A steady stream of people lined up Saturday morning at the Legion to see what the future of Wallaceburg’s south side could look like.
Chatham-Kent held an open house to provide the public with a chance to comment on a draft concept report, which details potential redevelopment plans for the south side of the town, including part of the downtown core.
Chatham-Kent’s director of planning Ryan Jacques said the turnout exceeded their expectations.
Jacques said people agree that change is needed on the south side, where the report showed part of the redevelopment plans including, residential development, a new waterfront park, and a new community and cultural space.
“There is a lot of positivity around (the project),” Jacques said.
After the open house, an in-person workshop to discuss ideas relating to the south-side development was also held.
The issue has been something of a passion project for Jacques.
When he was a recent graduate of Fanshawe College’s design and urban planning program back in 2009, Jacques encouraged his former professors to bring students to Wallaceburg to tour the south side and imagine the residential, commercial and heritage possibilities of the area as part of a class project—where students with a fresh look and perspective designed plans to revitalize and redevelop Wallaceburg’s south-side.
Fast forward to 2023, and with private developers looking at building residential dwellings along the Sydenham River, the municipality is creating a plan to set a vision on how the area will evolve over the next few decades.
Jacques, who was born and raised in Wallaceburg, said he is fortunate to be pursuing a career that he is passionate about and where he can do meaningful work in his community.
“Having the opportunity to be a part of a project like this in Wallaceburg is very meaningful for me personally,” Jacques said.
In the redevelopment process, Jacques said in his position with Chatham-Kent, he sees his role as taking a step back, listen to people, and see how the plan comes together.
The public still has time to provide their thoughts on the south-side redevelopment by taking part in an online survey that is currently available on the Let’s Talk CK website. The survey will be open until March 3.
The public feedback and ideas from online, as well as the open house and workshop, will be part of a secondary plan report going to council likely in May of this year.
