Lacombe council considers pedestrian square

A large landscaped pedestrian area would be built in front of Lacombe’s historic Flatiron Building as part of a conceptual pedestrian plaza plan presented to city council Monday.

Nearby Avenue 49C would be restricted to one-way traffic and sidewalks would be widened to make it more walkable. The reconfiguration will add 10 new on-street parking spaces as well as five more on adjacent Avenue 49B.

To make the street more pedestrian-friendly and slow traffic, two large bulbs would be built at the street’s northern entrance, near the Flatiron Building. One bulb just in front of the landmark building would close off an eastbound lane to create a large area decorated with planters. The sidewalk on each side of 49C Street would also be widened by three feet.

There are plans to add power outlets to provide lighting for special events. Negotiations are underway with Fortis to see if overhead power lines can be buried.

The presence of trees on either side of the road complicates the concept of opening the street to pedestrians. Design consultants recommended cutting down the dozen trees on either side of the road to make it more accessible.

However, the downtown redevelopment committee, which has been shepherding the pedestrian plaza project for several years, was reluctant to make such a drastic change. The committee recommended removing only the trees on the west side of the street, with the exception of a large elm at the south end.

It is also recommended that four parking spaces be removed to allow for the development of a gathering area or patio that will “help advance the long-term vision of closing the street,” a report submitted to council says.

A concept plan presented to council last fall that would close 49C Avenue to vehicles to create a year-round gathering and event space with landscaping and seating received mixed reaction. While some council members agreed, Mayor Grant Creasey predicted that closing the street might not go down well with local businesses.

He supported a hybrid concept that involved keeping the street open most of the time with the option to close it for special events.

The project is proposed to be carried out in two phases. The Council has set aside $850,000 this year for the first phase and $600,000 is planned for next year. A provincial grant of $200,000 has already been set aside for the project.

So far, the estimated cost of the first phase is $665,000, $165,000 under budget. City staff said that price may not be met depending on the bidding process.

If the council approves the conceptual design, detailed design will follow and the project will go out to tender in August for construction to begin in September.