2009 Regina Downtown Plan

CITY OF REGINA

REGINA DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

WALK TO WORK ..;,

w

llHkl111yÌlli INlil

IlilI

g`ll iUll

¡{¡¡

Tp

V110

nr-All May 5, 2009

owntown p an

Acknowledgements The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was shaped by the enthusiasm and dedication ofthe citizens of Regina. This included the residents, students, business owners, land owners, developers, local media, City Council members, the Project Team and the Steering

Committee who, at every moment of collaboration, provided thoughtful input, effective support, strategic guidance, and generous hospitality to the Consultant Team. Quite frankly, not only did all of you make our job easy, you made it enjoyable. We are deeply grateful for your willingness to collaborate.

Regina's success moving forward will benefit from unique collaborations and a culture of cooperation.

Mayor Pat Fiacco and Council, and the Regina Downtown BID are especially thanked for their continued encouragement and committed participation in forming the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

Also, a special note of thanks to the hundreds of people who participated in our public forums and workshops.

Not only was the diversity of the participation exceptional, but the commitment of these community volunteers to come out again and again to comment on the evolving Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was essential to our understanding of your City, and your hopes for its future. You helped create the Vision and

Principles in Forum One, you commented on all of our proposed Actions in Forum Two, and you commented on the Draft Plan in Forum Three. Thank-you also for sharing with us your personal memories of this city which you love.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A successful Downtown is fundamental to the vitality of any city. Downtowns are by nature environments of complexity - a thriving Downtown contains cultural activities, incubates creativity, stimulates economic development, improves tourism opportuni-

ties, and provides housing and mobility options for all. Not only is a successful Downtown central to the

content and direction. A "best practices on -site work-

shop" in Portland Oregon in October 2008, to see first -hand the changes possible in Regina, was the first

of these events. Numerous internal workshops with City staff, where components of the Plan were refined, added depth and resilience to the ideas presented.

identity of a city, the availability of unique Downtown amenities determines the extent to which all residents feel welcome and at home in their Downtown.

In September 2007, Office for Urbanism in association with UMA, Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects, and urbanMetrics, was retained by the City of Regina to consult the public, conduct analysis, research, and to create a Downtown plan. The objective was to replace the existing Downtown Plan (Part G of the Regina Development Plan Bylaw No. 7877)

What is the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan?

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan provides a comprehensive framework for decision -making related to the growth and development of Downtown for the next 20 years. It is both a Vision and an action

by generating a new Plan through a collaborative

strategy to make that Vision real. It is also a policy framework designed to shape planning outcomes as new projects come to fruition and as capital invest-

process involving a broad array of stakeholders.

ments are made.

The new Plan captures the spirit of optimism that exists

The Downtown is specified as the area within the boundaries of 13th Avenue to the south, Osler St. to the east, the CP Rail line to the north, and Angus St.

in the city today - it is a reflection of the many focus group sessions, workshops, and interviews that were held throughout the planning process. Three multi day public forums were held to generate and test ideas, and to ensure that the refinement of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was in keeping with the overall Vision for the future of Regina. In addition, a steering committee and a core stakeholder group participated in the process from the outset, shaping and directing the project.

Events were also held with City staff, Council and key stakeholder groups to ensure outcomes of the Plan are feasible and specific to Regina's culture and context. It was also imperative to ensure that those responsible for the implementation of the Plan had ownership over its

to the west. It consists of roughly 40 city blocks, and is situated adjacent to the other inner city neighbour-

hoods; connecting the Cathedral Neighbourhood, Core Neighbourhood, Centre Square Neighbourhood,

North Central Neighbourhood, and the Warehouse District by its shared streets.

The Plan sets the stage for great urban living by outlining the parameters necessary to build on existing assets to create a complete Downtown neighbourhood.

By enhancing the role of Downtown as the heart of Regina, and by creating a clear sense of place through

an emphasis on pedestrian- oriented urban design, the Plan signals a shift towards urban planning and "placemaking" as a key priority for the City.

ii

Regina is at an opportune moment in its history. An unprecedented growth rate, an interest in re- investing in cities by developers and governments alike, and the increasing desirability of sustainable living, is resulting in a heightened awareness of the merits of strategically planning Downtown.

The Plan contains six significant parts: 1.

The Vision, Principles, and 8 Big Moves these outcomes of the public consultations set the direction of the Plan's philosophy and rationale.

The continued strength of the existing employment base is a key asset upon which the future of Downtown needs to build. This strong employment base is central to the attractiveness for new residential development

The Principles

to locate Downtown. By adding 5,000 new resi-

2. A Complete, Livable Community

dents in urban housing forms primarily along Broad, Albert and Saskatchewan Drive over the next 15 years

3.

- including seniors, youth, students, artists, young professionals and families - the Plan aims to create an urban population that has the option of walking to work. Residential development will, in the fullness of time, provide the required consumer base to support a desired niche retail strategy, and other amenities that are reliant on a strong local residential base.

1.

4.

5.

For All Regina Gorgeous Connected Dynamic

6. A Hub 7.

Walkable and Multi -modal

8.

9.

Safe

Healthy 10. Accessible, Inclusive and Diverse 11. Adaptive Re -use The 8 Big Moves

What is the significance of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan?

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan charts a course of action to ensure the implementation of the Vision in a transparent and timely manner. It is a tool for measuring progress that assigns responsibility towards the implementation of key actions, while also seeking to inspire and encourage private sector investment. Tools to manage growth and development, while permitting creativity, inter -disciplinary collaborations, and public -private partnerships, are introduced. These tools provide both the development community and the City of Regina with a higher level of certainty and confidence with respect to expected outcomes in Downtown. This is a new approach to neighbourhood planning in Regina.

1. Walk to Work: A Downtown that is defined and framed by residential neighbourhoods.

2. The City Square: Victoria Park is the jewel, the organizing element of the city.

3. Pedestrians First: All streets designed for walking.

4. A Green Zone: A well maintained urban forest that adds seasonal ambience and urban wildlife habitat.

5. A Cycling Culture: Cultivate and support cycling as a viable means to move about.

6. Exceptional Public Transit: A downtown that is best accessed by public transit.

7. Friendly Facades: Existing buildings, at grade level, remediated to create a lively, animated pedestrian realm.

8. Festival Places: Create places for gathering, to allow arts and culture to flourish and to be celebrated.

iii

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Executive Summary

2.

The Public Realm Framework - a general framework for shaping the public realm, the spaces that are experienced by the public at

3.

4.

large, such as public spaces, parks, and streets.

invest. A significantly improved public realm will make Downtown a desirable place to live, work and

The Built Form Framework -a general framework for shaping the built form, the shape of buildings and other structures that interact with the public realm but define the overall shape of the Downtown. This includes a bonusing framework that allows for flexibility in the development of the built form and public realm.

play.

Heritage Guidelines - direction around the public realm and built form treatments of spaces around significant heritage properties or lands, and those which enhance and respect the heritage value of Downtown in general.

5.

Action Plans - Divided into five categories (Leadership, Neighbourhood, Business, Culture,

and Transportation), the Action Plans identify key tasks to undertake to implement the Plan and identify those responsible for undertaking the action.

6.

by providing more certainty with respect to the character and quality of new development projects, and will increase the desirability of Regina as a place to

Implementation Strategy - This section outlines the sequencing of actions to be undertaken, according to four time categories, as many actions are dependent on the successful implementation of more foundational actions. Actions are to be initiated immediately (within 1 year), in the near term (within 2 -5 years), in the medium term (within 5 -10 years), or the long term (within 10 years).

How should we move forward?

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will result in new and improved public spaces, a healthy urban ecology, new community services, places to shop, dine, and entertain, opportunities to cycle as a form of transportation, increased transit accessibility into Downtown, and new public events. It will enhance the quality of life for all residents of Regina

Once approved by Regina City Council, the Regina

Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will be incorporated into the Regina Development Plan (Official Community Plan). It will function as a guiding framework for the newly created City Center Branch

and will inform amendments to the Zoning Bylaw and Regina Development Plan. The objective is to ensure that the integrity and direction of the Plan is maintained throughout the organization, recognizing that Downtown planning requires cross departmental collaboration given its interdisciplinary context.

Consideration will need to be given to the value of reprioritizing Downtown in all city policies, recognizing its importance to the city as a cultural and economic hub.

aspects of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will require funds or the reallocation of funds, to implement. Many elements of the Some

Plan will shape growth and development as a result of a new policy framework. Other aspects of the Plan will

require investments from the private and the public sectors, each bringing specific resources, interests, and expertise to city building.

There is a role for all to play, often together, moving forward. The Plan development process has resulted in the formation of fruitful partnerships that demonstrate the kinds of collaborations that will ensure successful Plan implementation in the future. City of Regina Council and staff, the Province of Saskatchewan, land developers, land owners, special interest groups, the arts community, the Regina Public Library Board, the University of Regina, youth, seniors, families, students and entrepreneurs are all partners who share the responsibility of transforming Downtown Regina into a vibrant, complete, and sustainable neighbourhood.

The Downtown is a place for all Regina residents and as such we all have a role to play in its transformation.

iv

CONTENTS Executive Summary ...11

5.0

Built Form Framework 5.1

1.0

Introduction 1.0 1.1

1.2

2.0

5.2 5.3 5.4

Introduction ...3 Purpose & Objectives ...6 Study Process ...7

6.0

Introduction ...188 Heritage Objectives ...188 Approach ...189 Supporting Policy ...189 Heritage Guidelines for the Heritage Conservation District ... 191 6.6 Heritage Guidelines for Downtown ...192 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5

2.0 2.1

3.0

3.2

3.3 3.4 3.5

4.0

17

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan 3.1

4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5

7.0

The Importance of a Great Downtown ...29 Elements of a Successful Downtown Regina ...30 Vision and Principles ...34 The 8 Big Moves ...38 Conceptual Neighbourhood Plan ...43

Public Realm Framework 4.1

Heritage Guidelines 6.1

Background Background ...12 Study Area ...12 2.2 Planning and Policy Context 2.3 Conditions, Constraints & Opportunities ...22

Introduction ...100 Urban Structure ...103 General Design Guidelines ...123 BuildingTypology Guidelines ...143

Purpose & Objectives ...46 Creating a Successful Public Realm ...47 StreetscapeTypologies ...51 Open Spaces ...71 Visual Prominence ...89

Action Plans for Downtown Regina 7.0 7.1

7.2

7.3 7.4 7.5

8.0

Action Plans for Downtown Regina ...200 Leadership ...201 Neighbourhood ...202 Business ...217 Culture ...223 Transportation ...233

Implementation Strategy 8.0 8.1

8.2 8.3

Implementation Strategy ...246 Capital Improvements ...246 Studies to Undertake ...247 Sequencing ...249

i

I:

to 0101k4

1

AO.

or

kitipr 111111111111P

111141111110

141111111110,

7".

11141111111111, 111111111111111%

ii%%UIU J

114111110 all UN"NIUE

ix

AMU 1-ml oeristio,

ti A

1M ! inAINEME

119

Ill.

I

lik117

iitIMMEMEN IN =UM

fil

MO mm

lì II

r

I

'''`.bw-_=-

0 0 13 :1 or .43

i

,i

% L

'20,1 ti

'444

v

o I iralal:

Introduction

1.0

Introduction

Today, the City of Regina finds itself on the cusp of significant change. It has an unprecedented growth rate that has toppled once stable housing prices; and, an administration that understands the importance of investing in urban infrastructure to ensure the improvement of quality of life for all residents of the city.

Regina is also being shaped by national and global trends. As a society, we have become acutely aware that our patterns of development are adversely affecting the settlements within which we live. Sprawling auto -dependant communities are raising questions about equity, sustainability, accessibility, social inclusivity, our health, and about the best places for people to age gracefully. Across North America, walkable Downtowns and main street communities are undergoing a revival as people seek solutions to these issues.

However, since the creation of the 1985 Downtown

Plan there has been minimal growth Downtown, little investment in the public realm, and many historic buildings have been torn down to make way for new parking lots. Indeed, a full 26 per cent of the surface area Downtown is now reserved for parking.

While Downtown Regina has many of the critical elements required to create a thriving Downtown, it does not yet have the critical mass of these activities that is necessary for Downtown to thrive beyond regular

work hours. This, in turn, limits the viability of restaurants, galleries, services, cafĂŠs and niche retail.

Similarly, since public spaces are empty at night and weekends, the streets do not feel safe. What is needed is a direction for Downtown development that leads to a critical mass of activity, increasing the viability of an active and safe Downtown at all times.

And more than ever, citizens are aware of best practices elsewhere.

Downtown Regina has historically been the economic engine of the city. Today, Downtown establishments provide over 25,000 jobs. For a mid -sized Canadian city, this concentration of employment is enviable. It results in an urban vibrancy during daylight hours that is challenging to find in similar sized Canadian cities that do not have this critical mass of people coming together five days a week. This significant clustering of employment also secures Victoria Park as an im-

Walk to Work Imagine Downtown Regina 20 years from now.

On a white winter morning, students, businessmen and businesswomen, shop owners, children and seniors, emerge from their Downtown homes.

Some, who are in no real hurry, peer out the window and watch others below bustle about in subzero weather. People dash about the streets for a few minutes at a time, briskly walking to

their next destination, then disappearing into

portant and beautiful place to lunch in the summer

another building or onto a bus. A woman walks

and is fundamental to the success of the Regina Farmers Market (which rivals the scale of public

out of a building, bundled up from head to toe. She scurries to a coffee shop for breakfast, only a block away, before walking to work. Next door, a father

markets evolving in larger urban centres), enabling a small but growing cluster of local, unique restaurants and services. Downtown is also a place for gathering, as demonstrated annually at Regina's treasured Folk Festival, and during impromptu moments such as when the Roughriders won the 2007 Grey Cup. It is a place for civic organization, for cultural activities such as the events offered at the Globe Theatre and the Central Public Library, and for entrepreneurship.

arrives to take his children to daycare, before walking to his office. He passes a car parked in front of a bakery where a man emerges to deliver flowers to a lucky baker on her birthday. Another day in Downtown Regina.

Section 1 .0: Introduction

3

Great places are not created by accident. They are the

the next 15 years, will effectively establish a Downtown

result of a vision, leadership, planning, unrelenting tenacity on the part of city champions, and strategic,

neighbourhood. To attract new residents, the second objective is to create a collection of quality amenities Downtown, of the types necessary to support a thriving neighbourhood and community. Whereas the reasons people choose to live in urban environments typically include proximities to arts, culture, retail and restaurants, the most compelling reason to live in Downtown Regina, in the short term, is the opportunity to walk to work. If people are given the opportunity to walk to work, their sustained presence Downtown after working hours will soon begin to have an impact on the other kinds of amenities that are necessary to create a thriving Downtown - shops, a grocery store, galleries, and niche retail all become more viable as the population increases. In the longer term, as the Downtown population base both increases and begins to stabilize, the urban environment will become more complete and sustainable.

meaningful public investment. The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan has been created to provide such direction for the next 20 years to come.

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan celebrates Downtown Regina as a place for people to thrive. It refocuses Downtown Regina as a place of pedestrianism, heritage and culture, entrepreneurship, great urban design, environmental sustainability and as an ideal place to live. It does so by recognizing the existing employment base Downtown as the City's greatest asset, and encourages future growth that further entrenches Downtown as the economic hub of Regina.

The primary goal of the Plan is to match the employment base with great new urban housing, so people can choose to walk to work. Living and working in close proximity has a number of corollaries and spin -offs.

People living Downtown will shop and eat Downtown, supporting a vibrant retail and restaurant scene. People will be on the streets at all hours, fostering a safer environment. New cultural destinations, entertainment attractions and service providers will choose to locate Downtown, where the people are. This new critical mass will bring urban vitality to Regina.

To accomplish this vision, two objectives must be met, both of which are inseparable as a strategy for growth.

The first objective is to attract 25% of the projected residential growth for Regina to new Downtown accommodations. 5000 new residents, over the course of

4

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Improved transit service is essential to a complete, walkable Downtown. Many walking trips are made

to, and from, the bus. Improving transit service Downtown will allow visitors to access Downtown, and to enjoy it on foot, as well as allowing Downtown residents to conveniently travel to the rest of the City.

It will be possible to live Downtown without owning a car. As people begin to live in the Downtown, it will

become more and more viable for "car share" enterprises (such as AutoShare and Zip) to operate. This in turn will give more people the option to forgo car ownership, or to own one less car. Accommodating population growth through Downtown infill will also make it possible for the City of Regina to choose to reduce sprawl.

Introduction

Making Downtown a great place to live requires investment: great tree -lined streets, an efficient transit system, a variety of interesting parks, new cultural destinations, neighbourhood shopping and amenities to support new residential developments. It is a circle of public and private sector investment that builds overall

value. The more attractive Downtown becomes, the more people will want to live there. The more people live there, the more businesses and government will invest.

a city square around Victoria Park by accommodating year -round public festivals and a variety of forms of recreation. The expected completion of the first phase of this project is in 2010.

This Downtown Neighbourhood Plan puts forth a Vision for a bold and sustainable future for the City of Regina. At the policy level, significant change

is required to shift the trajectory of Downtown towards what it is seeking to become, while respect-

ing and maintaining the current concentration of Accessible public spaces and shared amenities, in the future, will be the draw to Downtown living. People will choose to live with smaller ecological footprints in exchange for cleaner air, a high quality of life, and affordable movement options. Downtown will also provide an opportunity for a diversity of people to live in close proximity to one another.

To implement the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, Action Plans have been generated and categorized under the themes "Neighbourhood ", "Business ", "Culture ", "Transportation" and "Leadership ". These

specify actions that are necessary to undertake to realize the Plan and are listed in order of priority.

employment.

The guidelines and recommendations in the Plan refocus the Downtown as a priority area for capital investment, for the benefit of all residents, and recommend a reallocation of resources. In addition, the Plan

assumes that more will be required from the private sector than has been required in the past. A series of players must come together to create a great urban environment: City staff, Council, land owners, developers, community leaders and citizens. Leadership and strategic public and private investment are now needed.

Many actions are interdependent and should be implemented together, while others are part of a sequenced

or phased implementation strategy that is driven by measurable benchmarks. A signature component of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan is the WOW project, the objective of which is to revive the idea of

Section 1 .0: Introduction

5

1.1

Purpose & Objectives

purpose of the new Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan is to effectively guide future growth and strategic investment into infrastructure, The

development, and urban design for the next 20 years.

It aims to set the stage for great urban living by creating a complete Downtown community; enhancing the role of Downtown as the heart of Regina, the Capital City of Saskatchewan; and, creating a clearer sense

of place through good urban design. To do so, the continued strength of the existing employment base is identified as a key asset upon which the future of the Downtown needs to be built.

The Downtown Plan provides various strategies to direct decision -making regarding investments related to infrastructure, development, programming, policy, and urban design that reflect the current Vision for Downtown as developed through an extensive public consultation process.

Specific objectives of the Plan are as follows:

To fulfil the mandate of By -law No. 7877 Regina Development Plan policies on Downtown, including reinforcing the function of Downtown as a unique place with a one -of -a -kind retail area, as a residential community, as an economic centre, as an accessible place and as a key element of city life.

To determine current and future potential for development within Downtown.

To update and re- articulate the community Vision for Downtown Regina.

6

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

To create a framework for development and land use with associated actions and policies for implementation, including recommendations for infrastructure enhancements and urban design.

To identify actions for a residential strategy that takes into consideration Downtown's relationship with existing surrounding communities.

To create a 10 -year public realm and open space strategy that adds to, and enhances, the existing public realm and open space systems.

To celebrate the historical and heritage aspects of Downtown Regina through the articulation of policies for heritage protection.

To recommend alternative parking management approaches and transit realignments for better movement and accessibility Downtown.

To create a hub /centre of cultural activity that will inspire creativity and innovation.

These objectives will be met through the design guidelines for physical change articulated within the Public Realm, Built Form, and Heritage Frameworks of the

Downtown Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan will be implemented through the Action Plans, divided into five categories, which highlight the main objectives and foci of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

Introduction

1.2

Study Process

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan project was initiated in September 2007, when the contract was

awarded to Office for Urbanism, in association with UMA, Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects, and urbanMetrics following a competitive bidding process.

To date, development of the urban context has been guided by a Downtown Plan created in 1985. It allows a mix of uses and built form types, and prioritizes efficient parking and traffic management.

This study was organized into five phases that were framed by a public engagement process, and designed to generate a new Vision for the future of Downtown Regina in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. Three forums were held as an opportunity to both generate and test ideas, and to ensure that the refinement of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was in keeping with the overall Vision. Collaboration between the Consultant Team and City staff, through weekly and bi- weekly conference calls, site visits, exchange of information and ideas, and strategies about how to move forward with the process, were essential to shaping its success.

Phase 1: Project Kick -Off and Background Research Phase 1 commenced with a project Kick-Off meeting in September 2007 where the Consultant Team met with City staff to establish roles and review the timeline of the study. A Steering Committee of senior City staff was established, and meetings were held at strategic points throughout the process. A detailed walking analysis was undertaken to gather visual information.

Policy information, past studies and base maps were thoroughly reviewed and relevant Downtown policies were extracted to inform the content development. An opportunities and constraints analysis was completed.

Phase 2: Visioning + Concept Plan Development To begin the public engagement process, a media kick -off event was held in October 2007 where the

Consultant Team introduced the project with the assistance of the General Manager for Planning and Development, Jason Carlston, and Mayor Pat Fiacco.

A presentation to Council was also made to encourage Council involvement moving forward. A series of stakeholder focus group sessions were held to engage key players in the process and to assess the needs and goals of various groups. Those consulted included

Section 1 .2: Study Process

representatives from: heritage, arts and culture, adjacent neighbourhood representatives, resident's groups, developers, land owners, various City departments, special interest groups, transportation experts, and members from the business community.

In December of 2007, "Forum 1: Downtown Planning Symposium" was held at the Royal Canadian Legion and was attended by over 200 people. The three -day event included a walking tour and a "fresh eyes" analysis presentation on the first day, Visioning Workshops on the second and third day, and a final Open House on the evening of the third day. The key concepts related to the Vision and Principles for the Downtown Plan (see Chapter 3.0), as well as the 8 "Big Moves", all emerged during this first Forum.

In the workshops, the Downtown was divided into five `Demonstration Sites'. Each group of participants explored, with pen and paper, a future development scenario for one of the sites, in keeping with an overarching vision for the site. The "Big Moves" were then

used to inform the development of the Downtown Concept Plan toward the end of this phase and, subsequently, the "Action Plans" (Phase 3). A newsletter outlining the outcomes of the forum was distributed broadly.

FORU

8

1 AT THE R i

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Phase 2 concluded with the January 2008 announcement of a $1 million initial implementation project intended to visually signal change Downtown, specifically for the public realm, in the 2008 operating

year. Branded the "WOW" project, it proposed redefining the function and edge of Victoria Park along 12th Avenue to recapture the historic idea of Victoria Park Square. Forum 1 identified Victoria Park as the heart of Downtown Regina, and as a key public space where memorable civic events occur year- round.

Accordingly, the WOW project involves transforming the portion of 12th Avenue along Victoria Park into

a beautiful year -round programmable space with a strong pedestrian focus (see Chapter 3.2).

Phase 3: Development of Action Plans.

Following the establishment of the Vision and Principles for the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, the Consultant Team worked towards creating the Concept Plan and Draft Action Plans along with associated implementation strategies and tools. This began

to frame the recommendations and ideas generated from the background research, technical analysis, and public consultations into a plan and policy structure.

Introduction

In March 2008, the Consultant Team conducted a workshop with the City Project Team specifically to address transportation planning. Furthermore, a

Downtown Plan and draft Action Plans were tested with 7 different stakeholder groups: developers, business associations, community groups, environment,

special meeting with representatives of the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council was held in order to engage this community to participate in the Downtown planning process, and to identify specific needs that ought to be recognized in the Downtown Plan, giving precedence to future actions related to making Downtown truly for all people. The project and Consultant Team also met with a representative from GBLUR Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity at the University of Regina to better understand the needs of this group.

transportation, heritage, and arts & culture. The

In April of 2008, "Forum 2: The Downtown Plan" was held at the Knox -Metropolitan Church in Downtown Regina. The three -day forum began with a public

introduction of the draft Downtown Plan, which included a concept drawing and key design moves. The public was given a variety of opportunities to question

and comment on the draft Downtown Plan through a series of interactive panels, comment sheets, and during a question and answer period.

On the second and third days of the Forum, focus group sessions were held during which the draft

FORUM 2 REVIEWING DRAFT -AEONS

evolving draft Plan was also presented to City Council during a working lunch.

A key outcome of Forum 2 was a list of risks, mitigating actions and critical success factors for successfully implementing the Plan. A refined list of draft Actions, and champions for each, was also generated. A second

newsletter outlining the outcomes of Forum 2 was distributed broadly.

Phase 4: Presentation of Action Plans.

Forum 2 identified the need to conduct further workshops to help create a Built Form Framework for Downtown. Workshops were held on June 5, 2008 with City staff, and members of the development and heritage communities, to review and refine draft recommendations. The Built Form Framework comprises a significant component of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan and should function as a tool to guide future development to ensure that it is in keeping with the original Vision, Principles, and overall intent of the Downtown Plan.

FORUM 2 COMMENTING ON DRAFT ACTIONS

Section 1 .2: Study Process

9

In June of 2008, "Forum 3: Actions and Implementation" was held at the Knox -Metropolitan Church. The Consultant Team presented the overall implementation strategy which included the refined Action Plans, as categorized under the five themes of Live, Work, Play, Movement, and Leadership, to a

Phase 5: Final Downtown Plan

public audience of approximately 200 people. Feedback

key stakeholder groups, the Steering Committee, and City staff. The process of refining the Plan included a series of meetings held with land owners to assess the viability and likely impacts of the proposed Built Form Framework, that resulted in minor adjustments being made.

was received during an interactive panel session and during a question and answer period.

Forum 3 provided an additional opportunity to present

the refined Downtown Plan to City Council, whose enthusiasm had grown for the planning project. A media event following this meeting gave the opportunity for City Councillors and the Mayor to speak to the press about the Plan. From July 2008 to August

A first draft of the Downtown Plan was completed in August of 2008. It was presented to the project team and Steering Committee for consideration and review. Subsequently, the Plan underwent a series of refinements and revisions as per the involvement of

2008, the Consultant Team worked towards finalizing

the Downtown Plan and writing a draft report. A third newsletter was also produced which outlined the outcomes of Forum 3.

FORUM 3 PRESENTATION OF DRAFT ACT

t

S

111111111

10

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

3 DISCUSSI

FT ACTIONS

CITY

OF

REGINA

REGINA DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

WALK TO WORK ,

.

..

1141klllllililllilil

IIJIIi

111,I

Illlil

,em

August 31, 2009

owntown p an

Acknowledgements The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was shaped by the enthusiasm and dedication ofthe citizens of Regina. This included the residents, students, business owners, land owners, developers, local media, City Council members, the Project Team and the Steering

Committee who, at every moment of collaboration, provided thoughtful input, effective support, strategic guidance, and generous hospitality to the Consultant Team. Quite frankly, not only did all of you make our job easy, you made it enjoyable. We are deeply grateful for your willingness to collaborate.

Regina's success moving forward will benefit from unique collaborations and a culture of cooperation.

Also, a special note of thanks to the hundreds of people who participated in our public forums and workshops.

Not only was the diversity of the participation exceptional, but the commitment of these community volunteers to come out again and again to comment on the evolving Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was essential to our understanding of your city, and your hopes for its future. You helped create the Vision and

Principles in Forum One, you commented on all of our proposed Actions in Forum Two, and you commented on the Draft Plan in Forum Three. Thank-you also for sharing with us your personal memories of this city which you love.

Mayor Pat Fiacco and Council, and the Regina Downtown BID are especially thanked for their continued encouragement and committed participation in forming the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

eofficeforurbanism

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A successful Downtown is fundamental to the vitality of any city. Downtowns are by nature environments of complexity - a thriving Downtown contains cultural activities, incubates creativity, stimulates economic development, improves tourism opportunities, concentrates commercial activity and provides housing and mobility options for all. Not only is a successful Downtown central to the identity of a city, the availability of unique Downtown amenities determines the extent to which all residents feel welcome and at home in their Downtown.

workshop" in Portland Oregon in October 2008, to see first -hand the changes possible in Regina, was the first

In September 2007, Office for Urbanism in association with UMA, Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects, and urbanMetrics, was retained by the

vides a comprehensive framework for decision -making related to the growth and development of Downtown for the next 20 years. It is both a Vision and an action

City of Regina to consult the public, conduct analysis, research, and to create a Downtown plan. The objective was to replace the existing Downtown Plan (Part G of the Regina Development Plan Bylaw No. 7877)

strategy to make that Vision real. It is also a policy framework designed to shape planning outcomes as new projects come to fruition and as capital invest-

of these events. Numerous internal workshops with City staff, where components of the Plan were refined, added depth and resilience to the ideas presented.

What is the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan?

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan pro-

ments are made.

by generating a new Plan through a collaborative process involving a broad array of stakeholders.

The new Plan captures the spirit of optimism that exists

in the city today - it is a reflection of the many focus group sessions, workshops, and interviews that were held throughout the planning process. Three multi day public forums were held to generate and test ideas, and to ensure that the refinement of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was in keeping with the overall Vision for the future of Regina. In addition, a steering committee and a core stakeholder group participated in the process from the outset, shaping and directing the project.

Events were also held with City staff, Council and key stakeholder groups to ensure outcomes of the Plan are feasible and specific to Regina's culture and context.

It was also imperative to ensure that those responsible for the implementation of the Plan had ownership over

its content and direction. A "best practices on -site

Itofficeforurbanism

The Downtown is specified as the area within the boundaries of 13th Avenue to the south, Osler St. to the east, the CP Rail line to the north, and Angus St. to the west. It consists of roughly 40 city blocks, and is situated adjacent to the other inner city neighbour-

hoods; connecting the Cathedral Neighbourhood, Core Neighbourhood, Centre Square Neighbourhood,

North Central Neighbourhood, and the Warehouse District by its shared streets.

The Plan sets the stage for great urban living by outlining the parameters necessary to build on existing assets to create a complete Downtown neighbourhood.

By enhancing the role of Downtown as the heart of Regina, and by creating a clear sense of place through

an emphasis on pedestrian- oriented urban design, the Plan signals a shift towards urban planning and "placemaking" as a key priority for the City.

Regina is at an opportune moment in its history. An unprecedented growth rate, an interest in re- investing in cities by developers and governments alike, and the increasing desirability of sustainable living, is resulting in a heightened awareness of the merits of strategically planning Downtown.

The continued strength of the existing employment base is a key asset upon which the future of Downtown needs to build. This strong employment base is central to the attractiveness for new residential development to

The Plan contains six significant parts: 1.

The Vision, Principles, and 8 Big Moves - these outcomes of the public consultations set the direction of the Plan's philosophy and rationale.

The Principles 1.

For All Regina

2. A Complete, Livable Community

urban housing forms primarily along Broad, Albert and Saskatchewan Drive over the next 15 years - including

Gorgeous 4. Connected 5. Dynamic

seniors, youth, students, artists, young professionals

6. A Hub

locate Downtown. By adding 5,000 new residents in

and families - the Plan aims to create an urban population that has the option of walking to work. Residential development will, in the fullness of time, provide the

required consumer base to support a desired niche retail strategy, and other amenities that are reliant on a strong local residential base.

3.

7.

Walkable and Multi -modal

8.

9.

Safe

Healthy 10. Accessible, Inclusive and Diverse 11. Adaptive Re -use 12. The Best Place to Invest The 8 Big Moves

What is the significance of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan?

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan charts a course of action to ensure the implementation of the Vision in a transparent and timely manner. It is a tool for measuring progress that assigns responsibility towards the implementation of key actions, while also seeking to inspire and encourage private sector investment. Tools to manage growth and development, while permitting creativity, inter -disciplinary collaborations, and public -private partnerships, are introduced. These tools provide both the development community and

the City of Regina with a higher level of certainty and confidence with respect to expected outcomes in Downtown. This is a new approach to neighbourhood planning in Regina.

1. Walk to Work: A Downtown that is defined and framed by residential neighbourhoods.

2. The City Square: Victoria Park is the jewel, the organizing element of the city.

3. Pedestrians First: All streets designed for walking.

4. A Green Zone: A well maintained urban forest that adds seasonal ambience and urban wildlife habitat.

5. A Cycling Culture: Cultivate and support cycling as a viable means to move about.

6. Exceptional Public Transit: A downtown that is best accessed by public transit.

7. Friendly Facades: Existing buildings, at grade level, remediated to create a lively, animated pedestrian realm.

8. Festival Places: Create places for gathering, to allow arts and culture to flourish and to be celebrated.

iii

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Executive Summary

2.

The Public Realm Framework - a general framework for shaping the public realm, the spaces that are experienced by the public at large, such as public spaces, parks, and streets.

3.

4.

The Built Form Framework -a general framework for shaping the built form, the shape of buildings and other structures that interact with the public realm but define the overall shape of the Downtown. This includes a bonusing framework that allows for flexibility in the development of the built form and public realm.

Heritage Guidelines - direction around the public realm and built form treatments of spaces around significant heritage properties or lands, and those which enhance and respect the heritage value of Downtown in general.

5.

Action Plans - Divided into five categories (Leadership, Neighbourhood, Business, Culture,

and Transportation), the Action Plans identify key tasks to undertake to implement the Plan and identify those responsible for undertaking the action.

6.

Implementation Strategy - This section outlines the sequencing of actions to be undertaken, according to four time categories, as many actions are dependent on the successful implementation of more foundational actions. Actions are to be initiated immediately (within 2 years), in the near term (within 2 -5 years), in the medium term (within 5 -10 years), or the long term (within 10 years).

How should we move forward?

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will result in new and improved public spaces, a healthy urban ecology, new community services, places to shop, dine, and entertain, opportunities to cycle as a form of transportation, increased transit accessibility into Downtown, new public events, and a reinforced commercial base. It will enhance the quality of life

Itofficeforurbanism

for all residents of Regina by providing more certainty with respect to the character and quality of new development projects, and will increase the desirability of Regina as a place to invest. A significantly improved public realm will make Downtown a desirable place to live, work and play.

Once approved by Regina City Council, the Regina

Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will be incorporated into the Regina Development Plan (Official Community Plan). It will function as a guiding framework for the newly created City Center Branch

and will inform amendments to the Zoning Bylaw and Regina Development Plan. The objective is to ensure that the integrity and direction of the Plan is maintained throughout the organization, recognizing that Downtown planning requires cross departmental collaboration given its interdisciplinary context.

Consideration will need to be given to the value of reprioritizing Downtown in all city policies, recognizing its importance to the city as a cultural and economic hub.

aspects of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will require funds or the reallocation of funds, to implement. Many elements of the Some

Plan will shape growth and development as a result of a new policy framework. Other aspects of the Plan will

require investments from the private and the public sectors, each bringing specific resources, interests, and expertise to city building.

There is a role for all to play, often together, moving forward. The Plan development process has resulted in the formation of fruitful partnerships that demonstrate the kinds of collaborations that will ensure successful Plan implementation in the future. City of Regina Council and staff, the Province of Saskatchewan, land developers, land owners, special interest groups, the arts community, the Regina Public Library Board, the University of Regina, youth, seniors, families, students and entrepreneurs are all partners who share the responsibility of transforming Downtown Regina into a vibrant, complete, and sustainable neighbourhood.

The Downtown is a place for all Regina residents and as such we all have a role to play in its transformation.

r

I

F_.

-[

CONTENTS Executive Summary ...ii

5.0

Built Form Framework 5.1

1.0

Introduction 1.1

1.2 1.3

1.4

2.0

2.2 2.3 2.4

6.0

Background ...14 Study Area ...14 Planning and Policy Context Conditions, Constraints & Opportunities ...24

3.2

3.3 3.4 3.5

4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5

Heritage Guidelines Introduction ...190 Heritage Objectives ...190 Approach ...191 Supporting Policy ...191 Heritage Guidelines for the Heritage Conservation District ...193 6.6 Heritage Guidelines for Downtown ...194 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5

19

7.0

The Importance of a Great Downtown ...31 Elements of a Successful Downtown Regina ...32 Vision and Principles ...36 The 8 Big Moves ...40 Conceptual Neighbourhood Plan ...45

Public Realm Framework 4.1

Introduction ...102 Urban Structure ...105 Bonusing Framework ...121 General Design Standards ...125 BuildingTypology Standards ...145

6.1

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan 3.1

4.0

Introduction ...3 Beyond Costing the Plan ...6 Purpose & Objectives ...8 Study Process ...9

Background 2.1

3.0

5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5

Purpose & Objectives ...48 Creating a Successful Public Realm ...49 StreetscapeTypologies ...53 Open Spaces ...73 Visual Prominence ...91

Action Plans for Downtown Regina 7.1

7.2

7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6

8.0

Action Plans for Downtown Regina ...202 Leadership ...203 Neighbourhood ...205 Business ...219 Culture ...225 Transportation ...235

Implementation Strategy 8.1

8.2 8.3 8.4

Implementation Strategy ...248 Capital Improvements ...248 Studies to Undertake ...249 Sequencing ...251

Appendix 1 - Urban Design Glossary

_Ab

.44r1110 I"

ÑjiïÑiL qtrattri ittuatit

111111111111UNEMBIL

:1U1UUUUUUUUi UI

iuiuui. II

-9 ORR!. iltinia

UAMM K AMR 15 4111*!' ma mm 'ulti =I iminnhi,

-11

. IIII s ..mmossow lin ommalui oal' ea

I

.61.1e{

Introduction

1.1

Introduction

Today, the City of Regina finds itself on the cusp of significant change. It has an unprecedented growth rate that has toppled once stable housing prices; and, an administration that understands the importance of investing in urban infrastructure to ensure the improvement of quality of life for all residents of the city.

Regina is also being shaped by national and global trends. As a society, we have become acutely aware that our patterns of development are adversely affecting the settlements within which we live. Sprawling auto -dependant communities are raising questions about equity, sustainability, accessibility, social inclusivity, our health, and about the best places for people to age gracefully. Across North America, walkable Downtowns and main street communities are undergoing a revival as people seek solutions to these issues.

And more than ever, citizens are aware of best practices elsewhere.

Downtown Regina has historically been the economic engine of the city. Today, Downtown establishments provide over 25,000 jobs. For a mid -sized Canadian city, this concentration of employment is enviable. It results in an urban vibrancy during daylight hours that is challenging to find in similar sized Canadian cities that do not have this critical mass of people coming together five days a week. This significant clustering of employment also secures Victoria Park as an im-

Some of the Downtown development that has occurred since the early 1990s includes the Hill Centre Tower 2, FCC Tower and Canada Life Place. These constitute nearly 10% of the downtown office stock.

As well, in the last few years several buildings have been adapted for reuse such as the residential conversion of the TD Building and Renaissance Plaza, and the Leader Building. Office conversions have also taken place, including the transformation of former retail spaces such as the Army & Navy and the Bay Building to office uses.

In contrast, since the creation of the 1985 Downtown Plan there has been minimal investment in the public realm. In addition, more historic buildings have been

torn down to make way for new parking lots, than have been adapted. Indeed, a full 26 per cent of the surface area Downtown is now reserved for parking.

