Winnipeg's downtown is on the verge of a transformative journey with the introduction of CentrePlan 2050. This visionary plan aims to double the population of the downtown area by 2050, fostering a vibrant, accessible, and inclusive urban core. The plan is based on extensive public engagement and sets out a roadmap for strategic investments in parks, open spaces, streets, and buildings over the next 30 years (well, 26 remaining years).
The Core of CentrePlan 2050
CentrePlan 2050 is the City of Winnipeg’s comprehensive blueprint for revitalizing its downtown. It seeks to address common desires expressed by citizens during the engagement process, such as increased residential development, more greenspaces, enhanced safety, and improved infrastructure. As Jeremy Davis, Director of External Relations & Market Intelligence at the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board, outlines, the plan aims to create "a go-to destination purpose-built for people."
Public Engagement and Key Themes
The plan is the result of a robust public engagement process involving nearly 4,000 surveys, over 40 stakeholder meetings, and numerous workshops, pop-ups, and open houses. The key themes that emerged from this process include:
1. Residential Development: A strong focus on affordable and social housing.
2. Neighborhood Improvement: Enhancing neighborhoods while preserving their unique character.
3. Street Design: Prioritizing pedestrian and cyclist safety.
4. Basic Services: Ensuring effective maintenance and services like garbage pickup and snow removal.
5. Greenspace: Planting more street trees and creating additional greenspaces.
6. Community Safety: Addressing safety and well-being concerns.
7. Long-term Funding: Ensuring sustained funding for the plan’s initiatives.
The Five Pillars of CentrePlan 2050
CentrePlan 2050 is structured around five strategic pillars, each with specific goals and actions to drive downtown’s growth and prosperity.
Pillar 1: Create Great Urban Neighborhoods
The first pillar focuses on enhancing Winnipeg’s unique neighborhoods and districts. The City aims to play a leadership role in housing development, foster excellent building design, and ensure city services are targeted where needed most. Specific actions include:
- Streetscaping improvements to King Street in Chinatown.
- Supporting a new residential neighborhood at Railside at the Forks.
- Beautifying Broadway.
- Transforming surface parking lots into housing and bike lanes.
Pros:
- Increased affordable and social housing.
- Enhanced streetscapes and community beautification.
Cons:
- Potential displacement during redevelopment.
- Risk of losing neighborhood character.
Pillar 2: Re-envision Streets to Foster Urban Life
This pillar aims to redesign streets to better support people and businesses. Goals include improving connectivity within downtown neighborhoods, enhancing pedestrian safety, completing the downtown cycling network, and modernizing parking provisions. Key actions involve:
- Transforming traffic-centric streets into spaces that support residential development and local businesses.
Pros:
- Improved pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure.
- Better connectivity and transit options.
Cons:
- Possible inconvenience during construction.
- Cost of infrastructure changes.
Pillar 3: Grow a Greener Downtown
The third pillar emphasizes promoting green infrastructure and ensuring public spaces meet the needs of a growing population. Goals include increasing tree canopy coverage from 8% to 15%, collaborating to increase public space activities, and demonstrating climate change action. Notable actions are:
- Planting more street trees.
- Developing a traveling beer gardens program to draw more people downtown.
Pros:
- Increased green spaces and tree canopy.
- Eco-friendly initiatives and community activities.
Cons:
- Maintenance costs for new green spaces.
- Balancing development with environmental concerns.
Pillar 4: Create a Lively Downtown
This pillar focuses on strengthening downtown as Winnipeg’s cultural and entertainment hub. Goals include integrating more public art, celebrating First Nations, Metis, and Inuit history, supporting businesses and educational institutions, and making downtown a year-round destination. Strategic actions involve:
- Creating a district festival campus in the Exchange District.
- Making the temporary patio program permanent.
Pros:
- Enhanced cultural and entertainment hubs.
- Support for local businesses and public art.
Cons:
- Noise and congestion from increased events.
- Gentrification risks.
Pillar 5: Improve Downtown Governance and Implementation
The final pillar aims to ensure effective governance and implementation of the plan. Goals include securing funding, maintaining downtown, updating zoning regulations, and coordinating with partners. Key actions include:
- Removing graffiti and cleaning bus shelters.
- Establishing agreements with federal and provincial governments to fast-track implementation.
Pros:
- Better governance and funding for projects.
- Cleaner, safer public spaces.
Cons:
- Bureaucratic delays in implementation.
- Ensuring continuous community involvement.
Transforming Graham Avenue
One of the standout features of CentrePlan 2050 is the transformation of Graham Avenue into a multi-use space. The plan envisions distinct zones for different activities, including:
- A Shared Zone for dining and shopping.
- A Celebration Zone for markets, festivals, and concerts.
- A Green Zone for relaxation and play.
- A Transit Zone for bus access.
Moving Forward
With public engagement now complete, feedback is being reviewed, and recommendations will soon be made to the City Council. If approved, the implementation of CentrePlan 2050 could begin shortly, bringing much-anticipated improvements to downtown Winnipeg. As Jeremy Davis notes, "For all of those who have been yearning for improvements to Winnipeg’s Downtown, implementation cannot come soon enough."
CentrePlan 2050 promises to transform Winnipeg’s core into a thriving, dynamic, and welcoming space for all, making it a model for urban revitalization in the years to come.
For more information, visit https://engage.winnipeg.ca/centreplan2050. Also, read Jeremy Davis’ article from June 7 in the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate News here: https://online.fliphtml5.com/gtvl/qvcl/#p=2.
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