There are some concrete things happening in downtown Guelph this week...literally.
A pavement and concrete crew is carrying out work at the corner of Macdonell and Wyndham Streets, and in St. George’s Square, all part of ongoing improvements to city sidewalks and downtown spaces.
Some of that work should make for a more vibrant downtown street life, said Marty Williams, executive director of Downtown Guelph Business Association.
The work is following guidelines set out in the city’s Downtown Streetscape Manual, a document adopted in 2014 that aims to make the downtown more attractive and accessible, and safer for all modes of transportation. It was crafted in collaboration with downtown stakeholders.
A pair of large, aging concrete planters have been removed at the Macdonell/Wyndham intersection and replaced with flat concrete platforms. That work happened quickly this week.
Those removals and replacements, said Williams, will allow two businesses – Van Gogh’s Ear at 10 Wyndham, and McCabe’s Irish Pub and Grill across the street at 9 Wyndham – to expand their outdoor patios during the warm season.
Williams said the city approved additional spending for sidewalks in general in the last budget. A lot of the work is being done in the downtown, which has the highest pedestrian traffic.
Last year, crews replaced aging, budging brick inlay on Macdonell sidewalks, filling the spaces in with concrete.
“The planter removals are something we’re doing that are consistent with the Streetscape Manual, which envisions more places for people,” Williams said. “We had a request from a couple of business owners who asked, if the planters were removed could the spaces be used for patios instead.”
Those smooth concrete surfaces will soon hold tables and chairs, Williams added. The downtown will still have a number of planters, hanging baskets, and flowers, and new trees are being planted to replace dead ones that were removed last year.
“People love people,” he said. “They love seeing people on the streets. Anything that gets more people on the street, happy, having lunch and a drink, that is a good thing.”
He said the city’s operations department has done a great job on the project, quickly contracting a company to do the work before the busy road construction season starts, and saving money in the process.
“Time is of the essence, and they can get this work done quickly,” he said. “It’s kind of a surgical strike, and it is getting done. By the time the really nice weather gets here we’ll be ready to go.”
