The heart of Sault Ste. Marie is about to experience a significant transformation, as its downtown area is set to expand considerably beyond the previous one-kilometre limit along Queen Street. This change comes with the establishment of a new committee tasked with overseeing downtown development, which will encompass a much larger section of the city compared to the now-defunct Downtown Association.
This newly formed committee, created by the city council, officially took over the responsibilities from the member-supported Downtown Association as of the first day of the new year. Previously, the Downtown Association focused solely on a one-kilometre stretch of Queen Street, extending from Gore Street to East Street. However, this new committee aims to broaden its scope significantly.
While the committee is still in the process of finalizing its policies and priorities, city staff member Josh Ingram, who participated in one of their recent meetings, indicated that the updated downtown boundaries are projected to stretch from Huron Street all the way to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, spanning from the waterfront to Albert Street. Initially, there was discussion about extending the boundaries to include Wellington Street, but this idea was ultimately dismissed due to the scarcity of businesses in the block between Albert and Wellington.
During a Tuesday meeting, committee members were informed that the new branding and logo developed by the previous Downtown Association just last year will likely be replaced with the city's visual identity and color scheme established in 2019. Interestingly, the previous city logo, designed to symbolize both the International Bridge and a medicine wheel, garnered mixed reactions from SooToday readers in 2019, with some humorously likening it to a poorly sliced pizza or even a basketball. Notably, Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, who was serving as a Ward 3 councillor at that time, expressed his initial disapproval of the pizza-like logo.
At the most recent downtown development committee meeting, the mayor chose not to comment on the city's logo, focusing instead on the committee's identified priorities. These include essential areas of focus such as:
- Organizing downtown events
- Enhancing communication strategies
- Maintaining cleanliness and neighborhood upkeep
- Ensuring safety for residents and visitors
- Promoting economic vitality and addressing store vacancies
One of the committee members, André Riopel, a strong advocate for human-powered transportation, has been particularly vocal about the need to redirect attention towards transforming underutilized parking lots into potential housing developments. This forward-thinking approach reflects a broader trend towards urban sustainability and community-focused growth.
But here’s where it gets interesting: How effective do you think these changes will be in revitalizing downtown Sault Ste. Marie? Will the new committee’s efforts resonate with local residents and businesses? We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this transformation!