While Downtown Regina has many of the critical elements required to create a thriving Downtown, it does not yet have the critical mass of these activities that is necessary for Downtown to thrive beyond regular

work hours. This, in turn, limits the viability of restaurants, galleries, services, cafĂŠs and niche retail.

Similarly, since public spaces are empty at night and weekends, the streets do not feel safe. What is needed is a direction for Downtown development that leads to a critical mass of activity, increasing the viability of an active and safe Downtown at all times.

portant and beautiful place to lunch in the summer

and is fundamental to the success of the Regina Farmers Market (which rivals the scale of public markets evolving in larger urban centres), enabling a small but growing cluster of local, unique restaurants and services. Downtown is also a place for gathering, as demonstrated annually at Regina's treasured Folk Festival, and during impromptu moments such as when the Roughriders won the 2007 Grey Cup. It is a place for civic organization, for cultural activities such as the events offered at the Globe Theatre and the Central Public Library, and for entrepreneurship.

Walk to Work Imagine Downtown Regina 20 years from now.

On a white winter morning, students, businessmen and businesswomen, shop owners, children and seniors, emerge from their Downtown homes.

Some, who are in no real hurry, peer out the window and watch others below bustle about in subzero weather. People dash about the streets for a few minutes at a time, briskly walking to

Section 1 .1 : Introduction

officeforurbanism

3

their next destination, then disappearing into another building or onto a bus. A woman walks out of a building, bundled up from head to toe. She scurries to a coffee shop for breakfast, only a block away, before walking to work. Next door, a father

arrives to take his children to daycare, before walking to his office. He passes a car parked in front of a bakery where a man emerges to deliver flowers to a lucky baker on her birthday. Another day in Downtown Regina.

Great places are not created by accident. They are the

result of a vision, leadership, planning, unrelenting tenacity on the part of city champions, and strategic, meaningful public investment. The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan has been created to provide such direction for the next 20 years to come.

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan celebrates Downtown Regina as a place for people to thrive. It refocuses Downtown Regina as a place of pedestrianism, heritage and culture, entrepreneurship, great urban design, environmental sustainability and as an ideal place to live. It does so by recognizing the existing employment base Downtown as the City's greatest asset, and encourages future growth that further entrenches Downtown as the economic hub of Regina.

The primary goal of the Plan is to match the employment base with great new urban housing, so people can choose to walk to work. Living and working in close proximity has a number of corollaries and spin -offs.

4

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

People living Downtown will shop and eat Downtown, supporting a vibrant retail and restaurant scene. People will be on the streets at all hours, fostering a safer en-

vironment. New cultural destinations, entertainment attractions and service providers will choose to locate Downtown, where the people are. This new critical mass will bring urban vitality to Regina.

To accomplish this vision, two objectives must be met, both of which are inseparable as a strategy for growth.

The first objective is to attract 25% of the projected residential growth for Regina to new Downtown accommodations. 5000 new residents, over the course of the next 15 years, will effectively establish a Downtown

neighbourhood. To attract new residents, the second objective is to create a collection of quality amenities Downtown, of the types necessary to support a thriving neighbourhood and community. Whereas the reasons people choose to live in urban environments typically include proximities to arts, culture, retail and restaurants, the most compelling reason to live in Downtown Regina, in the short term, is the opportunity to walk to work. If people are given the opportunity to walk to work, their sustained presence Downtown after working hours will soon begin to have an impact on the other kinds of amenities that are necessary to create a thriving Downtown - shops, a grocery store, galleries, a community center and niche retail all become more viable as the population increases. In the longer term, as the Downtown population base both increases and begins to stabilize, the urban environment will become more complete and sustainable.

Introduction

Improved transit service is essential to a complete, walkable Downtown. Many walking trips are made

to, and from, the bus. Improving transit service Downtown will allow visitors to access Downtown, and to enjoy it on foot, as well as allowing Downtown residents to conveniently travel to the rest of the City.

It will be possible to live Downtown without owning a car. As people begin to live in the Downtown, it will

become more and more viable for "car share" enterprises (such as AutoShare and Zip) to operate. This in turn will give more people the option to forgo car ownership, or to own one less car. Accommodating population growth through Downtown infill will also make it possible for the City of Regina to choose to reduce sprawl.

Making Downtown a great place to live requires investment: great tree -lined streets, an efficient transit system, a variety of interesting parks, new cultural destinations, neighbourhood shopping and amenities to support new residential developments. It is a circle of public and private sector investment that builds overall

value. The more attractive Downtown becomes, the more people will want to live there. The more people live there, the more businesses and government will

To implement the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, Action Plans have been generated and categorized under the themes "Neighbourhood ", "Business ", "Culture ", "Transportation" and "Leadership ". These

specify actions that are necessary to undertake to realize the Plan and are listed in order of priority.

Many actions are interdependent and should be implemented together, while others are part of a sequenced

or phased implementation strategy that is driven by measurable benchmarks. A signature component of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan is the WOW project, the objective of which is to revive the idea of a city square around Victoria Park by accommodating year -round public festivals and a variety of forms of recreation. The expected completion of the first phase of this project is in 2010.

This Downtown Neighbourhood Plan puts forth a Vision for a bold and sustainable future for the City of Regina. At the policy level, significant change is required to shift the trajectory of Downtown towards what it is seeking to become, while respecting and enhancing the current concentration of employment.

invest.

The guidelines, standards and recommendations in the Plan refocus the Downtown as a priority area

Accessible public spaces and shared amenities, in the future, will be the draw to Downtown living. People will choose to live with smaller ecological footprints in exchange for cleaner air, a high quality of life, and affordable movement options. Downtown will also provide an opportunity for a diversity of people to live in close proximity to one another.

for capital investment, for the benefit of all residents, and recommend a reallocation of resources. In addition, the Plan assumes that more will be required from the private sector than has been required in the past. A series of players must come together to create a great urban environment: City staff, Council, land owners, developers, community leaders and citizens.

Leadership and strategic public and private investment are now needed.

Section 1 .1 : Introduction

officeforurbanism

5

1.2

Beyond Costing the Plan: Understanding the Plan as an Economic Development Tool

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan (RDNP) has three key functions relevant to understanding the

costs of implementation. Unlike a capital project, where specific costs related to project implementation

are identifiable, the RDNP functions as a Vision, a Policy Framework, and as a City Building Tool. In each of these realms, the Plan has implications for economic growth, which in turn has implications for the fiscal health of the City.

In essence, the transformation of the Downtown is an investment in the future of the City of Regina.

Some aspects of the RDNP will be implemented with minimal expense to the municipality - adopting a new policy framework, for example. Other actions in the Plan entail attracting investors (public, private, and institutional) who will act as catalysts for further investments. Investment in the Downtown will have an impact on the economic development of the city as a whole - it will attract private investment and tourism dollars, it will increase property values and result in a destination within the City for all Reginans.

6

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

1.2.1 As a Vision

The RDNP provides a rationale for decision making, giving direction to the City and key stakeholders as it reinforces the commercial character of the Downtown and transforms it into a complete and walkable neighbourhood. It functions as a key tool to leverage investment from other sources, such as through the Urban Development Agreement fund, and through the Bonusing Framework (see Section 5.3). It will both direct public sector investment, ensuring coordination among departments as capital investments are made, as well as attract outside investment by demonstrating the character and quality of the future, and the commitment of the municipality to the Downtown as a priority. The Vision provides certainty for City staff, Council, the development industry, and residents with

respect to the future of the Downtown. Certainty, combined with a commitment to quality, is critical to attracting outside investment.

1.2.2 As a Policy Framework

The RDNP is also a Policy Framework that specifies how Downtown should grow and develop over the next 20 years. As a regulatory framework, it shapes growth and investment by directing future decision making and implementing higher design and quality requirements. Studies that refine key ideas related to the Vision are outlined as specific actions in the Plan; they will be undertaken in sequence and according to priority as funding becomes available. Many of these studies lead to capital projects that will be assessed during annual budget cycles.

1.2.3 As a City Building Tool

New capital investments in the Downtown, to be made

The RDNP positions Downtown Regina as a local

by both the private and public sectors, will generate land value, which in turn will increase tax revenues.

As the Downtown grows as the hub of the City, with animated streets and businesses all hours of the day

and regional destination, a draw to tourists and busi-

ness, a place to invest, and a healthy place to live.

Actions within the Plan are a blueprint for growth and development Downtown such that the Plan, in its entirety, functions as a tool that increases development potential, generates momentum, directs attention to Downtown activities, and focuses energy towards the continued enhancement of Downtown.

The RDNP enhances Downtown liveability and thereby strengthens Regina's strategic position in relation to other Cities as it competes for businesses, entrepreneurs, young professionals, and tourists, all of whom are drawn to settle, invest, and visit based on the breadth of quality of life opportunities that exist.

It is this same vibrancy and attractiveness that will draw others to live in Regina, which will also drive economic growth. To locate, businesses require a stable critical mass of educated employees. To thrive, businesses require a strong consumer base. Enhanced livability and enhanced businesses opportunities are fundamentally entwined.

and all days of the week, existing businesses will thrive

and new businesses will be inspired to locate in the heart of the action.

Downtown development also has the potential to maximize the use of municipal infrastructure. Utility lines, roads, and lanes are already in place and may only need minor upgrading when new developments evolve on infill, greyfield and brownfield sites. There are also potential operational efficiencies to be gained in the long term. A more compact urban core minimizes operational costs for services and may lead to

the opportunity to offer higher levels of service in areas such as public transit, solid waste management, and snow clearance /sidewalk maintenance given the advantages of providing these services at higher densities. Over time, as Downtown becomes increasingly diversified and as new businesses establish, real estate

will become more competitive, and the downtown business economy will continue to grow in its resilience to changing market conditions.

Section 1 .2: Beyond Costing the Plan: Understanding the Plan as an Economic Development Tool

officeforurbanism

1.3

Purpose & Objectives

purpose of the new Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan is to effectively guide future growth and strategic investment into infrastructure, The

development, and urban design for the next 20 years.

It aims to set the stage for great urban living by creating a complete Downtown community; enhancing the role of Downtown as the heart of Regina, the Capital City of Saskatchewan; and, creating a clearer sense

of place through good urban design. To do so, the continued strength of the existing employment base is identified as a key asset upon which the future of the Downtown needs to be built.

The Downtown Plan provides various strategies to direct decision -making regarding investments related to infrastructure, development, programming, policy, and urban design that reflect the current Vision for Downtown as developed through an extensive public consultation process.

Specific objectives of the Plan are as follows:

To fulfil the mandate of By -law No. 7877 Regina Development Plan policies on Downtown, including reinforcing the function of Downtown as a unique place with a one -of -a -kind retail area, as a residential community, as an economic centre, as an accessible place and as a key element of city life.

To determine current and future potential for development within Downtown.

To update and re- articulate the community Vision for Downtown Regina.

8

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

To create a framework for development and land use with associated actions and policies for implementation, including recommendations for infrastructure enhancements and urban design.

To identify actions for a residential strategy that takes into consideration Downtown's relationship with existing surrounding communities.

To create a 10 -year public realm and open space strategy that adds to, and enhances, the existing public realm and open space systems.

To celebrate the historical and heritage aspects of Downtown Regina through the articulation of policies for heritage protection.

To recommend alternative parking management approaches and transit realignments for better movement and accessibility Downtown.

To create a hub /centre of cultural activity that will inspire creativity and innovation.

These objectives will be met through the design standards for physical change articulated within the Public Realm, Built Form, and Heritage Frameworks of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan will be implemented through the Action Plans, divided into five categories, which highlight the main objectives and foci of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

Introduction

Study Process

1.4

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan project was initiated in September 2007, when the contract was

awarded to Office for Urbanism, in association with UMA, Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects, and urbanMetrics following a competitive bidding process.

To date, development of the urban context has been guided by a Downtown Plan created in 1985. It allows a mix of uses and built form types, and prioritizes efficient parking and traffic management.

This study was organized into five phases that were framed by a public engagement process, and designed to generate a new Vision for the future of Downtown Regina in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. Three forums were held as an opportunity to both generate and test ideas, and to ensure that the refinement of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was in keeping with the overall Vision. Collaboration between the Consultant Team and City staff, through weekly and bi- weekly conference calls, site visits, exchange of information and ideas, and strategies about how to move forward with the process, were essential to shaping its success.

Phase 1: Project Kick -Off and Background Research Phase 1 commenced with a project Kick-Off meeting in September 2007 where the Consultant Team met with City staff to establish roles and review the timeline of the study. A Steering Committee of senior City staff was established, and meetings were held at strategic points throughout the process. A detailed walking analysis was undertaken to gather visual information.

Policy information, past studies and base maps were thoroughly reviewed and relevant Downtown policies were extracted to inform the content development. An opportunities and constraints analysis was completed.

Phase 2: Visioning + Concept Plan Development To begin the public engagement process, a media kick -off event was held in October 2007 where the

Consultant Team introduced the project with the assistance of the General Manager for Planning and Development, Jason Carlston, and Mayor Pat Fiacco.

A presentation to Council was also made to encourage Council involvement moving forward. A series of stakeholder focus group sessions were held to engage key players in the process and to assess the needs and goals of various groups. Those consulted included

Section 1 .4: Study Process

officeforurbanism

9

representatives from: heritage, arts and culture, adjacent neighbourhood representatives, resident's groups, developers, land owners, various City departments, special interest groups, transportation experts, and members from the business community.

In December of 2007, "Forum 1: Downtown Planning Symposium" was held at the Royal Canadian Legion and was attended by over 200 people. The three -day event included a walking tour and a "fresh eyes" analysis presentation on the first day, Visioning Workshops on the second and third day, and a final Open House on the evening of the third day. The key concepts related to the Vision and Principles for the Downtown Plan (see Chapter 3.0), as well as the 8 "Big Moves", all emerged during this first Forum.

In the workshops, the Downtown was divided into five `Demonstration Sites'. Each group of participants explored, with pen and paper, a future development scenario for one of the sites, in keeping with an overarching vision for the site. The "Big Moves" were then

used to inform the development of the Downtown Concept Plan toward the end of this phase and, sub-

Phase 2 concluded with the January 2008 announcement of a $1 million initial implementation project intended to visually signal change Downtown, specifically for the public realm, in the 2008 operating

year. Branded the "WOW" project, it proposed redefining the function and edge of Victoria Park along 12th Avenue to recapture the historic idea of Victoria Park Square. Forum 1 identified Victoria Park as the heart of Downtown Regina, and as a key public space where memorable civic events occur year- round.

Accordingly, the WOW project involves transforming the portion of 12th Avenue along Victoria Park into

a beautiful year -round programmable space with a strong pedestrian focus.

Phase 3: Development of Action Plans Following the establishment of the Vision and Principles for the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, the Consultant Team worked towards creating the Concept Plan and Draft Action Plans along with associated implementation strategies and tools. This began

to frame the recommendations and ideas generated from the background research, technical analysis, and public consultations into a plan and policy structure.

sequently, the "Action Plans" (Phase 3). A newsletter outlining the outcomes of the forum was distributed broadly.

FORU

10

1 AT THE R

e.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

AT THE KNOX METROPOLITAN CHURCH

Introduction

In March 2008, the Consultant Team conducted a workshop with the City Project Team specifically to address transportation planning. Furthermore, a

with 7 different stakeholder groups: developers, business associations, community groups, environment,

special meeting with representatives of the File Hills

evolving draft Plan was also presented to City Council during a working lunch.

Qu'Appelle Tribal Council was held to identify specific

needs that ought to be recognized in the Downtown Plan, giving precedence to future actions related to making Downtown truly for all people. The project and Consultant Team also met with a representative from GBLUR Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity at the University of Regina to better understand the needs of this group.

In April of 2008, "Forum 2: The Downtown Plan" was held at the Knox -Metropolitan Church in Downtown Regina. The three -day forum began with a public

introduction of the draft Downtown Plan, which included a concept drawing and key design moves. The public was given a variety of opportunities to question

and comment on the draft Downtown Plan through a series of interactive panels, comment sheets, and during a question and answer period.

On the second and third days of the Forum, focus group sessions were held during which the draft Downtown Plan and draft Action Plans were tested

FORUM 2 REVIEWING DRAFT- Aff1ONS

transportation, heritage, and arts & culture. The

A key outcome of Forum 2 was a list of risks, mitigating actions and critical success factors for successfully implementing the Plan. A refined list of draft Actions, and champions for each, was also generated. A second

newsletter outlining the outcomes of Forum 2 was distributed broadly.

Phase 4: Presentation of Action Plans.

Forum 2 identified the need to conduct further workshops to help create a Built Form Framework for Downtown. Workshops were held on June 5, 2008 with City staff, and members of the development and heritage communities, to review and refine draft recommendations. The Built Form Framework comprises a significant component of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan and should function as a tool to guide future development to ensure that it is in keeping with the original Vision, Principles, and overall intent of the Downtown Plan.

FORUM 2 COMMENTING ON DRAFT ACTIONS

Section 1 .4: Study Process

officeforurbanism

11

In June of 2008, "Forum 3: Actions and Implementation" was held at the Knox -Metropolitan Church. The Consultant Team presented the overall implementation strategy which included the refined Action Plans, as categorized under the five themes of Live, Work, Play, Movement, and Leadership, to a

Phase 5: Final Downtown Plan

public audience of approximately 200 people. Feedback

key stakeholder groups, the Steering Committee, and City staff. The process of refining the Plan included a series of meetings held with land owners to assess the viability and likely impacts of the proposed Built Form Framework, that resulted in minor adjustments being made.

was received during an interactive panel session and during a question and answer period.

Forum 3 provided an additional opportunity to present

the refined Downtown Plan to City Council, whose enthusiasm had grown for the planning project. A media event following this meeting gave the opportunity for City Councillors and the Mayor to speak to the press about the Plan. From July 2008 to August 2008, the Consultant Team worked towards finalizing

the Downtown Plan and writing a draft report. A third newsletter was also produced which outlined the outcomes of Forum 3.

FORUM 3 PRESENTATION OF DRAFT ACTIONS

12

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

A first draft of the Downtown Plan was completed in August of 2008. It was presented to the project team and Steering Committee for consideration and review. Subsequently, the Plan underwent a series of refinements and revisions as per the involvement of

2.0

Background

Or

ooo

A CITY

IS SHAPED NOT WALTER H.A. HILL 1878 -1972

BY BRICKS AND MORTAR,

BUT BY THE SPIRIT

AND VISION OF

ITS PEOPLE.

DER J. MCPHA]L

883.1931-

PETER LAMONT

rrr -1941

2.1

Background

2.2

Study Area

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan clarifies

Downtown Regina is a completely urbanized area

the future form and function of Downtown Regina

located in the centre of the City of Regina (population just below 200,000) and is surrounded by the neigh-

for 20 years to come and identifies the strategic actions necessary to transform it into a dynamic urban centre.

It defines Downtown as the heart of the City of Regina and as a valuable neighbour to its surrounding neighbourhoods. It recognizes that in order to create a great Downtown, the value of the existing employment base to the City must be leveraged; the distinct history and

cultural setting of Downtown must be highlighted; civic pride must be strengthened; policies must be put in place to encourage the necessary critical mass for a mixed -use, live -work environment; and, both public and private investment will be required.

The Plan considers a complex array of factors that shape Downtown including, but not limited to the planning and policy context, the urban fabric and built form, street patterns and functions, transit and traffic systems, walking and cycling networks, general land uses, heritage, arts, culture and society, retail function, residential population, and pedestrian behaviour.

bourhoods of the Warehouse District to the north, Centre Square (formerly the Transitional Area) to the south, Cathedral Area to the west, North Central neighbourhood to the northwest, and the Core neigh-

bourhood to the east (Figures 1 and 2). Combined, these neighbourhoods are within the Central Zone according to the 2001 Neighbourhood Profiles report, which is roughly the same area defined as the `Inner City' in the 2006 Regina Development Plan.

The study area includes all parcels of land located inside of the boundaries formed by the CPR rail line north of

Saskatchewan Drive, Osler Street, 13th Avenue, and Angus Street. The area includes 40 city blocks created by a rectilinear grid of streets (Figure 3). This area is an historic part of the city, containing many of the early elements that contributed to the identity of the

Township of Regina just prior to its incorporation in 1882. Victoria Park, the rail station, and various heritage buildings such as the Hotel Saskatchewan, the Knox -Metropolitan United Church, and the Saskatchewan Power building on Victoria Avenue, are

just some contributions from Regina's rich past that shape its identity today.

14

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Background

FIGURE 1 . Downtown Regina within its City -wide context.

Section 2.2: Study Area

officeforurbanism

15

FIGURE 2. City of Regina neighbourhood zones.

West Zone

North Zone

Land was reserved for the Regina townsite by Lt. Gov. Dewdney on June 30, 1882, and was christened "Regina" upon the arrival of the first train on August 23, 1882. Regina did not have any formal municipal status until it was proclaimed (incorporated) as a town on December 8, 1883. It was incorporated as a city on June 19, 1903.

Early impressions of Regina were that it was a 'scattered town' or `splayed -out town', with destinations and important buildings separated well beyond easy walking distance from each other. Competing interests with regard to the location of the Township and the location of its services meant that the rail station and associated `tent' business communities - the North

Central Zone

West Mounted Police barracks (established prior to the

Township's incorporation), the Exhibition Grounds,

Source: 2001 Neighbourhood Profiles report

and the Legislative Building - were decentralized from the centre of the Town as if each were trying to make its own statement about where the heart of Regina should be. Interestingly, although today a concentration of government functions and services exist in the core, as

well as a strong employment base, cultural amenities continue to be dispersed throughout the City.

Regina was rooted in societies, sports clubs, and political bodies that formed and conducted the rhythm of daily life. Regina continued to diversify when eastern European immigrants created sub -cultures and communities, such as Germantown (in the Core neighbourhood), resulting in language schools, religious locales, and business ventures that enriched the quality of life for new -comers.

16

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Background

Political activity increased in Regina as it underwent a period of self -discovery. In 1905, Regina lobbied the

Province of Saskatchewan to become the Capital of Saskatchewan and thereafter began a series of land annexations that stretched its boundaries radially around

Downtown. Downtown continued to function as the main business district in Regina because of its adjacency to the train station.

Downtown Regina has a tremendous opportunity to be renewed as a pedestrianized, active, and dynamic Downtown. The walkable scale of the street grid, the availability of developable land, the beauty of Victoria

Park, and the character created by numerous iconic buildings are just a few of its great foundational elements upon which to build.

In 1913, Thomas Mawson offered to draft a comprehensive plan for the City, which was "virtually" completed in the following year. However, the plan was not formally accepted by the City until 1923. The

City created a town planning board in 1924, comprised of senior municipal officials and members of the Regina Town Planning Association. The board prepared a draft zoning bylaw (the City's first), which was adopted by City Council in 1927.

Planned outward growth and suburban development over the years, into the northwest and southeast areas of the city, combined with a popularization of the auto-

mobile, drew residents out of Downtown - amenities and services followed. Consequently, rather than functioning as a once mixed -use neighbourhood with a residential population, Downtown is now largely an office /commercial area, used mainly by government and including a few hundred small businesses, shops, and restaurants. Today, Downtown employs roughly 25,000 professionals, and is home to just under 1,500 residents according to 2006 Census data. This is just 0.8% of the City of Regina's total population.

Section 2.2: Study Area

officeforurbanism

1

'

1114.

....-7... ,.

1

Ii':'-:;.-'.i-.

r

-

3.v.

.-e PIV41. ...

-

'

ri

treje&-t

d

t

7

4,q1laIN:4110 :

.7.-...

d

'- ' ..'

4d r 11 V' .....,.,

.

1 ,L 6; :

d

.., : IL'-) 4 'T

-"4---H 7 '

(gs-lei!

,1

Street

.

Rose Street

I,

..HamiltonStréel-

-i' .' -,,,

,,..r-""- to .. - --,

1 ''' ' v.; emlr'i- nu i ' id .1" ";1.:.

th

117

o

rh

IA.7;ii:gti. 4a. lili Ilf-"al

-r

4.1_

"-I

%-

A7VslStre'etz,

-

Al,

' (1)

.,

i

.i ."

I

r4 ...

.1 kinir"I 13

I.

'

:

o

- .p, %.:

;

.

!"E

.('';

.

..-

,

t!;,4

lo

4

L.,

L

...

.11

.,

-I-

0.....,

'CL-3'

M

% (D 1

'

'

L,

\

7A I.

ad '% 0 \ it :

t: too

."

.....1-1.,.\\

LO;;-"` °

''

, _..

133 A.

IfIn

\,\af41.

0

,, .'

14

S : .:1":.

r2 11: .,?(ri t

--11.1"" ''*1 ieIt

.-

t:Q.1" :',.:

I*

"

..<;.1

1 '7--71i3L.7! .... --

"I

.3 Z1 rj.. .,_

'

I

-

6110... :-711 .

-

d'I

4, 1

InP

41.1

'

; : .; i4.

'

' r.

' .d' '

son .t..roat

)- - -

js-

-1

-.."--F

-_ -02

L

':-

`-

Al 1 I.*

,.. %

-.m11.0

'MI

.

4.

414601.. "L'4'in

.44

'ftlii

:

-

CL

o C o

o o o o

rn

o C

-n

Background

2.3

2.3.1

Planning and Policy Context Provincial Acts

Municipal powers for the City of Regina are listed under The Cities Act, which stipulates the form of governance for Saskatchewan municipalities. Powers related to the planning and development of municipalities, including the responsibility to create an official plan, are listed under The Planning and Development Act. Under The Planning and Development Act, the City

is required to have an Official Community Plan, and the Regina Development Plan, Bylaw No. 7877 fulfils this requirement.

2.3.2 Regina Official Community Plan Bylaw 7877 Regina Development

social and economic diversity through the provision of a variety of housing types, public amenities, business types, and modes of transportation Downtown.

The OCP also prioritizes the re- development and infill development of the Inner City neighbourhoods

through the conversion of vacant land for inner city residential uses. Development of housing and niche -market commercial spaces on these lands are also considered ideal land uses. The OCP further emphasizes this point by directing compact development along major transit corridors. However, there is strong direction given to suburban development in the southeast, southwest, and northwest sectors of the city. That is, the intent to create a vibrant Downtown exists, but supporting policies are absent.

Plan

PART A: Official Community Plan (OCP) Land use is directed by the Regina Official Community Plan (Bylaw 7877, Regina Development Plan), including neighbourhood or sector plans found in the OCP. The OCP provides a comprehensive policy framework to guide the physical, environmental, social and cul-

tural development of the City or parts of the City.

Under section 40(1) of The Planning and Development Act, the OCP is binding on Council and no development may be approved or carried out in the City that is contrary to the OCP.

Neighbourhood Plans apply to areas considered to be

part of the `Inner City', whereas the northwest and southeast, and southwest sector plans apply to areas outside the Inner City in which new neighbourhoods should form (Figure 4).

The principal policy objective of the OCP is to stimulate city development that will highlight Regina as the Capital of Saskatchewan. The OCP strongly emphasizes the importance of Downtown as the economic and cultural hub of Regina and emphasis is placed on achieving

OCP objectives are to be met by recognizing existing clusters and /or directing the geographic clustering of services within service corridors such as the "knowledge corridor ". Allusion is made towards the creation of an "arts corridor," tied closely with the knowledge corridor. Furthermore, the neighbourhood and sector

plans provide more detailed objectives and aim to protect unique functions and characteristics of stable Inner City neighbourhoods.

There are also provisions for environmental protection of open spaces (natural and manicured), waste management, and energy conservation. The OCP provides

guidelines for the design and management of public spaces (mainly roadways and arterial streets) to create and enhance gateway views into the city and to Downtown.

PART G: Downtown Plan Downtown is currently governed by Part G of the RDP. The policy framework within this Regina Downtown

Neighbourhood Plan is intended to replace the existing Part G, providing the policies and objectives that will govern and guide future development and investment Downtown over the next 20 years.

Section 2.3: Planning and Policy Context 19

Itofficeforurbanism

FIGURE 4. Growth strategy by neighbourhoods as defined in the Regina Development Plan directs 75% of growth towards the northwest, southwest, and southeast sectors, and 25% towards infill development throughout the municipality.

\fro .

I

North Sec

e

`21

24

t 1T------

LEGEND OOMMER AL AREAS RESDENTIAL

9

INDUSTRIAL AIRPORT

URBAN HOLDINGS

-. -

4

leg DIRECTED GROWTH FUTURE RESIDENTIAL

4<INDUSTRIAL GROWTH :

20

East) r

IIIII RAIL WAY LANDS

Alv MAJOR ROADS AN

1

r

PARK

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Background

2.3.3 Downtown Zoning Zoning for Downtown will be amended in the Zoning

2.3.5 Other Relevant Documents, Policies, and Strategies

Bylaw No. 9250 to conform to the new Downtown

To date, there has not been a comprehensive neigh-

Plan.

In particular, zoning will be amended to

conform to the Public Realm Framework and Built

bourhood plan prepared for Downtown such as the one presented in this document. A Downtown

Form Framework requirements of the amended OCP.

study prepared for the City of Regina and Regina's Market Square (now the Regina Downtown Business

2.3.4 Other Relevant Bylaws These are additional bylaws that operate within

ImprovementDistrict) provides a favourable Downtown vision, much of it still echoed in this Plan, but focuses only on land uses such as retail, office, residential, and education without much consideration given to systems of movement (transit, traffic, cycling, pedestrianism), governance and leadership issues, urban design, and arts and culture, all of which are also essential components of a comprehensive neighbourhood plan. Other documents that have relevant policies, guidelines, and recommendations for Downtown include:

Downtown.

Building Bylaw 2003 -7 The Building Bylaw regulates building construction

pursuant to The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act and The Cities Act. It applies to "the design, construction and occupancy of new buildings and the alteration, reconstruction, demolition, removal, relocation and occupancy of existing buildings."

Maintenance Bylaw 2008 -48 Mandated in The Cities Act, the Maintenance Bylaw aims to ensure safe and tidy neighbourhoods by setting

Heritage Design Guidelines, 2007 Open Space Management Strategy, 2006

Regina Urban Forest Management Strategy, 2000

minimum maintenance standards of properties for tenants and for property owners. Implementation and management of the Bylaw occurs through community reporting and City inspection.

Plan for the City of Regina's Bikeway Network, 2002

Regina Road Network Plan, 2005

Municipal Heritage Holding Bylaw 8912 This bylaw is officially known as "A Bylaw of the City of Regina to Deny a Permit for the Alteration or Demolition of Properties that the Council of the City of Regina May Wish to Designate as Municipal Heritage Properties." Potential heritage properties are

protected from demolition under a 60 -day holding period to allow the City to assess the heritage merits of the property and to review alternatives to demolition.

Scarth Street Mall Enhancement Study, 1990 Regina Downtown Parking Study, 1983

Regina Street Enhancement, 2006

The Future of Housing in Regina Laying the Groundwork, 2000 Downtown Area Residential Development: A Framework for Action, 1989

Section 2.3: Planning and Policy Context 21

Itofficeforurbanism

Regina Knowledge Corridor Strategic Plan, 2002

Wascana Centre Master Plan, 2006 13th Avenue Commercial Study, 1985

2.3.6 Relevant Existing Incentives Affecting Development and Land

Inner City Housing Stimulation Strategy (ICHSS) (Applies to surrounding neighbourhoods)

Property tax exemptions over a 5 -year period for new owner -occupied (non- rental) houses in the Inner City.

A recent discussion paper recommends the inclusion

of multi -unit rental projects (up to four units, with one occupied by the owner) and affordable housing, and the provision of tax exemptions on land as well as on buildings, to increase the number of eligible

projects in areas that need the most stimulation.

Use

Municipal Incentive Policy for the Preservation of Heritage Properties This policy offers property tax exemption for up to 8 years for properties designated as Municipal Heritage Property Downtown.

2.3.7 Other Programs for Community Development Civic Arts Funding Program The Civic Arts Funding Program is designed to

Transit Pass Program

support Saskatchewan -based non -profit arts organizations serving Regina to "establish themselves, enhance

(Zoning Bylaw Ch.14 s.7.5) For a new or expanding administrative or manufacturing building that requires

their services, and provide their programming to the community." An application to the fund can be made

40 or more parking spaces and is within 76.2 metres of a street served by Regina Transit, the minimum parking requirement may be reduced by 2.5 parking spaces for every five transit passes, reduced by at least 50 %, provided to employees in a proposed structure for a minimum

(ii) Community Arts, (iii) Special Projects, or (iv) Contingency (emergencies, projects occurring after annual deadline). Funds are awarded on the basis of

under one offour categories: (i) Ongoing Programming,

artistic merit and organizational capacity.

of five years, or duration of business establishment.

Festival Funding Program

Downtown Residential Tax Incentives Program (Applies to properties identedin Part GofRDP, orD zone)

Tax exemption for up to 5 years for residential condo and rental projects. The exemption applies to land and building assessment and commences January 1 of the year following the approval of the application and commencement of the development project.

22

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

The Festival Funding Program provides funds for cultural and /or artistic festivals /events that are open to the general public and that promote an awareness and appreciation for an arts or cultural theme. Applicants must be a Saskatchewan -based non -profit organization and funding is based on organizational capacity.

Background

Community Capital Partnership Program (formerly Self Help Program) The Community Capital Partnership Program, formerly called the Self -Help Program, assists community based non -profit organizations to initiate capital projects that will improve the organizations' stability and increase service delivery capacity in the areas of arts, culture, heritage, recreation, and sports for Regina residents.

Hosting Assistance Program This program is designed to encourage organizations to host amateur championship events in Regina, assisting non -profit community organizations with the facility and equipment rental fees for championship competitions held in the city.

Urban Aboriginal Community Grant Program The Urban Aboriginal Community Grant Program assists non -profit community organizations in the development and provision of sport, culture, and recreation programs for aboriginal people living in Regina, to improve physical fitness and to provide learning opportunities.

Social Development Community Investment Program This program is designed to assist Regina -based non -profit organizations to deliver social services for individuals and families who are vulnerable and living in Regina by providing funding to enable agencies to develop and implement effective services that address priority social issues and needs.

Section 2.3: Planning and Policy Context 23

Itofficeforurbanism

2.4

Conditions, Constraints & Opportunities

The City of Regina has a dramatic presence in the prairie landscape. The carefully laid -out inner city neighbourhoods with their tree -lined streets are a testament to an environment that is both deliberate and relatively recent. Wascana Centre, with its varied and breathtaking parks, further points to a history in Regina of long -term visioning, planning, and place making.

2.4.1 Opportunities

Regina as the capital city - its role as a ceremonial and gathering centre; the focus of government; a location for regional corporate headquarters.

Concentration of government and ofice employment uses

Downtown - an extraordinary concentration for a Downtown too has a dramatic presence. It has a well developed skyline that has continued to evolve and change over time, and a diverse assortment of modern buildings. Unfortunately, certain aspects of change have come at a cost. Whereas the Downtown of yesteryear was the heart of the city, with bustling sidewalks and diverse businesses and institutions, today a significant amount of land is dedicated to parking cars.

An examination of existing conditions was conducted using map analyses, photo interpretation, policy review, background document reviews, traffic modelling, and stakeholder interviews. The existing conditions analysis revealed a set of constraints towards a thriving Downtown environment as well as a set of general opportunities for improvement.

city of Regina's scale; provides a tremendous daytime population.

Diverse historic neighbourhoods - adjacent neighbourhoods are planned on a grid, and have populations that

are loyal to the Downtown and that use Downtown amenities.

Beautiful Wascana Centre- is a tremendous recreational asset for all of Regina, but in particular for Downtown,

where people living at higher densities in the future will benefit most from it.

The grid - a compact and walkable Downtown results from an intact, well -connected, fine -grained street network.

Victoria Park - a central oasis, just the right size for Downtown; has the potential to evolve, adding people,

activity, and amenity to become the Regina's main square.

Cultural activities - potential to develop cultural partnerships and programs given the interest of the arts community in playing an active role in its future.

24

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Background

Significant opportunity areas - Broad Street, Albert Street, and Saskatchewan Drive are today underutilized; with imagination and commitment, they can

Under -investment in the public realm - there has been little investment in the past 20 years; past investment has been of an inconsistent character and quality.

transform to places of vitality and value.

Remaining heritage - needs to be protected and revitalized: these jewels exist only here. There is a significant

Car -oriented infrastructure - Downtown is designed for cars: wide roads, wide lanes, one -way streets, an

stock of heritage properties that creates a distinct

abundance of surface and structured parking, few pedestrian crosswalks or signals, and weak transit

character in Downtown.

infrastructure.

2.4.2 Constraints Engrained social patterns - Downtown is no longer the

heart of the action - people do not expect to live, to dine, or to be entertained Downtown; new development has not necessarily focused on quality; people

Car -oriented culture - despite Downtown Regina's compact and walkable scale, a car -oriented culture is evident in the travelling behaviour of those who work Downtown and in Downtown's overall physical form. Parking structures and surface parking lots dominate views, and negatively impact the pedestrian experience.

expect to drive everywhere.

A limited residential population Downtown - while em-

Decentralized civic and cultural institutions - Regina has not developed a critical mass of important arts, culture,

ployment uses remain strong, the limited residential population, combined with the dispersal of arts and cultural institutions throughout the city (as opposed

and retail facilities and activities in the Downtown; rather, these amenities are scattered throughout the

to being clustered in the Downtown), results in a Downtown that is underutilized on evenings and

city and currently best accessed by driving.

weekends. This constrains the viability of the restau-

The railway divide - crossings are limited and are designed for vehicles; they make poor connections

city.

rants, services, and specialty retail which ought to distinguish the Downtown from other parts of the

between Downtown and important areas to the north (the Warehouse District and Mosaic Stadium) from

which pedestrian movement into the Downtown should take place.

Section 2.4: Conditions, Constraints & Opportunities

officeforurbanism

25

Then... .

.,...

- -,

JL r+lï+-

ti.

r}`. ;

j

a Y

r- LN't_.,`

'

,+

.k;''

.1 ^7.L

:_ .,`=

'

"

2......;-_r_.1/4.;-;, 't.

, ,,r-1r-_t -! ,1 '

-

V

I

,. .'

.ryC~

W -::"} '-._

.

I

4

.

.

-

7.4--=1

':

*`

r

f.::. ._I'._--

"

i

_

'.Sf,'!..-¡ïs_

: '-

-'rL :,y -

'

+'

.

`.

r

a

i'_

'

t,

,

,+

i

.'a '

.

..,"..Nil..

. 7*;" 1

, .'-',:-.s..-;,41: ; .

4

-,*

.

*

_

"i

N' ;;IL

The centre of employment, entertainment, and shopping for the city.

People on the streets during the day and evening.

Few gaps. Clear connections between Downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Lower scale buildings created continuous defined streetscapes.

Landmark buildings on Victoria Park.

26

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

...and

now

The centre of employment only.

Downtown empties out after 5 p.m.

Gaps in the urban fabric for parking lots. Abrupt transitions to surrounding neighbourhoods.

Tall buildings without continuous streetscapes. Significant amounts of heritage demolished.

