- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

Owen Sound city council gave its final approval to the Downtown River Precinct project in a 7-1 recorded vote to award E.C.King Contracting the $2.93 million contract for Phase 1.

This work between 8th and 9th Streets East will include realigning 1st Avenue East and adding a sidewalk on its east side, replacing the market canopy and creating a market square on its west side, and landscaping and building a promenade on the river bank. A seating area at the 9th Street corner will include ornamental trees and shade sails.

While the budget for landscaping is $687,000 over the proposed budget, City staff argued strongly that the aesthetics be neither cut nor delayed. “Too many communities have turned their backs on their rivers,” said councillor John Tamming, who expressed disappointment at the overage, but supported the motion.

Given that Phase 1 is scheduled to be completed this fall, Councillor Scott Greig was not convinced that some of the landscaping components could not be put off to 2020. His was the sole opposing vote. Councillor Brock Hamley, who proposed many small cuts that were defeated during the budget process, nevertheless supported both the full budget and this contract without comment.

The contract also includes the resurfacing the 8th Street bridge and some essential if unseen work on infrastructure below ground.

From the staff report “With the continued support of residents over the next decade, the publicly owned space on 1st Avenue East and West from 8th Street to the Harbour will be transformed. For such a transformational and long-term project, public input was vital. The public input received by Council and staff on the Downtown River Precinct has been overwhelming.”

This March presentation to the DIA Board is still conceptual, and the completed project may not be exactly as illustrated.