North Shore residents looking for safety and pedestrian improvements, development incentives in neighbourhood plan

However, Forgie says that doesn’t mean he wants to see a complete redo of the North Shore. He says copying a neighbourhood layout seen in updated neighbourhoods such as Aberdeen wouldn’t work for The Shore.

“I’ve been living on the North Shore for about four years now,” says Forgie. “One of my favourite things is the big trees. It’s a mature neighbourhood. And I think it’s a matter of just doubling down on that. I don’t think that the North Shore needs to be changed, I think that we need to realize the assets that we have and continue to nurture and grow those. I think that’s the way forward.”

Edna Forgie, co-owner of Red Beard Cafe, agrees, and says that she and other business owners feel if the city focuses on pedestrian-friendly features, it could boost the community feel to the area and make it appealing to visitors.

“You don’t really feel that on Tranquille yet. It’s just a big, busy street, but it has so much great stuff on it. So walkability means you stop and walk, and you stop to smell the roses.”

As the walkability improves, people will want walking destinations. Working to reinvigorate the Tranquille Road business area, developers like Joshua Knaak of ARPA Investments hope for bylaw exemptions mirroring what’s already in place for downtown.

“To have the City look at this strip the same way that they look at the Victoria (Street) strip, and come up with some creative solutions to parking I think is going to allow us to redevelop a lot more where the focus is right on the street front,” says Knaak, “instead of where you have the sidewalk and then a huge parking lot and then the retail — which is sort of the old model, but it’s something that doesn’t really seem to work anymore.”

Knaak also says densification will improve the safety of the area, with more people moving through the streets and more eyes watching for any criminal activities.

The McDonald Park Neighbourhood Association’s Sarah Johnstone says North Shore neighbourhoods are diverse, made up of new families, seniors and renters. However, there are some common items on the community wish list.

“We have definitely dealt with issues with drug use and homelessness that we would like to see some more meaningful ways of treating those issues,” she stresses. “As well, having more pedestrian access. There are not a lot of sidewalks in our community, and that’s been something we’ve been pushing for.”

As the City begins gathering public input, residents are urged to take part in the online survey and public forums to make sure their ideas are included. (A link to the City’s Let’s Talk webpage can be found here.)

“I know sometimes it can be really difficult — it feels like your voice isn’t heard, it feels like you’re saying the same things over and over,” says Johnstone. “But we know for sure that this is a way to get impact.”

by Dylana Kneeshaw

North Shore residents looking for safety and pedestrian improvements, development incentives in neighbourhood plan

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