Mature skyline with more landmark buildings. Some tall buildings not of landmark quality.

Section 2.4: Conditions, Constraints & Opportunities

officeforurbanism

27

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

;

.4

,

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

The Importance of a Great Downtown

3.1

"We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us ". - Winston Churchill Great cities have great Downtowns.

A great Downtown is memorable and dramatic; life is played out on its streets. A great Downtown is the drum that sets the rhythm of the city; there is a unique tune to every place. A great Downtown draws people in; it inspires, energizes, and tells the story of the people who inhabit it - their dreams, aspirations, where they have been, and who they are becoming.

Downtown, in a multitude of ways, is the heart of the city. It is the preeminent civic, cultural, and com-

mercial district. Urbanists, architects, sociologists, environmentalists, philosophers, and countless public intellectuals alike have observed that an intelligently designed Downtown fosters the development of the most resilient and creative community in the city; one characterized by elements acting individually and in combination, that engender and sustain a high quality

In an era in which we are increasingly becoming aware of the unsustainable nature of suburban, sprawling, automobile dependent environments, great Downtowns offer both an ancient and a new hope: a place where we can live in safe communities that allow us to undertake all of the activities of daily life - work, school, leisure on a smaller geographical footprint and on foot.

Downtown Regina's opportunity is to become the

great destination of Regina. By developing a truly pedestrian- oriented environment that is also unique from the rest of the city, living life on foot becomes a luxurious opportunity for all. The Downtown Plan offers a Vision for an alternative lifestyle that is more active and interactive; more entertaining and stimulating; more diverse and yet more identifiable as the national and international icon of the City.

of life.

Thriving Downtown areas facilitate vibrant cultural activities and commerce, attract tourists, incubate local independent businesses, accommodate a variety of lifestyle choices, make efficient use of existing municipal services and infrastructure, and offer a place for all to be. These attributes are unique to well designed Downtown areas because Downtowns have the necessary density of people, mix of uses, variety of activities, pedestrian charm, built quality, and sense of place that enables this vitality.

Section 3.1 : The Importance of a Great Downtown 31

Itofficeforurbanism

3.2

Elements of a Successful Downtown Regina

3.2.1 Embracing the Winter City During Regina's cold winter months there seems to be a propensity for people to hibernate - one leaves a heated house, and goes into a heated car, to a parking garage, then walks through a heated pedway and into a heated

building - all without ever having to wear a winter jacket and taking one breath outside! Consequently, the streets of Downtown Regina are bare.

It is possible to have active streets year -round in a winter city. To do so it is necessary to embrace winter weather. In winter cities where winter is respected and celebrated, people prepare for winter by wearing proper weather protection, and by designing uses, open space

systems, and forms of movement that acknowledge the need for frequent moments of reprieve from the weather.

The urban environment must comfortably accommodate people on the streets in all seasons. This can be achieved though the effective and efficient maintenance of the streets such as removing snow from all sidewalks and roads. It can also be addressed through urban design measures that mitigate wind, snow and cold, as well as through building designs and land use planning decisions that explicitly seek to shelter people from winter conditions.

32

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

For example, providing a continuous building frontage at the edge of a street, with awnings that shelter a sidewalk, as well as multiple entrances, is a significantly different winter condition, with less negative impacts, than walking through surface parking lots (which provide no shelter and provide no opportunity for reprieve). It is possible to plan to minimize these negative experiences, thereby making the winter city less harsh.

Providing spaces that can be used for winter celebration is essential to creating a culture that uses winter to define its distinction. Flexible civic spaces that can be programmed for festivals year -round exist elsewhere.

Great Canadian cities host outdoor winter festivals, such as Winnipeg's Festival du Voyageur, Ottawa's Winterlude, and the Quebec Winter Carnival. These festivals are celebrations, important tourist attractions, and cultural rituals - and they usually take place within the city's Downtown.

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

3.2.2 A Resilient and Diverse Residential Population Many cities across North America have recognized

the tremendous demand for Downtown living, particularly by the increasing number of young professionals, empty nesters, and students who desire to live in proximity to employment, unique shops, theatres, museums, bars, and restaurants. Most thriving Downtowns are comprised of such a demographic.

A Downtown neighbourhood provides a stable critical mass of people who in turn provide a market for retail districts, commercial office space, entertainment venues, and recreational destinations. This critical mass should be comprised of a diversity of people characterized by a range of ages and socio- economic groups, thereby making it feasible to establish a high diversity of activities, niche -markets, and service options Downtown.

To support a diverse residential neighbourhood, a variety of housing types and employment opportunities are also necessary, as are neighbourhood amenities such as public schools. The housing stock should allow residents from all income levels to live Downtown at any point in their life cycle. Diverse residential neighbourhoods in proximity to Downtown will benefit from

nearby shopping, entertainment, and dining options.

Correspondingly, Downtown areas will benefit from

the supplementary influx of pedestrian traffic supplied by adjacent neighbourhood inhabitants, and by transit

users who are attracted to the activities, shops, and other amenities Downtown.

3.2.3 Inviting Public Spaces Designed correctly, public spaces provide opportunities for improving the quality of life for those that work, live, and visit Downtown. Public spaces inspire people to walk and to linger Downtown. They offer opportunities for reinvestment; serve as the primary locations for civic assembly to celebrate, protest or mourn; accommodate a variety of seasonal events including concerts, festivals and artisan displays; provide

a safe and inviting locale; and, offer ground floor retail activity opportunities in adjacent surrounding buildings.

3.2.4 A Clear Identity A Downtown becomes memorable when it possesses a clear visual identity; an identity that functions as a symbol of place and of city.

Identity is a part of the distinction of a place, and thereby attracts people to live, work, and play.

Protecting and enhancing the authentic, unique, and memorable qualities that distinguish an area and define its identity, such as heritage, natural features, and architecture are a cornerstone of placemaking.

Section 3.2: Elements of a Successful Downtown Regina

officeforurbanism

33

Architectural landmarks not only contribute to creating a sense of place and history through distinctive details, materials and spaces, they also offer opportunities for

adaptive reuse and integration into the Downtown They increase economic value for residential tenants and business owners alike, and become tourist attractions. The city's built form, as can be described through the skyline, is a key part of its visual identity.

The unique mix of heritage buildings in a Downtown setting tell the story of a place over time, a story that is as specific and unique as the visible historic fabric. fabric.

Identity can be heightened through a distinctive way finding and signage strategy that connects destinations within Downtown and allows for convenient navigation between places.

3.2.5 Pedestrian -Oriented Walking is the most affordable, equitable, and sustainable of all forms of transportation and is essential both as a means of movement and as a form of recreation.

It should be supported by the built form of the urban

3.2.6 Appropriate Density In order for a range of commercial, institutional, and cultural amenities, as well as public transit, to be viable

Downtown, a critical mass of people are required. If densities are too low, businesses will not survive. If densities are too high, or inappropriately configured throughout an urban landscape, infrastructure will be insufficient and new development will detract from, rather than contribute to, the urban fabric. More specifically, if too much density is accommodated on limited sites in the short -term, many other sites that are currently "gaps" within the urban fabric will not be developed in the near term. As such, appropriate density needs to be accommodated in an appropriate form in order to create vibrant streetscapes and inter-

environment, as well as with safe and comfortable connections between Downtown destinations. This

esting public places.

will inspire people to walk.

When gaps in the urban fabric are filled, walking

Quality of life and community development is associated with, and directly affected by, pedestrian activity.

Pedestrian -oriented urban places are critical, as they generate a lively streetscape and reason for people to interact with each other and contribute to the landscape of civic life. Local businesses and restaurants located

in an urban setting rely on the walk-by pedestrian

34

customer for the success of their livelihood. By locating commercial amenities within walking distances, it becomes possible to shape the built environment and social infrastructure in a way that enhances pedestrian movement, and ultimately reduces the dependence on the automobile for short journeys.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

becomes more desirable. There is interest, amenity, and activity for the pedestrian. Distances seem shorter,

weather is easier to mitigate, and the likelihood of interacting with others increases. Determining the appropriate density for any urban environment should be linked to an assessment of the critical mass of people required, anticipated growth rates, and the amount of infill necessary to begin to create a continuous public realm.

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

..

.'i

r

n..

1R

z`

Accessible Movement Options

3.2.7 A Creative Sector Anchor

3.2.8

Creative sectors include the industries related to the visual arts, performing arts, knowledge -based sectors (such as academia and technical professions), hospitality and tourism, and of course, the commercial sector.

An important consideration with regard to developing a complete, walkable, dense, and vibrant Downtown is the improvement of transit service to truly become supportive of a more active Downtown. Regular, reliable,

These symbiotic industries are recognized as a key

and convenient transit service will allow new resi-

driving force for economic development in urban environments. Further, the clustering - in which people,

dents to choose to live a car -free lifestyle Downtown, and will enable visitors to come Downtown without

industries, employment opportunities and interests locate in proximity to one another - of these professions is recognised to be essential to the economic

automobiles, to enjoy the character, amenities and activities of Downtown on foot, and to support local businesses.

health of cities, and their regions.

Creative clustering allows individuals to interact as a community and to succeed both as individuals and as a cluster. Private businesses, small entrepreneurial initiatives, cultural organizations, non -profit organizations, and individuals involved in all stages of the creative process, ranging from full time workers to freelancers, all benefit from clustering Downtown, due to shared interests and synergies. The existence and close proximity of different kinds of contributors

A key impact of improved transit will be to reduce the need for surface parking Downtown, allowing existing lots to be redeveloped. The reduction of surface

parking lots Downtown will fill gaps in the public realm, and new development will contribute to the further improvement of Downtown's character and physical coherence, attracting new residents who in turn will support enhanced amenity and create an increasingly vibrant environment.

in the creative sector produces a wide range of creative and cultural goods and services, leading to innovation and contributing to the Downtown identity.

Downtowns should strive to become an anchor for the creative community which is recognized by many to be the core force of growth in our future economy.

The synergies and benefits of becoming a creative sector anchor are many. These include added value for commerce and housing; job creation, retention and expansion in desirable sectors which in -turn propagate a desirable built form and sense of place; and, establishing Downtown as a hub for talent and tremendous economic development potential.

Section 3.2: Elements of a Successful Downtown Regina

officeforurbanism

35

Vision and Principles

3.3

The Vision statement establishes the rationale for the

Downtown Regina will also be a cultural hub, a place where residents from across the city and tourists alike come to meet one another, to experience beauty in an urban setting, to visit

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, to which all Action Plans, directions, and recommendations have been based. This is a statement espoused by the public and reflects the desired outcome of this Plan.

Future developments Downtown will be reviewed for consistency with the Vision and Principles that follow (Section 3.3.1 and 3.3.2).

galleries, to attend events, to access services, to shop at one -of -a -kind specialty retail stores and to dine at one -of -a -kind restaurants. It will be a place where entrepreneurship flourishes.

As a result of building standards that promote

Vision Statement

3.3.1

In 20 years, Downtown Regina will be a new complete neighbourhood with a community of people from all walks of life who thrive in an active, accessible, green and historic urban setting, and who, if they choose, are able to walk to work.

environmental sustainability and a high - quality

living environment, as well as urban design investments that seek to create an exceptional public realm, the Downtown, as the central place for all Reginans, will be a place of distinction and beauty.

This neighbourhood will include families, students, older and young adults, empty nesters and professionals, and will be sustained by a strong employment, retail, and commercial base. i.

.

.._

'.

..

-6,Fw

,.

.c _

:Y`'r'(...1d'-.''{^ -

_ , ,.:

' __

; d.. *;;

r.

,.s

_.

-

...,, F

.

--

-. o,`'

-

36

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

' . . ..

r. " ^°`1 ,U.. I ,o¿. :. .. .. '. _J.__ K.+fi-7rti. ï.,_ I...Y,-+}s! +'. ~fY,'

r..iL

:7t7

-

; -.

.

r

_

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

3.3.2

Principles

actions and policies, and are also rooted in every one

Eleven Principles stem from the Vision for Downtown

Regina. These Principles are very much in keeping with the necessary elements of a great Downtown, but have been fundamentally informed by the public consultation process. The Principles function as a guiding framework to ensure that the Vision is clearly

of the Big Moves. More importantly, these Principles must be taken as a whole. All of these Principles, in equal measure, must be respected to fulfil the Vision.

The Principles are the most static part of the Plan and should be used to guide decision -making over the long term.

translated into the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

r

For all Regina Downtown should be integral and integrated with the city and region, a welcome social gathering place for all of Regina.

A Complete, Livable Community Downtown should be a neighbourhood where people live, work, meet, stroll, shop, congregate, observe, play, and worship.

Gorgeous Downtown should be a source of civic pride, with a strong identity.

Section 3.3: Vision and Principles

officeforurbanism

37

, -----....

4 5

9 h.r

I i'

Connected Downtown should connect to surrounding neighbourhoods and to the activities within.

Dynamic Downtown should be animated and vibrant 24 / 7 / 12.

Built form should encourage small enterprises, different scaled spaces and a mix of uses.

A Hub

,Rr!

A'c /

Downtown should be a centre of arts, culture, creativity, innovation and knowledge, and an incubator for artists and entrepreneurs.

ARĂ&#x152;!

Walkable + Multi -modal Downtown should offer a built form and open space system that encourages people to walk and enables transportation options.

8 38

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Safe Downtown should be an environment where people feel safe and welcome, providing "eyes on the street ", animation and clear pedestrian environments.

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

9

Healthy Downtown should foster healthy lifestyles and sustainable environments.

Accessible, Inclusive and Diverse

1

Downtown should be open to all, and should foster a diversity of uses, people, activities, and living choices.

11

Adaptive Re -use Downtown should build upon its unique identity and heritage: buildings, streets, and landscapes.

1

2

The Best Place to Invest Downtown Regina is, and should continue to be, the best place to invest both private and public sector dollars. New commercial development - office, retail, and services - are welcome and will be supported.

Section 3.3: Vision and Principles

officeforurbanism

39

3.4

The 8 Big Moves

Downtown Regina's Big Moves are the driving ideas for change that form the basis for the proposed Public Realm Framework, the Built Form Framework, and the subsequent Action Plans. They are tangible concepts that bring the Vision and Principles to life. The Big Moves assimilate recurring comments and suggestions from the public and are the justification for future actions and implementation strategies laid out in later chapters of this Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

40

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Walk to Work A Downtown that is defined and framed by residential neighbourhoods.

Regina is an exceptional place - exceptional because it bucked the trend, embraced sustainability and became one of the first medium -sized cities in Canada to provide a big -city opportunity - the opportunity to own one less car, to use active transportation as a primary way of moving about.

Stop and say hello to your neighbours, grab a coffee, get some exercise and know that you are doing something to address climate change - all as you walk to work. Downtown Regina should accommodate 25% of the city's annual residential growth, creating the critical mass of people neccessary for a vibrant lifestyle.

2

The City Square Victoria Park is the jewel, the organizing element of the City.

Victoria Park is the City Square, the community living room of Downtown core, a place that is symbolic of "Regina the Queen City ", beautiful, active, vibrant, connected, and inspirational. It is the starting point in the city - every design move, every programmatic initiative, builds on the geography of Victoria Park and emanates outwards. It is embedded within an identifiable historic district that tells the story of

the city through buildings, furnishings, the character of the streets, and public art.

Section 3.4: The 8 Big Moves 41

officeforurbanism

3

Pedestrians First All streets designed for walking.

Streets for walking are streets with wide sidewalks; with pedestrian amenities such as lighting and benches; and, with great buildings that interest pedestrians, make them feel safe, and offer them opportunities to take shelter from the cold and to interact with the city.

4A Green Zone A well maintained urban forest that adds seasonal ambience and urban wildlife habitat.

Every street is a warm and inviting public space lined with lush trees

that bring warmth and life back into Downtown, in all seasons.

Aside from creating beautiful views, the trees offer shaded places to rest or walk under, they recharge the air, and provide friendly urban wildlife habitat. Green roofs and community gardens add a level of sustainability to the urban landscape and buildings are retrofitted for energy efficiency.

5

A Cycling Culture Cultivate and support cycling as a viable means to move about.

Every street has been designed with the cyclist in mind. Broad cycling paths provide a key clue: this is a great city in which to cycle.

Employers encourage cyclists by providing the amenities they need such as safe bike storage and showers, and reward them with incentives. The City hosts an Annual Bike to Work Week, closing some roads for cyclists and holding celebrations in the park.

42

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

6Exceptional Public Transit A Downtown that is best accessed by public transit.

Public transit is the best motorized way to get to work, school, or to shop and play. Public transit is a tool that links the diverse destinations of the city through direct routes that are as efficient as other modes of travel.

7Friendly Faรงades Existing buildings, at grade level, remediated to create a lively, animated pedestrian realm.

Following the lead of the Atlantis Coffee site, existing buildings that do not support the experience of the pedestrian will be transformed to enhance it. The Cornwall Centre, on all sides, will be opened to

the street; existing parking structures will be transformed to have active uses at grade; and, office buildings will have greater transparency at the street.

8Festival Places Create places for gathering, to allow arts and culture to flourish and to be celebrated.

The transformed portion of 12th Avenue adjacent to Victoria Park will act as the new festival and market street that includes the width of the street and both sidewalks, from park edge to the building faces, and will contribute to a renewed concept of the WOW Project.

Queen Elizabeth II Court will become a ceremonial space for formal events and year -round civic celebrations, and together with the WOW Project will clearly mark the festival centre and cultural heart of Downtown.

Section 3.4: The 8 Big Moves 43

officeforurbanism

Map 1. Concept Plan

44

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

3.5

Conceptual Neighbourhood Plan

This Conceptual Downtown Neighbourhood Plan demonstrates one possible outcome of the Vision and Big Moves. It illustrates the inter -relationship between

streetscape improvements, a new public open space strategy, defined new gateways and the full build -out of currently vacant or under -built sites.

KEY DESIGN MOVES 1.

Victoria Park is the focaI point of Downtown and is surrounded by active uses.

10. Broad sidewalks and double row of trees for Saskatchewan Drive, Broad Street and Albert Street.

2.

Plaza treatment extends the WOW Project and roads can be closed to host additional festivals and events.

3.

Unique streetscape in heritage core (Victoria Park area) and in front of other historic buildings.

4.

Pedestrian Linkage from Queen Elizabeth II Court to Victoria Park.

5.

Queen Elizabeth II Court animated with active edges including cafĂŠ spill -out, engaging summer and winter water features and a variety of amenities.

11

.

Possible new high quality transit shelters along a transit hub waiting area.

12. Create a train station park, in the location of the historic park.

13. Near -term conversion to two -way east -west streets.

14. Pedestrian crosswalks at all Downtown intersections.

15. Bike lanes on key Downtown streets.

16. Special crosswalks at intersections along Victoria Avenue.

6.

Friendly façade treatments throughout Downtown, particularly on all public buildings.

7.

Gateway treatments into Downtown can include public art.

17. Reinstate grand landscaping treatment for Victoria Avenue.

8.

Pedestrian linkage to Taylor Field /Evraz Place (Dewdney Avenue Corridor).

18. New or revitalized pocket parks (shown as conceptual; locations to be determined).

9.

Possible small pocket parks, or building features, at the termini of north -south streets.

Section 3.5: Conceptual Neighbourhood Plan

officeforurbanism

45

4.0

Public Realm Framework

47

REGINA downtown plan

4.1

Purpose & Objectives

The Public Realm Framework is the general plan that defines and guides the implementation of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan with respect to the existing and potential elements of Downtown that are primarily in public ownership. This includes public uses, all public open spaces and streetscapes. The Public Realm Framework shapes the most prominent and visible aspects of the urban environment, and therefore determines the character and the quality of the experience of Downtown.

Consistent with the Vision for Downtown Regina, the purpose of this Framework is to ensure that the quality and character of the public realm will enhance Downtown’s livability, economic vitality, aesthetic quality and pedestrian environment. The key objective of the Public Realm Framework is to develop a legible, coherent, and appealing physical environment.

This is accomplished by identifying and coordinating improvements to the public realm in keeping with the Vision.

By articulating the objectives for the public realm that are necessary for bringing the long-term Vision to fruition, this Framework serves as the primary guide for informing and making decisions with respect to capital improvements and strategies. The City of Regina must lead by example, creating a splendid public realm that exhibits the highest quality in design and materials.

Regina’s leadership must extend beyond the physical

48

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

infrastructure to include regular maintenance and upkeep (such as snow removal), programming of public spaces, and monitoring and enforcement. Together, these actions will set a high standard for public spaces Downtown, providing public benefit and inspiring private investment to follow suit.

The components that comprise the Public Realm Framework are: •

Creating a Successful Public Realm (Section 4.2)

•

Streetscape Typologies (Section 4.3)

•

Open Spaces (Section 4.4)

•

Visual Prominence (Section 4.5)

Each component is a strategy on its own and contains detailed guidelines that make reference to specific locations, streets and typologies.

Public Realm Framework

4.2

Creating a Successful Public Realm

4.2.1 Safety

•

How the public realm is designed, programmed, and interfaces with surrounding streets and land uses is crucial to its capacity to attract and delight a broad spectrum of users and to ensuring that it is a place where people feel safe and comfortable. Accordingly, principles that build on Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) are to be applied to all public open spaces Downtown.

Include a variety of activities and a mix of surrounding uses to facilitate constant public use and/or surveillance of the space in all hours and seasons.

•

Ensure clear views of surrounding areas of streets and open spaces.

•

Incorporate adequate lighting to ensure all areas of circulation, entrance, and connection are lit.

•

Use legible signs and orienting devices such as landmarks and pathways.

CPTED is a proactive crime prevention strategy utilized by planners, architects, police services, security professionals and everyday users of space. It is a strategy used around the world and operates on common sense. CPTED advocates the proper design and effective use of the built environment to lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime, and to the overall improvement of quality of life.

Building upon CPTED, the following are key principles for all public realm design: •

Provide active building frontages facing public spaces, including entries and windows, to ensure people’s “eyes” are on the space, thus enhancing the sense of safety and discouraging inappropriate behaviour.

•

Facilitate active uses within public spaces including sidewalk patios, outdoor displays, buskers, festivals, and the like.

•

Design the public realm to enable ease of access and egress and avoid the creation of entrapment spots that are not highly visible or well-used.

Section 4.2: Creating a Successful Public Realm

49

REGINA downtown plan

4.2.2 Wayfinding Wayfinding orients all users of Downtown to ensure they are able to move with ease and confidence. All elements of the public realm and built environment have the potential to contribute to this orientation.

Wayfinding tools include signs, graphic communications, spatial markers, streetscape elements, building design, the street network and space planning. All elements should work together to ensure that routes are easily understood and navigated, and destinations are clear. The public realm framework is designed to contribute to clear wayfinding, such as designing for visual prominence, and providing unique streetscape treatments. These approaches are useful for both residents and visitors.

Of particular assistance to visitors are graphic communications, including street signs, directional signage and maps. Downtown Regina should establish a continuity of signs throughout, with all key cultural destinations identified by signage and maps. This may require the co-ordination or redesign of signage for transit.

FIGURE 5. Wayfinding tool for pedestrians

50

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

â&#x20AC;˘

Refer to Downtown Regina Built Form Framework (Section 5) for the design of landmark buildings, building entrances, corners, setbacks and other techniques for ensuring built form reinforces a clearly navigable environment.

â&#x20AC;˘

Ensure street signs are easily legible for pedestrians and vehicles. Ensure building addressing is clearly seen from the street for all buildings.

â&#x20AC;˘

Design public spaces and landscapes to maintain and reinforce views of landmark buildings, public art, and open spaces.

Public Realm Framework

4.2.3 Accessibility Downtown Regina should promote barrier-free accessibility for all users throughout, particularly to improve opportunities for employment and education. This includes careful attention to navigation: smooth grading of surfaces, clear routes, and obvious wayfinding cues.

•

Ground surfaces should be stable, firm, and slip-resistant, and have smooth transitions in level.

•

Circulation routes and building entrances should be barrier free and utilize contrasting materials, textures and/or colours for visual guidance. Locate trees, poles, benches, utilities and other streetscape elements outside of main circulation routes.

•

Provide flat areas at building entrances, crosswalks, transit stops, and other waiting areas.

•

Ensure all pedestrian spaces including sidewalks, walkways, crosswalks, and open spaces are linked in a continuous network and provide connections to buildings, parking, and transit, that are also wheel chair accessible.

•

All public spaces and all wayfinding signage should be well lit at night.

•

Encourage universal design principles for new developments and redevelopment projects.

•

Extensive snow clearing is required to maintain surfaces for pedestrians, cyclists, strollers and wheelchairs throughout winter months.

FIGURE 6. Maps increase the accessibility of places by helping pedestrians to navigate to them

Section 4.2: Creating a Successful Public Realm

51

REGINA downtown plan

Saskatchewa

n Drive

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

Victoria Avenue

13th Avenue

Grand Avenue

Primary Downtown Street

Secondary Downtown Street

Map 2. Streetscape Typologies Grand Avenue

52

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Primary Downtown Street

Secondary Downtown Street

Public Realm Framework

4.3

Streetscape Typologies

4.3.1 Purpose & Objectives The design of streetscapes is intended to enhance the Downtown experience and nurture a culture of walking.

Streets are the primary component of the public realm and supplement the open space network by providing pedestrian and green amenities. Downtown streets also function as access routes to key services for rural Saskatchewan, and maintaining Downtown permeability through the conservation of street functions is important in this regard. Streetscapes strengthen precinct and heritage area identities and reinforce visual and physical connections across Downtown and to adjacent neighbourhoods. Buildings play an important role in shaping the character of the street, and the Public Realm Framework has been designed to reinforce this relationship.

The use of space within the public right of way should reflect the importance placed on its various users and modes of movement. The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan seeks to shift the culture of vehicle use Downtown to one focused on active transportation - transit, walking and cycling. As a consequence, space given to sidewalks and bike lanes must be generous and consistent throughout Downtown, such that they create a safe environment for active transportation, validate these users, and signal the importance of these forms of movement to drivers. To achieve this, space in the public right-of-way should be reallocated. The Public Realm Framework, as it relates to streetscapes, seeks to rebalance the configuration of streets to provide for, and emphasize, the primacy of the pedestrian.

As part of creating a great pedestrian realm, and creating a green Downtown, trees should line all streets. As streets are renewed, sufficient space must be allocated within right-of-ways to accommodate growing conditions, including rooting medium, irrigation, aeration, space to grow and access to light. Urban trees undergo high stress and tend to have shorter life spans, no matter how extensive their supporting conditions. The City of Regina should provide a high level of care and maintenance, and whenever necessary, replacement.

Streetscape elements and materials should be of high quality, inclusive of paving, lighting, bollards, benches,

waste receptacles, utility boxes, paving materials, tree grates, vending boxes, signage, wayfinding, transit shelters, among others. These elements should be coordinated along streets to create a well-designed, cohesive and legible public realm consistent throughout Downtown. Streetscape elements should be used sparingly, and consolidated wherever possible, in order to reduce clutter and create a clean, legible streetscape environment. Subtle variation in streetscape character should occur for special circumstances, such as for the heritage streetscape area (see Section 6.0).

A hierarchy of streetscapes are proposed that are distinguished by unique characteristics which reinforce their intended urban design function with respect to land uses; level of pedestrian, cycling and vehicular use; and, their visual and physical connectivity to features, landmarks and destinations. To realize the desired character and function of Downtown streetscapes, it will be imperative to ensure that pedestrian movement and the importance of cycling informs decisions about lane widths. Invariably, more urban lane width standards will be required.

4.3.2 Streetscape Typologies The Streetscape Typologies map (Map 2) organizes streets by type based on their current or planned character and function. The diagrams and descriptions on the following pages represent prototypical conceptual design qualities for each streetscape type. They are not meant to illustrate particular locations Downtown, but rather, provide recommendations for the allocation of space and the look and feel of each typology.

As examples, they demonstrate how the right-ofway could be allocated on various street types to be in keeping with the Vision. It is expected that, in the context of the development of alternative road standards for Downtown, these street sections will be refined. The following streetscapes will require revised approaches to road maintenance and operational services. Particular consideration will need to be given to transit needs, such as the integration of bus stops on streets with bulb outs or with on-street parking.

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

53

REGINA downtown plan

4.3.3 Grand Avenues

30.5 m

sidewalk

1.75m

2.4m 2.7m

parallel parking

bike lane

travel lane (bus)

travel lane

Turn lane

travel lane

3.65m 3.25m 3.0m 3.25m 3.65m

travel lane (bus)

bike lane

sidewalk

2.7m 2.4m

parallel parking

5.0m new building setback / build-to

1.75m

new building

Albert Street, Saskatchewan Drive, Broad Street These streets define three of the edges or thresholds to Downtown (Figure 7). Currently dominated by fast moving traffic within the right of way, as well as suburban character buildings and parking lots adjacent, these streets are intended to transform into grand, tree-lined avenues lined by high quality buildings.

Features of these streets should include:

5.0m new building setback / build-to

ROW

•

Broad sidewalks with a double row of street trees on each side of the street. To help accomplish this, a 5 metre build-to setback is proposed for new buildings.

•

A palette of paving, lighting, banners, and furnishing that is distinctive to Downtown.

In a few places, this will include distinctive heritage streetscape treatment.

•

Crosswalks at all intersections, including special crosswalks at the four ‘gateway’ intersections (see Section 4.5.1)

•

Permanent on-street parking. This helps buffer pedestrians from traffic, as well as creates activity.

•

Bump-outs of sidewalks at intersections, creating more substantial pedestrian zones and shorter road crossings.

•

Bike lanes of 1.75m width, slightly wider than the minimum 1.5m, due to these streets’ high vehicular volumes.

•

Bike boxes at all signalized intersections (see Section 4.3.10), which requires no vehicular right turns on red lights.

•

Where left turn lanes are not required, the sidewalks on each side of the road should be expanded.

new building

existing building

new building

FIGURE 7. Section of Grand Avenues

54

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

4.3.4 Grand Avenues: Victoria Avenue

30.5 m

sidewalk

travel lane

travel lane

3.25m 3.25m 2.4m 3.25m parallel parking

6.2m

median

travel lane

travel lane

sidewalk

new building setback / buid-to

3.25m 2.4m 3.25m 3.25m parallel parking

5.0m

Victoria Avenue is the great street of Regina, a grand civic gesture through its centre uniting many neighbourhoods, including Downtown (Figure 8).

Unfortunately, its character through Downtown has eroded over time. Victoria Avenue should be restored to its former splendour as a boulevard with a special treatment through Downtown. Features of the boulevard should include:

5.0m new building setback / buid-to

ROW

new building

Turn Lane Where Required

•

A broad central island with a double row of ornamental trees.

•

Broad sidewalks with a double row of street trees on each side of the street. To help accomplish this, a 5 metre build-to setback is proposed for new buildings.

•

A palette of paving, lighting, banners, and furnishing that is distinctive to Downtown.

This will include a distinctive heritage streetscape treatment through the Heritage Heart.

•

Decorative crosswalks at all intersections between Albert and Broad Streets, inclusive.

•

Permanent on-street parking. This helps buffer pedestrians from traffic, as well as creates activity.

•

Bump-outs of sidewalks at intersections, creating more substantial pedestrian zones and shorter road crossings.

•

Left turn lanes should be minimized where feasible.

existing building

new building

FIGURE 8. Section of Victoria Avenue

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

55

REGINA downtown plan

4.3.5 Primary Streets

20 m ROW

4.05m sidewalk

1.5m bike lane

travel lane

1.5m

3.25m 3.25m

travel lane

2.4 m

bike lane

sidewalk

4.05m

parallel parking

11th Avenue, 12th Avenue (Angus Street to Osler Street), 13th Avenue All east-west streets are recommended to be two-way through Downtown (Figure 9). This creates better linkages to adjacent neighbourhoods as well as a more legible environment to navigate. Further, two-way streets better support retail vibrancy, and serve to minimize driving distances within downtown environments - it is always possible to take a direct route. Primary streets are active for all modes of transport, but have less vehicular traffic than the Avenues, so they are the most balanced streets Downtown. Detailed analyses are required to determine feasibility and phasing of such conversions.

A new Downtown transit hub is required and detailed analysis will show the best location and configuration, which may be on a primary downtown street. Bus stops on each side of the street will service transit travelling in opposite directions, and facilitate transfers across the street. Travel lanes on 11th Avenue will generally need to be 3.65m. Special streetscape treatments in this area are proposed (see Section 4.3.9 Transit Mall).

12th Avenue adjacent to Victoria Park will become part of the WOW Project, a special plaza treatment designed to extend the perception and use of public space. It will have a very high quality treatment designed primarily as a

FIGURE 9. Section of Primary Streets

56

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

pedestrian space, but through which vehicles will be able to pass (see Section 4.4.2 The WOW Project).

Features of primary streets should include: •

Wide sidewalks with a single row of street trees on each side of the street.

•

A palette of paving, lighting, banners, and furnishing that is distinctive to Downtown.

This will include a distinctive heritage streetscape treatment through the Heritage Heart.

•

Crosswalks at all intersections, including decorative crosswalks in pedestrian priority areas.

•

Permanent on-street parking on one or both sides of the street. This helps buffer traffic and pedestrians, as well as creates activity.

Where transit facilities are required, on-street parking should be accommodated only where possible.

•

Bike lanes and bike boxes on 12th and 13th Avenues.

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

57

REGINA downtown plan

4.3.6 Secondary Streets Angus Street, McIntyre Street, Smith Street, Lorne Street, Cornwall Street, Scarth Street, Hamilton Street, Rose Street, Osler Street

(20 m) ROW

sidewalk

bike lane

5.2m

parallel parking

travel lane

2.4 m 3.25m 1.5m 2.4m parallel parking

sidewalk

5.25m

The north-south streets are envisioned to remain one-way into the foreseeable future. Given that these streets are not through streets, they have the greatest potential to focus on active transportation and a high quality pedestrian realm (Figure 10).

In the future, with increased intensity, particularly an expanded street retail scene and significant infill of currently vacant lots, these streets should be considered for conversion to two-way with parking in only one direction.

Features of secondary streets should include:

FIGURE 10. Section of Secondary Streets

58

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

Wide sidewalks with a single row of street trees on each side of the street.

•

A palette of paving, lighting, banners, and furnishing that is distinctive to Downtown.

This will include a distinctive heritage streetscape treatment through the Heritage Heart.

•

Crosswalks at all intersections, including decorative crosswalks in pedestrian priority areas and at Victoria Avenue between Albert and Broad Streets.

•

Permanent on-street parking on one or both sides of the street. This helps buffer pedestrians from traffic, as well as creates activity. Where transit facilities are required, on-street parking should be accommodated only where possible.

•

Bike lanes and bike boxes at all signalized intersections.

Public Realm Framework

4.3.7 Alternative Street Configurations FIGURE 11. Section of Alternative Secondary Street

Secondary Streets (Blocks between Victoria Avenue and 13th Avenue) Existing Secondary Streets within the Centre Square area have mature street trees located between the sidewalk and pavement (Figure 11). This is an appropriate condition in this neighbourhood, particularly given the desire to infill these streets with residential.

building setback varies

2.0m

sidewalk

3.2m

sod

2.4m

parallel parking

1.5m

bike lane

3.25m

travel lane

2.4m

parallel parking

3.2m

sod

sidewalk

building setback varies

2.05m

(20 m) ROW

Currently, Lorne and Scarth Streets have angle parking beside Victoria Park. This condition is appropriate as it provides plenty of short-term parking for the park and the animated uses around its edge.

Optional Secondary Street

12th Avenue (Albert Street to Lorne Street)

bike lane

travel/ bus lane

1.5m

2.4m

5.15m sidewalk

parallel parking

3.25m

parallel parking

3.65m

bike lane

1.5m

travel lane

2.4 m

sidewalk

FIGURE 12. Section of Alternative 12th Avenue

5.15m

Secondary Streets (Victoria Park: Lorne and Scarth Streets)

12th Avenue has a wider right of way through the west side of Downtown, at 25 metres (Figure 12). This additional width can be utilized in providing on-street parking on both sides of the street and wider sidewalks. In front of the library (and where it is close to the WOW Project) and/or along the City Hall block, the additional width can be utilized for a generous transit stop and waiting area.

25 m ROW

Primary Streets 25m ROW Option

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

59

REGINA downtown plan

4.3.8 Crosswalks Crosswalks serve two functions: the clear demarcation of a safe route for a pedestrian to cross; and as a traffic calming measure. Frequent crosswalks will help promote slower traffic speeds and cautious driving. All intersections Downtown should have crosswalks, with the following design objectives.

•

When streets are renewed, surfaces such as stamped coloured asphalt could be incorporated as the new minimum crosswalk standard. Crosswalks should be as wide as the adjacent sidewalks or a minimum of 3.0 metres.

•

Materials will need to be explored that are tolerant of snow plow equipment and extreme cold. Some testing may be required to find the most durable treatment.

•

60

Crosswalks at special locations should incorporate feature paving.

•

The Grand Avenues should have sidewalk ‘bump-outs’: widened sidewalk areas at intersections in place of on-street parking.

This creates a more generous pedestrian zone and shortens the road crossing for pedestrians.

•

Bollards should be incorporated into the design of bump-outs to delineate where the curb ends (necessary during winter months).

Crosswalks at special locations should incorporate higher quality treatments. These locations include: ◦◦

At the four primary gateways, which should have a unique treatment and wider crosswalk zone, a minimum of 6 metres.

◦◦

Along Victoria Avenue between Albert and Broad Streets, to enhance Victoria Avenue’s civic presence.

•

Mid-block locations along the east and west side of Victoria Park should include crosswalks in their design.

◦◦

Around the WOW Project including at mid-block locations along the east and west sides.

•

Crosswalks should provide smoothly graded transitions including depressed curbs.

◦◦

At all intersections near Downtown transit mall.

•

Every intersection should have two ramps; one for each corresponding direction, rather than one ramp directed towards the center of the intersection.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

4.3.9 Transit Mall The conversion of the east-west (primary) streets to two way traffic enables consolidation of both directions of transit along one stretch of road, to facilitate a more intuitive system, including for access and transfers. Eleventh Avenue could become the primary transit mall and exchange location, although further analysis is required to ascertain the ideal location for this activity (Map 3).

Transit infrastructure provides the opportunity to emphasize the primacy of the pedestrian realm, since all transit users are pedestrians at the beginning and end of their trip. Access to, and the quality of, transit infrastructure should take precedence over the private automobile. Design objectives include: •

High quality transit shelters, of generous proportion (continuous canopy or multiple individual shelters).

•

Locate shelters to maximize circulation space for sidewalk users, while providing sufficient space for embarking and disembarking transit users. On 11th Avenue, for example, since space is constrained, this may mean innovative shelter design (cantilevered from buildings, single pole, etc.).

•

Partner with adjacent buildings to create highly visible, glass enclosed, heated indoor transit waiting areas. They should be large enough for seating, standing, circulation, information display and ticket vending (minimum 2.5m from glass to back wall).

•

Decorative crosswalks at all intersections to facilitate pedestrian movement.

•

Highly visible bus lanes. Distinct paving, painting and/or labelling for several years will help establish the priority of transit and a distinct identity.

