Public input will be key when it comes to revitalizing downtown Wallaceburg’s south side.
Councillor Aaron Hall says now that a secondary plan has been given the green light by council, the search for a consultant can begin to get the project off the ground.
“There hasn’t been a plan, there’s been no vision for that part of the community,” Hall says. “It’s important to get this process going so we can get that feedback, figure what the community wants with it, get that third-party perspective on what the most effective use of this area would be and what the best way forward is.”
A secondary plan was approved by municipal council earlier this week. Hall says once a consultant is in place, the next step will be to gather ideas and feedback from the community.
Hall says discussions about what to do with the south side of the Sydenham have been going on for years, and it all started with the former Wallaceburg Task Force.
“The work that they did back then is still being felt today. This secondary plan is something they wanted to see happen a number of years ago. It’s great to hear from them, it’s great to see that they’ve kind of come back together and I look forward to ongoing feedback.”
The first step is to find a consultant and project manager to determine the scope of the project and coordinate the plan moving forward. An RFP will be sent out and Hall says the hope is to have someone in place early in the new year to get the project moving forward.