ImagineGlebe launch 
attracts enthusiastic crowd

On Friday, November 6, ImagineGlebe opened its doors to the 10-day “Pop Up” consultation space on Bank Street. We hosted the official project launch in the storefront space generously donated by MODA Development Corporation. Many thanks go to The Clocktower Brew Pub and Bronson Consulting Group for providing Friday evening refreshments for an enthusiastic crowd. The event kicked off an engaging conversation among people who live, work or play on Bank Street about a future vision for our traditional main street.

Joining us to lend support to the project and participate in the exchange of views were Mayor Jim Watson, our own Councillor David Chernushenko, and councillors Jan Harder and Jeff Leiper (Chair and member of the City’s Planning Committee, respectively), and MPP Yasir Naqvi.

The Glebe does not have a Community Design Plan, a planning document that “translates the principles and policies of the Official Plan to the community scale,” because it is not recognized by the City as an area with significant development potential. But as Mayor Watson indicated in his remarks, this visioning project should be a good tool for residents, merchants and visitors to “dream smart” when it comes to how they would like to see this traditional main street evolve and develop in the future.

We asked. More than 
875 people answered!

Well over 875 people have already shared their vision for Bank Street through our online survey. Significantly, non-Glebe residents completed almost 30 percent of surveys. This will be very helpful in generating ideas that will continue to make Bank Street in the Glebe a destination for visitors. We also welcomed (encouraged!) hundreds into the consultation space itself over 10 days to view images and maps, and post comments on the wall alongside those of others.

Questions…. and lots of ideas!

Initially, visitors to the Pop Up had lots of questions: What is the project all about? [A vision for Bank Street in the Glebe]. Are we an anti-development group? [No]. Did we not realize that Bank Street had just been reconstructed a few years ago? [Yes]. Why do we need a vision or plan? [I think the best answer to this last question lies in the words of the late Yogi Berra: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.”]

Toward a vision for Bank Street

Preliminary analysis of the survey input suggests that there is strong consensus among residents, business owners and employees, people from other urban and suburban areas, and respondents of all ages for the following elements of a vision for Bank Street. It should be:

• a vibrant, bustling and safe place,

• a place for people to gather, not just a shopping district,

• a street with a variety of smaller buildings and businesses that add to its attractiveness, and

• a street where buildings are designed to reflect its nature as a historic traditional main street.

Respondents believe that visual variety, small to medium storefront widths, pedestrian-scale buildings, and buildings with historical elements are important to the street. More significant building stepbacks are important where greater height is contemplated [N.B. a stepback is the setting back of the upper storeys of a base building or of a tower from the face of a base building]. Trees, green spaces, more seating and various forms of art are all seen as highly desirable. Many ideas for new businesses and services that would be integral to the vision also surfaced and are being forwarded to the Glebe BIA.

The questions posed and images presented in the survey were intended to provoke thought and discussion about all of these and other issues. The ImagineGlebe committee will make full results available in December on the ImagineGlebe website (www.imagineglebe.com) and the Glebe Community Association website (www.glebeca.ca).

Next steps in the project will be to identify and refine vision elements. We will engage stakeholders in the New Year to develop practical recommendations and action items that meet the aspirations of the community and the objectives of the City.

Email us at imagineglebe@gmail.com, go to www.imagineglebe.com, like us on Facebook ImagineGlebe, or Twitter @ImagineGlebe for future project updates.

Carolyn Mackenzie is chair of the Glebe Community Association’s ImagineGlebe Committee.