•

A signage and wayfinding system that identifies schedule and routing information for each transit stop or platform. Signs should be large enough to be visible within the proposed transit mall.

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

61

REGINA downtown plan

Saskatchewan Drive

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

Victoria Avenue

13th Avenue

Key Potential Transit Mall Locations

Transit Route

Map 3. Potential Public Transit Map

62

Key Transit Locations in Downtown Core

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Transit Route

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

Public Realm Framework

Transit shelters are significant elements in the public realm and an opportunity to help support Downtown’s unique identity. Design objectives (Figure 13) for transit shelter areas include: •

Creating paved, barrier-free access to the shelter and transit vehicle.

•

Providing well-designed, durable transit shelters of high-quality materials that include: ◦◦

An overhead canopy that provides shelter from precipitation and sunlight;

◦◦

Highly transparent sides. Advertising should be permitted only on the side facing away from the direction of traffic;

◦◦

•

◦◦

Standing room for additional persons;

◦◦

The name of the transit stop or adjacent street;

◦◦

A route map and information on frequency and other service information;

◦◦

Heating;

◦◦

Night lighting; and,

◦◦

Adaptability to changing technologies such as display of real-time service, plug in or wireless network connections, and other media.

A nearby cluster of newspaper boxes, vending machines and waste receptacles.

Seating;

Transit shelters should be designed to maximize pedestrian circulation and waiting space, particularly where sidewalks are narrow.

Transit shelters with partial or full enclosures for pedestrian comfort and safety should be highly transparent and have a minimal footprint.

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

63

REGINA downtown plan

Size of transit shelter concept to correspond to route popularity and distance to heated or protected shelters.

Potential heated indoor transit waiting area (if needed)

Landmark terminus

Potential indoor transit waiting area

Special Features Crosswalks

Transit shelters

Future Building

Heritage Building

Laneway

Potential heated indoor transit waiting area

Heritage Building

Figure 13. A transit mall should be accommodated Downtown. The above conceptual demonstration shows how the public realm could be configured to accommodate a transit mall.

64

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Bus lanes should be highly visible, through paint and signage treatments

BUS LANE

1.4m 2.0m

Trash Newspaper box

Bench

Ticket vending

Large transit shelter provides a variety of amenities. Centre pole design maximizes pedestrian circulation space

Shelter

Public Realm Framework

Bus

Potential indoor transit waiting area

Heritage Building

Heritage Buildings

Bus only lane Vehicle lane Vehicle lane Bus only lane

Potential heated indoor transit waiting area, part of faรงade revitalization

Heritage Heart special streetscaping

Laneway

Laneway

Heritage Building

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

65

4.05m sidewalk

1.5m

travel lane

bike lane

1.5m

3.25m 3.25m

travel lane

2.4 m

bike lane

4.05m sidewalk

downtown plan

parallel parking

REGINA

20 m

bike lane

bike lane

Figure 14. ‘Bike Box’ and lane road design ROW

bike lane

4.3.10 Bicycle Infrastructure

bike lane bike box

Places that thrive because people chose to move around on bikes, from Portland, Oregon to Copenhagen, do so as a result of a concerted strategy designed to create a cycling culture over time. Facilitating safe and convenient cycling as a form of transportation Downtown is a key objective of the public realm framework. New cycling infrastructure will need to be developed to clearly articulate the importance cycling will play to the future of the city.

bike lane

bike lane

Bike Lanes Bike lanes are recommended for almost all Downtown streets with the exception of roadways recommended for transit lanes and Victoria Avenue, (because of its intended ceremonial function). Bike lanes should be highly visible including bright paint on the road surface with clear lane markings, and overhead or street-side signs. Lane widths should be generous, particularly along the arterial roads, in order to create a sense of security for cyclists. Bike boxes are recommended at intersections (Figure 14). These are areas where cyclists, at a red light, can advance ahead of stopped vehicles while waiting for the light to turn green.

Cyclists are therefore more visible to vehicles and are prioritized higher as a road user. In the fullness of time, when streets are renewed, bike boxes should become coloured asphalt.

Bike Parking Additional bike parking facilities should be provided throughout Downtown, in a variety of configurations.

•

Examples of highly visible bike boxes allowing cyclists to line up ahead of vehicles.

66

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Quantity of bike parking should vary based on the importance of the destination.

Cornwall Centre and Victoria Park should have significant available bike parking in close proximity. Major office buildings should also have lots of bike parking in proximity.

Public Realm Framework

•

Bike parking should not be located in pedestrian travel zones or gathering areas.

Along streets, bike racks should be located at regular intervals in line with other street furniture and street trees. Bike racks should not be located in immediate proximity to street corners and transit stops.

•

Individual bike racks are appropriate along all streets, and should be provided along retail frontages at a frequency similar to vehicle parking.

•

Enclosed bike lockers should only be located where there is sufficient space, generally in plazas, forecourts and parking garages. They should generally not be located along streets.

Ensure they are sited where they do not obstruct sight lines, but where they are well observed from surrounding streets and spaces.

•

All new parking garages should provide dedicated bicycle parking at or near the main entrance, preferably within sight of a parking attendant (if present). Existing garages should be encouraged to add bike parking.

Bicycle parking along streets.

New Development Major new developments Downtown should provide facilities for cyclists.

•

For residential buildings, secure bike parking should be provided at a rate of one bike parking space for every unit.

•

For employment uses, secure bike parking should be provided at a rate of one bike parking space to every 500 square metres of floor space. Additionally, they should provide showers and change facilities.

Bicycle parking in or adjacent to public spaces.

Bicycle storage in parking garages and new developments.

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

67

REGINA downtown plan

68

4.3.11 Public Street/Building Interface

Typical Interface

There are a variety of typologies for the interface of public streets with buildings that should occur Downtown. They vary based on the desired character of the right of way as well as the adjacent use.

Generally, a continuous sidewalk treatment should extend from the curb to the building edge, and building access should be provided at-grade (Figure 15).

Buildings should be located to define a consistent edge to the public realm. In most cases the building will be located at the front property line, while in the case of the Avenues, buildings will be set back to a build-to line to create a wider pedestrian environment (Figure 16).

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

property line

Public Realm Framework

property line

build-to line

Figure 15. Typical interface along primary and secondary streets with continuous sidewalk to building edge at property line.

Figure 16. Typical interface along Avenues. Building is set back from edge of right of way creating a more spacious sidewalk and public realm zone. In this example, the second row of street trees (in sod) is privately owned and maintained, but publicly accessible.

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

69

REGINA downtown plan

Individual Residential Units

property line

Individually accessed units are appropriate on most Downtown streets. Buildings should have a modest setback to accommodate a semi-private zone for steps, front landscaping, and a stoop/entry (Figure 17). These elements should be designed to have an urban character with durable materials.

Figure 17. Interface along Individual Residential Units. Individually accessed units face the street. Modest setback includes a small grade change (steps up), portico treatment, and landscape treatment.

70

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

Institutional

Provide landscaping that reinforces architectural features including bays in the façade. Landscaping should emphasize entrances and allow clear views of all accessible areas.

•

Provide public amenities such as seating, a gathering area, art, and/or street furniture.

property line

Where there are existing institutional buildings set back from the road (for example, churches), or where significant new buildings are proposed (for example, a major public art gallery), a forecourt treatment can frame the building while providing a public amenity (Figure 18). The forecourt design should reinforce the street edge:

•

Figure 18. Interface along Institutional buildings. This library sets back a part of the building mass to create a seating/amenity area and a fore court entry.

Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies

71

REGINA downtown plan

72

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

4.4

Open Spaces

Downtown Regina is organized around its key open space: Victoria Park. This is the focal point of Downtown and the anchor of the public space network.

It is complemented by the F. W. Hill Mall, providing a direct linkage between the Cornwall Centre and Victoria Park, and a destination in its own right, and by Queen Elizabeth II Court in front of City Hall. These three spaces provide for a wide range of open space needs and amenities for current and future users.

These new open spaces should be implemented strategically. They may be constructed up front as catalysts or incentives to development, or in conjunction with major new redevelopment projects.

Public parks can be complemented by privately owned but publicly accessible open spaces, such as building courtyards or fore courts.

It is imperative to note the proximity of Downtown Regina to Wascana Centre, a key green space amenity in the City of Regina that provides a diversity of parks ranging from wetlands to active areas for sports, picnicking and entertainment. Only several blocks from Downtown, it already serves as a key area for lunchtime recreation. Wascana Centre will play an important role in the future as a public â&#x20AC;&#x153;backyardâ&#x20AC;? for residents living in new urban residential neighbourhoods.

Downtown will benefit from the introduction of a variety of new open space types to create a complete open space network. High-quality pocket parks are proposed to complement adjacent land uses, provide foci for precincts, add amenity for an increasing Downtown population living at higher densities, and to serve as catalysts for Downtown revitalization. They are complemented by a proposed new Train Station Park in front of the old train station, now Casino Regina, as well as a variety of other public amenities such as mid-block linkages, and a public transit mall.

Section 4.4: Open Spaces

73

REGINA downtown plan

Train Station Park

Sask

rive

D wan

atche

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Cornwall Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

11th Avenue

12th Avenue

Victoria Park Queen Elizabeth II Court

Victoria Avenue

Potential Pocket Park

13th Avenue

Parks

Plazas

Civic Heart

Potential Pocket Parks

Mid-block Connections

Avenue

Pocket Park Desirability Zone

Map 4. Open Space This map shows the types of open space recommended for Downtown. The diagrams and descriptions on the following Potential Mid-block Pocket Park Parks Avenue Civic space Heart Plazasdesign qualities for each open Pocket pages represent prototypical conceptual type. Some are site specific while others Connections Desirability Zone Parks are conceptual in nature. Grand Avenues are shown on this map as their broad sidewalks and double row of street trees provide green linkages encircling Downtown.

74

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

4.4.1 Open Space Typologies

Plazas

Please refer to Map 4 for the following open space typology descriptions.

Plazas are hard surface spaces often associated with civic or commercial functions. They vary in size and shape based on their location, adjacent uses and purpose. An important component of plazas is often an open, flexible, hard surface area that can host a variety of public activities including large gatherings, performances, and outdoor cafes. Other amenities include seating, landscaping, and public art. Plazas do not have to be large spaces; they should be furnished with the highest quality materials and elements. At-grade retail, or civic/institutional uses are the primary uses adjacent to plazas where buildings front directly onto them.

Plazas should be designed and programmed with a greater emphasis on the daily activities appropriate to their location, for example, lunchtime seating for surrounding offices. In Downtown Regina, key plazas include, Queen Elizabeth II Court, F.W. Hill Mall, and the WOW Project.

Civic Heart This area has a concentration of civic uses and destinations. The public realm treatments of streetscapes and open spaces in this area should be of high quality and create a seamless pedestrian environment. Refer to Map 1.

Pocket Park Desirability Zone and Potential Pocket Parks Downtown has been divided into four general quadrants, within which it is desirable to locate a pocket park. The location of the park can be flexible and should be negotiated in conjunction with a quadrantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gradual intensification. The specific locations shown on the map are conceptual.

Pocket Parks north of Saskatchewan Drive The City of Regina should ensure that the termini of the north-south streets are, whenever redevelopment occurs, maintained in public ownership or easement, to protect for the long-term reconnection of these streets to the Warehouse District. These street end locations would make excellent temporary pocket parks, serving new residential buildings along Saskatchewan Drive.

A pocket park location along the Scarth Street axis would also be beneficial, coinciding with this streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important role and function in creating future linkages to the north.

Mid-Block Connections Opportunities to increase the pedestrian permeability of the downtown should be provided wherever possible through mid-block connections. Areas of highest density, public activity, and traditionally long block sizes (approximately 150 feet) are the most appropriate locations for mid-block connections. Two key midblock connections have been identified which enhance the connectivity between uses in the Civic Heart, connecting Victoria Park to City Hall. Mid-block connections should be designed with the same built form relationship as streets and public spaces, with active at-grade uses and transparency, facing onto them. The design should ensure sightlines are clear with no hidden or dead areas, with landscaping that permits clear views, including signage for wayfinding.

Section 4.4: Open Spaces

75

REGINA downtown plan

Victoria Park today: a green space surrounded by roads

WOW Project: a unified space defined by its building edges

Roads can be closed to allow activities throughout the square

Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concept of 12th Avenue - traffic can move slowly through the WOW Project space, defined by a consistent plaza treatment and enhanced streetscaping around its edges.

Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concept of 12th Avenue - during special events, the square will close to traffic and intense events can be held in the hard surface plaza areas.

76

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

4.4.2 The WOW Project Today, Victoria Park functions well as a gentle urban oasis, used on occasion for special events. It is a green space surrounded by roads on four sides. The WOW Project, however, is conceived in this Plan as a space that extends to the building faces that surround it.

This implies that the roads go through the Square. It also means the building edges and the activities they contain are part of the Square. The goal is to transform the perception and use of the space, Victoria Park, into a public square (WOW Project).

In order to kick-start change Downtown and build momentum for the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, a specific, identifiable and memorable project was chosen to be undertaken immediately, even before the Neighbourhood Plan was finished: the WOW Project project. The project was chosen based on public consultation during Forum 1, when the notion of Victoria Park as the heart of Downtown emerged. The WOW Project project responds to Big Move #2: Victoria Park is the Jewel, the organizing element of the city and Big Move # 8: Festival Places, create spaces for gathering to allow arts and culture to flourish.

The WOW Project involves transforming a portion of 12th Avenue adjacent to Victoria Park into an urban, public square that includes the width of the street and both sidewalks, from park edge to the building faces on the north side, from Lorne Street to Scarth Street. A

new space for the programming of events and festivals will be introduced Downtown. At specific times the area will be closed to vehicle traffic since the square will be alive with tents, artists and pedestrians. Local talent and artists will be involved in the design of this space, and in programming opportunities. The street will be re-graded to enhance pedestrian activity, new paving materials will be introduced, and the Square will have its own identity - an identity that makes it welcoming to all Reginans. Lighting elements, art and new street furnishings may be integrated into the design to create this uniqueness. The removal of buses in this area and other traffic changes will also contribute to ensuring this area is designed for pedestrians first.

The WOW Project, with hard surfaces on its edges, will have the capacity to host an unlimited number of events, particularly the high-impact events that have been limited due to concerns over the health of the grass and trees in the park.

Event programming (Fig. 19) will establish the WOW Project as the place for artists, markets, festivals, fairs, concerts, performances, buskers, and all sorts of formal and informal gathering. This is part of an incremental strategy to animate Downtown. In the future, a greater Downtown residential population will do this naturally, particularly once the WOW Project is firmly established as the heart of Downtown.

Section 4.4: Open Spaces

77

REGINA downtown plan

The WOW Project should be designed to be flexible and accommodate a range of programming. Depending on the nature and formality of the event (organized or spontaneous) and its size, it can take place in the park, on the sidewalks, on a closed street (12th Avenue), on all streets (closing Lorne, Scarth and 12th Avenue), carry over into F.W. Hill Mall, and even into Queen Elizabeth II Court. Thus, linkages to the WOW Project are important. Most importantly this includes the interface between the park and the broader square, which must be visually and physically accessible.

presents a unique opportunity to create a clear connection between this urban space and a key public destination.

Currently, the uses that front Victoria Park on the north side of 12th Avenue do not provide for street-oriented activities, such as restaurants with patios and uses that are highly accessed by the public. Implementation should involve collaboration with land owners and the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District to encourage the clustering of the kinds of uses that will best celebrate the park edge and add to the public amenity of the WOW Project. Facade improvements to buildings that face the square should be supported through city policy and incentives.

Great edges will promote the everyday use and animation of the heart of the city. Sidewalk patios, benches, public art, and other attractions should be located around the edges. The Regina Public Library is recognized as a key urban amenity - its redevelopment

e

nu

ve ia A

or

ct Vi

Sm

ith

Str

eet

Lo

rne

Str

eet

e

nu

t

ve hA

12

78

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

4.4.3 The Civic Heart Demonstration sites provide an opportunity to consider, in a specific geographic area of the City, what change might look like in the future if it is in keeping with the Principles and Big Moves identified in the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan. Both the City Hall and Library site are key anchors in the Civic Heart, and are public destinations that need improvement in order to fit with the Vision for Downtown. As such, this area was chosen for a key demonstration site. The following comprehensive planning approach takes advantage of their proximity to one another and to Victoria Park to create a clear and distinct public and civic focal point in the City. Together, these two blocks could become a civic cluster with a unique local identity.

Generally, the revitalization of these sites will create new programmable spaces for festivals, performances, and artistic displays, while increasing the animation and vibrancy of the streets. It is also a tremendous opportunity to develop examples of sustainable building technology and to practice good urban design.

City Hall block (bounded by 12th Avenue, McIntyre Street, Victoria Avenue, and Smith Street) should include a refreshed Queen Elizabeth II Court which becomes a primary gathering space for all Reginans, hosting official ceremonies, concerts, and new cultural events. The mature trees should be maintained and pruned to ensure visual and physical access to the plaza, while providing visual interest and shade for users.

The City Hall cafeteria should be moved to the front of the building, such that it could be enhanced by an adjacent outdoor terrace on the Plaza and outdoor vending services that spills pedestrian activity back onto the streets. The Plaza could also include a splash pad for children, an all-season water feature, comfortable outdoor seating and shelter areas (such as a gazebo), and permanent public art, which the public can enjoy into the evening hours. These local neighbourhood scale amenities would ensure the plaza is animated at all times, becoming a true civic focal point in the heart of Downtown.

On the north half of the block, active at-grade uses should face the street. To achieve this, a 3-4 storey podium could be built to the street edge which would add significant new space for a possible City Hall expansion (Queen Elizabeth II Court), new community services, office space, or residential uses. The podium should have a highly transparent faรงade appropriate to a public building, with elements showcasing sustainable building technology such as moving sun shades and green roofs. The east side of the podium could also include an entrance that is designed and aligned specifically to connect with the mid-block connection through the Library Block.

The Library Block (bounded by Lorne Street, 12th Avenue, Smith Street, and Victoria Park) could respond to the popularity of the mid-block connection from Smith Street to Lorne Street with a transparent and enclosed galleria that could also become the primary entrance to the Central Library, Dunlop Art Gallery, and a potential residential development.

In addition to being a redesigned entry point, the galleria could include other activities within that keep the space animated during most hours of the day with services such as small variety shops or other vendors that might cater specifically to on-site residents. The option to simply improve the landscaping treatment of this mid-block connection, which emphasizes a pedestrian priority area, is also desirable. A covered, mid-block connection, however, would be an excellent reprieve from the cold weather for pedestrians crossing Downtown during winter months.

The Library Park could be maintained and enhanced with a building face treatment that becomes a new and animated entrance and seating/reading space. This space should rotate from an indoor space in the winter to a shaded outdoor space in the warmer months. This space could also be a programmable space exclusively to the Dunlop Art Gallery, adding interest and cultural vibrancy to this side of the block.

Section 4.4: Open Spaces

79

REGINA downtown plan

Programming the Civic Heart Currently, Downtown Regina is at its most successful when its spaces are programmed, given the relatively small residential population. Regular events in the F.W. Hill Mall take advantage of Downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s huge daytime office population, packing this space with people for a variety of performances and celebrations.

The Regina Farmers Market animates the east side of Victoria Park and completely transforms Scarth Street.

Events like the Folk Festival and Taste of Regina are city-wide magnets that draw residents Downtown to Victoria Park.

Regular programming will continue to be an important approach to animating public spaces in the short term. City staff and budget resources must be allocated to ensure the spaces in the Civic Heart are well programmed. In fact, regular programming is a bigger priority than the final fit and finish of a space.

It is particularly important during the first five to ten years of this Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

It will establish these spaces as the cultural heart of Downtown and will ensure they are animated, until a significant residential population begins to do this naturally. Partnering with volunteer groups, businesses, and arts organizations is an effective way to extend resources and offer more and a greater variety of programming. It will continue to be imperative to draw upon existing resources that already play an essential role in Downtown programming, such as Knox Metropolitan United Church, and the Central Library.

As the residential population Downtown increases, the role of programming will become less important as a strategy for public space animation.

80

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Scarth Street beside Victoria Park is transformed during Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market.

Public Realm Framework

What Programming?

Imagine...Concerts, holiday celebrations, ice-skating, winter ice sculptures, Christmas displays and events (parades), neighbourhood festivals, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events: story time - park rangers - urban camping, arts outreach through the Dunlop & MacKenzie Art galleries, native and ethnic seasonal celebrations, part of Agribition and Farm Progress, buskers, vendors, tai chi, day care, live theatre and dancing, seniors outings, historical tours and reenactments, media coverage of news events, community forestry, community gardens, central library programs, running club, tournaments - chess - video games - table tennis, sidewalk sales, RCMP day, outdoor movies, Roughriders events, and of course all the existing events.

F.W.Hill Mall

11th Ave.

WOW Project

12th Ave.

Library Park

Queen Elizabeth II Court

Victoria Park

Figure 19. Spaces for programming within the Civic Heart. A variety of spaces, and combinations of spaces, around the Civic Heart can accommodate a wide range of programming.

Section 4.4: Open Spaces

81

REGINA downtown plan

4.4.4 Queen Elizabeth II Court Currently the plaza in front of City Hall is not as well used as it could be, due in part to the lack of active uses around it, and also as a result of the design of the space which can be characterized as primarily a visual landscape. This plaza should be transformed into an active amenity that functions as the main formal civic gathering space for the entire city, as well as a local amenity for Downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods. Design principles for the plaza include: •

82

Transparency and interaction of active uses at-grade, such as the cafeteria which can have an outdoor patio on the plaza, and city departments/programs where applicable.

•

Outdoor programming and vending, such as hot dog stands, if viable.

•

The ability to host large gatherings for speeches, ceremonies and performances open areas and decorative paving, space for a temporary stage, infrastructure for electrical connection, lighting, sound, etc.

•

Public art located prominently.

•

Winter interest and animation, such as a convertible summer/winter water feature.

•

Maintaining the existing mature vegetation wherever possible, but pruned to ensure clear sightlines throughout the plaza.

•

A map of Downtown with amenities, attractions and destinations.

•

Information posting for current events, public meetings, message boards for community notices, bills, etc.

•

Amenities for day-to-day use and local amenity, such as: ◦◦

splash pads or interactive water features;

◦◦

a sheltered area such as a gazebo or trellis; and,

◦◦

seating.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Features in the square should be attractive and usable during all seasons, as in this example, above and below.

The plaza should feature neighbourhood amenities, such as a children’s splash pad, that creates multi-functional use of the plaza and help animate it on a daily basis.

A highly transparent building façade for City Hall, opening up onto a square, allowing interaction of interior uses.

Public Realm Framework

Existing Condition

QUEEN ELIZABETH II COURT An outdoor terrace to service the City Hall cafeteria brings life back to the streets during the day. This space is complimented by a permanent sculpture and a transparent at-grade faรงade with at-grade uses such as offices for community groups or retail.

Section 4.4: Open Spaces

83

REGINA downtown plan

LIBRARY PARK In the warmer months, Library Park becomes a welcoming reading nook where Library patrons will be well-sheltered by the shade of the existing trees and accompanied by permanent and dynamic art pieces of the Dunlop Art Gallery.

84

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

Existing Condition

LIBRARY PARK As a winter city, Reginans will enjoy the new Library Park within the enclosed seating/reading area that provides an open view to the outdoors, a great opportunity to people watch and contribute to life on the streets.

Section 4.4: Open Spaces

85

REGINA downtown plan

4.4.5 F. W. Hill Mall This space exhibits qualities of good public spaces including pedestrian amenity, public art, active at grade uses, and programming. Maintaining its current character and function is important for Downtown as other public realm enhancements are undertaken.

However, in the future, consideration should be given to allowing vehicle traffic through this area, as a way to add much needed vibrancy and accessibility. Also, this area will benefit from its direct connection with the WOW Project and Victoria Park by hosting part of the same programming and events.

4.4.6 Pocket Parks Pocket parks are intended to provide small, intimate, yet high quality open spaces for an immediate neighbourhood or catchment area. They should generally be smaller than 1,000 square metres. Their design and amenities should vary based on surrounding uses and their immediate built edges. As examples, they may include: •

A patio seating area, particularly if there is a restaurant adjacent.

•

Children’s play structures, particularly in a residential area, near a day-care, or near institutional uses (e.g. near the YMCA).

•

Public art (e.g. near the Dunlop Art Gallery).

•

Seating, a shade structure, a short walking path, decorative planting, a water feature, and/or other amenities.

•

A healthy and abundant tree canopy.

Pocket parks should be small and serve their immediate neighbourhood.

Facilities within the park should complement adjacent uses.

Surrounding buildings should address the park with a frontal appearance.

86

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

4.4.7 Train Station Park

The design of Train Station Park (historically named Stanley Park) should help create a neighbourhood focus for the Avenues, contribute to the primary gateway to Downtown, and accommodate complex functional needs.

A public desire to reinstate the former open space in front of the train station has emerged. Design possibilities for this park are numerous, and may include references to the former open space in this location. A partnership with Casino Regina will be required. The park will need to accommodate programming needs of the Casino including circulation, drop-off and access to parking, among others. The park design should ensure sight lines to the historic train station from Rose Street are preserved. This park has the potential to create a great gateway to Downtown at or near the corner of Saskatchewan Drive and Broad Street, and to serve as local destination amenity for local residents and employees. A new, pedestrian oriented frontage should be created on Broad Street, through landscaping and/or built form.

87

REGINA downtown plan

4.4.8 Mid-block connections and linkages In general, pedestrians should be encouraged to walk on public streets, where there are well-designed buildings, active at-grade uses, cyclists, vehicles, and most importantly, other people. Pedestrian energy should be directed to existing streets. Given the fine scale and frequent spacing of Downtown’s street grid, mid-block connections are generally not warranted or desirable.

They should only be considered when to do so supports the overall vision of this Plan, such as following significant population infill or intensity of use, or when they add to the pedestrian environment by providing better connectivity. Care needs to be taken to ensure mid-block connections do not negatively impact the viability of active streetscapes and retail by dispersing pedestrians.

Linkages between Queen Elizabeth II Court and the WOW Project can enhance the Civic Heart of Regina, expanding the types of events and activities that can occur in these spaces.

Two mid-block connections are proposed within the Civic Heart, between Victoria Park and City Hall.

These are to reinforce the key public spaces and uses in the heart of Downtown. Both should be designed such that they have uses other than as a mid-block pedestrian connection. In the case of the linkage north of Knox Metropolitan Church, this is as a laneway.

In the case of the library site, it might be as a library/ gallery galleria and/or residential lobby entrance.

Mid-block connections should be designed with the same built form relationships as all other public spaces, including active at-grade uses and building transparency facing onto them. Design objectives include:

88

•

Ensure sight lines are good, preferably with the ability to see the entrance and exit of the linkage at the same time. Avoid hidden or dead areas and blank façades.

•

Landscaping should be high (trees) or low (ground covers) to permit clear views.

•

Provide clear wayfinding and signage, including highly visible building entrances.

•

Provide continuous and seamless connections to surrounding streets and spaces.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Mid-block connections should have a design quality equal to that of streets and public spaces and share similar design principles, including multiple uses and animated buildings.

Public Realm Framework

4.4.9 Improved Connections to the North In the short term, connections between Downtown and the north must be made by the Albert and Broad Street railway underpasses. Currently, they are spaces designed primarily for vehicles, and no consideration appears to be given to the safety and comfort of pedestrians who wish to cross through the underpass. They are also perceived as unsafe for cyclists. While the underpasses should remain functioning as a connection for vehicle traffic, their physical and visual environments should be improved for increased pedestrian comfort and safety.

A

Implementing improvements to both cycling lanes and pedestrian paths should be a high priority.

Design objectives for the underpasses include: â&#x20AC;˘

Provide dedicated cycling lanes clearly separated from vehicle lanes by painted markings, and possibly a physical separation (grade separation and/or barrier).

â&#x20AC;˘

Provide wide, decoratively paved pedestrian

B

Potential long-term character of promenade beside the rail tracks. In the short term, a simple but wide pedestrian walkway with a double row of trees can make a strong visual and physical linkage.

C

A wide promenade can be created along Saskatchewan Drive because of its wide right of way.

A wide, well-lit sidewalk and high quality treatment encourage walking underneath these underpasses, above and below.

Enhance with additional treatment or art, such as the art at the Broad Street underpass.

Section 4.4: Open Spaces

89

REGINA downtown plan

sidewalks, physically separated from the roadway. Ensure they are well lit at night with no hidden areas. â&#x20AC;˘

Provide a decorative or artistic treatment to the walls, abutments and overpass, coordinated as part of the gateway treatment to Downtown. Artwork in the CPR rightof-way needs to be co-ordinated with the CPR.

â&#x20AC;˘

Ensure sidewalks leading to the underpasses are landscaped consistently with Downtown standards in order to create a continuous pedestrian experience on both sides of the underpasses.

Wide sidewalk and continuous tree planting on both sides of the underpass

Albert Street

Promenade continues along North Railway St. or beside the rail right of way

Link to Mosaic Stadium and Evraz Place Saskatchewan Drive has a wide right of way west of Albert Street, that can be utilized as a pedestrian promenade forming a Downtown connection to Mosaic Stadium and Evraz Place. This route should include a double-wide sidewalk under the Albert Street bridge, and continue along North Railway Street or beside the railway, as a pedestrian promenade (Figure 20). Design characteristics should include a double or triple row of trees, pedestrian crosswalks across all road and driveway crossings, and street furniture including lighting, seating and directional signage.

Primary gateway treatment to Downtown includes wide crosswalks and public art

CPR

s

track

ewan

atch Sask

Drive

Figure 20. Conceptual conditions for an improved connection to the north overlain on top of existing street configuration.

90

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

4.5

Visual Prominence

Sites that are visually prominent have a greater impact on the image and character of Downtown. Enhanced design should create memorable landmarks, orient pedestrians and strengthen civic pride. The public realm and built form at these locations has a greater civic responsibility to provide the highest possible design, materials and amenities (see Map 5). In particular, public realm and built form design should be coordinated at these locations. Sites that are visually prominent include: •

•

Gateways: locations where a significant number of people enter and exit Downtown.

Gateways occur at a variety of scales including to Downtown as a whole, to precincts, or to specific streets or open spaces.

Only primary and secondary gateways to Downtown as a whole are shown on the Visual Prominence map.

•

View termini: a feature that terminates view corridors. Appropriate public realm view termini include parks or public art.

Appropriate built form view termini are buildings that respond with a deliberate, enhanced design response, such as a tower, portico, or the like.

•

Landmark frontages: locations which are prominent because of their context, such as adjacency to a public open space or important street, or because of their content, such as heritage resources or public art.

Further guidelines for public realm responses to visually prominent locations are on the pages following.

Built form responses to visually prominent locations are in Section 5.4.9.

View corridors: the long, straight streets Downtown and in the surrounding neighbourhoods create views where they are terminated. For example, Cornwall Street provides views to Victoria Park, and Smith Street provides a view south to the Legislative Building. View corridors should be maintained and enhanced.

Section 4.5: Visual Prominence

91

REGINA downtown plan

Saskatchewan Drive

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

Victoria Avenue

13th Avenue

Primary Gateways

Public Realm View Terminus

Secondary Gateways

Built Form View Terminus

Built Form/Public Realm View Terminus

Views Landmark Frontages

Map 5. Visual Prominence This map shows key gateways and important views Downtown. The diagrams and descriptions on the following pages represent prototypical conceptual design qualities for each. Some are site specific while others are conceptual in nature.

92

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

Public Realm Framework

4.5.1 Gateways Clearly defining gateway areas helps to enhance orientation, lends to a sense of place and can generate civic pride. These locations provide key opportunities where coordinating the design of landscapes, signage, public art and buildings can create a sense of entry and orientation. The expression of a gateway can take on many forms.

There are four primary gateways for Downtown, located at the intersections of the Grand Avenues.

Their gateway character will result primarily from coordinated streetscapes, public art, and built form.

These locations have good potential for new buildings designed to create a gateway character. Principles for gateway design of the public realm include: •

Providing broad, distinctively paved crosswalks across the road surface. This is important not only visually, but to help create safer and more comfortable pedestrian crossings at these high traffic intersections.

•

Coordinating the colour and material palette among all public realm elements (crosswalks, sidewalks, benches, tree grates, lighting, median design, etc.) and with the buildings’ materials.

•

Providing distinctive vertical elements at or near the intersection, such as unique lighting, signage, columns, or unique tree planting.

This example exhibits gateway elements including crosswalks, distinctive vertical elements (decorative lighting), double row of street trees, and coordinated built form massing (corner treatment).

•

Providing public art. This can include freestanding sculpture, art treatments integrated with building design (such as a marquee or frieze), or alternative treatments (such as lighting or installation pieces).

•

Providing a modestly larger public realm area (50 m2 max.) at the intersection through subtle building sculpting and/or setback.

The northern primary gateways can include an integrated treatment with the rail overpasses and Train Station Park.

There are two secondary gateways to Downtown along Victoria Avenue on either side of Victoria Park, at Scarth and Lorne Streets. Buildings at these intersections are of landmark quality, though not in the same style. These gateways should be enhanced through a coordinated public realm. Treatments should have similar design characteristics to primary gateways but smaller in scale and extent.

Bonusing provisions allow for reductions in setback requirements at primary gateways, in keeping with the intent of the overall public realm vision (see Section 5.3 Bonusing Framework).

Artist’s concept of gateway treatment at Broad Street and Victoria Avenue: buildings at corners at angle with main entrances, public art, and crosswalks.

Section 4.5: Visual Prominence

93

REGINA downtown plan

4.5.2 Views and View Termini Where Regina’s street grid is interrupted, a terminus view results that provides an opportunity to create visual interest. Public realm and built form elements at these locations are visible from longer distances, and must be of high visual quality. Victoria Park is Downtown’s most important terminus, terminating the views north and south along Cornwall Street. Future changes to Victoria Park should enhance the terminus including the view to the Cenotaph and the landscape treatment in the park. Views out of Downtown include all streets terminating at College Avenue. Some have landmark buildings at the end, and others are terminated by Wascana Park. These views should also be maintained and enhanced (see Section 5.4.9) An important strategy for Downtown will be to provide termini for those same streets looking north. Many of those streets end at Saskatchewan Drive, while a few terminate at the Cornwall Centre. Where there is potential for streets to reconnect to the Warehouse District in the long term, it is recommended that no buildings be constructed impeding this. The land at the end of the streets, sufficient to continue the right of ways, should be dedicated to the City at the time of redevelopment, and used temporarily as public parks until it is feasible to reconnect the streets at grade.

Public realm amenity at a view termini can include public art, seating, and decorative streetscape furnishing.

Design objectives for view termini include:

94

•

Create a sense of spatial enclosure through shaping of built form and/or landscaping.

•

Provide a hard landscape element as a focal point such as low wall or fence, column, seating grouping, or public art.

•

Ensure landscaping reinforces the view along the view corridor, including regular planting of street trees.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Maintain views to existing landmarks.

Public Realm Framework

4.5.3 Heritage Resources

Figure 21. Potential Heritage Streetscape Pattern

Public realm elements should bring attention to and celebrate historic buildings and landscapes in Downtown Regina. This includes a distinct public realm treatment for the heritage heart, the area in the central Downtown, centred around the WOW Project and Victoria Avenue, where there are a significant number of contiguous heritage buildings and landscapes (see Map 6).

A special streetscape treatment should be designed for both the heritage heart as a distinct district, as well as for stand-alone heritage buildings elsewhere Downtown, where it can be applied to the sidewalk immediately in front (Figure 21). Design objectives include: •

Contribute to the conversation of significant heritage resources and to the heritage character of the district.

•

Create a high quality and consistent image for the heritage heart. This area corresponds to the core of Downtown and the primary tourist area.

•

Emphasize the visual prominence of heritage buildings, for example by spacing street trees further apart, or locating them to emphasize special features such as entrances or architectural elements.

•

Provide an enriched cultural environment by communicating historical information through interpretive signs and elements.

•

Use hard vertical landscape elements such as bollards, lighting, and/or signage to define spaces such as the edge of the sidewalk (in place of street trees where desirable).

Demonstrating the potential Heritage Heart streetscape pattern: wider tree spacing to permit views of heritage building façades (as well as buildings that contribute to the district’s character); more frequent vertical elements in place of trees provide potential for interpretive elements; and a unique, heritage inspired sidewalk treatment.

Section 4.5: Visual Prominence

95

REGINA downtown plan

Sask

rive

D wan

atche

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

Victoria Avenue

13th Avenue

Heritage Heart Streetscape Area

Complementary Heritage Streetscape Character

Map 6. Heritage Heart

Heritage Heart Streetscape Area

96

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

Public Realm Framework

•

Emphasis should be placed on design measures that are winter friendly (i.e. vertical elements are experienced in all seasons).

•

Incorporate historical references into the design of hard landscape elements, for example the name of the building and its date in the paving.

•

Incorporate subtle variation on Downtown streetscape treatment, for example, by varying paving, materials, hard landscape elements, tree species, colour palette, and/or texture.

Unique paving and vertical streetscape elements in a Heritage District.

Section 4.5: Visual Prominence

97

REGINA downtown plan

Examples of unique paving treatments and inserts (top) and vertical elements (bottom) that can enhance the sense of place and interpretive experience of heritage resources. Special streetscape elements can be used throughout the heritage heart and/or at gateways, corners, or other key locations.

98

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Realm Framework

4.5.4 Public Art Downtown Regina has excellent examples of public art in a variety of contexts that enhance Downtown experiences. Public art provides an opportunity to celebrate and showcase local arts and culture, establish a unique identity for a precinct or development, and should contribute to enhancing the quality of the public realm in ways that conventional streetscape elements cannot.

Public art should be considered at a variety of scales and in diverse contexts. This includes larger installations at visually strategic locations such as the terminus of view corridors, at gateways, on prominent corners, or in public open spaces. It also includes smaller or more unexpected installations such as along sidewalks, in interior courtyards, in association with buildings (entrances, lobbies), and in alternative public spaces such as parking lots and garages. All gateway locations and public view terminus sites identified on the Visual Prominence diagram (Map 5) are candidates for public art. Public art should be incorporated in the design of Victoria Avenue, particularly the central median.

Objectives for public art include: •

Public art may include memorials, sculpture, water features, murals, lighting, or individual art installations, and may combine with building and landscape design. It may also include street furniture, utility boxes and other elements not commonly displayed as art in a gallery setting.

•

Because of their visibility, public art should include pieces that serve as orienting devices for moving about and wayfinding, or as focal points in public open spaces.

•

The scale of a public art piece should correspond to the visual prominence of its site.

•

Public art can also contribute to the animation of public spaces through its design and use as street furniture, play areas and/or other interactive uses.

Downtown’s existing public art can be enhanced by new pieces at highly visible locations.

Section 4.5: Visual Prominence

99

5.0

Built Form Framework

REGINA downtown plan

5.1

Introduction

Built form is the shape of buildings, not only individually, but as a collective. How buildings relate in terms of height, scale and character determines the extent to which they will define the public realm – the outdoor rooms that are the streets and gathering places of the city. Buildings, through their individual beauty and idiosyncrasies, collectively define a sense of place.

