St. John’s City Council has unanimously approved the re-imagine Churchill Square concept plan.
The plan aims to improve accessibility in the area, widen sidewalks around the perimeter, feature a pedestrian plaza in the center, and alter the flow of traffic to improve safety.
Mayor Danny Breen says the new plan will be a big improvement of the area. Breen is commending all who worked on the project and those who engaged in public consultations as Churchill Square has been long overdue for such a facelift.
Although separate from the concept plan, Mayor Breen would also like to look at options to update Churchill Park, which he says would be another great addition to the area.
(Photo courtesy City of St. John’s)
Deputy Mayor Sheilagh O’Leary likes what she is seeing. O’Leary says the area is seeing a resurgence as new businesses are moving into the area after a time when many buildings were left vacant.
Councillor Ian Froude acknowledges that there are some concerns with the current plan such as the choice of lighting, a desire for more pedestrian space as well as less parking space. However, he says those issues can be addressed in the detailed design.
The concept plan will now be referred for future capital works consideration to further work on a detailed design of the project and construction when funds are available.
