It has been neglected and harm was done to it some years ago with the creation of a single lane traffic ramp to align with Church Street. At the cost of effectively the loss of nearly half of the potential area of the public square, turning right from Front St. onto Church St. was made slightly more convenient for motorists.
Downtown Urban Design Plan and Guidelines recognizes Dallas Square's importance in "the development of an open space and pathway network throughout the downtown. Existing city owned lands and rights-of-way, combined with private property redevelopment, provide the opportunity for a coordinated park, pathway and open space plan..."
A modest improvement would be the immediate removal of the ramp and a design competition to generate ideas to renovate the square and better connect it to the walkway that leads to the waterfront promenade and parks. The Design Guidelines offered this starting point for fresh design ideas for the square.
More ambitiously, consideration should be given to the acquisition from the Anglican Church of its adjacent property, currently a parking lot. Church parking lots offer a win-win opportunity for steadily densifying downtowns: badly needed revenue for the churches and the creation of badly needed pedestrian scale public squares for the City.
St. Paul's would anchor a brilliant new central public square, modeled on the public squares of European cities.
The renovation of Dallas Square could also signal a badly needed tipping point for Nanaimo: a return to designing human scale public space.
From the Design Guidelines document:
DOWNTOWN PARKS
This downtown plan anticipates further research and design work towards the development of an open space and pathway network throughout the downtown. Existing city owned lands and rights-of-way, combined with private property redevelopment, provide the opportunity for a coordinated park, pathway and open space plan to be incrementally established over time.
With the redevelopment of numerous sites at or adjacent to the downtown waterfront, a number of park sites along the waters' edge walkway and adjacent to Front Street will require redesign. The increased number of residents, as well as a greater number of people attracted to the area in the future, will cause more intensive use and greater demand on walkways and other park amenities. This means that paving, lighting, seating and other features will have to be developed in concert with the building redevelopments neighbouring these parks, paths and public open spaces.
Redesign and redevelopment should be considered for Georgia Park and Dallas Square. Georgia Park requires attention to good public visibility and safe access across Front Street.
More at: http://parksgo.ca/nanaimo/dallas-square-cenotaph/
St. Paul's would anchor a brilliant new central public square, modeled on the public squares of European cities.
The renovation of Dallas Square could also signal a badly needed tipping point for Nanaimo: a return to designing human scale public space.
From the Design Guidelines document:
DOWNTOWN PARKS
This downtown plan anticipates further research and design work towards the development of an open space and pathway network throughout the downtown. Existing city owned lands and rights-of-way, combined with private property redevelopment, provide the opportunity for a coordinated park, pathway and open space plan to be incrementally established over time.
With the redevelopment of numerous sites at or adjacent to the downtown waterfront, a number of park sites along the waters' edge walkway and adjacent to Front Street will require redesign. The increased number of residents, as well as a greater number of people attracted to the area in the future, will cause more intensive use and greater demand on walkways and other park amenities. This means that paving, lighting, seating and other features will have to be developed in concert with the building redevelopments neighbouring these parks, paths and public open spaces.
Georgia Park |
Redesign and redevelopment should be considered for Georgia Park and Dallas Square. Georgia Park requires attention to good public visibility and safe access across Front Street.
More at: http://parksgo.ca/nanaimo/dallas-square-cenotaph/
1 comment:
Young Professionals of Nanaimo Email thread Nov 6
From: YPN Secretary
Subject: Re: [General Feedback] You community-building inititatives
Date: 6 November, 2012 12:30:16 PM PST
To: "frankmurphy@thesidewalkballet.com"
Hi there Frank,
Thanks for drawing this to our attention. We appreciate community members drawing their project ideas to our attention - and there are many!
We will discuss your idea at our upcoming Executive meeting in early December. I will get back to you then.
David McCallum
(250) 668 6387
On 2012-11-06, at 10:26, frankmurphy@thesidewalkballet.com wrote:
Hi YPN and please add my voice to those who have noticed and appreciated your
community building efforts with the Selby St Train Station restoration,
Community Gardens initiative and most recently the painting of the derelict
A&B Sound building downtown. Good work!
I want to suggest another project and hope you'll give it consideration at
committee and/or board level. I want to draw your attention to our ceremonial
central public square, Dallas Square where the Cenotaph is. It needs some
TLC.
The City's award winning Downtown Urban Design Plan and Guidelines gives it
special attention referring to its importance in "the development of an open
space and pathway network throughout the downtown." My proposal even comes
with a catchy phrase: "Repair the Square!"
It has been neglected and harm was done to it some years ago with the
creation of a single lane traffic ramp to align with Church Street. At the
cost of effectively the loss of nearly half the public square, turning left
from Front St. onto Church St. was made slightly more convenient for
motorists.
A modest improvement would be the immediate removal of the ramp and a design
competition to generate ideas to renovate the square and better connect it to
the walkway that leads to the waterfront promenade and parks.
I believe that there would be broad support for this project and that
champions for it could be recruited on Council and in the Planning
Department, the Design Advisory Committee, etc. I would anticipate the the
Downtown BIA would be supportive.
I hope you'll give it consideration and do let me know what I can do to
help…
More at my website: TheSidewalkBallet
http://www.thesidewalkballet.com/2012/11/repair-square.html
Frank Murphy
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