Plans are underway to give an inner city neighbourhood a larger makeover over the next decade.
With the help of the neighbourhood, the City of Red Deer is looking at ways to redevelop Riverside Meadows by improving its streets, buildings and riverfront.
During Monday’s council meeting, Parkland Community Planning Services planner Tara Lodewyk presented an area redevelopment plan, plus a community plan and residential design criteria for one of Red Deer’s oldest neighbourhoods.
She said these three components will help to transform Riverside Meadows in 10 to 15 years as a place that is “wonderful, safe, vibrant, has lots of character and is a place that people want to live in.”
“To do this, we’re encouraging redevelopment of some of the properties down there.”
One potential redevelopment is the site of Valley Park Manor, a long term care facility that will be phased out.
Lodewyk said Alberta Health Services is currently doing a feasibility study for potential land uses, and has no plans to sell the property.
Nine years ago, an area redevelopment plan was created for Riverside Meadows and since then, there have been vast improvements.
They include the story stones project, which highlighted buildings of historical significance.
Today’s area redevelopment plan looks at adding community garden plots and encouraging a mix of housing types.
The community plan and residential design criteria addresses community safety, and historical, social and cultural aspects.
It suggests making 58th Street along the Red Deer River a focal point, with landscaping and street furniture.
“We have design criteria for the commercial areas, but now we’d like to have it for residential so when people do any redevelopment, it’s a quality development,” Lodewyk said.
According to a recent municipal census, nearly 3,700 people live in the Riverside Meadows neighbourhood.
Mayor Morris Flewwelling praised the community association for leading redevelopment plans.
“They are quite intentional about how they want to see their community,” he said.
Council tabled the plans for up to six weeks, so they can review them prior to first readings.
As well, the city’s municipal planning commission can make a recommendation.
HHH
Other decisions made on Monday:
• three-year waste management contract is approved
• first reading given to naturescaping bylaw
• first reading given to land use bylaw concerning reader board (dynamic) signs
• first reading given to develop second phase of Timberstone Park development
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com