The Built Form Framework is intended to shape individual buildings, one by one, to create the collective whole for Downtown Regina. It works together with the Vision and Public Realm Framework to create a cohesive environment for Downtown. It is primarily concerned with creating a comfortable, safe and interesting pedestrian environment as perceived from sidewalks and public spaces, by focussing on creating a fine-grained, human-scaled building fabric.

The Built Form Framework responds to, and enhances, the unique circumstances of Downtown Regina including the grid pattern of streets and blocks, Victoria Park and its Heritage Conservation District, numerous other historic buildings, and the role of Downtown in Regina and of Regina in Saskatchewan.

102

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

5.1.1 Purpose Downtown Regina is a complex environment with a significant obligation to create a lasting legacy of the highest quality for its citizens. It is also the most organic place in Regina, continually changing, renewing and evolving. The Built Form Framework also includes design standards that shape the qualitative aspects of the built environment. Most importantly, it defines a cohesive structure and pattern for Downtown as a whole and places it in context with its surroundings.

The framework provides policies related to the scale, character and design of new public and private developments. While it is primarily concerned with buildings, it also influences how access, parking, and privately owned outdoor spaces should be configured.

Goals of the framework include the following.

•

To shape new development to respond to the unique existing and potential opportunities Downtown.

•

To provide clarity and predictability in design outcomes.

•

To provide flexibility in responding to changing demographic and market forces over time.

•

To provide a guide for changing planning policies and regulations.

Built Form Framework

The framework is intended for all new buildings Downtown, including infill of vacant sites or parking lots, redevelopment of existing buildings, and additions to existing buildings, including heritage buildings. The framework sets out the intended built form outcome for all blocks Downtown. This includes, for example, creating a consistent street wall through a podium condition. There are many existing buildings Downtown that do not have a podium and will never change. However, the framework sets out the desired condition for all sites, because some buildings, despite expectations, will change, and they must do so in compliance with the broader Downtown Vision.

5.1.2 Components The Built Form Framework is composed of the following sections.

Urban Structure: informing the shape of Downtown as a whole, including its overall height and density, street wall heights, setbacks/build-to lines, and distinct functional and character areas. The urban structure builds on existing and historic development characteristics, and considers linkages and interfaces with the surrounding context.

General Design Standards: informing the look and feel of buildings in general with a focus on creating a continuously connected network of pedestrian friendly streetscapes. This section includes standards for building placement, orientation, faรงade design, and special conditions Downtown.

Building Typology Standards: informing the general shape, mass, and articulation of a variety of building types, including low, mid and high-rise residential and office buildings, civic buildings, and parking structures. Different building types are appropriately located in different areas of Downtown, as set out in the urban structure.

Each component of the framework must be considered in concert with the others, as well as the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan Vision and Public Realm Framework.

Section 5.1: Introduction

103

REGINA downtown plan

Precinct Boundaries

Grand Avenues

Map 7. Character Framework

104

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Core/Cathedral Neighbourhood Edge

Centre Square Neighbourhood

Urban Core

Built Form Framework

5.2

Urban Structure

5.2.1 Character Framework

5.2.2 Precinct Character Areas

Downtown Regina has a simple structure: a central core, surrounded by the Grand Avenues, with transitions to the edges (Map 7). The character of each area responds to its unique conditions and opportunities.

“Interface” areas: Cathedral, Core, Centre Square, Downtown Edge

The Character Framework diagram at left expresses two related and overlapping ideas: 1. Precinct Character : The areas outlined in black are precinct areas, each characterized by a distinct combination of different uses, built forms and landscape. For example, the Core Interface precinct is part of the City of Regina’s Knowledge Corridor, which encourages certain kinds of uses.

This precinct also contains three distinct built form characters.

2. Built Form Character : The colour areas represent specific built form characteristics responding to particular streets or conditions. For example, the Grand Avenues (on Map 7) built form character lines both sides of Albert Street, Saskatchewan Drive, Broad Street and Victoria Avenue.

The edges of Downtown today have abrupt transitions to surrounding neighbourhoods, particularly to the east, south and west. These edges are primarily characterized by parking lots and a lack of street trees. In addition, a few tall buildings are located immediately adjacent to the Cathedral and Core Neighbourhoods, creating inappropriate juxtapositions against the lowrise building fabric.

These precincts are in need of greater continuity and cohesion in the urban fabric. This includes the need to introduce a more generous, appealing, and green public realm: regular street tree planting, site landscaping, and building setbacks to create forecourts or urban front yard landscaping. New buildings should be built in the parking lots, including a greater emphasis on new residential. The transition shouldn’t necessarily be a smooth gradation between adjacent neighbourhoods and Downtown, but rather an intermixing of the best characteristics of each.

Cathedral Interface This precinct may benefit from proximity to a neighbourhood that has become more desirable. A key goal is the continuity of residential from this neighbourhood into Downtown. Public realm investments in this precinct, particularly along Albert Street to help create the Grand Avenue, may assist this transformation. Building typologies should include multiplex house forms, low-rise, as well as mid-rise types.

Section 5.2: Urban Structure

105

REGINA downtown plan

Core Interface

Downtown Edge Interface

Like the Cathedral interface, a key goal is the continuity of residential into Downtown from the Core Neighbourhood. However, this area will be more flexible in character, including a mix of institutional, employment and other uses. This reflects the mixed character of the Core Neighbourhood itself, as well as better linkages in general with eastern Regina due to continuous street connections. It also reflects Broad Streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role as the spine of the knowledge corridor.

Broad Street also has an existing height peak at Victoria Avenue. In this respect, this precinct is an ideal location for facilities such as a Downtown campus of the University of Regina or student housing. Building types will be mixed, from high (at Victoria Avenue), to mid- and low-rise, further north and south.

This precinct is currently the edge to the CP rail line, to the former Super Store site, and to the intermodal yard. The only linkages to the north are at Albert and Broad Streets. By necessity, this area will tend to orient to the south, towards the existing Downtown. Higher building forms of residential or commercial nature are appropriate. In future, this precinct may become a transition area to a new, urban development to its north (when the existing CP inter-modal yard is relocated), and therefore should be designed to facilitate linkages. The future development would itself create appropriate transitions between the Warehouse District and Downtown Edge precinct.

Centre Square Interface

Central Downtown is the heart of the City. It has a mix of all uses and is the most urban condition, where buildings are built out to the property line. It is the focus of tall buildings, with a recognizable peak, and the focus of continuous street edge retailing. Future cultural/recreational destinations should also be concentrated here.

Centre Square complements Downtown with its mix of lower and higher density residential, commercial/ office development, and small retail shops and businesses. The existing transition through Centre Square works well: from lower house forms in the south, to mid-rise, to higher forms near Victoria Avenue. Thus, this precinct will benefit from infill of the parking lots with mid-rise mixed residential/commercial. The existing policy permissions for Centre Square are consistent with this.

106

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Central Downtown

Built Form Framework

5.2.3 Built Form Character Areas Grand Avenues The four arterial roads that define the edge of Downtown are intended to transform into Grand Avenues. They will be gateways into Downtown defined by their generous public realm treatments and mid-rise buildings. Buildings along the Grand Avenues should be a little â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;granderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; than most, in the sense that they will have careful attention to their quality and details. Victoria Avenue may have taller buildings along it, as well as landmark buildings, reflecting its ceremonial character.

Cathedral/Core Neighbourhood Edge The blocks along Angus Street and Osler Street that face these neighbourhoods should have buildings of a scale compatible with the adjacent low-rise neighbourhoods.

Centre Square Neighbourhood The blocks south of Victoria Avenue (specifically, the laneway behind the blocks facing Victoria Avenue), east of Albert Street and west of Broad Street (and that do not front onto these streets) are part of the Centre Square neighbourhood. Buildings should be designed consistent with the current policy direction for this neighbourhood. Commercial buildings should be low-rise in scale while residential buildings should be mid to high-rise, forming a transition in height between Downtown to the north, and the low to mid -rise scale of Centre Square further south.

Urban Core All of the blocks contained by the Grand Avenues are the urban core. Buildings in this area will generally be located at the street edge and occupy 100% of their frontages. New buildings will tend to be built with side parti walls, particularly at the podium level, in expectation of future change or infill. Buildings within the urban core should be permitted the greatest latitude with respect to individual design expression, while creating a pedestrian scale, legible environment consistent with this framework.

Section 5.2: Urban Structure

107

REGINA downtown plan

Sask

rive

D wan

atche

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

Victoria Avenue

13th Avenue

Required at-grade retail frontage

Convertible retail frontage

Priority active frontage

Map 8. Frontage Condition

Required at-grade retail frontage

108

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Convertible retail frontage

Priority Active Frontage

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

Built Form Framework

5.2.4 Frontage Condition Grade-related commercial uses are permitted and encouraged on all streets Downtown. This includes a wide range of uses such as stores, restaurants, galleries, and services such as doctors, lawyers, laundromats, and day care centres. These street-facing commercial uses are critical for creating a successful Downtown.

They animate streets, help provide a critical mass of activities, provide neighbourhood convenience retailing for Downtown residents, and fill the niche for one-ofa-kind retailers serving the city as a whole. All new developments or significant redevelopment of buildings Downtown are encouraged to provide commercial uses at grade. The Frontage Condition map (Map 8) defines where retail or active uses are required.

For the purposes of the following, retail uses are defined as a component of commercial uses that exhibit a greater degree of pedestrian activity and visual shop front display. This includes stores and restaurants, but not necessarily professional services such as doctors and lawyers. The intent is to provide highly animated retail frontages. Refer to the general design standards for design of at-grade retail uses.

Required At-Grade Retail Frontage These streets must provide retail uses at grade. A n y non-retail use, such as building lobbies or entrances, should preferably be located on a non-retail frontage street, or, if not feasible, have minimal frontage along the retail street. The location of required retail frontages corresponds to the traditional retail heart of Downtown, and builds on the current zoning requirements for continuous retail frontages. Retail frontages should extend along 11th Avenue towards the Core Neighbourhood, and along 13th Avenue towards the Cathedral Neighbourhood, in order to make stronger linkages between these neighbourhoods and Downtown.

The extent of required at-grade retail frontages is deliberately conservative in extent, in order to create a critical mass of successful retailing, without spreading it too thin: the objective is to create a core of continuous retail, both to support retail success and to support pedestrian activity. In the future, as the street retail scene flourishes, this area may be expanded.

Convertible Retail Frontage If commercial uses are not feasible on these streets, buildings facing them must be designed to be easily convertible to retail uses in future, although in the short-term they may be residential. In effect, they should be designed to the same standard as retail uses, including any requirements of the building code for retail, but be permitted to have non-retail uses within them.

Priority Active Frontage Priority Active Frontages should either be retail or an important publicly accessible destination. The WOW Project, Victoria Avenue, and Queen Elizabeth II Court, as the heart of Downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s public realm network, should have a dynamic edge with active uses.

While retail and restaurant uses are strongly preferred, it is recognized that there are a number of existing institutional uses, such as the library, the courthouse, and Knox Metropolitan Church, which are not retail in nature. This is an appropriate location for additional institutional uses if they are public in nature and generate substantial pedestrian activity, such as a new museum or gallery. Cornwall Street is also designated as a Priority Active Frontage, linking the WOW Project with the Cornwall Centre and transit mall, creating a cohesive network of active street frontages in the heart of Downtown.

Section 5.2: Urban Structure

109

REGINA downtown plan

0m in this area due to wide right of way of Saskatchewan Drive

rive

Sask

D wan atche

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

Victoria Avenue

13th Avenue

Build-to Property Line

2-4m Build-to Range

Map 9. Build-to Lines

110

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

2-6m Residential Build-to Range

5m Build-to

Primary Gateways eligible for setback reduction on one side

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

5m this area to reflect existing setbacks appropriate for forecourt or sidewalk depending on use

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

Built Form Framework

5.2.5 Build-to Lines The placement of buildings relative to the front property line contributes to the character of the street and sense of place. Generally, Downtown is defined by buildings placed to the front property line. This creates an immediate relationship with the sidewalk and consistent street wall. Enhanced by a well-designed, active, and transparent at-grade condition, zero-setback buildings create a comfortable and interesting pedestrian environment.

Some locations, however, are appropriate for setbacks, primarily to reinforce existing neighbourhood character.

The following setbacks are considered build-to lines. The front façade of new buildings must be sited at the buildto line (or within the range defined below) Greater or lesser setbacks are not permitted. In some cases buildings may deviate from the build-to lines, if they provide a public benefit. Examples of this may include: •

At gateways or intersections, where a setback can create a more generous public realm for congregation, retail spill-out, or public art.

•

At main building entrances, to create a small forecourt.

•

To define pocket parks or other public amenities.

•

In rare cases, for special or iconic buildings such as churches, theatres, and the like, where they provide public space or extraordinary landscaping.

•

Bonusing provisions allow for reductions in setback requirements at the gateways (Map 9), in keeping with the intent of the overall public realm vision (see Section 5.3).

Build-to Property Line Most of Downtown is appropriate for buildings that are located at or near the front property line, at a zero build-to. Most existing buildings Downtown have this condition. Properties must have the minimum amount of setback as is possible, given the unique site particularities.

2-4m Build-to Range At the edge of the Cathedral and Core Neighbourhoods, along Angus Street and Osler Street respectively, a

modest setback helps provide a compatible interface.

It applies to all uses.

2-6m Residential Build-to Range To reinforce the existing pattern of low-, mid- and highrise residential buildings in this neighbourhood, new residential buildings must be set back from the street edge. An example of this is the Frontenac apartments on Lorne Street. This is to create a buffer between the street edge and residential uses in transitional areas.

Non-residential uses must have a more urban condition and have zero to 2m build-to.

2-4m Residential Build-to Range As an exception to Map 9, residential uses specifically along Secondary Streets (refer to Map 2) that feature individually accessed units at grade must set back 2-4 metres from the street. This is to provide a small, urban front yard landscaping zone. This setback is not appropriate for residential uses that are communal in nature, such as lobbies, recreation rooms, fitness facilities, etc. This setback is not appropriate along other Downtown street types, where residential uses must have a zero build-to.

5m Build-to This condition exists along the Grand Avenues. New buildings must be built to a line 5 metres set back from the current 30.5m (+/-) right of way. The 5 metre wide privately-owned area between the buildings and right-of-way must have an easement or other mechanism allowing public access. This is to facilitate a wide public realm extending from the building face to curb edge. In retail or convertible retail conditions, this area should have a continuous sidewalk treatment.

In non-retail conditions, this area is appropriate for a fore court treatment. In the case of the Regina Public Library site (south-west corner of Lorne Street and 12th Avenue), the 5m build-to is desired, but will be assessed in the context of its redevelopment.

In areas identified as Primary Gateways (see Map 5), an exception to the 5m build-to requirement may be considered on one or both of the Avenue frontages, as reviewed on a case-by-case basis, in exchange for public benefits and negotiated through the established bonusing framework. In the case of exceptions granted on both the Avenues, the 5m set-back will be split between the two frontages in any combination that equals 5m.

Section 5.2: Urban Structure

111

REGINA downtown plan

Sask

rive

D wan

atche

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

Victoria Avenue

13th Avenue

7.5m

(2 residential storeys 2 commercial storeys)

10.25m-13.25m

(2-4 residential storeys 2-3 commercial storeys)

Map 10. Street Wall Height

112

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

13.25m

(4 residential storeys 3 commercial storeys)

19.25m

(6 residential storeys 4-5 commercial storeys)

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

Built Form Framework

5.2.6 Street Wall Height The first three to four floors of buildings are the most important in defining the character of the public realm, particularly the articulation, fenestration, materials and detailing of the façades and the uses within.

Above the defined street wall height, buildings are subject to above-grade step backs. This ensures that the street wall is formed by buildings of comfortable pedestrian scale, while taller elements are set back.

Note that above grade step backs are generally measured from the street wall. For example, along the Grand Avenues, the street wall itself has a required 5m build-to from the right of way. The above grade step back (refer to Section 5.5) for taller building elements is in addition to this.

The minimum street wall height throughout most of Downtown is 10.25m (3 storeys). Minimum street wall height on Victoria Avenue is 13.25m (4 storeys).

Street wall heights around the WOW Project should be 19.25m. All new buildings must provide a street wall at these heights, when the building height is taller than the street wall height (see Section 5.4.1. for definition of street wall height and building height). Exact dimensions will vary depending on use. Residential storey heights are typically less than office storey heights, for example. The ground level, generally should have a minimum 4.25m height, in all uses. However, frontages with required retail atgrade, required convertible retail-frontage and priority active frontages must meet this minimum 4.25, street wall height requirement. This will allow long-term flexibility to the ground level uses.

7.5m Street Wall At the edge of the Cathedral and Core Neighbourhoods, along Angus Street and Osler Street respectively, the maximum street wall height is 7.5m, approximately 2 residential stories. This reinforces the predominantly low-rise and house form character of these neighbourhoods.

10.25m to 13.25m Street Wall Street walls Downtown should be 3 to 4 storeys in height, or between 10.25m and 13.25m. This corresponds approximately to a 4.25m grade level height, and storey heights of 3m above that.

13.25m Street Wall In order to provide a better spatial definition of Victoria Avenue and Queen Elizabeth II Court, the mandatory street wall height is 13.25m, or 4 residential stories, or 3 office storeys.

However, many existing heritage buildings (from a variety of time periods) along Victoria Avenue have a grand, monumental character, and yet make a positive contribution to the streetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character. These include the Hotel Saskatchewan, and The Balfour Apartments.

For this reason new buildings may not be required to adhere to above grade step back requirements, as determined on a case-by-case basis. Buildings without street walls should be held to the highest design standards.

19.25m Street Wall In order to provide a better spatial definition of the WOW Project as well as ensure a critical mass of people around it, the mandatory street wall height is 19.25m, or approximately 6 residential stories or 5 office storeys.

Varying Street Wall Heights Where different street wall height requirements meet at corners (see Map 10), the taller street wall height may prevail for a distance of 18 metres around the corner.

Section 5.2: Urban Structure

113

REGINA downtown plan

Sask

rive

D wan

atche

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

Victoria Avenue

13th Avenue

No Visible Parking

Streets with Parking Standards

Map 11. Parking

No Visible Parking

114

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

Built Form Framework

5.2.7 Parking

Parking Standards

Parking should not be the dominant image of streets.

An important goal of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan is to cultivate an image where parking, while present, goes relatively unnoticed in the streetscape (also see Section 5.4.10). Therefore, no new surface parking lots will be permitted Downtown which are not screened by active uses along the street.

The required number of parking stalls per unit or square metre of development should be reduced over time, both in coordination with and to encourage increased active transportation and public transit use, and lowered reliance on private vehicles.

Streets with no visible parking The most important streets in the historic heart of Downtown should be defined by great buildings. To this end, new parking will not be permitted to front onto these streets either at grade or above grade.

This means new surface parking lots, or above grade parking structures, must be screened by active uses, such as retail, residential or office.

Streets with parking standards Parking fronting the remainder of streets Downtown must conform to design standards that emphasize the continuity of the streetscape edge. The Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current landscape requirements for surface parking lots are appropriate. Parking structures are subject to façade design or public art requirements as set out in the Above Grade Parking Structure Typology Standards (Section 5.5.10).

The current minimum standard of 1 parking stall per 100m 2 of office space should be considered the maximum desirable, Downtown. A residential parking standard of between 1.0 and 1.2 stalls per unit (for 2 bedrooms or less), including visitor parking, is the desirable maximum limit. Units with 3 bedrooms or more may have a higher standard of 1.5 stalls per unit.

Parking performance standards should be flexible, including allowing small car parking stalls, narrower aisles, smaller parking spaces, shared parking spaces and tandem parking, where appropriate.

New office and institutional uses should have bicycle parking standards of 1 stall per 500m 2 of gross floor area.

Small development projects may be exempt from loading or servicing space requirements, at the discretion of the City.

Active Uses Active Uses Active Uses Sidewalk Streets with no visible parking: above grade structured parking is completely screened by active uses

Active Uses Sidewalk Streets with parking standards: refer to building typology standards for above grade structured parking facilities.

Section 5.2: Urban Structure

115

REGINA

13.25m

downtown plan

30m Sask

rive

D wan

atche

55m 30m

Osler Street

13.25m

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Cornwall Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

11th Avenue

12th Avenue

30m 40m

55m

30m 0m

40m

0m

20m 55m

13.25m

Victoria Avenue

30m

40m

13.25m

13.25m

Angus Street

40m

30m 13th Avenue

13.25m

4 residential storeys 3 commercial storeys

20m

6 residential storeys 5 commercial storeys

Map 12. Height Permission 20m 13.25m

116

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

30m

10 residential storeys 7 commercial storeys

30m

40m

13 residential storeys 10 commercial storeys

40m

55m

55m

18 residential storeys 14 commercial storeys

Area eligible for height bonus

Area eligble for height bonus

Built Form Framework

5.2.8 Density and Height as Maximums

5.2.9 Building Height

The height and density frameworks have been developed, and must be implemented, as complimentary components. These frameworks allow and accommodate an appropriate amount of development as-of-right.

The height of buildings must reflect the overall Vision for Downtown, which includes the goals of the Public Realm Framework, the Heritage Framework, and the other goals of the Built Form Framework. Principles governing building heights (see Map 12) Downtown include the following.

Depending on the size and configuration of any given site, development may first reach the maximum allowable density or it may first reach the maximum allowable height. As such, development will be constrained by either the Density Framework or the Height Framework, depending on site specific considerations. A small site, for example, may reach its density maximum first, and therefore be limited by this maximum. Conversely, a large site could allocate greater amounts of density to a high-rise form, and may be constrained by the height framework, rather than the density maximum.

In order to accommodate the potential for sites to be assembled and/or developed in different ways, the Plan allows for density bonusing that can sensitively accommodate the unique circumstances of each development scenario. In specified areas (see Map 12, Height Permission, Area eligible for height bonus), height bonusing may be considered.

Both the height and density frameworks are considered maximums, and development should not exceed one either (except through bonusing, where allowable).

The maximum allowable height and density, and the bonusing process, are designed to ensure that more consideration is required of developments that are larger/taller, given that they will be correspondingly more prominent and significant.

Height Ridge/Peak: new tall buildings should be directed to where they already exist. Generally, this is a ridge running from Cornwall Centre, through the Central Business District, down Hamilton Street to Victoria Avenue, and south to the intersection of Broad Street and Victoria Avenue. Focusing tall buildings in, and near, this area reinforces the existing, legible height and intensity concentration. Most, but not all, existing tall buildings in this area are of 55m or less.

Heritage Heart and Visible Landmarks: buildings in the heritage area should generally not be tall, in order to reinforce a lower and more human scale fabric. This approach allows existing tall buildings in this area (some of which are heritage buildings or have potential to be) to maintain their distinct, landmark presence in the Regina skyline. Of particular importance are City Hall (the tower), Hotel Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Power, and The Hill towers.

The Grand Avenues: The scale of the buildings along Albert Street, Broad Street, Saskatchewan Drive and Victoria Avenue - collectively the four Grand Avenues - is envisioned to be of a mid-rise scale (See Section 5.5.5 for examples of mid-rise). This corresponds to the existing 30m height limit on the outside edges of Albert and Broad Streets. However, the mid-rise scale should be applied to both sides of the street. Victoria Avenue, as a ceremonial street, should have a slightly taller scale, at 40m. This corresponds to the ‘shoulder height’ of the Hotel Saskatchewan – the height of the wings, and is also the height permitted in the adjacent Centre Square area, to the south.

Section 5.2: Urban Structure

117

REGINA downtown plan

2.5

rive

Sask

D wan atche

5.5

2.5

Cornwall Street

11th Avenue

4.0

2.5

5.5

Victoria Avenue

4.0 residential 2.0 commercial

2.5

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

12th Avenue

5.5

2.5 13th Avenue

2.5

Map 13. Density

118

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

4.0

4.0 residential 2.0 commercial

5.5

Built Form Framework

Gradual Transitions: in general throughout Downtown, gradual transitions between building heights should be provided, avoiding stark juxtapositions in scale, particularly at the Core and Cathedral Neighbourhood edges. This implies a low-medium-tall sequence both east to west and north to south from Downtownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge to its central peak.

Core/Cathedral Interfaces: In order to have a compatible interface with these primarily low-rise areas, building heights immediately adjacent should be limited to approximately 4 storeys.

Centre Square Interface: the existing policy framework for Centre Square is quite deliberate in setting up a transition from north to south of high-rise, to mid-rise, to low-rise. This creates an appropriate transition to Downtown.

Knox Metropolitan Church Block: the existing 20m height limit for this block ensures the church continues to have a strong presence, and is not dwarfed by large buildings immediately adjacent. Given this block is over 150m in length, and given the potential for a dramatic library transformation that contributes to the public amenity of the city, a taller building height can be permitted with a transition to the 20m height limit around Knox Metropolitan Church.

5.2.10

Density

Current density permissions, generally 7.0 times, are extraordinarily high for a city of Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scale.

Density permissions should be lowered. The primary goal is to ensure that new development fills in under used or vacant sites, rather than concentrating significant development on only a few sites.

Furthermore, development alternatives and incentives become more viable in a more restrictive development context where the City can gain public amenities in exchange for bonuses on height and density.

Most of Downtown should be 4.0 times density (see Map 13). A higher density of 5.5 times corresponds to the height ridge. A lower density of 2.5 times corresponds to the Core/Cathedral Neighbourhood interfaces. A 2.0 times commercial density corresponds to the Centre Square interface, consistent with that areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current policy framework, and 4.0 times residential density, which seeks to encourage residential infill close to Downtown.

Bonuses: all sites Downtown are eligible for density bonuses, per the Bonusing Framework. Refer to Section 5.3 for the Bonusing Framework.

Minimum Height: all new buildings Downtown must be a minimum of 7.25m (2 storeys). This encourages mixed uses.

Height Bonuses: the Height Permission Map identifies areas where additional height may be achieved above and beyond the height permissions identified through bonuses that have a public benefit. These areas correspond to gateways, the Central Business District, areas outside the Heritage Heart, areas away from existing neighbourhoods, and the existing height ridge.

Refer to Section 5.3 for the Bonusing Framework.

Section 5.2: Urban Structure

119

REGINA downtown plan

120

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

5.3

Bonusing Framework

5.3.1 Introduction The Built Form Framework assumes maximum asof-right heights and densities for development in Downtown, and identifies areas where additional development rights may be achieved as a bonus in exchange for public benefit, as per Map 12 and Map 13.

The Downtown Bonusing Framework is a system designed to achieve specific public benefits above and beyond those required in the RDNP, in exchange for increased development rights. It should replace those parts of Chapter 17 of the Zoning Bylaw that apply to Downtown, and will require amendments to the Zoning Bylaw.

As it is implemented, the Bonusing Framework will contribute to an increasing residential population Downtown, while also encouraging new development to contribute to the desired character, livability, and sustainability of the Downtown neighbourhood.

It must be noted that the value of public benefits achieved through bonusing will vary with the peaks and troughs of real estate development activity. Thus, it is important to bear in mind that while bonusing can be a valuable tool to encourage the contribution of amenities Downtown, bonusing is not a substitute for stable, predictable, and ongoing sources of funding to support Downtown services, development, amenities, and improvements to the public realm.

Bonusing may only be considered with respect to the granting of additional height (refer to Section 5.2.9), additional density (refer to Section 5.2.6), and/ or setback easements at Primary Gateways (refer to Section 5.2.4) to development proposals.

5.3.2 Bonusing Eligibility Criteria 5.3.2.1 Bonuses may only be granted for additional height within the boundaries specified in Map 12, additional density within the boundaries specified in Map 13, or setback easements at Primary Gateways as identified in Map 9.

5.3.2.2 Bonusing may only be applied to development applications for any land use type development Downtown.

5.3.2.3 Development applications with proposed bonusing must meet all the requirements in the RDNP. In particular, both the development and the contributed community amenity must be in keeping with the objectives and design standards in the Public Realm Framework and Built Form Framework of the RDNP.

Section 5.3: Bonusing Framework

121

REGINA downtown plan

5.3.3 Evaluation of Bonusable Community Amenities

5.3.4 Downtown Office Development Contribution Gradient

5.3.3.1 Bonusable Community Amenities must be selected from the list of Community Amenities of Section 5.3.5.

5.3.4.1 A contribution gradient for community amenities will apply to all office developments Downtown.

All office developments Downtown will be required to pay four ($4) dollars per square foot of office space above podium height, which will be earmarked for downtown improvements and implemented by City Staff.

This list reflects the community amenities that are currently considered desirable Downtown, as per the objectives of the RDNP. The list should only be considered relevant for the duration of the RDNP, and should be updated in the next Downtown plan.

However, in the context of specific applications, proposals may be made to add new amenities to the contribution list.

5.3.3.2 Bonusable Community Amenities must be in-kind and located Downtown.

Public benefits will only be accepted in-kind, and on-site amenities should be prioritized, thus incrementally providing improved levels of amenity Downtown that make progress toward creating a complete community.

a) The required podium height is determined by location as specified on Map 10. b) A development is considered an office development if a minimum of 25% of the gross square footage for the entire development contains office space and retains this ratio in perpetuity.

Above podium $4 per square foot

5.3.3.3 Bonusable Community Amenities must be enduring.

Buildings have a long life, and correspondingly, the resulting contribution must have a long-term effect.

This means that the quality of the benefit, and the consideration for its use in the long-term must be considered as a priority.

5.3.3.4 Bonusable Community Amenities must be in keeping with the objectives and standards of the RDNP. Community amenities must be designed and purposed to meet the objectives and standards of the RDNP, and will be evaluated through the Urban Design Review process of all downtown development applications.

122

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Below podium $0 per square foot

Fig. 22. The contribution gradient is applied to all office developments downtown as a required community amenity contribution.

Built Form Framework

Map 14. Boundaries of the Central Business District The Central Businesses District (CBD) was created to concentrate Class A office development within the core of Downtown. This responds to the desire of prospective tenants to be within an identified CBD. It therefore creates a more desirable condition to market Regina for Class A office, contributing to economic growth and development in Downtown Regina. Within the CBD, office buildings are permitted unlimited height and density, provided that they contain, in perpetuity, a minimum of 25% gross square feet of office space.

Section 5.3: Bonusing Framework

123

REGINA downtown plan

5.3.4.2 Contributions can be either the dollar value, according to the contribution gradient, or an amenity from the amenity contribution list, that is of an equivalent dollar value.

5.3.4.3 Within the Central Business District (CBD, Map 14), office developments (defined as any development with a minimum of 25% gross square footage of office space, to be secured in perpetuity) are permitted unlimited height and density. This provision is provided to reinforce the CBD by creating an incentive for larger office development in the CBD, where it is most desired.

5.3.5 List of Bonusable Community Amenities Creating a list of bonusable community amenities, projects and initiatives which are eligible to be exchanged for bonusing is an important step in adding transparency and predictability to the system. It is also important in ensuring that the benefits of a bonusing system are not diluted by amenity contributions that produce little public benefit. The list of community amenities which are eligible for bonusing should only be considered relevant for the duration in which the RDNP is in effect.

Public Realm • Public Art • Park/Parkette • Street furniture • Street trees • Sustainable landscaping measures (i.e. permeable surfaces, native species plantings) Use

• • • • •

Public Gallery Space for Non-Profit services Public Meeting Room Child Care Centre Public Patio

Built Form • Heritage preservation • Green Roof • Rain Garden (landscaped rainwater catchment area) • Affordable Housing • Façade improvements (on or off-site) • Atrium on corner site (i.e for waiting) • Energy efficiency or innovation measures (i.e. solar energy, geothermal) • LEED certification, non Class A office space Construction • Waste minimization program for construction (i.e. waste recycling, material minimization) • Sustainable materials (e.g. use of locally produced materials, products that are nontoxic)

124

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

5.4

General Design Standards

The following general design standards are applicable to all new buildings, regardless of use or scale. The goal of these standards is to create a human scaled environment, a characteristic of all great Downtowns.

Applying these standards will have the greatest positive impact on new development Downtown.

Design standards cannot anticipate every possible contingency. The standards must be interpreted with flexibility based on the merits of individual proposals and their unique contexts and conditions. However, the standards, collectively, establish a high expectation for design. Wherever a proposed new development cannot meet one or more specific standards, it should provide exemplary compliance with other standards, not just meeting minimum standards. Creative solutions that meet the intent of Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan Vision are welcome.

In general, when evaluating the merits of a new development, the following conditions must be met.

•

Makes a positive contribution to the city, to Downtown, and to the streetscape.

•

Relates to, and builds upon, its existing context.

•

Contributes to pedestrianism.

•

The façade is as interactive as possible at ground level, through transparency (windows), multiple entrances, and active uses.

•

Has beauty and will stand the test of time (well designed and quality materials).

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

125

REGINA downtown plan

5.4.1 Street Wall The “street wall” is a condition where buildings consistently line or front onto a street, defining its edge as an outdoor public space. This is best achieved where buildings have relatively consistent setbacks and heights at the street edge.

•

•

The street wall should contribute to the ‘fine-grain’ character of the streetscape by articulating the façade in a vertical rhythm that is consistent with the prevailing character of narrow buildings and storefronts – generally in intervals between 6 and 12 metres.

The street wall should generally be built to occupy 100% of a property’s frontage along streets. For properties that have less than 25 metres of street frontage, it is required (for corner sites, 25m of each individual frontage).

The podium of the new building (centre) reinforces a consistent street wall while taller elements are stepped back.

126

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

Above the street wall, buildings are subject to above-grade step backs (see Section 5.2.4).

•

All ground levels, including residential uses, should have a prominent presence on the street with a floor-to-ceiling height that is no less than 4.25 metres (14 feet).

•

Street walls must be designed to have the highest possible material quality and detail.

•

Street walls must have many windows and doors to provide ‘eyes on the street’ and a sense of animation and engagement.

•

No blank at-grade street wall conditions, or mechanical/utility functions are permitted on any frontage anywhere Downtown.

Built Form Framework

5.4.2 Orientation and Placement The orientation and placement of a building on a property creates a relationship with the adjacent context, and helps define the quality and character of the public realm.

•

All buildings must orient to and be placed at the street edge with clearly defined primary entry points that directly access the sidewalk.

Alternatively, buildings must be sited to define the edges of public open spaces, for example, plazas and promenades.

•

In most locations buildings should be built to the edge of the public right of way of streets to define their edges and create a direct relationship to the adjacent sidewalk. In the case of Avenues, buildings must be built to a line 5 metres set back from the right of way (See Section 5.2.5, Build-to Line, 5m Build-to, regarding Primary Gateway exceptions). This is to define a wider sidewalk and public realm zone along these important streets.

•

No parking is permitted between any building and the street edge anywhere Downtown.

•

Side-yard setbacks are generally not permitted, except where required for mid block pedestrian connections or vehicular access.

•

Consistent setback & orientation to the street in a new development

Buildings are located to define public spaces: streets and open spaces

On corner sites, buildings should be oriented towards the corner with an exceptional corner treatment and contribution to the public realm.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

127

REGINA downtown plan

ensure windows are close to or at the front of the façade. Avoid deep columns or large building projections that hide retail display and signage from view.

5.4.3 Retail Frontages Retail uses are most effective when located at-grade and in areas of high visibility and pedestrian traffic.

Correspondingly, retail activity helps animate a street when it is appropriately designed and focused.

•

•

•

All required retail frontages must have retail uses at-grade with an average 70-90% glazing to achieve maximum visual transparency and animation. Weather protection for pedestrians is encouraged through the use of awnings and canopies.

Where retail uses are not viable in the shortterm, the grade-level condition should be designed to easily accommodate adaptive reuse, and therefore should be convertible uses.

This condition is mandatory along Broad Street, Albert Street, and Saskatchewan Drive.

Minimize the transition zone between retail and the public realm. Locate retail immediately adjacent to the sidewalk and

•

Ensure retail entrances are located at or near grade. Avoid split level, raised or sunken retail entrances.

•

Commercial signage should add diversity and interest to retail streets, but not be overwhelming, and should generally be limited to the ground level.

•

Backlit sign boxes, billboards, revolving signs, roof signs, and third party signage is not permitted (see Section 5.4.11).

•

In some instances, shallow (15ft) retail façades should be considered in order to ensure retail at grade which also allows for larger floor plates (in behind).

Retail frontages should be highly transparent and located immediately adjacent to the sidewalk.

128

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

5.4.4 Entrances An entrance to a building is often the most recognizable and used part of its façade. It is what people look for when they interact with the building. It must be prominent, recognizable and accessible. â&#x20AC;˘

Emphasize entrances with architectural forms such as height, massing, projection, shadow, punctuation and/or change in roofline or materials. Modest height, set back and/or step backs are appropriate.

â&#x20AC;˘

Ensure main common building entrances (to residential or office lobbies, for example) are covered with a canopy, awning, recess or similar device to provide pedestrian weather protection.

This library entrance is articulated by the change in massing, prominent roof form, transparent materials, and lighting.

The main entrance is emphasized with change in materials, taller massing, and roof profile.

A canopy that covers the doorway and projects over the sidewalk clearly emphasizes the entrance.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

129

REGINA downtown plan

5.4.5 Building Articulation The articulation of a building is often what gives it a human scale and a sense of quality, through the attention to detail. The articulation implies a 3-dimensional façade, where windows and other elements have depth, creating a dynamic play of light and shadows. Typically the articulation will indicate the transition between floors and interior spaces, giving a human scale to the façade. This articulation can also include changes in materials, or material treatments.

•

To encourage continuity in the streetscape and to ensure horizontal ‘breaks’ in the façade, buildings must be designed to reinforce the following key elements through the use of setbacks, extrusions, textures, materials and/or detailing: ◦◦

Base – Within the first three storeys, a base must be clearly defined and positively contribute to the quality of the pedestrian environment through animation, transparency, articulation and material quality.

◦◦

Middle – The body of the building above the base must contribute to the physical and visual quality of the overall streetscape.

◦◦

Top - The roof condition must be distinguished from the rest of the building and designed to contribute to the visual quality of the skyline.

Heritage buildings are often well articulated with a base, middle and top.

New buildings can articulate a base, middle and top with simple design articulation, as is demonstrated by a past example in the Hotel Saskatchewan.

130

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

•

Base, middle and top must be applied to buildings of all heights, whether of 3 storeys or 30 (Figure 23).

•

Buildings must seek to contribute to a mix and variety of high quality architecture while remaining respectful of Regina’s context and tradition.

•

To provide architectural variety and visual interest, other opportunities to articulate the massing should be encouraged, including vertical and horizontal recesses or projections, datum lines, and changes in material, texture or colour.

•

Street facing façades must have the highest design quality, however, all publicly viewed façades at the side and rear should have a consistent design expression.

Top

Middle

Base

Figure 22. Buildings must be designed with a distinct base, middle and top.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

131

REGINA downtown plan

5.4.6 Frontages of Other Uses All uses must help create an animated street environment with doors, windows and pedestrian activity fronting and accessing directly onto the public realm.

•

Non-commercial uses at-grade must animate the street with frequent entries and windows.

•

Residential uses located at grade must include individual units accessed from the street, with appropriate front yard privacy measures such as setbacks, landscaping, and grade shifts (raised entrances such as steps, stoops, porches). These conditions occur along Secondary Streets and along 13th Avenue.

