtown Redevelopment Plan, citizens provided significant support for the vision for the Downtown while also inquiring as to how and when the vision would be implemented.  Given the majority of the feedback was related to implementation of the Plan,  Planning Services determined it was important to initiate a Pilot Project that reflected implementation of various components of the Plan.  The 600 Block of 2nd Street SE was selected as an area of the Downtown that could explore implementation ideas for various components of the Plan.  The hopes are by exploring physical, costing, incentives and partnerships that such a Pilot Project would get redevelopment happening in such a manner that citizens can see how the vision for the Downtown can be achieved comprehensively.

2nd Street Pilot Project - Boundary Map and Aerial Photo

In August, 2009 a Workshop was held with landowners located on the 2nd Street block.  Ideas and insights were gathered to help decide what improvements were needed for the block.

Later, a Community Open House was held in October, 2009 showing the proposed vision for this block based on ideas that were presented at the August workshop.  Please take a look at the display boards for the 2nd Street Redevelopment Pilot Project that were presented at the October Open House.

		2nd Street Pilot Project - Display Boards
		2nd Street Pilot Project - Aerial Sketch
		2nd Street Pilot Project - Street View Sketch

Feedback from the Community Open House, along with further refinement continues on the project.  Based on the approval of the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, Planning Services anticipates completing the 2nd Street Revitalization Pilot Project early in 2010 at which time it will proceed to Council for review and approval.

Downtown Redevelopment Plan Public Open House Feedback

Planning Services, along with the consultant team, city departments and CCDA invited the public to review and provide input on the Draft Downtown Redevelopment Plan on  June 1 and 2, 2009 in the Esplanade Studio Theatre. City staff and the consultant were available to share the vision for the Downtown and gather public input both through conversation and in a survey.  The comments from the Public Open House for the Draft Redevelopment Plan are available for your viewing. Please take a look and see what other citizens had to say about the vision for the Downtown.

		Public Open House Display Boards
		Draft Downtown Redevelopment Plan Brochure
		Draft Downtown Redevelopment Plan Survey

Downtown Redevelopment Plan Charrette Process

To achieve a Downtown Redevelopment Plan, Planning Services engaged MVH Urban Planning & Design and Coriolis Consulting, both from Vancouver, to provide the "Design Charrette" process and a Downtown Economic Study.

FYI…a "Design Charrette" is a design process where a multidisciplinary team (including residents, business owners, the municipality and design professionals such as architects, engineers, planners and landscape architects) creates a visual plan for an area over the span of several days.

Throughout the process, Planning Services has worked closely with the City Centre Development Agency (CCDA) to align and further the impressive work that the CCDA has been doing in the last year towards a livable, vital and fun Downtown for citizens and tourists to enjoy.

Downtown's are the heart of any city and the character and potential within Medicine Hat's Downtown is exciting and worthy of a process that engages city departments, CCDA and other stakeholders in an interactive and dynamic manner.  The planning process has included preliminary information gathering/analysis, and a 5-day Design "Charrette" the first week of October 2008 that included a Workshop and a public Open House.

On the final day of the Charrette (Thursday, October 9, 2008), Planning Services presented the Downtown Redevelopment Plan vision that evolved from the one-week Downtown Charrette.  The Public Presentation can be viewed below.

Downtown Redevelopment Plan Presentation (27 MB)

Since the "Charrette" and Public Presentation, the consultants, City departments and CCDA have refined the Charrette work into a Draft Downtown Redevelopment Plan.

Downtown Redevelopment Plan Background Information

As a part of the Draft Downtown Redevelopment Plan work, Coriolis Consulting, Ltd. was engaged to provide a market/economic study on the "Urban Development Prospects for Downtown Medicine Hat: Inputs to the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, May 2009". This information has been incorporated in the Draft Downtown Redevelopment Plan vision, guiding principles and policy direction.

Timeline

July – September 2008		Preliminary Analysis, Information Gathering
October 5 – 10, 2008		"Design Charrette"
October 9, 2008		Public Presentation of "Design Charrette" Concept. 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the Esplanade Studio Space
November 2008 - May 2009		Consultants to refine public input into a Draft Plan
June 1 and 2, 2009		Draft Plan Open House
August, 2009		Workshop with Landowners for 2nd Street Revitalization Pilot Project
October 13, 2009		Community Open House for 2nd Street Revitalization Pilot Project
November 12, 2009		Proposed Plan taken to Municipal Planning Commission
December 7, 2009		Downtown Redevelopment Plan Adopted by Council
Further 2010 Planning Work		Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (detailed regulations and guidelines) and Land Use Amendments

Downtown Redevelopment Plan Contact:
Jeanie Gartly
Superintendent, Planning Services
403-525-8820
email: jeagar@medicinehat.ca