City workers take advantage of the balmy November weather, painting the new curbs downtown where the sidewalks have been extended following construction. Jeannette Benoit-Leipert Meridian Source
Phase one of the Downtown Area Redevelopment Plan (DARP) is complete, with construction now finished on 50 St. between 49 and 50 Ave.
Downtown Area Redevelopment Committee (DARC) chairperson, Ben Harrison, says now that the necessary underground work is complete, the next phase will include some visually appealing upgrades.
“There are still some pieces yet to come. Currently, when someone goes down to that street, they’ll notice that there’s sort of an area where the sidewalk is in and the curb is in, but there’s a strip along the sidewalk and along the curb where there isn’t any concrete at present,” said Harrison.
“Next spring, once the weather allows for proper temperatures for pouring and curing of concrete, that will be completed.”
He says being able to move around the city is an important aspect for business owners and patrons.
“It is good that it’s open again and we look forward to the completion of those next elements when I think people will get a more full understanding of what the vision was behind this project.”
There will be some landscaping elements added to the downtown core when the weather allows.
“Everything from bed-edgers, planting beds, tree plantings that are still yet to come. There will be some benches and other amenities, things like garbage receptacles.”
One of the main goals of DARC is to make the downtown area a more appealing place to gather for events.
“Any sort of organization that wants to use the downtown as the site for their fundraiser or their celebration … we really do welcome any kind of group within the community to feel like the downtown is theirs,” said Harrison, adding that one of the projects DARC has started working on is a parking lot area near the corner of 49 St. and 50 Ave.
“It’s the parking lot that got painted green over the summer and our goal is for that to kind of act as temporary, experimental park square where community groups could use it for movie nights, for BBQs, fundraisers, things like that.”
The goal for next summer is to add some additional elements, such as benches, tables, and lighting.
Another initiative that DARC and the City of Lloyd’s economic development team came up with to incentivize business owners to spruce up their properties is the façade and building improvement grant.
We’re hopeful that as many businesses as possible will take advantage of that,” said Harrison.
The grant covers anything that beautifies a storefront. Everything from landscaping and planters to new signage and lighting, or even larger improvements like window replacements.
“Beauty is a big component of business, but also I think just even some of the social and psychological factors of a more attractive environment I think can help us with feeling less stressed, feeling greater pride in our community which just has so many other benefits.”
Harrison said when he moved to Lloyd in 2015, the downtown area was something he was curious about.
“One of the first areas I headed out to explore in my new city was the downtown. I think that … especially next spring once the landscaping is completed, I think it will be a very good introduction for people who are new to the community or passing through to see that side of Lloydminster.
“I think when you spruce something up it can shift how people perceive … that downtown area.”
For more information about the DARP visit yourvoicelloyd.ca/darp.