•

Building interiors must be organized to present the most animated uses or functions to the street edge through a transparent façade, such as cafeterias, lobbies, common gathering areas, etc.

Frontage conditions must also consider Map 8, Frontage Condition.

These ground level units are articulated and accessed individually from the street.

132

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

5.4.7 Materials The building materials help define the character and quality of a building and how it relates with other buildings or structures in its context. In an area where brick is predominant, new buildings will define themselves by the use, or lack of brick. Of much importance, as well, for the selection of materials is their longevity and ability to age with grace. Materials such as stone, brick and glass will endure well over time.

•

Building materials must be chosen for their durability and their functional and aesthetic quality and exterior finishes should exhibit quality of workmanship, sustainability and ease of maintenance.

•

Too varied a range of building materials is discouraged in favour of achieving a unified building image.

•

Materials used for the front façade must be carried around the building where any façades are exposed to public view at the side or rear.

•

Changes in material must generally not occur at building corners, unless the corner is a subordinate element (projection, bay, tower, etc.) to the main massing.

•

Building materials recommended for new construction include brick, stone, wood, glass, in-situ concrete and precast concrete.

•

In general, the appearance of building materials should be true to their nature and should not mimic other materials.

•

Vinyl siding, plastic, plywood, concrete block, darkly tinted and mirrored glass and metal siding utilizing exposed fasteners are discouraged.

High quality materials articulate a base, middle and top, as well as changes in massing.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

133

REGINA downtown plan

5.4.8 Roof Line Due to the high visibility of tall buildings in the prairie landscape, the design of roof conditions must be carefully considered, as they are viewed from many locations Downtown and around the city, and have a significant impact on the image of the built quality of Downtown.

A tapered profile, use of peaked roofs and dormers, high quality materials, and integrated mechanical equipment give this building a distinct skyline profile.

Simple but dynamic roof profiles contribute to the skyline with completely integrated and hidden mechanical equipment.

134

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

Buildings above six storeys contribute more to the skyline of individual precincts or even the entire Downtown, and so their roof massing and profile must be designed to contribute to the image of the city, through sculpting, towers, night lighting or unique features.

•

The expression of the building ‘top’ and roof, while clearly distinguished from the building ‘middle’, should incorporate elements of the middle and base such as pilasters, materials, massing forms or datum lines in order to create a cohesive building image.

•

Green roofs are encouraged.

•

All rooftop mechanical equipment must be screened from view by integrating it into the architectural design of the building and the expression of the building ‘top’ .

Built Form Framework

5.4.9 Visually Prominent Locations Prominent sites are locations that are highly visible, occupy an important symbolic location, or have an important public function. These include view termini, sites adjacent to significant public open spaces, street corners, and civic buildings. Since these sites help shape the image and character of an area and Downtown, they have greater civic obligations to ensure that the highest possible standards in design and material quality are met. To enhance the distinction and landmark quality of new buildings in these locations, modest exceptions to step backs (not to the setback) and height restrictions should be permitted to encourage massing and designs that accentuate the visual prominence of the site (see Map 5 for visually prominent sites).

Modest height, set Modest height, set back and/or step back back and/or step back exception at view exception at corner terminus and main front entrance

Modest set back exception to emphasize view to existing landmark

View Termini Buildings, structures, or sites that are visual termini are at the end of a view, typically when looking along at street. Given their prominence within the urban context, they must enhance the level of design quality, as well as promote their image. â&#x20AC;˘

Provide distinctive architectural treatments such as spires, turrets, belvederes, porticos, arcades, or archways.

â&#x20AC;˘

Align design features to the view axis which, in addition to tall elements, must include aligned main entries or portico openings.

A taller building mass, including the main front entrance, terminates this end view.

Corners Corner buildings have a greater visual prominence given that they terminate two street walls and that they can be viewed from a greater open space, at the street intersection. This special condition must be recognized through appropriate design responses.

A tower is located at the bend in the road.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

135

REGINA downtown plan

•

Designs must provide a change in the building massing at the corner, in relation to the street wall.

•

Consideration should be given to providing distinctive architectural treatments such as spires, turrets, belvederes, porticos, arcades, or archways.

•

Employ consistency in the built form characteristics of the building design and/or massing on all four corners. While buildings or building elements should not be the same, they should have common references among them, such as cornice line, tower elements, setback, signage, etc.

•

Provide a frontal design to both street frontages.

This building responds to the corner through taller massing, a unique roof profile, and an entrance facing the corner

Gateways Gateway buildings have the greatest visual prominence, as they are located at corners that are gateways to Downtown. Gateway buildings must provide a deliberate and significant response befitting their role. New gateway buildings Downtown may provide a massing set back from the street wall, in order to appropriately address the intersection, provide a larger pedestrian realm, and define new public space. All other standards that apply to corner buildings also apply to gateway buildings.

The building shown above is set farther back at the corner, providing an expanded pedestrian realm. The streetscape is animated by an entrance opening to the corner, a threeseason patio, and large windows that provide transparency and enable a street view of the café and retail uses inside.

136

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Existing Landmarks Existing landmarks contribute to the cultural history and distinct sense of place of Downtown Regina.

Examples include the church towers, the Federal Building tower, the old post office, tall buildings such as the Saskatchewan Power building, and the marquee of the Plains Hotel. New buildings should ensure their visual prominence is maintained and enhanced.

•

New buildings must align to consistently create a view corridor to landmarks.

•

New buildings should provide setbacks, step backs, jogs, and other massing voids to maintain the view or create a new view to landmarks.

Landmark Frontages Landmark frontages are the building faces defining the edges of Downtown’s most important streets and open spaces. New buildings should reinforce the edges of these features and the linkages between them.

•

New buildings should utilize existing distinct building design elements such as materials, colours, or architectural features (columns, towers, bays, etc.) in the design of new buildings to create a consistent expression along the frontage (See Map 5, Visual Prominence, for location of Landmark Frontages).

Landmark frontages can be achieved in a variety of ways.

These buildings have similar scale and materials to define a consistent street edge.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

137

REGINA downtown plan

5.4.10 Vehicular Access, Circulation, Parking, Loading, and Utilities Service areas are a necessary part of buildings, but often do not create a welcoming pedestrian environment. Care must be given to the design in order to minimize their presence and impact on the public experience by locating them to less visible parts of the building and by integrating them within the building mass (also see Section 5.2.7).

Buildings should define the public realm. All parking and loading should be located at the side or rear of buildings and accessed by laneways.

138

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

Generally all parking access, loading areas and utility zones must be located at the rear of buildings and accessed from laneways.

•

Where necessary, ensure vehicular and service access has a minimal impact on the streetscape, through minimizing the width of the frontage it occupies, and by designing integrated access portals and garages.

•

No parking is permitted between any building and the street edge.

•

No parking is permitted to front any street edge.

•

Where access and service areas are visible from or shared with public space, provide high quality materials and features that can include continuous paving treatments, landscaping and well designed doors and entries.

•

Locate loading, storage, utilities, areas for delivery and trash pick up out of view from public streets and spaces, and residential uses.

Built Form Framework

•

Coordinate and integrate utilities, mechanical equipment and meters with the design of the building, for example, using rooftop parapets or internal utility rooms.

•

When any portion of a site is redeveloped, existing surface parking must be redesigned to conform to the requirements outlined above.

•

Locate heating, venting and air conditioning equipment and vents away from public streets.

•

Refer to the Building Typology Standards for design of parking structures.

•

Locate parking underground or internal to the building (preferred), or to the rear of buildings (moderate sized lots for the handicapped, visitors).

•

New parking facilities, including structured parking and surface lots, must not be visible or provide vehicular access from the pedestrian heart of Downtown.

•

No new surface parking is permitted, except where it is located to the rear of a building and sufficient screening is provided.

•

Reduce the amount of existing surface parking in the Downtown, and improve the aesthetic (buffers, materials, trees) of existing surface lots.

•

Where existing surface parking lots are exposed to streets, they should use hard (e.g. columns, decorative fencing) and soft (e.g. hedges) landscaping to reinforce the street edge, and should be designed to include internal landscaping on islands at the ends of each parking aisle, clearly marked pedestrian access and paths, lighting and concealed with landscaped buffers and/or other mitigating design measures.

Where necessary, vehicular access is through an access portal integrated with building façade. The width of the frontage it occupies is minimal.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

139

REGINA downtown plan

5.4.11 Signage Signs play an important role in the overall image of Downtown. Signs should contribute to the quality of individual buildings and the public realm. They should reflect the unique characteristic of their context. This includes compatibility with heritage buildings and districts, where appropriate. High quality, imaginative, and innovative signs are encouraged. Design objectives for signs include: Signs should be located within defined architectural spaces, such as sign bands or windows (green, above). This also includes areas that are defined by, or reinforce, datum lines or proportional characteristics of the façade (red, above).

The position of these signs is consistent with the architectural orders of the façade and the historic context.

140

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

Integrate signs into the design of building façades by placing them within architectural bay, friezes or datum lines, including coordinated proportion, materials and colour.

•

Signs must not obscure windows, cornices or other architectural elements.

•

Sign scale must reinforce the pedestrian scale of Downtown, through location at or near grade level for viewing from sidewalks.

•

Large freestanding signs (such as pylons), signs on top of rooftops, and large scale advertising (such as billboards) are not permitted.

•

Signs on heritage buildings must be consistent with traditional sign placement such as on a sign band, window lettering, or within architectural orders, or as per Heritage Conservation District requirements.

•

Street addressing must be clearly visible for every building.

Built Form Framework

5.4.12 Lighting Night image is an important aspect of Downtown’s urban character and form.

•

Reduce light pollution by directing light directly to useful areas. Avoid spilled light and eliminate upwardly pointing light (at the sky). Encourage building owners to turn off unnecessary interior lights.

•

Attractive landscape and architectural features can be highlighted with spot-lighting or general lighting placement.

•

Consider a variety of lighting opportunities inclusive of street lighting, pedestrian lighting, building up/down lighting, internal building lighting, internal and external signage illumination (including street addressing), and decorative/display lighting.

•

Illuminate landmark buildings and elements, such as towers or distinctive roof profiles.

•

Encourage subtle night-lighting of retail display windows.

•

Ensure light does not spill onto adjacent lowrise residential areas.

•

Encourage the use of energy efficient lighting and green power sources.

•

Street lights, and light standards affixed to buildings that are within the streetscape, should be scaled and designed for pedestrians.

Light outstanding architectural features.

Light landmark buildings and elements.

Light building entrances.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

141

REGINA downtown plan

5.4.13 Transition Transitions between buildings help create continuity and cohesiveness in the streetscape. They occur when buildings that are beside each other, across the street from each other, or are otherwise part of a building grouping, have design elements that reference each other. Transitions can be articulated through a wide range of design elements, particularly those at a pedestrian scale, including: •

Overall building height

•

Massing

•

Street wall height ◦◦

Projections

◦◦

Proportion

◦◦ • These buildings have appropriate transitions due to similar setback, massing, street wall height and projections. These characteristics of building form are more important than their style and material dissimilarity.

•

Setback ◦◦ ◦◦

Floor heights

◦◦

Cornice line

◦◦

While these buildings have different styles, massing, and setbacks, they have appropriate transitions due to similar materials, datum lines and window proportions.

Building base Proportion

◦◦

Colour

◦◦

Pattern

Texture

Entry Treatment

Window Treatment ◦◦

Placement

◦◦

Proportion

◦◦ •

Vertical divisions (rhythm)

Materials ◦◦

•

Above grade step backs

◦◦

◦◦

•

Ground level setbacks: front, side, rear

Datum lines ◦◦

•

Roof profile

Orientation

Architectural style/period

To create appropriate transitions, new buildings should consider several of the above features of other, adjacent buildings (usually beside each other), in their design.

142

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Elements of transition between these buildings include typology (same type), height, and setback. Regardless of the style, materials, or colour, these basic massing similarities create compatible relationships.

Elements of transition between these buildings include materials, cornice heights and datum lines. Despite the differences in massing between the new building and the two heritage buildings, and their window size and proportion, these buildings have appropriate transitions.

The new building (right) responds to the materials, design language and rhythm of the historic building (left), to create a consistent transition. Note this would be appropriate along landmark frontages.

Section 5.4: General Design Standards

143

REGINA downtown plan

144

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

5.5

Building Typology Standards

5.5.1 Introduction The following building typology standards build upon the general design standards by providing more specific design direction for various types of buildings.

The typologies included are: •

Residential & Mixed Use Typologies: Multiplex, Low, Mid and High-Rise

•

Office and Commercial Typologies: Low and Mid to High-Rise

•

Civic Typology

•

Above Grade Parking Structure Typology

The typologies are not meant to be rigid. There are other typologies that exist, as well as variations on these typologies. The intent is to provide a broad spectrum of the most common building types and their associated design intent. Some of this material repeats the general design standards. For each typology, the standards set out:

•

A general description of the typology including organization, access, amenity space, and uses.

•

General massing and height, including specific massing control standards governing above grade step backs, building sizes, and separation distances.

•

Standards for articulating the façade.

•

Standards for parking and servicing.

Certain types of buildings are appropriate in certain locations Downtown. For example, lower residential forms, including multiplex or stacked townhouses, are appropriate in the neighbourhood transition areas around the edges of Downtown. Central Downtown is more appropriate for mid- to high-rise types. The typology location chart (Figure 25 and 26) provides an overview.

Figure 24 provides a diagrammatic summary of definitions used in the typology descriptions.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

145

REGINA downtown plan

5.5.2 Definitions Build-to Line

Step-back

This term denotes a specific distance from the property line to which the street wall of all new buildings must be constructed. All new construction must be built to the Build-to Line. The Build-to line is measured at grade. Relaxation of the build-to lines are achievable through bonusing where allowable as shown on Map 9.

Where a building has taller elements above the street wall, the step back is the distance from the street wall to the nearest part of the taller building element or structure, measured perpendicular to the street wall. It is measured above grade from the street wall.

Setback

Property Line

Build-to Line

Street Wall

A set back typically denotes the minimum distance (implying a building can be located further back) from the property line at which a building must be built. Recall that Section 5.2.5 states that the setbacks are considered build-to lines (or ranges) and greater or lesser setbacks are not permitted Downtown.

Step Back (from laneway) Step Back (from street wall)

Setback Construct to Build-to line

Sidewalk

Podium

The lower portion of a building or collection of buildings that defines the street edge or public realm, typically between 3-6 storeys in height.

The street wall refers to the faรงade portion of the building.

The lower portion of a building that defines the street edge or public realm, typically between 3-6 storeys in height. The podium refers to the overall massing of this portion of the building.

Street Wall

Street Wall

Sidewalk

146

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Podium

Sidewalk

Built Form Framework

Figure 24. Diagram of building design components

Lan

ew

ay

t cen y a j Ad pert Pro

Ste (fro p ba pro m s ck pe har rty ed lin e)

Ste (fro p ba m ck str ee t)

ack t) p b stree e t S m (fro

Str

ee

t

y) ck ba newa p Ste m la (fro

Podium Bu

ild

-to

lin

e(

Bu lin ild-to e( 5m ) 0m

)

t

ee

Str

Str

ee

tW all

all tW

ee Str

Step Back

Podium Street Wall Podium

Build-To Line

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

147

REGINA downtown plan

Figure 25. Appropriate locations for building typologies chart

Central Downtown

Downtown Edge

Multiplex Residential

Lowrise

Mixed Use Row House Stacked Low Apartment Mid-rise Hi-rise

Commercial

Lowrise

Small/Mid Format Large Format Mid-rise Hi-rise Civic Parking Structure

148

P P P P

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

P P P P

P P P P P P P P P P

Centre Square Interface excluding Victoria Avenue

P P P P P P P

Victoria Avenue

P P

P

P

P P

P

Core Interface

Cathedral Interface

P P P P P P P P P P P P

P P P P P P P P P

Built Form Framework

Figure 26. Building typology renderings

Residential Buildings Multiplex

Mixed Use Row House

Mixed Use Row House

Stacked Row House

Low Apartment

Low-rise

Mid-rise

High-rise

Retail/ Office Buildings

Low-rise

Civic Building

Mid-rise

High-rise

Parking Structure

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

149

REGINA downtown plan

Residential Multiplex

Multiplexes have multiple units within a house form building. The street edge is animated with balconies, windows, and a porch.

Multiple units are contained within a house form building.

Several entrances are provided to animate the street edge.

150

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential Multiplex 5.5.3 Multiplex Residential/Mixed Use Description & Use •

Three or more residential units within a large house-form

•

May be individual entrances to each unit, or a single vestibule entrance for all units (with separate doors for each)

•

Private rear yard or patio for residents’ use

•

Small scale at grade retail is appropriate (e.g. corner store, hair salon, etc.)

Corner unit should wrap both frontages with continuous built form Parking pads or garages in rear

2-4m front yard setback

0.6-2m side yard setback

Massing

•

Height: 2-4 storeys Ensure the multiplex is massed as a large manor house, not a low-rise apartment

Articulate façades to express a base, middle and top.

•

Provide building forms such as larger massing, taller heights, entrances, and/or distinctive architectural elements.

•

Generally, provide vertical design orientation to façades, including bays, windows and doors.

•

Maximize the built frontage of the multiplex on its lot facing public streets to help create a consistent street wall.

•

Small front and side yard setbacks, typically: ◦◦

2-4m front yard setback.

◦◦

0.6-2m side yard setback.

Articulation

Parking & Servicing •

All resident parking should be accessed from a rear laneway, including garages, driveways or small aggregate parking lots.

•

Design buildings to be varied and articulated to provide visual interest to pedestrians.

•

On-street parking provides additional resident and visitor parking.

•

Design the main building entrance to be prominent in the façade using techniques such as height, massing, overhang, shadow, punctuation and/or change in roofline.

•

Garages are permitted only in the rear yard.

•

Locate all utility meters away from the front façade, or integrate them with the design of the façade or porch so they are not visible.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

151

REGINA downtown plan

Residential Low-Rise

These live-work row houses have a traditional main street character.

152

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential Low-Rise

5.5.4 Low-Rise Residential/Mixed Use Description & Use •

Residential units attached to their neighbours above, below and to the side, within a single building.

•

Private open space provided in the form of patios, decks, balconies or rooftops for individual units.

•

Common open space such as a courtyard or rooftop deck for residents, except for very small projects.

•

Parking Pads or garages in rear

Convertible retail frontage at grade

Commercial uses on the ground floor of buildings is desirable.

Mixed Use Row House •

Units attached at sides, generally a single ownership for each unit.

•

Ground level commercial uses can be owneroccupied, rented or sold.

•

Purely residential row houses are appropriate in certain conditions: ◦◦

along Angus Street and Osler Street.

◦◦

part of a larger development site including low apartment, mid- or highrise forms.

Amenity area on deck above parking

Active or residential uses at grade

Units overlooking laneway

Parking under deck, accessed by laneway

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

153

REGINA downtown plan

Residential Low-Rise

These stacked row houses emphasize entries and articulate the faรงade well given multiple entrances and stairs.

Base, middle and top are clearly defined for this low apartment. Change in plane and materials articulate a series of smaller masses.

154

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential Low-Rise Stacked Row House •

Usually, one or more units stacked above one or more units.

•

Appropriate in locations where individual grade-accessed residential units are permitted.

Individual units accessed from street

Low Apartment Building Forms

2.5m minimum step back facing streets

•

Units attached above, below and to the side.

•

Includes garden apartments, courtyard apartments, and street wall apartments.

Parking at rear screened by building mass No step back from shared property lines

Podium street wall

Active or residential uses face street

Massing Height: 3-5 storeys •

Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of scale, height and configuration.

•

Provide a 3 or 4 storey street wall (podium) at the street edge, with above grade step backs: ◦◦

•

Parking at rear screened by building mass

◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from laneway.

◦◦

no step back required from shared property lines.

2-4m front yard setbacks for individual grade accessed residential units.

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from streets.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

155

REGINA downtown plan

Residential Low-Rise

Articulation •

Orient all primary building entrances to directly access the public sidewalk.

•

Design the main building entrance to be prominent in the façade using techniques such as height, massing, overhang, shadow, punctuation and/or change in roofline.

•

Divide façades using horizontal tiers to express a base, middle, and top.

•

Divide façades vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.

•

Address both primary, publicly visible façades of corner buildings with a “frontal” appearance.

•

Address street corners using building forms such as larger massing, taller heights, entrances, and/or distinctive architectural elements.

•

Articulate all façades facing public streets using entrances, windows, architectural details and/or signage to provide pedestrian interest.

•

All façades that are not built as parti walls (to be shared with a future adjacent building) must be articulated inclusive of windows.

•

Generally, provide vertical design orientation to façades (bays), windows and doors.

•

Ensure materials have human scale and interest, such as brick and masonry. Ensure non-modular materials such as concrete are articulated with design details, particularly at grade.

•

Provide compatible materials to adjacent buildings and hard landscapes, either as primary material or accent.

All of these low apartments have transparent ground levels and articulate a base, middle and top. Downtown needs much more of this type of building.

156

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential Low-Rise

Parking & Servicing •

Parking must not be visible from streets.

Where provided, parking must: ◦◦

For mixed use row house forms, at the rear of the building in driveways or detached garages set back from the street frontage.

◦◦

For stacked row house forms, at the rear of the building in driveways, integrated garages or communal lots.

◦◦

For low apartment forms, in communal lots or an integrated structure.

•

Vehicular access to parking should generally be from the laneway, to minimize the impact on primary streetscapes and on pedestrians.

•

Locate loading, storage, and utilities out of view from public streets.

•

Locate areas for deliveries and trash pick up away from residential uses, and public streets and spaces.

•

Screen parking, loading and storage areas from public view using building mass, freestanding walls and landscaping.

•

Screen large exterior trash receptacles from public view using solid screens compatible in materials and colour to the principal structure.

•

Coordinate and integrate utilities, mechanical equipment and meters with the design of the façade, for example, using rooftop parapets or utility rooms.

•

Locate heating, venting and air conditioning equipment away from public streets.

Laneways should provide the primary access for parking and servicing functions. Where appropriate, laneways should be designed as high quality spaces where they can be overlooked by residences or active uses.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

157

REGINA downtown plan

Residential Mid-Rise

Mid-rise residences. Note well articulated roof profile integrating all mechanical penthouse equipment. Materials, windows, and projections provide articulation and interest.

158

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential Mid-Rise

5.5.5 Mid-Rise Residential/Mixed Use Description & Use •

Homes attached to their neighbours above, below and to the side, within a single building.

•

Typically, street level units have separate individual entrances. Other units enter from one or more lobbies serving one or more elevator and stair core.

•

Private open space provided in the form of patios, decks, balconies or rooftops for individual units.

•

Common open space such as a courtyard or rooftop deck for residents.

•

•

Commercial uses on the ground floor of buildings is encouraged, convertible frontages are required.

Prominent main entrance Potential common amenity area

Individual units accessed from street Podium/ Street wall

Underground parking preferred

Configuration showing underground parking.

2.5m minimum step back from shared property line

20m separation to tall building

Ma

May include office uses on 2nd and 3rd floor.

x.

sla

2.5m minimum step back from street Prominent entrance

bl

en

gth

55

Potential amenity space on deck above parking

m

Parking at rear screened by building mass

Configuration showing potential above-grade parking structure integrated and screened by building mass.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

159

REGINA downtown plan

Residential Mid-Rise

Above grade step back creates balcony and terrace opportunities for upper units.

160

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential Mid-Rise Massing Height: 6-12 storeys •

Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of scale, height and configuration.

•

Break down the massing of large buildings horizontally and vertically into a hierarchy of volumes.

•

Provide a 3 or 4 storey street wall (podium) at the street edge, with above grade step backs:

•

•

•

•

◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from street wall.

◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from laneway.

◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from podium edge facing another property.

The portion of the building taller than 16.25m (approximately 5 storeys) should generally be separated by a minimum of 20m from other tall buildings of 16.25m height (5 storeys) or greater (residential or office).

A mid-rise residential building with individually access units at ground level. A modest setback from the right of way allows an urban front yard landscape condition.

In existing conditions were a parti wall exists and is built to a shared property line, the podium of new development is required to abut the existing parti wall.

•

A variance will be considered in the required 20m separation distance between tall buildings in the condition where the existing adjacent building is built to the property line, or has a minimal setback, and addresses privacy and aesthetic concerns.

On blocks fronting the south side of Victoria Avenue, maximum slab building length is 55m for portions of building taller than 16.25m and less than 30m. Above 30m, maximum floor plate size is 700m2.

•

2-4m front yard setbacks for individual grade accessed residential units required on primary and secondary streets.

Maximum slab building length is 55m for portions of building taller than 16.25m (approximately 5 storeys).

Articulation •

Orient all primary building entrances to directly access the sidewalk.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

161

REGINA downtown plan

Residential Mid-Rise

Mid-rise building addresses both street frontages with high quality articulation. Corner entrance is well lit and weather protected.

Faรงades have been divided vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.

These buildings have a podium design and sculpt their large massing to create smaller forms.

162

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential Mid-Rise •

Design the main building entrance to be prominent in the façade using techniques such as height, massing, overhang, shadow, punctuation and/or change in roofline.

•

Divide façades using horizontal tiers to express a base, middle, and top.

•

Divide façades vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.

•

Address both primary, publicly visible façades of corner buildings with a “frontal” appearance.

•

Address street corners using building forms such as larger massing, taller heights, entrances, and/or distinctive architectural elements.

concrete are articulated with design details, particularly at grade.

•

Provide compatible materials to adjacent buildings and hard landscapes, either as primary material or accent.

Parking & Servicing •

All resident’s parking and loading must be located below grade, or in above-grade parking structures, hidden from the street.

•

Locate vehicular access to parking generally from the laneway to minimize its impact on primary streetscapes and pedestrians.

•

Locate loading, storage, and utilities out of view from public streets.

•

Articulate all façades facing public streets using entrances, windows, architectural details and/or signage to provide pedestrian interest.

•

•

All façades that are not built as parti walls (to be shared with a future adjacent building) must be articulated inclusive of windows.

Locate areas for deliveries and trash pick up away from residential uses, and public streets and spaces.

•

•

Generally, provide vertical design orientation to façades (bays), windows and doors.

Screen parking, loading and storage areas from public view using building mass, freestanding walls and landscaping.

•

•

Where individual residential uses are located at grade, provide articulation of individual units, including individual front entrances and small front yards. They should have a row house appearance.

Screen large exterior trash receptacles from public view using solid screens compatible in materials and colour to the principal structure.

•

Coordinate and integrate utilities, mechanical equipment and meters with the design of the façade, for example, using rooftop parapets or utility rooms.

•

Locate heating, venting and air conditioning equipment and vents away from public streets.

•

•

Ensure there are some elements of building design that carry through both base building and tall building, such as materials, architectural orders (e.g. pilasters), or setback.

Ensure materials have human scale and interest, such as brick and masonry. Ensure non-modular materials such as stucco and

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

163

REGINA downtown plan

Residential High-Rise

High-rise residential with street edge podium.

164

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential High-Rise

5.5.6 High-Rise Residential/Mixed Use Description & Use • Residential units attached to their neighbours above, below and to the side, within a single building.

• Only street level units have separate individual entrances. All other units enter from one or more lobbies serving one or more elevator and stair core.

• Private open space provided in the form of patios, decks, balconies or rooftops.

20m separation to tall buildings

2.5m minimum step back from building face above podium

Slabs: 55m max. length & 14 storey max. height Floor plate 700m2 or less for point tower Common amenity area

• Common open space such as a courtyard or rooftop deck.

• Some commercial uses on the ground floor of buildings is required; significant ground floor commercial is strongly encouraged.

• May include office or hotel uses instead of, or in addition to, residential.

Prominent entrance 2.5m minimum step back facing streets

Massing Height: 13+ storeys Roof: flat • Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of scale, height and configuration.

• Tall buildings contribute to the skyline and therefore are important in shaping the image of the city. Ensure the top of the building is articulated through architectural detail, has a well-defined three-dimensional form, and integrates mechanical penthouse equipment into the building design.

• Break down the massing of large buildings horizontally and vertically into a hierarchy of volumes.

• Street-edge massing should generally be 3-4 storeys in height through a base or podium building, with taller building elements stepped back.

Underground parking preferred

Articulated tower form

Podium / Street Wall

Prominent entrance High quality front façade to parking integrated with overall building design

Active or residential use at grade

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

165

REGINA downtown plan

Residential High-Rise

Lower, grade-related building forms line the street with above grade step backs. The high-rise is articulated vertically through a first-floor canopy/overhang, a mid-rise massing to the 7th storey, and then a stepped-back tower.

166

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential High-Rise •

•

•

•

Provide a 3 or 4 storey street wall (podium) at the street edge, with above grade step backs: ◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from street wall.

◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from laneway.

◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from podium edge facing another property.

The portion of the building taller than 16.25m (approximately 5 storeys) should generally be separated by a minimum of 20m from other tall buildings of 16.25m height (5 storeys) or greater (residential or office).

The portion of the building taller than 40m (approximately 13 storeys) should generally be separated by a minimum of 25m from other buildings of 13 storeys or greater (residential or office).

In existing conditions were a parti wall exists and is built to a shared property line, the podium of new development is required to abut the existing parti wall.

•

A variance will be considered in the required 20m separation distance between tall buildings in the condition where the existing adjacent building is built to the property line, or has a minimal setback, and addresses privacy and aesthetic concerns.

•

2-4m front yard setbacks for individual grade accessed residential units (or as required on Map 9).

Point Tower High Rise •

Slender profile tower with small floor plates typically less than 700m2.

•

Can be sited more freely than slab highrise because of their lesser bulk, including at gateways, corners, terminus views and landmark sites, however, they do have a greater obligation towards high quality design and materials given their visual prominence.

•

Place in areas adjacent to other tall buildings, for context and transition.

Slab High Rise •

Large tower with big floor plates typically more than 700m2.

•

Maximum 43.25m (14 storeys) height.

•

Longer building mass requires careful location and design. Should generally not be located at highly visible locations unless of landmark design quality.

•

Must be vertically and horizontally articulated through changes in mass, plane, material and treatment.

•

Maximum slab building length is 55m for portions of building taller than 16.25m (approximately 5 storeys) up to 43.25m.

Above 43.25m, point tower floor plate maximums apply.

•

On blocks fronting the south side of Victoria Avenue, maximum slab building length is 55m for portions of building taller than 16.25m and less than 30m. Above 30m, point tower floor plate maximums apply (700m2).

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

167

REGINA downtown plan

Residential High-Rise

Four storey podium that steps back to a residential tower.

The visual impact of this parking lot is mitigated by landscaping, as well as by screening provided by a retained building faรงade.

168

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Residential High-Rise Articulation •

Orient all primary building entrances to directly access the sidewalk.

•

Design the main building entrance to be prominent in the façade using techniques such as height, massing, overhang, shadow, punctuation and/or change in roofline.

•

Divide façades using horizontal tiers to express a base, middle, and top.

•

Divide façades vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.

•

Address both primary, publicly visible façades of corner buildings with a “frontal” appearance.

•

Address street corners using building forms such as larger massing, taller heights, entrances, and/or distinctive architectural elements.

•

Articulate all façades facing public streets using entrances, windows, architectural details and/or signage to provide pedestrian interest.

•

All façades that are not built as parti walls (to be shared with a future adjacent building) should be articulated inclusive of windows.

•

Generally, provide vertical design orientation to façades (bays), windows and doors.

•

Where individual residential uses are permitted at grade, provide articulation of individual units, including individual front entrances and small front yards. They should have a row house appearance.

•

Ensure there are some elements of building design that carry through both base building and tall building, such as materials, architectural orders (e.g. pilasters), or setback.

•

Ensure materials have human scale and interest, such as brick and masonry. Ensure non-modular materials such as concrete are

articulated with design details, particularly at grade.

•

Provide compatible materials to adjacent buildings and hard landscapes, either as primary material or accent.

•

Ensure high-rise components do not cause undue impact on public areas through shadow or wind.

•

With high-rise components consider their presence in the skyline, and from view points across the city.

Parking & Servicing •

All resident’s parking and loading must be located below grade, or in above-grade parking structures, hidden from the street.

•

Locate vehicular access to parking generally from laneways to minimize its impact on primary streetscapes and pedestrians.

•

Locate loading, storage, and utilities out of view from public streets.

•

Locate areas for deliveries and trash pick up away from residential uses, and public streets and spaces.

•

Screen parking, loading and storage areas from public view using building mass, low freestanding walls and landscaping.

•

Screen large exterior trash receptacles from public view using solid screens compatible in materials and colour to the principal structure.

•

Coordinate and integrate utilities, mechanical equipment and meters with the design of the façade, for example, using rooftop parapets or utility rooms.

•

Locate heating, venting and air conditioning equipment away from public streets.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

169

REGINA downtown plan

Commercial Low-Rise Small to Medium Format

Parking at rear screened by building mass

Prominent entrance Individual entrances wherever possible

5.5.7 Low-Rise Office or Retail Description & Use •

Retail at ground level retail and/or commercial/ employment offices attached to their neighbours above, below and to the side, within a single building

•

Individual entrances to retail units or offices, or common entrance

Small to medium format office or retail •

Large Format

Large format store above Structured parking screened by building mass

Typical tenant sizes less than 1,400 m2

Large format office or retail •

Typical tenant sizes greater than 1,400 m2

Massing Height: 2-3 storeys • Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of scale, height and configuration.

•

Large format retailer entry

Smaller format retailers at grade facing streets

Large format retailer located above smaller format retailers at grade.

170

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Floor to ceiling heights greater than residential, typically 4.1-4.25m.

Articulation •

Orient all primary building entrances to directly access the sidewalk. Provide separate entrances to each ground level tenant.

•

Design building entrances to be prominent in the façade using techniques such as height, massing, overhang, shadow, punctuation and/or change in roofline.

•

Divide façades using horizontal tiers to express a base, middle, and top.

•

Divide façades vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.

•

Address both primary, publicly visible façades of corner buildings with a “frontal” appearance.

Built Form Framework

Commercial Low-Rise • •

Address street corners using building forms such as larger massing, taller heights, entrances, and distinct architectural elements.

Articulate all façades facing public streets using entrances, windows, architectural details and signs to provide interest. Grade level should be highly transparent.

•

All façades that are not built as parti walls (to be shared with a future adjacent building) should be articulated inclusive of windows.

•

To contribute to an active streetscape and pedestrian realm, where possible, locate small format tenants at ground level and large format tenants above. Where both large and small format tenants must share the ground level, the large format tenant should be located behind the smaller tenants, so that the entrances of smaller tenants can directly access the sidewalk.

•

Generally, provide vertical design orientation to façades (bays), windows and doors.

•

Ensure materials have human scale and interest, such as brick and masonry. Ensure non-modular materials such as stucco and concrete are articulated with design details, particularly at grade.

•

Provide compatible materials to adjacent buildings and hard landscapes, either as primary material or accent.

•

Façades facing public streets or open spaces must have 70-90% glazing with functioning doorways located every 15m or less, preferably accessing different units.

•

A minimum of two functioning storeys, with active uses, must be built. A double-height ground level volume is permitted only when an additional functioning storey is located above.

•

Floor plates greater than 1,400m2 must provide an independent economic impact assessment.

Parking & Servicing •

All tenant’s parking and loading is at rear in common surface lot or integrated structure, or off-site (dispersed public parking).

•

Locate vehicular access to parking generally from laneways to minimize its impact on primary streetscapes and pedestrians.

•

Locate loading, storage, and utilities out of view from public streets.

•

Locate areas for deliveries and trash pick up away from residential uses, and public streets and spaces.

•

Screen parking, loading and storage areas from public view using building mass, freestanding walls and landscaping.

•

Screen waste bins from public view using solid screens compatible in materials and colour to the principal structure.

•

Coordinate and integrate utilities, mechanical equipment and meters with the design of the façade, for example, using rooftop parapets or utility rooms.

•

Locate heating, venting and air conditioning equipment away from public streets.

Small format office/retail building is located at the street edge with multiple entrances.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

171

REGINA downtown plan

Commercial Mid- and High-Rise

Mid-rise office incorporates heritage building as a street edge podium. Change in materials, plane, and upper level step backs divide a large massing into smaller forms. The newer portion of the building was added many years later.

172

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Commercial Mid- and High-Rise

5.5.8 Mid- to High-Rise Office

Mid-Rise

Description & Use •

Commercial/employment offices attached to their neighbours above, below and to the side, within a single building

•

One or more entrances to main floor lobby serving one or more elevator and stair core

•

Private open space provided in the form of patios, decks, balconies or rooftops

•

Significant ground floor commercial is strongly encouraged for mid-rise. Some commercial uses on the ground floor of highrise is required

•

May include hotel, residential and institutional uses instead of, or in addition to, office

Prominent Entrance Podium / Street wall

Active use

High quality front façade to parking integrated with overall building design

High-Rise 20m separation to tall buildings*

55m max. slab length

2.5m minimum step back from shared property lines

Podium/ Street wall 2.5m minimum step back from streets

Underground Parking Preferred

* may be relaxed if separation is to another existing commercial building and addresses privacy and aesthetic concerns.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

173

REGINA downtown plan

Commercial Mid- and High-Rise

The Maritime Life building incorporates a heritage building as the podium, stepping back from the street wall to the new office tower above.

174

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Commercial Mid- and High-Rise

Massing

•

On blocks fronting the south side of Victoria Avenue, maximum slab building length is 55m for portions of building taller than 16.25m and less than 30m in height. Above 30m, floor plate maximum is 700m2.

•

The portion of the building taller than 16.25m (approximately 4 storeys) should generally be separated by a minimum of 20m from other buildings of 16.25m (4 storeys) or greater (residential or office).

•

In existing conditions were a parti wall exists and is built to a shared property line, the podium of new development is required to abut the existing parti wall.

•

A variance will be considered in the required 20m separation distance between tall buildings in the condition where the existing adjacent building is built to the property line, or has a minimal setback, and addresses privacy and aesthetic concerns.

Height: Mid-rise 4-9 storeys

High-rise 10+ storeys •

Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of scale, height and configuration.

•

Tall buildings contribute to the skyline and therefore are important in shaping the image of the city. Ensure the top of the building is articulated through architectural detail, has a well-defined three-dimensional form, and integrates mechanical penthouse equipment into the building design.

•

Break down the massing of large buildings horizontally and vertically into a hierarchy of volumes, and articulate through changes in plane, material and treatment.

•

Provide a 3 or 4 storey street wall (podium) at the street edge, with above grade step backs: ◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from streets.

•

Floor to ceiling heights greater than residential, typically 4.1m.

◦◦

No step back required from laneway.

•

◦◦

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back required from shared property lines (side property line).

Floor plate size greater than residential, typically 1,400-2,300m2+.

•

Some tenants require much larger floor plates for certain functions (e.g. trading floors), often accommodated in podium.

•

Larger building mass requires careful location and design.

•

Locate adjacent tall buildings to existing taller buildings to reinforce context and principles of transition.

•

In existing conditions were a parti wall exists and is built to a shared property line, the podium of new development is required to abut the existing parti wall.

•

Maximum slab building length is 55m for portions of building taller than 16.25m (approximately 4 storeys).

