In 2017, the Town of Huntsville engaged a group of Master of Planning students at Ryerson University for a visioning study of Brendale Square. The students were tasked with determining the existing challenges with the site, creating a vision for what it could look like in the future, and determining how the municipality could assist with implementation of such a vision when the area comprises multiple properties with nine different owners.
The students will present their findings at a special Planning Committee meeting on January 9 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting is open to the public. (See the meeting notice below.)
The recommendations outlined in an executive summary that has been released in advance of the meeting include green space at the south-west corner of the site; improvements to the streets and sidewalks that border the site; and high-rise (six storeys), mid-rise (four storeys) and low-rise (three storeys) mixed-use development.
An implementation plan suggests the creation of a Community Improvement Plan for the area; acquisition of some of the land by the Town; environmental and geotechnical studies, among others, to determine what brownfield remediation steps are needed for the site; and restriction of further development in the flood-prone areas of the site until those studies are complete.
You can read the executive summary here (PDF).
Watch for more on Doppler following the public meeting.
Related stories:
Ryerson Master of Planning students examining the question of what to do with Brendale Square area
Brendale Square open house offers a glimpse at the potential for the area
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6 storeys? Now that IS interesting: and both locations on hills. Good luck to the planners with the existing bylaws, and to the Town with its OP revisions.
I am interested in how many people will retroactively complain if any of these plans are acted on. If you want change get involved!
Be interesting to see what kind of cooperation you get from the owner of the lands. It is really unfortunate that this mess has gone on so long and that Public dollars need to spent to make improvements that should be made by private Enterprise. The term Brownfield applies here!