Draft downtown Kamloops plan envisions arts centre, pedestrian plaza, ‘tamed’ Seymour Street

Instead, Locke says the document should “inspire, excite, and lead a call to action,” and read council a manifesto of sorts on what a downtown should be.

“Downtowns need to be memorable, serve as an attraction for residents and visitors, highlighting its unique character, culture, arts, food and events; housing diversity, homes for people of all walks and stages of life; focused commercial activity, a downtown needs to be a destination for shopping, dining and employment; public gathering spaces, places for markets festivals, sitting and socializing; and finally, attractive surroundings, full of greenery, public art, heritage and character,” said Locke.

Among the so-called “catalyst projects” envisioned for a revitalized downtown are a centre for the arts, a permanent pedestrian plaza on Fourth Avenue, and a ‘tamed’ Seymour Street that may revert to two-way traffic to provide less of a freeway-like atmosphere.

Four key sites are identified for redevelopment: the Columbia precinct (the south side of Columbia St. between First and Sixth Avenues), the 400-block of Nicola St., the former Value Village building and adjacent parking lot in the 400-block of Seymour St., and Kamloops Square in the 200-block of Seymour St.

With the closure of Stuart Wood Elementary School in 2016, some councillors suggested more emphasis be placed on a new school for the downtown.

“When we’re looking at what we want in these certain areas, is it worth having the actual wording of a school in the Columbia precinct?” asked Coun. Mike O’Reilly. “As we’re talking about all these people and densification, which is all good, but it has been identified that it is a problem with schooling. The province owns all that property, so for us to say, ‘That’s where we potentially want this school,’ I think now would probably be the opportune time to do that.”

Locke noted it wouldn’t take long to get the document back before council for potential approval.

“I’m a planner and I’m the first to say this: I think we need to do less planning and more doing, so that’s kind of what we’re trying to do in this plan,” said Locke. “There’s an implementation section. We need a plan, no question. Absolutely, we need a plan, because if we don’t have a plan, we have no idea if we have arrived there, and if we don’t have a plan, we’re all heading off in different directions.”

For the full plan, scroll down in this document:

by James Peters

Draft downtown Kamloops plan envisions arts centre, pedestrian plaza, ‘tamed’ Seymour Street

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