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

175

REGINA downtown plan

Commercial Mid- and High-Rise

Street edge podium has retail at grade with awnings over sidewalk. Main entry to tower is articulated.

176

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Commercial Mid- and High-Rise Articulation •

Orient all primary building entrances to directly access the sidewalk.

•

Design the main building entrance to be prominent in the façade using techniques such as height, massing, overhang, shadow, punctuation and/or change in roofline.

•

Divide façades using horizontal tiers to express a base, middle and top.

•

Divide façades vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.

•

Address both primary, publicly visible façades of corner buildings with a “frontal” appearance.

•

Address street corners using building forms such as larger massing, taller heights, entrances, and/or distinctive architectural elements.

•

Provide compatible materials to adjacent buildings and hard landscapes, either as primary material or accent.

•

Ensure high-rise components do not cause undue impact on public areas through shadow or wind (consistent with existing policy).

•

With high-rise components consider their presence in the skyline, and from view points across the city.

Parking & Servicing •

All tenant’s parking and loading must be located below grade, or in above-grade parking structures hidden from the street, or off-site (dispersed in public parking).

•

Locate vehicular access to parking to minimize its impact on primary streetscapes and pedestrians, generally from laneways.

•

Locate loading, storage, and utilities out of view from public streets.

•

Locate areas for deliveries and trash pick up away from residential uses, and public streets and spaces.

•

Articulate all façades facing public streets using entrances, windows, architectural details and/or signage to provide pedestrian interest.

Grade level must be highly transparent.

•

All façades that are not built as parti walls (to be shared with a future adjacent building) must be articulated inclusive of windows.

•

Screen parking, loading and storage areas from public view using building mass, freestanding walls and landscaping.

•

Generally, provide vertical design orientation to façades (bays), windows and doors.

•

•

Ensure there are some elements of building design that carry through both base building and tall building, such as materials, architectural orders (e.g. pilasters), or setback.

Screen large exterior trash receptacles from public view using solid screens compatible in materials and colour to the principal structure.

•

Coordinate and integrate utilities, mechanical equipment and meters with the design of the façade, for example, using rooftop parapets or utility rooms.

•

Locate heating, venting and air conditioning equipment away from public streets.

•

Ensure materials have human scale and interest, such as brick and masonry. Ensure non-modular materials such as concrete are articulated with design details, particularly at grade.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

177

REGINA downtown plan

Civic

This police department building is well integrated in the streetscape. It is located at the street edge, has a prominent corner entrance treatment, fenestration, and an articulated base, middle and top.

178

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Civic

5.5.9 Civic, Public, Cultural and Institutional Buildings Description & Use •

Buildings that provide public services and amenities, and that contribute to the broader sense of community Downtown and in Regina as a whole, such as places of worship, schools, museums, community centres, libraries, hospitals, theatres, police stations, and fire halls.

•

One or more lobbies serving one or more elevator and stair core.

•

Public open space can be provided as a forecourt, plaza, or courtyard, or, integrated with the building in the form of patios, decks, balconies or rooftops.

•

Commercial uses on the ground floor of buildings is appropriate, particularly for frontages that would otherwise not be animated (for example, for theatres).

•

May be mixed with other uses including residential and office.

Landmark building design

Public space/ forecourt at entry

Pronounced public entrances

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

179

REGINA downtown plan

Civic

Massing Height: 2 storeys+ •

Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of scale, height and configuration.

•

Break down the massing of large buildings horizontally and vertically into a hierarchy of volumes.

•

Massing and setback may vary significantly based on program, however, buildings should generally be located to define street edges and public spaces.

•

If appropriate, provide a 3 or 4 storey street wall (podium) at the street edge, with above grade step backs.

Articulation •

Orient all primary building entrances to directly access sidewalks or public spaces.

•

Design the main building entrance to be a significant architectural feature in the façade, such as a marquee or part of a tower element.

•

Ensure the building name is highly visible.

Provide appropriate wayfinding and signage.

•

All façades that are not built as parti walls (to be shared with a future adjacent building) must be articulated inclusive of windows.

Unique, landmark building design that enhances civic prominence is encouraged. ◦◦

180

Provide large, well-proportioned public spaces including forecourts, entrances and lobbies.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

◦◦

Utilize vernacular building techniques or details.

◦◦

Incorporate public art as part of the building design or freestanding pieces.

Good design principles are encouraged for all public façades but may vary: ◦◦

Divide façades using horizontal tiers to express a base, middle and top.

◦◦

Divide façades vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.

◦◦

Address both primary, publicly visible façades of corner buildings with a “frontal” appearance.

◦◦

Address street corners using building forms such as larger massing, taller heights, entrances, and/or distinctive architectural elements.

◦◦

Articulate all façades facing public streets using entrances, windows, architectural details and/or signage to provide pedestrian interest.

◦◦

Generally, provide vertical design orientation to façades (bays), windows and doors.

◦◦

Ensure there are some elements of building design that carry through both base building and tall building, such as materials, architectural orders (e.g. pilasters), or setback.

Built Form Framework

Civic

◦◦

◦◦

Ensure materials have human scale and interest, such as brick and masonry.

Ensure non-modular materials such as stucco and concrete are articulated with design details, particularly at grade.

Provide compatible materials to adjacent buildings and hard landscapes, either as primary material or accent.

•

Coordinate and integrate utilities, mechanical equipment and meters with the design of the façade, for example, using rooftop parapets or utility rooms.

•

Locate heating, venting and air conditioning equipment and vents away from public streets.

Parking & Servicing •

All parking must be located below grade, or in above-grade parking structures hidden from the street, or off-site (dispersed public parking).

•

Locate vehicular access to parking generally from the laneway to minimize its impact on primary streetscapes and pedestrians.

•

Locate loading, storage, and utilities out of view from public streets.

•

Locate areas for deliveries and trash pick up away from residential uses, and public streets and spaces.

•

Screen parking, loading and storage areas from public view using building mass, freestanding walls and landscaping.

•

Screen large exterior trash receptacles from public view using solid screens compatible in materials and colour to the principal structure.

The Gardiner Museum (Toronto), shown above, provides a public forecourt and landmark architecture; employs a strongly articulated façade and clearly defined volumes; and, is built to a scale and uses materials that are respectful of adjacent and nearby heritage buildings.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

181

REGINA downtown plan

Parking Structures

5.5.10 Above-Grade Parking Structures Parking structures are required to fulfil the objectives of the Public Realm Framework, by contributing to the creation of great streets and beautiful streetscapes.

Parking structures share the responsibility to add to the aesthetic of the Downtown, and to the animation of Downtown streets.

Two approaches to creating appropriately integrated parking structures Downtown are: to integrate the parking structure façade into the design of the streetscape through the use of articulation, fenestration, high quality materials, and the provision of active uses along public streets; and, to wrap the visible façade of the parking structure with public art.

This parking structure’s façade is completely integrated into the design of the streetscape. Parking is located behind the upper level windows.

182

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Built Form Framework

Parking Structures

Main vehicular entrances from laneways wherever possible

Description & Use •

Multi-level structures designed for communal parking, including internal ramps or stairs, with one or more entrances/egresses for both vehicles and pedestrians.

parapet condition screens rooftop parking

Highly visible pedestrian entrances/ stairs access street and articulate the massing retail at grade

A •

Preferred Standard: Multi-storey parking facilities should be integrated into new development wherever possible, wrapped by ‘sleeves’ of active uses. Mandatory on certain streets.

Active Uses Active Uses Active Uses Sidewalk

A • B

Preferred standard for parking structure

Minimum Standard: Active ground level uses (particularly retail uses) facing public streets are required for 100% of street frontages, except for any access locations (e.g. pedestrian access and stairway).

Active Uses Sidewalk

B

Minimum standard for parking structure

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

183

REGINA downtown plan

Parking Structures

Articulation

Massing Height: 2 storeys+ Roof: flat • Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of scale, height and configuration.

•

Wherever possible, provide 4 storey street wall (podium) design at the street edge, with above grade step backs: ◦◦

•

184

Above the street wall, habitable portions of the building should step back as required by these standards (i.e. residential or office/retail standards).

◦◦

Above the podium, additional parking levels should step back 2m minimum from the street wall.

◦◦

No step back required from laneways.

Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back from shared property lines (side property line).

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

Locate pedestrian access to the facility from street edges. Facilities on corners must have a minimum of one pedestrian entrance on each street frontage. Facilities longer than 50 metres should have a pedestrian access every 50 metres.

•

Pedestrian accesses must include stairs and/ or elevators to parking levels that are highly visible and transparent from the street.

•

There are two possible approaches to articulating the façade: as a streetscape building, or as public art.

Built Form Framework

active uses at grade

parking structure

residential uses

Parking Structures

Minimum acceptable standard for above grade parking integrated into faรงade. Vertical pillars and pilasters unify garage faรงade with upper residential faรงade. Glass screens facing street disguise internal sloped garage. Banners create pedestrian interest.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

185

REGINA downtown plan

Streetscape Building •

Divide façades using horizontal tiers to express a base, middle and top.

•

Divide façades vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.

The façade should appear to be a traditional building in the streetscape, concealing the parking levels.

•

Address street corners using building forms such as larger massing, taller heights, entrances, and/or distinctive architectural elements.

•

Utilize high quality materials consistent with other buildings.

•

Provide a cap treatment at the roof or cornice line that conceals views of rooftop parking and mechanical equipment.

Podium includes above grade parking structure. Well integrated façade includes vertical pilasters, fenestration, articulation of base, middle and top, high quality materials, lighting, a pedestrian canopy, and active at grade uses.

186

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Public Art •

Provide a public art treatment to all façades facing public streets or spaces; whatever portion of the façade is not covered by public art must be a part of the architectural form of the building.

•

The art treatment should be the dominant image of the façade, without needing to conceal the parking.

•

Ensure all elements of the art treatment are of high quality materials and construction, with a maintenance life span similar to architectural materials, as such, murals do not qualify as public art for parking structures.

•

Engage Regina’s arts community in the planning, design, artist selection and/or implementation process.

The public art treatment wraps the visible façade.

Parking & Servicing •

Vehicle access to parking facilities should generally be from laneways.

•

Ensure all interior and exterior spaces are well lit, inclusive of parking areas, circulation, ramps, pedestrian accesses and all entrances.

•

Maintain 24-hour access to publicly accessible facilities.

•

Locate loading, storage, delivery areas, trash pickup, and utilities out of view from public streets; delivery areas and trash pickup must also be located away from residential uses.

•

Locate heating, venting, and air conditioning equipment away from public streets.

This parking garage has active at grade uses and a façade that incorporates public art for the entire façade facing the street.

Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards

187

6.0

Heritage Guidelines

REGINA downtown plan

6.1

Introduction

Regina’s heritage resources are varied. They include some outstanding assets such as the virtually intact historic street and block structure, most of the original laneways, and the heart of Regina, Victoria Park.

Regina also has some excellent examples of modern architecture, which are beginning to be recognized as heritage buildings - as they should be. Unfortunately, a significant number of heritage resources have been lost, including Train Station Park in front of the old train station, and a great number of buildings. Notable among those lost buildings was The Hill building, Regina’s first skyscraper at the edge of Victoria Park.

The enactment of the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District in 1996 has protected some of the most significant remaining buildings around the park and along the F.W. Hill Mall. However, Regina has continued to lose buildings of heritage value outside of the district at an alarming rate. Today, Downtown Regina’s heritage resources are fragmented, scattered throughout Downtown in a non-continuous environment that is interrupted by surface and structured parking (see Map 1). Many new buildings are of questionable long-term value. There is a need to conserve what remains, and to ensure that new development evolves in a manner that is compatible with existing heritage resources.

The following guidelines provide a framework for the conservation of Downtown’s heritage resources, and provide guidance on managing change. Their purpose is to ensure new development makes a positive contribution towards the conservation of valuable resources, thereby leveraging these resources to achieve an increasingly successful Downtown.

190

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

6.2

Heritage Objectives

Heritage landscapes – including Victoria Park and Victoria Avenue – should be beautiful public spaces that foster pedestrian activity and comfort. Heritage buildings should be celebrated for their unique contributions to Downtown building stock. To do this, heritage resources Downtown should be visually distinct. Public realm and built form interventions of, and around heritage resources (renovations, additions, improvements) should: •

Contribute to the conservation of heritage resources and to their heritage character.

•

Ensure good sight lines to heritage resources.

•

Provide information about them and/or orientation to them, including wayfinding cues.

•

Create a pedestrian-friendly environment in the Heritage Heart of Downtown.

Heritage conservation is not only about saving old buildings, rather it is fundamentally about enhancing the meaning and quality of life in a specific place by maintaining its uniqueness, and supporting the cultural and economic vitality that accompanies areas with strong conservation.

Areas of a city that embrace heritage as part of contemporary urban life thrive, becoming cherished places for residents to live and work, and are rewarding destinations for visitors. Regina will benefit from conservation in many ways: by increasing the identity and character of the City, by bringing the history of the city to life in tangible ways that people can experience, as well as by enhancing the distinction of Downtown.

Heritage Guidelines

6.3

Approach

The built form design standards are based on the following assumptions:

6.4

Supporting Policy

The actual process of heritage conservation, will also be assisted by:

•

When cultural heritage value exists on the property, or on adjacent properties, it has been properly identified, and its cultural heritage attributes described.

•

A Conservation Plan, which should be prepared wherever significant cultural heritage value is present and future change is likely.

•

When the potential for cultural heritage value needs to be identified, a Heritage Impact Assessment will be undertaken to determine what, if any, heritage attributes require conservation.

•

Other policies and guidelines that may apply including the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District and Regina’s Municipal Architectural Heritage Design Guidelines.

•

Cultural heritage value may reside in buildings, structures, properties, landscapes, and/or whole districts. When the district is of significance, the subject property will need to be studied to determine if it is, or not, part of the district.

•

When cultural heritage value exists on site, adjacent to the site, or as part of the district, heritage expertise will be retained to assist with the process of conservation and to manage the impacts of change, including: alterations and additions to existing heritage structures and landscapes, and new structures and landscapes in proximity to cultural heritage resources.

It is recommended that the City of Regina adopt the federal Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada (Parks Canada). This document provides a foundation for conservation that is useful for all contexts. Further, it is recommended that the language of municipal heritage policy be consistent with that of the federal standards. This can be accomplished incrementally, as specific heritage policies are reviewed or added from time to time.

Section 6.4: Supporting Policy

191

REGINA downtown plan

Sask

rive

D wan

e atch

11th Avenue

*

Cornwall Street

*

Osler Street

Broad Street

Rose Street

Hamilton Street

Scarth Street

Lorne Street

*

12th Avenue

Smith Street

McIntyre Street

Albert Street

Angus Street

*

*

*

Victoria Avenue

*

* 13th Avenue

Designated Heritage Conservation District

Expanded Heritage Conservation District

Designated Heritage Buildings

Potential Heritage Buildings

Designated Heritage Landscapes

*

Map 15. Heritage Conservation District Expansion

192

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Landmark Heritage Buildings

Potential Heritage Landscapes

Heritage Guidelines

6.5

Heritage Guidelines for the Heritage Conservation District

The existing Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District was originally created with a focus on Victoria Park and F.W. Hill Mall. Protecting the heritage resources within and surrounding these spaces, that give these spaces their unique character, was an important first step.

The existing heritage guidelines give authority to the City of Regina’s Development Officer within the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District with respect to change and new development. The Development Officer (DCO) reviews all new proposals against the Guidelines contained in the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District Bylaw. The DCO may refer any application for a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) permit to the Municipal Advisory Committee for its consideration and decision. The Guidelines are a series of general principles to ensure compatibility of new development with the character of the District.

The existing Guidelines should be strongly enforced, to ensure all new development is of the highest design and material quality, and is compatible with the character of the District. As a fundamental starting point, this means that no buildings of heritage value should be demolished. Rather, their heritage characteristics should be identified, maintained, and enhanced by new construction.

Other heritage resources exist just outside of the District boundaries that form part of a contiguous heritage environment. For this reason, the district boundaries ought to be studied to consider incorporating these areas. This would allow the City to manage change within its Heritage Heart to ensure that all new development shares a consistent level of quality and compatibility. Upon expansion, new guidelines for the district should be created with more explicit design direction, to ensure they reflect the overall Vision for Downtown. Prior to any expansion of District boundaries, however, the existing HCD should be brought

into conformity with the objectives stated in Section 6.2 of this Plan.

The proposed extensions include: 1. Along Victoria Avenue to the edges of Downtown, including all properties with frontage along it.

2. North along Cornwall Street to include 1840 Cornwall Street, the Royal Canadian Legion Memorial Hall, the Suma building, the Darke Block, Merchant’s Bank, and the Canada Life Assurance building.

3. Westward to include the Saskatchewan Revenue building, St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, City Hall and Queen Elizabeth II Court (public plaza), and the Regina Courthouse.

4. Southward to include the Frontenac apartments and Blessed Sacrament Church (and the properties directly across the street, to ensure compatibility).

The heritage guidelines that follow (Section 6.6) serve two purposes. First, to provide a framework for future guidelines for the expanded Heritage Conservation District. Second, to provide additional direction or clarification for the existing Guidelines (as defined by the zoning by-law) for the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District. For example, they contain guidelines for street wall buildings that might be useful in establishing a consistent built perimeter to the park.

However, it should be reiterated that the Development Officer should interpret the existing Guidelines as is seen to be fit in order to achieve the highest quality development within the District, consistent with the heritage objectives.

Section 6.5: Heritage Guidelines for the Heritage Conservation District

193

REGINA downtown plan

6.6

Heritage Guidelines for Downtown

While only one, larger Heritage Conservation District is proposed, all interventions should recognize that Downtown is a district in itself, and therefore should contribute to the overall heritage character, through consistency with the public realm and built form guidelines.

The primary intent of new development outside of the Heritage Conservation District is to contribute to the conservation of significant heritage attributes, where they exist. This is accomplished by addressing buildings, structures, and landscapes as they are seen from the public realm (i.e. from the street, from parks, plazas and open spaces, or from any other place where significant views exist). These guidelines presume that the integration and adjacency to other heritage resources will also be governed by both the findings of a cultural heritage evaluation (e.g. a Heritage Impact Assessment) and/or other heritage policies (e.g. a Heritage Conservation District Plan).

The heritage value of a building includes its 3-dimensional character: width, depth and height. The entire building envelope should be conserved, and the transition of new construction to, and from, heritage

194

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

buildings should respect all three dimensions. Any alterations to a designated heritage building would require review by the appropriate authority, in the case of a municipally listed building, by the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee; in the case of a provincially designated building, by the Provincial Heritage Branch. In conditions where the building height is not part of the heritage value, and when no significant heritage elements are included in the top portions of the building (e.g. rooftop or roofline), new construction may be added: 1) to the upper levels, that is in keeping with the overall heritage character of the district; and 2) to adjacent sites, when a transition is articulated to the overall character of the district.

The Public Realm Framework provides guidelines for streetscapes within the Heritage Heart.

Heritage Guidelines

6.6.1 General guidelines for new buildings in a heritage context

6.6.2 Street Wall and Building Envelope

Key to these guidelines is conserving the structures and landscapes that have significant heritage value, and, managing the introduction of new structures and landscapes in such a way that they contribute to, and enhance, existing heritage resources.

Street Wall Heights

As part of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evolution, new architecture will invariably be constructed within, and be adjacent to, heritage resources, including: buildings on vacant sites, replacement buildings for non-heritage existing structures or severely deteriorated buildings.

As a principle of heritage conservation, new additions, exterior alterations, or new construction should not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize a property. The new work should be differentiated from the old and should be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale, height, proportion and massing to protect the integrity of the heritage property and its environment.

It is not necessary, or desired, to mimic a specific historical era. New buildings should vary in style and should reflect their time. Style should not be a determinant of compatibility, rather material quality, massing and urban design considerations should be given prominence. Elements of new building design and façade articulation should respond to specific heritage elements with new interpretations.

In general, new development should create a consistent street wall height. Throughout most of Downtown, this is a 3-4 storey street wall (refer to the Built Form Framework). Additions to heritage buildings should be consistent with the prevailing street wall, as follows.

Where an existing heritage building is 1 or 2 storeys tall, a building addition above it should create a street wall at the appropriate height per the Built Form Framework (in this illustration, a 3 storey street wall).

The street wall portion of the building addition should step back 1.5m above the heritage building. Above the street wall height, additional floors are subject to step backs as per the Built Form Framework. Step back distances above the street wall height are considered to be accumulative - including, not in addition to, the 1.5m step back from the heritage building. For example, a 1.5m heritage step back, plus a 1m step back above the street wall, would be considered to be a total step back of 2.5m from the street edge.

Where an existing heritage building is 3 storeys or more, the heritage building itself should form the street wall. Above the street wall height (above the existing heritage building), additional floors are subject to step backs as per the Built Form Framework.

A new building beside a heritage building should reflect the required street wall height, no matter what height the heritage building is (Figure 27).

Section 6.6: Heritage Guidelines for Downtown

195

REGINA downtown plan

Setback New buildings beside heritage buildings should ensure the heritage building has visual distinctness. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways (Figure 28) , 3 of which are illustrated here: •

A physical separation of 2m or more.

•

Where joined, a distinct massing change allowing for a strong shadow line, 3m wide and 2m deep.

•

Where joined, a distinct material change through use of transparent glass providing visual separation of the heritage building from the new building.

2m

Separation Figure 26. This building in Old Montreal (above) and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (below) exemplifies an appropriate setback and height articulation to a heritage building.

3m 2m Shadow Line

New Building

Heritage Building 1m Transparency

Figure 27. Appropriate setback to heritage properties.

196

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Heritage Guidelines

New Building

Heritage Building

New Building Street Wall 1.5m step back

1.5m step back Heritage Building

Figure 28. The diagrams above illustrate: for heritage buildings of one or two storeys, the requirements for a 1.5m heritage step back, as well as an additional step back from the street edge as per the Built Form Framework; for heritage buildings of three storeys or more, the requirement for a step back from the street edge for additional floors above the existing heritage building, as per the step back requirements of the Built Form Framework.

Heritage Building

New Building

Ground Level Height and Articulation The ground level of a building has the greatest presence on the street. Over time a building may change use, and with that, will change the requirements of the ground level. Buildings with a generous ground level height, and with detailed articulation, will have the greatest flexibility and prominence over time.

Principles for ground level design of new buildings adjacent to heritage buildings are:

Figure 29. Maintain ground level height and articulation.

•

Maintain the same or similar height.

•

Maintain other heights and proportions, including: ◦◦

Sign band height and proportion.

◦◦

Window height, size and proportion, including transoms.

◦◦

Door height, position and set back.

Section 6.6: Heritage Guidelines for Downtown

197

REGINA downtown plan

Rhythm Rhythm of a building’s façade or along the street wall refers to the recurrence at regular intervals of design elements that help structure their visual character and definition. For example, a vertical line dividing buildings every 6 to12 metres, will create a rhythm for the street that supports a pedestrian scale and intimate character. Principles for rhythm of new buildings adjacent to heritage buildings are:

Maintain vertical and horizontal rhythms.

198

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

Maintain the rhythm of the heritage building, typically at a fine scale and in a vertical proportion.

•

For larger or longer buildings, clearly articulate vertical divisions or bays in the façade at this rhythm.

•

Where appropriate for consistency, provide retail bays or frontages at the same rhythm.

•

The horizontal rhythm and visual transitions between floors must be articulated in façade designs.

•

New buildings should respect the significant design features and the horizontal rhythm of adjacent buildings.

Heritage Guidelines

6.6.3 Building Mass and Architecture New buildings will fall into two categories: first, replica or reconstructed buildings; and second, contemporary buildings.

Replica / reconstructed buildings On some sites the opportunity may exist to replicate a formerly existing structure with a new building or as a part of a larger building proposal. This approach is possible where good documentary evidence exists. The replication of a historic building should proceed in a similar manner to the restoration of an existing but altered or deteriorated structure.

Design of the building should be based upon documentary evidence including photographs, maps, surveys and historic design/construction drawings.

Replica designs should be prepared by practitioners skilled in historic research and historic construction design and detailing.

The interior space and basic structure of a replica building is not required to, but may also, use historic materials or details as long as the exterior presentation replicates the original structure.

Contemporary buildings in a heritage context Entirely new buildings may be proposed where no previous buildings existed or where original buildings are missing or where non-historic buildings are removed.

The intention in creating designs for new buildings should not be to create a false or fake historic building, instead the objective must be to create a sensitive well-designed new structure â&#x20AC;&#x153;of its timeâ&#x20AC;? that fits and is compatible with the character of the district and/or its immediate context.

The design of new buildings should carefully consider requirements elsewhere in this document for density, scale, height, setbacks, coverage, landscape open space, view corridors, angular planes and shadowing.

Design considerations include the following attributes: contemporary design, material palette, proportions of parts, solidity versus transparency and detailing.

Contemporary design New work should be neighbourly and should respectfully fit its heritage context while at the same time representing current design philosophy. Quoting the past can be appropriate, however, it should avoid blurring the line between real historic buildings and structures.

Section 6.6: Heritage Guidelines

199

REGINA downtown plan

Contemporary as a design statement does not simply mean current. Current designs with borrowed detailing inappropriately, inconsistently, or incorrectly used, such as pseudo-Victorian detailing, should be avoided.

Material palette Whereas there is a very broad range of materials in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design palette, materials proposed for new buildings in the district should include those drawn from ones historically in use. The use and placement of these materials in a contemporary composition and their incorporation with other modern materials is critical to the success of the fit of the proposed building in its context. The proportional use of materials, drawing lines out of the surrounding context, careful consideration of colour and texture all add to the success of a composition.

Proportions of parts Architectural composition has always had at its root the study of proportion. In various styles, rules of proportion have varied from the complex formulas of the classical orders to a more liberal study of key proportions in buildings of the modern movement.

In the design of new buildings in a heritage context, work should take into account the proportions of buildings in the immediate context and consider a design with proportional relationships that make a good fit.

An example of this might be windows. Nineteenth century buildings without fail used a vertical proportion system in the design and layout of windows including both overall windows singly or in built up groups and the layout of individual panes.

200

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Solidity vs. Transparency Similar to proportion, it is a characteristic of historic buildings of the 19th century to have more solid walls with punched windows. This relationship of solid to void makes these buildings less transparent. It was a characteristic that was based upon technology (ability to make large windows and to heat space), societal standards for privacy, and architectural tradition.

Buildings of many 20th century styles in contrast use large areas of glass and transparency as part of the design philosophy.

The relationship of solidity to transparency is a characteristic of new buildings that should be carefully considered. It is an element of fit. The level of transparency in the new work should be set at a level that provides a good fit on street frontages with existing buildings that define the character of the street in a positive way.

Detailing For new buildings, detailing should refer to the heritage attributes of the immediate context. Detailing can be more contemporary yet with a deference to scale, repetition, lines and levels, beam and column, solid and transparent that relates to the immediate context.

In past styles, structure was often unseen hidden behind a veneer of other surfaces and â&#x20AC;&#x153;detailingâ&#x20AC;? was largely provided by the use of coloured, shaped, patterned or carved masonry and /or added traditional ornament, moldings, finials, cresting and so on. In contemporary buildings every element of a building can potentially add to the artistic composition architectural, structural, mechanical even electrical systems.

7.0

Action Plans for Downtown Regina

201

REGINA downtown plan

7.1

Action Plans for Downtown Regina

The Action Plans contain a set of actions divided into five categories, which highlight the main objectives and foci of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan. Each action is derived from the initial observations of opportunities and constraints, is influenced by the extensive public consultation process that took place during the development of this Plan, and seeks to fulfil the Public Realm and Built Form Frameworks.

Each action should be recognized as imperative to realizing the Planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vision. The five action categories are: 1. Leadership: Actions relating to leadership roles necessary to begin the implementation process.

2. Neighbourhood: Actions relating to creating a Downtown neighbourhood.

3. Business: Actions relating to Downtown business, commercial and retail activity.

4. Culture: Actions relating to improving cultural programming, public art, heritage, and the marketing of Downtown lifestyle.

5. Transportation: Actions relating to automobiles, pedestrians, cycling, transit and parking.

202

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Implementation Categories

The objective of the implementation categories is to specify the timeframe within which the Action Plans should be initiated, and does not necessarily imply a timeframe from within which it should be completed.

It is expected that the implementation of the Action Plans will inevitably lead to further sub-actions or new actions over time.

Immediately (initiate within 2 years) Near-Term (initiate within 2-5 years) Medium-Term (initiate within 5-10 years) Long-Term (initiate within 10 years) Some of the actions herein do not require significant capital investment. Rather, some objectives of the Plan will be achieved through policy changes, incentives and partnerships. However, in instances where significant investments in infrastructure are required, it is imperative to also consider ongoing new operating capital that may be required.

The City of Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s City Centre Branch (CCB) of the Planning and Sustainability Department will manage and oversee the implementation of the Action Plans that follow. Certain actions will be undertaken directly by the CCB, and where the responsibility for an action is shared with other Divisions and Departments, the implementation of those actions will be coordinated through the CCB. Some Action Plans and items may be initiated by stakeholder groups, in collaboration with the CCB, as opportunities arise whereby resources can be shared.

Action Plans

7.2

Leadership

L.1 – Establish a City Centre Branch and Manager. [Immediately] Background/Rationale: The implementation of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will require focused leadership charged with the task of evaluating and expediting quality development.

The interdisciplinary nature of the Plan requires significant collaboration between various departments and/or organizations to ensure that as the Downtown evolves, various considerations (engineering, forestry, community and protective services) are taken into account.

Further, in the context of the consultation process for the creation of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, a need was identified for a coordinating body, or “advocate” who would lead the revitalization of the Downtown. In particular, given the wide diversity of interests related to Downtown, stakeholders requested more clarity and a streamlined approach to interfacing with the City with respect to Downtown issues – whether related to new development, arts and culture, safety or public space improvements.

In response to these needs, a new branch within the Planning and Sustainability Department - the City Centre Branch - should be created to work across departments, from engineering, finance, recreation, transit, parks, and planning, to coordinate the implementation of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan and to advocate for the Downtown Vision. The City Centre Branch will oversee all initiatives related to the Downtown from planning through to implementation; collaborating in the design and management of capital works projects; facilitating development (including management of Urban Design Review for Downtown development projects); as well as coordinating the City’s activities in the pre-1946 area of the city which includes Downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods.

The City Centre Branch should be managed by a City Centre Manager, whose role will be to advocate for the interests of the Downtown, as per the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, and to manage the implementation strategy through collaboration with other departments. This role will involve administration, planning and design, project management, public relations, as well as research and policy writing.

Section 7.2: Leadership Action Plans

203

REGINA downtown plan

The City Centre Branch will: •

advocate for the Vision and Principles of the Plan across departments, making implications of various departmental decisions apparent, and working to ensure decisions are in keeping with the overall Vision;

•

facilitate the implementation of the Action Plans, primarily by collaborating with other key stakeholders and City staff and hiring the required expertise, where necessary;

•

set the terms of reference for, and chair, various working groups related to Downtown projects, such as the Residential Pilot Project working group and the Civic Heart Revitalization working group; and,

1

204

Action

•

Establish a City Centre Branch and a City Centre Manager.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

work towards increasing efficiency, cooperation and coordination between stakeholder groups and the City, as well as within the bureaucracy, throughout implementation, by serving as a key point of contact.

Time Frame Immediately

Responsibility Planning and Sustainability Department

Action Plans

7.3

Neighbourhood

N.1 - Secure a residential pilot project Downtown. [Immediately] Background: A critical success factor for the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan is securing a residential pilot project, preferably along the blocks between Victoria Avenue and 13th Avenue as is directed in the existing policy context. The grand avenues of Saskatchewan Drive, Broad Street, and Albert Street are also ideal locations for seeding the development of residential uses along the main avenues. Just as the WOW Project signals a commitment to arts and culture in Downtown, a residential pilot project will signal investment into making this new Downtown neighbourhood a reality.

As an example of a Downtown development that is in keeping with the Downtown Vision, the project will simultaneously stimulate the initiation of several other actions in Downtown. Not only would this provide opportunities for employees to walk to work, it would increase the viability of transit, support a ‘soft policing’ approach to neighbourhood safety (more people on the streets creates passive surveillance of the streets) and help create the critical mass of people needed to make other public amenities and residential services (such as variety stores, retail shops or medical centres) viable.

A critical component of implementing this action will be the adoption of a comprehensive development approach. Partnerships made between the City, developers and the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District are necessary to ensure that the development is in keeping with the Downtown Plan and that benefits are accrued for the City, the developer, local businesses and residents.

1 2

Action

There are already a number of Downtown residential developments in the planning stages and it would be beneficial to examine how these might work in cohesion to realize housing goals in Downtown. In particular, one of these developments, or a specific cluster of developments, may be identified as the first development to realize the new Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

Further to this would be to couple this action with the introduction of student housing for the University of Regina in Downtown and Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). In this case, the ideal location would be along Broad Street, where it best connects with the Knowledge Corridor between Downtown and the University of Regina and SIAST. Whatever the first project is, it must be consistent with the Vision in terms of supporting animated streets and being of high aesthetic quality.

Rationale: Although general growth management has directed growth towards the northwest, southeast and recently the southwest sectors of the city, Downtown has been experiencing increased residential development in the form of office space conversions to residential units. Roughly 400 units have been added to the Downtown in this form since 1990 due mostly to the existing Downtown Residential Incentives Policy.

This trend is valuable towards the development of a Downtown residential community. A residential pilot project will further seed the growth of residential uses Downtown, making a new Downtown neighbourhood a reality, and demonstrating the implementation of the Downtown Vision.

Time Frame

Select a residential pilot project. In the event that interest abounds, consideration Immediately should be given to selecting more than one pilot project.

Create a working group to liaise and coordinate with development interests to Immediately ensure the pilot project embodies the Downtown Vision and Principles – it must support animated streets, and be of a high aesthetic quality. Further, this working group could continue into the future to work with development interests and identify other opportunities for partnerships in other residential projects.

Responsibility

City Centre Branch City Centre Branch

Section 7.3: Neighbourhood Action Plans

205

REGINA downtown plan

7

N.2 - Create a Downtown Housing Strategy. [Immediately] Background/Rationale: The Built Form Framework establishes density and height permissions that seek to ensure new development, particularly residential, gradually but consistently fills in the gaps that currently exist Downtown in the urban fabric, such as surface parking lots and under built sites. There are some 60 to 70 such sites today.

Assuming that two thirds of these sites with new residential buildings during the next 15 years, they can be expected to generate between 3,000 and 4,500 units, or 3,600 to 6,800 people, depending on the market conditions. This population growth will achieve a critical mass of people in Downtown necessary to create a complete neighbourhood that can support local amenities such as a school, a grocery store, and a day care.

1

Action

Develop a Downtown Housing Strategy to guide new residential development Downtown.

The following considerations should be made for creating a Downtown Housing Strategy for a Downtown Neighbourhood: 1. Aim towards a residential population growth goal of 5000 persons in the next 15 years. This is approximately 25% of population growth in the city projected for the next 15 years.

2. Aim towards a residential community of mixed tenures, housing forms, and housing options, including affordable housing, market housing (including high-end), sustainable buildings, rental, ownership, co-ops, student housing, hotel accommodation and emergency shelters. Downtown should provide affordable family housing (including access to supporting services such as schools).

It should be noted that the term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; refers also to couples, new parents or small families.

The policies contained within the Downtown

206

In order to support the Downtown Housing Strategy - and possibly as part of the Strategy - the City should develop and implement incentives to encourage the development of a mix of tenures and housing types Downtown, suitable to support a range of ages, incomes and household sizes.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Time Frame Near Term

Responsibility

City Centre Branch, Comprehensive Planning Branch

Residential Incentives Policy should continue. As the development demand for residential units in the Downtown increases, it is likely that uptake of this incentive will accelerate accordingly.

3. Prioritize residential development along the avenues (Broad Street, Albert Street, Saskatchewan Drive, and Victoria Avenue). The Public Realm and Built Form Frameworks provide further detail in terms of their physical design and character.

4. The Future of Housing in Regina document provides relevant recommendations and actions, including the recommendation in the long term to establish a Regina Housing Commission and a volunteer-based Student Housing Alliance (or Co-op), who could collaborate with the City of Regina on reaching established residential goals. This document should be reviewed and information be updated as a starting point in the discussions.

Action Plans

N.3 - Rezone the Downtown as a Direct Control District. [Immediately] Background: The ‘Downtown’ zone currently contains general built form guidelines and establishes retail frontage areas. However, in order to fully realize the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan vision for a well designed urban condition that accommodates development while achieving high standards of building material quality, architectural detail and articulation, a Direct Control District (DCD) is required for the Downtown. A DCD will also afford the opportunity to identify, and to strengthen, character areas with specific clusters of uses. The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan provides a framework in which the unique character of areas or precincts is to be acknowledged, enhanced and leveraged. DCD Zoning should used to encourage specific clusters of uses, as well as to prescribe written and graphic guidelines for the built form in those character areas.

1

Action

Rezone the Downtown as a Direct Control District

Rationale: Direct Control Districts are intended to “identify areas of the City where sensitive control of the use, development, and location of buildings is necessary in order to establish, preserve or enhance; (a) a unique character; (b) a special environmental concern; or (c) a special historic, cultural, archaeological, natural, scientific or aesthetic site identified in any municipal, provincial or federal legislation.” This provides a necessary tool to accomplish, through time, the vision and urban design objectives of the Plan.

Time Frame Immediately

Responsibility

City Centre Branch, Comprehensive Planning Branch

Section 7.3: Neighbourhood Action Plans

207

REGINA downtown plan

7

N.4 - Include an urban design review step in the development permitting review process. [Immediately] Background: To ensure that development respects and compliments existing built conditions, produces a high quality public realm, achieves excellence in architecture and urban design, and contributes to the implementation of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, Downtown development proposals should be subject to an urban design review process.

1

A design review process will not only include an evaluation of the aesthetics of a development in relation to context and land-use, but should also review the functioning of the site in terms of pedestrian experience and the overall benefit to the quality of life of Downtown. The outcomes of a design review process will be advisory in nature, informing the regulatory approval process, but not replacing it.

Rationale: To ensure that development compliments existing built conditions; respects the unique character of Downtown; and, contributes positively to the public realm and to the overall quality of life Downtown.

Action

Establish an Urban Design Review Team to develop and implement an urban design review step in the development permitting process, giving consideration to the following proposed process:

a. Encourage applicants to meet with urban design review team at early stages, prior to developing a concept for their property or site.

For larger or more important sites, this step may even entail a workshop. b. Encourage a pre-submission to the urban design review team, prior to the formal regulatory application process, illustrating a concept and demonstrating how the concept meets the requirements and spirit of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

2. Urban design review should become a required step in the regulatory approval process for all develop-

208

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Immediately

Responsibility

Development Review Branch

ment Downtown. The urban design review team will consider the following key documents and design issues in conducting their reviews:

The Urban Design Review process shall include the following components: 1. Prior to the formal regulatory process:

Time Frame

• • • • • •

Consistency with the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan; Effect on adjacent buildings and streets; Conformity to design standards established; Ground floor uses and articulation; Contribution to the public realm; and, Magnitude and quality of public amenities proposed.

