Final development of “people spaces” near Victoria’s new Johnson Street Bridge will wait until the city has the money to build them.
The $880,000 included in the city’s bridge replacement budget for so-called public realm improvements is already spent. That means completion of elements such as plazas and green spaces associated with the bridge have to wait on funding, councillors agreed Thursday.
They directed staff to develop interim options that could be funded by reallocating some of next year’s parks and public works budgets.
Coun. Pam Madoff said proper development of the public realm is key to the long-term success of the bridge project.
“It’s what we will be known for,” Madoff said.
“It’s not going to be the bridge that we’re going to be known for. It’s what did we do with the public space … and how we invite them to move through the city in a way they have not been able to do before.”
Mayor Lisa Helps said she supports making the project more of “a people place.”
“With 50 per cent of the bridge deck dedicated to pedestrian and cycling traffic, there will arguably be more users not in cars than users in cars. So we need to design the landscape to accommodate people first,” Helps said.
Finishing the public realm areas won’t be cheap.
Design proposals developed through workshops and public consultation over the past couple of years have a total estimated cost of $6.9 million.
Much of the work — including a major new park — was never included in the original project scope, said Jonathan Tinney, the city’s director of sustainable planning.
Possible improvements have been grouped into three areas:
• Project 1, estimated at $1 million — Janion Plaza, Triangle Green (includes traffic island bounded by Pandora Avenue, Johnson and Wharf streets, and the Esquimalt and Harbour Road intersection).
The design includes enhanced landscaping, widened sidewalks, plantings, lighting and a paved area for public art.
Much of the work on the plaza is already being done as part of the Janion condominium development.
• Project 2, estimated at $4.4 million — A new park at the former S-curve lands in Vic West on the west side of the bridge.
The design includes stepped seating, landscaped terraces, pathways, viewing plaza and improved cycling and pedestrian connections.
• Project 3, estimated at $1.4 million — Northern Junk Plaza.
Design includes a plaza and green space adjacent to the Northern Junk Properties. Also includes terraced steps and seating, flexible outdoor gathering space, enhanced lighting, plantings and a viewing deck.
Council should soon be considering a revised development proposal for Northern Junk and could see public realm improvements done as part of that project. Councillors decided to put that design work on hold pending the outcome of the Northern Junk rezoning application.
The bridge budget does include $250,000 for public art. Councillors approved a staff recommendation that the city’s artist in residence and indigenous artist in residence be commissioned to develop a detailed proposal for public art for Triangle Green and to recommend a new name.
Madoff called the $250,000 public art budget “modest” and noted it represents about a third of the cost of the Emily Carr statue across from the Royal B.C. Museum.
