INNISFAIL – The municipality is moving forward with transforming the empty lot at Bankers Corner into a public outdoor plaza and gathering space to give the downtown core a badly needed shot of vibrancy during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
The idea came to council on April 12 during its regular meeting through a presentation by Meghan Jenkins, the town’s director of community services. Earlier this spring council wanted some ideas from administration of what the town could do to add some spark to the downtown core while an outside consultant studies the area in preparation for a long-term plan.
Jenkins came back with an idea, a temporary one, that can be hatched on the vacant southwest lot at Bankers Corner. The property, located at the legal address of 5003 – 50th Street, was left vacant when the historic Berscht building was destroyed in a 2009 fire.
She told council that administration has received the first design drawings for the space, showing planters along the edge of the space, a seating area, signage and temporary artwork on the west stone wall of the adjacent building.
The community services director told council the vacant property is privately owned and administration has a tentative agreement with the land owner for a one-year lease at a rate of $375 a month, or $4,500 for the entire year.
She said the town would be required to maintain the property, such as shovelling sidewalk snow in the winter, as it is the tenant responsible for the property.
Responding to a question from Coun. Don Harrison on whether the year-long lease was long enough, Jenkins said the lease does allow for an extension.
“We thought the one year would give us a sense of how much we could utilize the space and give us the opportunity to explore some winter events next year in the space as well,” she said. “All the installations will be largely temporary in nature, so even the planters will be something that can be moved.
"They can be utilized in either a different space or if we move into a longer-term situation. But I think it will provide us with a good trial to see how it operates.”
However, the state of the ongoing pandemic is still an issue and Coun. Gavin Bates wanted to know if there was a particular phase of COVID that dictated when the town could safely start the lease to transform the vacant lot.
“There is no point in leasing it if we can’t do much on it,” said Bates.
Jenkins replied the town would “probably” move forward relatively quickly, possibly within a month.
“It will be seating and general space. We are still at this point looking at proceeding with our Market on Main activities as it would be supportive of that,” she said, adding restaurants nearby can still be open for outdoor patio service. “My envision is that we still move forward.”
In the meantime, council members were enthusiastically unanimous in support of the Bankers Corner idea, and passed a motion to direct administration to enter into a signed one-year lease agreement.
“We should move our Christmas tree over there,” said Jim Romane, the town's mayor. “I see that space for a potential Christmas light show. It’s portable and maybe an opportunity for the Chamber and businesses to get in on it.”