To this end, the urban design review team should be included in the circulation of all drawings and reports provided with the regulatory approval application, including detailed drawings and descriptions of the proposed development and impact on surrounding context. The submission to the urban

Action Plans

design review team should include, at minimum, and without limitation: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aerial photograph of site; Site analysis and concept; Zoning Bylaw; Plans drawn to scale with metric dimensions; Building elevations; Intended density of development and number of units; Horizontal and vertical distribution of uses; Photographs of existing conditions; Rendering of proposed development; Description of use and form; Description of how the development meets the Downtown Vision; List of materials used, as a response to the existing context; List of public amenities proposed; Proponent contact information; and, Other information that might be received by the Urban Design team to complete the evaluation.

3. Should the development proposal be of significant magnitude and consequence to the Downtown, a request to meet with the proponent may be made whereby the consultant and City staff meets with the proponent to discuss any questions/concerns regarding the proposed development. A site visit may be included.

4. A response will be prepared by the urban design review team, and will be provided in writing and/ or illustrative form to the City of Regina and the Proponent. The response will outline the conclusions of the review and will provide recommendations for moving forward – these recommendations will be advisory in nature, intended to inform the final outcome of the regulatory approval process.

Outcomes of the review process may include, but are not limited to: a. An evaluation of the merits and shortcomings of the submission relative to the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan; b. Recommended changes as deemed necessary; c. Request for further information; and, d. Recommendation and conditions for approval.

5. Should changes be made to an application, a further iteration of the review process will be required before the urban design review team arrives at a final response.

6. The final report produced by the urban design review team will be based on a standardized template, and submitted in an electronic format to the City of Regina to inform the final decision of the regulatory approval process.

Section 7.3: Neighbourhood Action Plans

209

REGINA downtown plan

7

N.5 – Reflect Downtown as a complete community in City policy.

[Immediately] Background: In City policy, Downtown Regina has been considered primarily as a destination for retail and office-based services, rather than as a neighbourhood. The Vision articulated in the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, however, is of a Downtown that is a neighbourhood and a complete community that supports – and is supported by – a vibrant mix of uses, services, amenities and a stable residential population.

Where it impacts Downtown, City policy should be updated to reflect Downtown as a neighbourhood and as a complete community. It should also recognize Downtown as a key destination within Regina with amenities appropriate to support a local residential population, as well as visitors and tourists. In particular, where there are policies related to maintenance and upkeep, the Downtown should be recognized as special in those policies and plans. Downtown should receive the highest possible level of service in every service area: snow clearing Downtown should be

1

210

Action

delivered with the highest level of thoroughness and efficiency; the Downtown Library should be the best facility in the library system; Downtown parks should be class-A parks.

Rationale: Successful downtowns are complete neighbourhoods.

They contain a residential population that supports a range of businesses, and a mix of uses that creates activity at all hours. The vibrancy created by a mix of residents, employers, businesses, services and amenities, ensures Downtown as a safe, active and viable environment for niche retail, entrepreneurship, as well as social and cultural gathering.

For the Downtown Vision to be realized, City policies must reflect Downtown as being something more than just a location for conventional retail and offices.

Policies must support the creation of the mix of uses and amenities necessary to create a thriving, vibrant and complete community Downtown. Similarly, policies should be consistent with the status of Downtown as Regina’s preeminent destination, and as the heart of Saskatchewan’s Capital City.

Time Frame

Update City policies to reflect and support Downtown as a complete Near Term community.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

Action Plans

N.6 - Encourage community gardens Downtown as part of new residential projects. [Medium Term] Background: Community gardens serve a variety of purposes within a community. In many urban contexts, community gardens have been successful at providing an alternative and affordable amenity, place of recreation and gathering, and visual interest in a streetscape. More importantly, community gardens contribute towards building more sustainable communities. There are a variety of types of community gardens, both in terms of form and function, but primarily they are located in between buildings and on vacant corner lots or other small and underutilized spaces, with multiple users renting plots of various sizes and managed by a central volunteer-based administration.

1

Action

In considering the size and location of the first permanent community garden, the Public Realm Framework and Built Form Framework should be used as a guide.

Following implementation of a Downtown Housing Strategy, a re-established community will provide the right conditions and opportunity for a community garden to be successfully maintained.

Rationale: Community gardens can provide affordable amenity, places of recreation and gathering, and visual interest Downtown. These attributes will become increasingly valuable as the residential population Downtown increases. Community Gardens can also contribute to the sustainability of the Downtown Neighbourhood, greening Downtown and providing a local food source. Initial investment or incentives from the City of Regina may be required.

Time Frame

Community gardens should be encouraged as part of new residential Medium Term projects.

Responsibility

City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services Division

Section 7.3: Neighbourhood Action Plans

211

REGINA downtown plan

7

N.7 - Create a Downtown Urban Forest Strategy. [Medium Term] Background: Planting trees in Downtown has been identified as a Big Move in this Plan. Public consultations indicated that it is an urban element desired by residents and visitors alike.

Victoria Avenue and streets surrounding the historic and civic blocks of Downtown were once lined with the same trees that are found in adjacent neighbourhoods. However, these trees were removed over time to make way for accommodating improved traffic flow through Downtown. Aerial photographs clearly show the impact that this action has had on the urban forest. At the ground level, there is a lower aesthetic quality than is otherwise present in the adjacent neighbourhoods, and the Downtown is deprived of a certain warmth, ambience, and visual link to adjacent neighbourhoods.

The most obvious impact of planting trees Downtown would be the visual connection between adjacent neighbourhoods and Downtown. A particularly obvious link is Victoria Avenue, which was designed to be lined with trees, but now feels and behaves more like a highway. Victoria Avenue should be the first of the Downtown streets to be replanted – reinstating its cultural importance in Regina and Downtown. This would also follow with the development of residential uses along Victoria Avenue.

212

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Continuous street trees can have a significant ameliorating impact on wind conditions. Street trees can also play a role in traffic calming by effectively narrowing the visual corridor of roadways, leading to reduced traffic speeds and more attentive drivers.

A Downtown Urban Forest Strategy should consider introducing a variety of tree species and ornamental plants to highlight important streets and introduce new colours and shapes into the urban environment.

The size, shape, seasonal colour, growing conditions and other characteristics can delineate certain clusters of uses, or ‘districts’ , within Downtown, such as the heritage heart and the streetscape hierarchy (the Avenues, Secondary Streets, etc.). Street trees can also be used to decorate the Downtown Gateways (refer to the Public Realm Framework). Tree selection should be carefully considered to determine which varieties will be suitable in Regina’s context. This initiative may be integrated with the creation of pocket parks described in the Public Realm Framework.

The strategy should include a maintenance plan for Downtown trees, based on an exploration of best practices with respect to urban forestry.

Rationale: Renewing the urban forest Downtown will enhance the comfort and aesthetic appeal of the public realm; will advance the sustainability agenda; and, will reestablish a visual connection between Downtown and adjacent neighbourhoods.

Action Plans

1 2

3

Action

Time Frame

Responsibility

Develop and implement a Downtown Urban Forest Strategy, Medium Term giving careful consideration to the selection of appropriate varieties suitable to Regina and to the Downtown.

City Centre Branch, Parks and Open Space, Public Works

Integrate replanting with the creation of pocket parks and side- Medium Term walk replacement.

City Centre Branch, Parks and Open Space, Public Works

Explore best practices with regard to maintenance of Downtown Medium Term trees, as well as new technologies to support the growth of urban trees; Prepare a maintenance plan to accompany the Downtown Urban Forest Strategy.

City Centre Branch, Parks and Open Space, Public Works

Section 7.3: Neighbourhood Action Plans

213

REGINA downtown plan

7

N.8 - Encourage the location of unique community services and offices of non-profit organizations. [Near Term] Background: All Downtown developments should consider accommodating space for additional community facilities or services for Downtown residents. In particular, creating office space for non-profit organizations that serve special interest groups for the entire city, such that Downtown becomes the central location with the most diverse services, is a priority of the Plan.

Tourists, youth, First Nations, MĂŠtis, gay and lesbian groups, seniors, recreationers, and artists are some of the groups that should be serviced in Downtown.

Locating these services in close proximity to one another facilitates programming and resource sharing, two critical synergies for these organizations.

214

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

By way of example, the proposed redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth II Court would be the ideal location for services such as a tourist information centre (or relocating Tourism Regina with an expanded service base). It would be both within the historic heart of the city, and the civic heart as well. As any traveller would expect, downtown is always the primary destination for information about a city. However, in Regina the only site at which to obtain tourist information is Tourism Regina, located outside the city centre. Furthermore, Tourism Regina does not have the capacity to become a complete tourism information centre where consistent service may be available. Tourism Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main role is to promote and market its members exclusively (which includes over 500 organizations within the city), and the organization does not have a year-round staffed information kiosk, booth, or centre that is easily accessible. Other organizations would similarly benefit from a Downtown location.

Action Plans

Two key considerations are: 1. Reduce cost.

Often the cost of a permit to use public space for campaigning, soliciting, or conducting an event in a public space is burdensome for non-profit organizations. Simply reducing or waiving fees for permits required by non-profit organizations wishing to campaign, solicit, or conduct an event would encourage non-profit activity in Downtown.

2. Provide spaces.

Another obstacle for the activities of non-profit organizations is the lack of affordable temporary spaces. The availability Downtown of meeting rooms, recreation rooms, or other rooms for programming, is limited.

Often, options for office space are also limited without undertaking expensive renovations to make spaces

Action

suitable for specific uses. Encouraging development that provides flexible spaces, where a variety of uses can be accommodated and where changing occupations could occur with ease, will increase the possibilities for a diverse range of needed programs and services.

The specifications of such spaces would have to be defined by the needs of the service groups existing within Regina.

Rationale: Encouraging non-profit organizations to locate Downtown will provide necessary social and community infrastructure for Downtown residents, as well as services that support the Downtown role as a commercial and tourist centre. Eventually, a successful push to locate and re-locate non-profits Downtown may result in the development of a non-profit cluster, able to provide an enhanced range of services and programming by leveraging the synergies of a location that allows effective sharing of facilities and resources.

Time Frame

1

Consult service groups to determine the specifications of flexible spaces Near Term that would be required to support their programming, to be used in conjunction with the bonusing framework.

2

Reduce or waive fees for permits required by non-profit organizations Near Term wishing to campaign, solicit or conduct an event, to encourage non-profit activity in Downtown.

For

City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services Division

City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services Division

Section 7.3: Neighbourhood Action Plans

215

REGINA downtown plan

7

N.9 - Co-ordinate existing and developing initiatives for Downtown safety and security. [Medium Term]

•

creation of crime prevention services such as seminars, security audits, and training sessions; and

Background: Safety is a concern for Downtown residents and visitors that will best be transformed by adding a critical mass of people living, walking and working downtown. In the short term, and as redevelopment begins to take shape, a soft approach to policing is to increase the number of people intentionally watching the streets.

•

public communication strategies and events that promote Downtown safety initiatives and volunteer opportunities.

Currently, the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District manages a Downtown Patrol Ambassador Program, which was formed to provide a level of passive street surveillance. Essentially, volunteer members of the public are asked to perform certain duties or actions to increase safety in the neighbourhood. This may include leaving on the front door lights at night, reporting crimes, or making their home available to people seeking safety. The RDBID is also involved in preliminary discussions with Regina Police Services on the following initiatives:

1

•

A coordinated communication system for all security personnel downtown;

•

creation of a Crime and Safety steering committee; Action

This initiative is highly complimentary to a ‘watch service’ already provided by transit service. Transit drivers are present in the Downtown from 6 a.m. to midnight and all buses are equipped with radios that are directly connected to police and fire.

The objective of this Action Plan would be to co-ordinate the existing services and potential initiatives to increase Downtown safety and security over the short and long term.

Rationale: Self-surveillance by volunteers provides passive surveillance and is known to be effective at reducing incidences of petty crimes, but more importantly in reducing the perception of an unsafe environment. In addition, this volunteers can orient tourists, assist the elderly, and identify broader issues to be addressed.

Time Frame

Responsibility

Work with the RDBID Downtown Ambassador Program, Medium Term City Centre Branch, Community and ProtecRegina Police Services, and other interested groups to co-orditive Services, Regina nate initiatives relating to Downtown safety and security.

Police Services, Regina Downtown BID

216

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Action Plans

N.10 - Devise a Downtown Waste Management Strategy. [Long Term] Background: An increasing residential population in Downtown will increase the amount of waste generated in this area. Aside from the creation of more waste, the composition of residential waste will differ from waste generated from a commercial or office activities.

Public consultations indicated that waste management was already an issue for people who live and work in Downtown. Recycling is not at par with surrounding neighbourhoods and there is concern that without implementing new procedures and requirements for solid waste management specifically appropriate for a mixed-use Downtown, waste management issues will escalate as the residential population increases.

Further, a sustainability plan would urge source separation including waste, recyclables and organics.

Rationale: A Downtown waste management strategy will be necessary to manage the increased volume of waste generated by a growing residential population Downtown, and to effectively accommodate the challenges posed by waste collection in a mixed-use environment.

The City of Regina should review and revise the recent solid waste management strategy with the objective of devising a specific Downtown strategy. A mix of uses in Downtown will create a waste collection challenge.

Front curbs for pick-up may not always be available, large trucks need to access back-alleys, and frequency of pick-up may need to accommodate the new rates at which certain types of wastes are generated.

1 2 3

Action

Time Frame

Review and revise the solid waste management strategy so as to create a Long Term specific Downtown strategy.

Update the Downtown waste management strategy at regular intervals, Long Term so that it continues to respond effectively to the changing Downtown environment.

A capacity analysis should be completed through a larger more comprehen- Medium Term sive servicing analysis study which should assess the capacity of developing soft sites given the projected 5000 new residents.

Responsibility

Comprehensive Planning & Public Works Comprehensive Planning & Public Works Comprehensive Planning & Public Works

Section 7.3: Neighbourhood Action Plans

217

REGINA downtown plan

N.11 - Revise the Winter Maintenance Policy to prioritize the Downtown.

[Immediately]

N.12 - Conduct a servicing review for storm and wastewater capacity for Downtown. [Near Term]

Background/Rationale: Snow plowing on Downtown streets and sidewalks should be improved, thereby improving the accessibility and safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and travellers using assisted forms of movement (wheelchairs and walkers).

Background/Rationale: Should 5000 new residents be attracted Downtown, the servicing capacity for wastewater (sewage) will have to be increased. In order to determine the amount of additional capacity that will be required, a detailed servicing review of wastewater will have to be conducted for the Downtown.

A review of current snow clearing policy as it applies to the Downtown should occur with the objective being to ensure that the downtown receives the highest priority for snow clearing. This review will require an assessment of current snow clearing capacity and allocation of resources required to deliver a higher standard of snow clearing.

1

218

Action

Time Frame

Review the Winter Immediately Maintenance Policy to identify opportunities to prioritize service Downtown

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Responsibility City Centre Branch

The Downtown servicing review may be conducted as part of a larger servicing review for storm and wastewater capacity in the Inner Cities, or for all of Regina. If undertaken as part of a larger review, however, the review outcomes should include a report and analysis specific to the servicing capacity of Downtown, an assessment of the need for additional capacity required to accommodate Downtown residential population objectives, and recommended actions to address any need for additional capacity.

1

Action

Conduct a servicing review for storm and wastewater capacity for Downtown.

Time Frame Near Term

Responsibility

Comprehensive Planning and Public Works

7.4

Business

B.1 – Identify ‘clusters’ or ‘blocks’ of uses.

[Near Term]

photo studios), and/or performance spaces and studios.

Background: A successful downtown is organized. An organized downtown allows people to visually orient themselves, and to find their destinations quickly. Destinations that are clustered within a block or two create sub-districts with distinctive characteristics and experiences, improving the organizational structure and legibility of Downtown. Clustering uses also facilitates the sharing of resources among organizations, or in the case of businesses, sharing of customers as a cluster of uses concentrates pedestrian activity in that particular destination. Clustered uses become self-sustaining districts that evolve their specific identity, distinctive from others, depending on their ability to partner and respond to each other. For example, a business located within a fashion cluster may choose to hold a sidewalk sale event, or in an arts & design block organizations and businesses may hold an annual art fair or open house. Clustering uses makes great business sense.

A Fashion block – includes clusters of fashion retail of low to high end fashion markets, and textile stores.

Since Downtown Regina is small in scope and includes just 40 blocks, it is appropriate to think of loosely clustering uses as blocks (as opposed to larger districts).

Recommended blocks include: An Arts & Design block – includes University of Regina arts department presence, art galleries, retail for arts and crafts, studio spaces, office spaces for creative industries (magazines, newspapers,

1 2 3

A Cooks’ block – includes food markets, speciality food stores, restaurants, cafés and/or bars. This should be bordered by 12th Avenue and near the Regina Farmers Market.

A Civic block – includes Queen Elizabeth II Court, the library block and Victoria Park, bound together as the civic heart of Downtown and Regina.

A Children’s block – includes recreational, cultural and open space amenities geared to families and children.

New clusters of uses may evolve. Flexibility should be given to the location and emergence of new clusters as time unfolds.

Rationale: The identification and encouragement of ‘clusters’ will enhance the legibility of Downtown through the creation of identifiable districts. Clustered businesses and organizations Downtown will be able to benefit from access to shared supporting services, and to develop strategies to extend their market presence and attract a shared customer base.

Action

Time Frame

Responsibility

Develop policies to reinforce ‘cluster’ identity by encouraging and supporting the identified uses, including encouraging small businesses to locate/relocate downtown.

Near Term

City Centre Branch, Regina Downtown BID

Urban Planning, the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, and Near Term developers – in partnership – should identify suitable blocks to be identified as ‘clusters’.

Develop a flexible framework that provides a mechanism for the identification and appropriate recognition of additional ‘clusters’ as they emerge.

City Centre Branch, Regina Downtown BID

Near Term Medium Term

City Centre Branch

Section 7.4: Business Action Plans

219

REGINA downtown plan

7

B.2 - Establish a permanent Farmers Market venue Downtown. [Near Term] Background: Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farmers Market is limited by the absence of a permanent venue. Consultation with Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Farmers Market determined that a permanent venue that provides areas for storage, an electrical source, but more importantly a licensed kitchen for food preparation, would allow a larger diversity of vendors and therefore greater variety in foods and services for seven days a week.

Establishing a permanent venue in Downtown will support the current location of the market on Scarth Street, and facilitate possible extension on to 12th Avenue, once the WOW Project is completed (see

1

Action

Rationale: The facilities available in a permanent venue would allow the market to host a larger diversity of vendors, providing a greater variety of foods and services, seven days a week. A permanent venue will also allow the market to remain open in colder weather, providing year-round amenity and service to the growing Downtown residential community.

Ensure that a permanent location for the public market is secured.

Regina Farmers Market

220

Public Realm Framework). This would also allow the market to remain in Downtown during winter months or colder weather, establishing Downtown as the permanent year-round destination for market goods.

Discussions on the ideal location for the market are underway and the city should ensure that a location is secured in the near term.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Time Frame

Near Term

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

Action Plans

7

B.3 - Conduct annual surveys directed at measuring changes in employment composition, market composition, and vacant properties. [Immediately] Background: Downtown is a dynamic environment where many new policies will continually be required to manage outcomes. Information is required to assess whether certain planning approaches are achieving established planning goals. Gathering information on employment, market composition, and vacant properties assist in determining where and how certain employment uses should be located and managed, observe general trends in employment types and demands, and identify what mix of uses are successful and why (for example, whether the planned clusters of uses is effective at achieving the types and diversity of businesses and uses).

For example, the City of Toronto and the City of Mississauga conduct annual Employment Surveys.

These surveys gather information on business type (i.e. auto body shop, bakery, restaurant, retail shop) and number of employees for each business within the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;study areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boundaries. The information is geographically referenced to address, and metadata on the address is collected for other planning purposes (such as the number of storeys of the building, the type of building, and vacancy status).

1

2

Action

By comparing annual data, geographic trends and significant changes in employment composition and business types can be identified and can be used to inform future planning decisions. Planners might also compare built form type to business type and employment turnover.

A baseline study should be conducted to determine the scope of research, and the administrative and operative costs of conducting such a survey. Both in Toronto and Mississauga, summer students are hired to conduct the survey each summer, which reduces employment costs. Geographic analysis is typically conducted by planning staff and results are published as public information. Published information may also inform property owners, developers, and businesses.

Rationale: Downtown is a dynamic environment in which many new policies will be utilized. In this context, annual surveys will provide important input necessary to ensuring that the Downtown planning approach appropriately adapts and responds to demographic and market changes. In tandem with other performance measures, an annual survey will also help the City assess progress toward achieving Downtown planning goals, and to identify which policies are succeeding, which are not, and why.

Time Frame

Conduct a study to determine the scope of research and specific data to be Immediately collected in annual surveys, the methodology to be employed, and the cost of and approach to administering an annual undertaking of this nature.

Based on the study outcomes, implement a baseline survey followed by Immediately annual surveys to collect data related to employment, market compositions, and vacant properties Downtown.

Responsibility

City Centre Branch, Comprehensive Planning Branch City Centre Branch, Comprehensive Planning Branch Section 7.4: Business Action Plans

221

REGINA downtown plan

B.4 - Foster a symbiotic partnership between businesses and artists.

[Immediately] Background: In urban centres across Europe and North America, information-based and knowledge-driven industries have grown to constitute an increasingly important component of local economies. Within this trend, there is a growing recognition that creative industries can be a key driver of wealth and job creation. The creative economy broadly includes a range of interlocking industry sectors - both innovative companies and cultural organizations. This can include businesses involved in activities such as advertising, architecture, design, software and electronic publishing, music, fashion, television, radio, and the performing arts.

Fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between Downtown businesses and the local creative community can play an important role in supporting the growth and success of the creative economy in Downtown Regina. Take, for example, the small businesses Downtown who have already established relationships with local artists: the artists benefit from access to gallery space or other resources, the businesses enhance their reputation in the community, and the image of the Downtown as a vibrant cultural destination is reinforced.

222

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

There is a close relationship between the objectives of this action, and those of action C.1 (Create a City of Regina Cultural Plan). Strategies to foster partnerships should be coordinated with the eventual development of a City of Regina Cultural Plan.

Rationale: Supporting the creative economy Downtown by fostering partnerships between businesses and artists can have a range of positive impacts, including: •

Improving opportunities for Regina to retain youth and talented individuals;

•

Contributing to the cultural wealth of a city, and supporting the objective of establishing Downtown as the cultural heart of the city;

•

Diversifying the Downtown employment base;

•

Enhancing the profile of Downtown as a desirable attraction for visitors and tourists; and

•

Nurturing the local creative economy and attracting innovative industries to Downtown, including potential future growth industries.

Action Plans

7

1

2

Action

Time Frame

Host a charrette where developers, businesses and artists can explore strate- Immediately gies to foster relationships and engage in the mutually beneficial exchange of services.

Develop policies and incentives to encourage developers to create multi-use Immediately and live-work spaces specifically intended for artists. This should be coordinated with the preparation of the Cultural Plan (see Action C.1)

Responsibility

City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services Division

City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services Division

Section 7.4: Business Action Plans

223

REGINA downtown plan

B.5 – Create a façade renewal and improvement incentives program.

[Near Term] Background: Plenty of opportunities for façade renewal and improvement exist in Downtown. An incentives program would encourage property owners to reface blank walls on their buildings or parking garages to either improve aesthetics, and/or create active at-grade uses, for temporary or permanent period of time.

No ideal formula for calculating the amount of the bonus or benefits exists that can be applied to all cases and applications. Each development and rehabilitation project must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The amount of the incentive might be determined by the type of renewal and improvement proposed as well as its permanency. For example, a proposal for permanent active at-grade uses would receive maximum benefits whereas a proposal for a temporary aesthetic improvement would receive minimum benefits.

1

224

Action

An example of a temporary improvement or active use of a blank wall might be to install a temporary outdoor cinema (simply an image projection on a white blank wall, with space for seating, and a permit for this type of use). In partnership with Regina Downtown Business Improvement District and the Regina Arts Commission (or other such cultural groups, the Regina Public Library, or the University of Regina), property owners may be offered a tax break in exchange for offering their property for this cultural use.

Permanent façade improvement is exemplified by the Atlantis Coffee site, demonstrating that great urban design sense is good business sense as well. Different incentives could be granted, such as density bonuses or a tax abatements for developments on this or other sites.

Rationale: Façade improvements will reinforce Downtown character, enhance the public realm, activate frontages at grade, and improve the overall retail quality and vibrancy of Downtown.

Time Frame

Develop an incentives program to encourage property owners to improve Near Term building façades and add high quality landscaping to existing surface parking lots. A range of incentives should be offered, providing the City with the flexibility to consider each development on a case-by-case basis, with the value of the incentive varying in relation to the scale and permanence of the improvement.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

7

7.5

Culture

C.1. – Create a City of Regina Cultural Plan. [Near Term] Background: The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan advocates that Downtown must be the best cultural destination in the city. This means that the best cultural services and programs must be located in Downtown, particularly within the historic and civic heart– around Victoria Park, the Central Library, and City Hall blocks.

role in placemaking, and will constitute an important part of a diverse activity base. A Cultural Plan will be an important direction-setting tool that will guide the development of Downtown’s cultural role and infrastructure.

The Cultural Plan should be a direction setting tool as well as an economic strategy for Downtown as its impacts will go far beyond the cultural sector. This Action is in keeping with the direction of Part A – Policy Plan of the Regina Development Plan on Arts, Culture and Entertainment, and of Policy 8.5 Tourism Development and Cultural Appreciation.

Rationale: The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan directs that Downtown should function as the city’s cultural centre, and as such, that Regina’s primary cultural facilities, services, and programs should be located Downtown.

Cultural facilities and services Downtown will play a Action

1

Time Frame

Develop a Cultural Plan in consultation with the Regina Arts Commission Near Term and a cultural planning consultant.

Considerations for development of the Cultural Plan: 1. Define the term “arts and culture” (currently, arts policy only considers some types of arts).

Arts and culture are two inseparable ideas; arts are the manifestations of culture as well as the inspiration for cultural change. Arts and culture

Responsibility City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services

includes the visual arts, but also the activities, amenities, and educational services that connect art to society. This needs to be recognized in the Cultural Plan. The Regina Arts Policy, 1993, recognizes the importance of art in the city. Clear definition of art is stated and the policy gives good direction for how to manage and fund arts in the city. However, it explicitly states that the policy is Section 7.5: Culture Action Plans

225

REGINA downtown plan

not intended for cultural development. A Cultural Plan, on the other hand, would encompass the Municipal Arts Policy (and all related incentives and programs) and link arts to culture through policies for programming of events and establishment of valuable institutions for cultivating arts and culture.

2. A communications and accountability strategy.

One department or body should be the point of contact for festivals, special events, public art installations and film location shooting. A single accessible source of information for cultural advocates and artists will provide as much support as City funds and grants. The Regina Arts Commission (RAC), initiated in 1987, renamed the Arts Advisory Council in January 2009, is mandated under The Cities Act, 2002 to: a. advise and make recommendations regarding arts related issues, policy development and programming;

City will â&#x20AC;&#x153;ownâ&#x20AC;? the plan, it is important to use the experience of the RAC with significant input from the public on its role and impact.

4. A Downtown Public Art Strategy.

Great pieces of public art exist in Downtown. Some are not well maintained or protected and have faced un-repaired damage and vandalism over the years.

Downtown in particular, as primarily a public space, should be used as an open art gallery, a place where people can be inspired and interact with one another through the mediums of art, including contributions by large and small scale commissioned art by local artists, amateurs, and renowned professionals, with a range of temporal and permanent works.

The public art strategy should review the acquirement process and management structure of public art as per the current Municipal Arts Strategy, particularly for the Downtown context.

The Public Realm Framework identifies general guidelines for the location and placement of public art (view termini and gateways), which the Municipal Arts Policy and a Downtown Public Art Strategy should acknowledge as part of the public art strategy.

It may also include a program for the facilitation of community art projects. For example, on nearly every block of Downtown, there are exposed green or grey electrical boxes. In some cities, these are used as the canvas for community art. Youth are invited and organized to paint the electrical boxes with their own designs, which transforms the area into an open gallery, adding unique visual interest to the urban environment, and giving a sense of place and civic ownership to participants of the program.

b. advise and make recommendations regarding incorporating contemporary art practices into city planning and development; c. advise and make recommendations regarding communication and outreach to community regarding art; d. advise and make recommendations on proposed artwork gifts, bequests and donations to the City; and e. make recommendations on disbursement of the Arts and Culture Grants Fund.

This group may provide assistance and support to such a body or individual who would be responsible for liaising with the public on behalf of the City.

3. Governance and administration structure of the Cultural Plan.

226

A Cultural Plan should be developed in consultation with the Regina Arts Commission, the administration and a cultural planning consultant. While the

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

5. Assessment tools for monitoring implementation of the Master Plan.

The Cultural Plan should establish goals and targets for arts and culture that measure achievements towards the goals and intent of the Plan. This might include measurements of the number of cultural

Action Plans

7

events, with comparisons made between the whole city and Downtown; physical condition of public art; number of public art pieces in Downtown; state and activity of the Regina Civic Arts Funding Program or other grant programs; and, other consistent reviews of policy. Monitoring and assessment results should inform any recommended changes to policies.

7. Securing the establishment of key cultural institutions in Downtown.

This is an extremely important goal. Cultural attractions in Downtown are anchors attracting both retail and a residential population. As a capital city, without a civic cultural plan to guide decision making, cultural institutions in Regina have generally gravitated to sites and partnerships that presented themselves. For example, the Symphony plays in Conexus Arts Centre in Wascana Centre; the RCMP Heritage Centre, is located on RCMP/government of Canada land on the edge of the city; the Canada Saskatchewan Sound Stage, Saskatchewan Science Centre, CBC building and MacKenzie Art Gallery all located within Wascana Centre. Artists should not be expected, as a matter of public policy, to provide services under fair market value. Cultural institutions require sustainable capital investments, and they require civic partners.

Securing elite and private cultural institutions is as important as securing local and not-for-profit cultural institutions such that the attractiveness of Downtown for cultural services casts a wide net on the citizens of Regina. Specialty schools (such as for the culinary arts, or musical institutions) as well as prominent institutions that showcase a variety of arts (such as museums and galleries) would provide a strong and immediate draw for people to spend time in Downtown.

These institutions and schools could also provide lessons, activities and services for other community groups, age groups, or special interest groups, that add diversity of cultural experience and heightens the quality of life for Downtown residents. In the long term, establishing major cultural developments in Downtown provides the opportunity to develop an ‘Arts Block’ – essentially an arts and culture district that becomes a major tourist destination.

6. Financing strategies.

The Civic Arts Funding Program, while providing a valuable source of funding with which locals arts organizations use to produce art programming, is not sufficient enough to allow groups much opportunity to explore or experiment with new practices, activities, or events. Increasing civic arts funding and making the funding accountable to specific goals found in the new Cultural Plan for Regina, (e.g. arts groups eligible for additional civic arts funds if they are located downtown or a certain percentage of their programming occurs downtown) combined with cultural programming infrastructure enhancements of the WOW Project and favourable development policies to encourage the “arts block/creative industries cluster” concept will result in more arts activity in the downtown.

Arts organizations often realize minimal municipal increases to their grants, while inflationary pressures and increased fees charged by the City to use festival sites are growing, negating any grant increase. Special civic funds in addition to the Civic Arts Fund could be targeted towards events held in Downtown.

Consideration needs to be given to guiding the establishment of partnerships between private donors, property owners or businesses who support arts and cultural activities on their properties, such as the University of Regina, and other city departments which might hold auxiliary funds for cultural events (for example a community arts project might be partially funded by integrating it with an I love Regina event).

Section 7.5: Culture Action Plans

227

REGINA downtown plan

C.2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Complete the WOW Project. [Near Term] Background: This planning process benefits from an initial implementation project in the heart of Downtown that signals the beginning of a series of investments into Downtown. It also signals commitment to the Plan and in particular towards creating new places for arts and culture, one of the most salient needs identified throughout the public consultation process.

publicly announced during the process of generating the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, the timely completion of the project is imperative to maintaining the credibility of the Plan and the trust of all stakeholders.

Rationale: The initial project signals a commitment to the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan and the beginning of a series of investments into Downtown, and is imperative to maintaining the credibility of the Plan.

City staff are already engaging in the implementation process for this project. As this project was

1

228

Action

Complete implementation of the WOW Project in a timely manner.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Time Frame Immediately

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

C.3 – The WOW Project Programming Strategy. [Near Term] Background: The WOW Project is comprised of two parts. While the construction planning of the space is underway, the programming of the space is a fundamental consideration that ought to be considered hand-in-hand with the site design.

Two approaches are recommended with regard to the WOW Project programming from now until the unveiling of the completed project.

Mid-Project Events: This is a series of events that are held at strategic points in the process prior to construction completion, primarily to maintain awareness and enlighten the public on possible future uses of the newly designed space. This might be categorized into (a) Day Events, and (b) Short-term Events.

1

Action

Develop a WOW Project Programming Strategy.

Floating Events: These are ongoing programs of public involvement at a ‘fun’ level to get people thinking about how the space could be used in the future. They might be in the form of friendly competitions, or surveys which would also function as a form of preemptive public consultation for future programming events.

Rationale: The objectives of this programming strategy are: •

To maintain awareness of the WOW Project.

•

To increase excitement for the WOW Project.

•

To build the right foundations for facilitating programming after construction.

•

To continue to gather public support for the WOW Project.

Time Frame Near Term

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

Section 7.5: Culture Action Plans

229

REGINA downtown plan

7

C.4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Revise the approach to heritage management. [Near Term] Background: Heritage buildings and landscapes located in Downtown are an important visual reminder and link to Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, and in telling the story of its people.

Heritage elements are also a significant foundation upon which to construct a quality urban environment, for residents and visitors alike.

Downtown Regina has lost many valuable heritage buildings and landscapes simply by allowance of existing policies. Often it becomes more viable to keep a heritage building vacant until it deteriorates to an unstable condition. More protection and guidance is needed to reflect the current sentiments of heritage in Downtown Regina and to encourage, support, and maintain in good condition heritage buildings and landscapes, and to encourage complimentary development that highlights their heritage character.

1

2

3

230

Action

The Heritage Framework (refer to Section 5.6) presented in this Downtown Neighbourhood Plan contains two main components. The first is a rationale and recommendation to expand the existing Heritage Conservation District, and the second is a set of general and specific built form guidelines for new buildings within a heritage context. Included are recommendations for policy changes to support the Framework intent.

Rationale: The effective management of heritage buildings and landscapes Downtown is important from the standpoint of maintaining a tangible link to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history, and of establishing and strengthening a distinct character and identifiable sense of place Downtown.

Time Frame

Update the heritage inventory to include modern architectural forms and Near Term heritage landscapes. This will require a complete assessment of existing Heritage Stock and buildings listed in the Heritage Holding By-law.

To foster a culture of preservation, create an inventory of heritage features Immediately worth retaining in each building on the Heritage Holding By-law. This list should be maintained by the City Centre Branch and be available to the public and developers seeking to make changes to Designated Heritage Buildings and buildings on the Heritage Holding By-law.

Raise awareness and understanding of current heritage management poli- Near Term cies, guidelines, and incentive programs.

4

Assemble a compiled heritage management strategy, presented in a form Near Term that is easily accessible to the public.

5

Amend the tax structure that currently encourages and provides an incen- Near Term tive for landowners to remove heritage buildings and build parking lots.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Responsibility

City Centre Branch, Development Review Branch

City Centre Branch, Comprehensive Planning Branch

City Centre Branch, Development Review Branch City Centre Branch, Development Review Branch City Centre Branch, Development Review Branch

Action Plans

6

7

8

Through the authority of the City Development Officer, demand the highest Near Term standards of design and compatibility of all new development in a heritage context. Explore the possibility of amending The Heritage Property Act to delegate authority from City Council to City Development Officer to deny applications to demolish heritage resources.

City Centre Branch, Development Review Branch

Formally adopt the Federal Standards and Guidelines for heritage, and align Near Term heritage policy language with those Standards.

City Centre Branch, Development Review Branch

Develop a specific policy that makes the connection between heritage policy Near Term and the fulfilment of other Downtown goals such as attracting tourists, façade improvement, and the objectives of the Culture Plan.

C.5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Establish a University of Regina presence Downtown. [Immediately] Background: Throughout the public consultation process, the importance of stronger links between the University of Regina and Downtown were discussed. Potential opportunities for building stronger links include the development of student housing Downtown, or the establishment of a Downtown off-campus location for a new undergraduate program. The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan encourages partnerships between the University of Regina, the City of Regina and the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District.

Rationale: There are several potential benefits to bringing a university student population Downtown.

Students would activate Downtown streets. Students live a lifestyle that does not necessarily conform

1

Action

City Centre Branch, Development Review Branch

to the typical 9-5 work day. Classes are scheduled throughout the day and into evenings, and students generate a range of social, academic and recreational activity on and around campus outside of classroom hours. A student presence creates a different rhythm of activity Downtown, shifting demand for many activities and services so that they remain open at later hours, resulting in streets that are active for more hours of the day.

Students are employees. Often willing to work in parttime or temporary positions, a student population would facilitate the establishment of small retail, commercial and creative industries which benefit from such a flexible and educated employee base.

Students would support Downtown businesses. Students are consumers of a range of services. A student population Downtown would provide an important market for independent businesses, one-of-a-kind retail and creative industries.

Time Frame

Form a working relationship with the University of Regina to establish a Immediately terms of reference and strategy for establishing a Downtown campus.

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

Section 7.5: Culture Action Plans

231

REGINA downtown plan

7

C.6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Create a Signage and Wayfinding Strategy. [Near Term] Background: An accessible downtown is one that is legible. This relates to the organization of uses (Action B.1) as well as built-in wayfinding tools (signage, maps, symbols, and landmarks) that help visitors navigate efficiently and safely through the Downtown.

Creating a signage and wayfinding strategy is essentially creating a navigation system for pedestrians. This involves strategically placed maps, carefully designed to highlight key tourist locations, public art, or other landmarks. It involves well designed street signage that clearly mark streets, and possibly directions to landmarks. And it also involves street lights that might be designed to label or brand the Downtown by presenting a consistent logo or icon, and strategically located to safely lead pedestrians to particular destinations.

and graphic guidelines for retail signage that provide more parameters or recommendations for achieving effective and appealing storefront signage.

Rationale: Downtown must be legible in order to be accessible to visitors and residents. The organization of uses and wayfinding tools Downtown are a key aspect of creating an attractive pedestrian realm that allows people to navigate efficiently and safely to their destinations.

The objective of the strategy should be to clearly direct Downtown visitors to key destinations (tourist locations, key landmarks, entrances and exits) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whichever tools are used will be determined by the availability of resources and time.

Furthermore the strategy might also include provisions for retail signage. While the intention appears to be to encourage visually interesting and unique signage from one retail store to the next, the policy is ambiguous. A signage and wayfinding strategy might include written

1

232

Action

Time Frame

Create a Signage and Wayfinding Strategy that will address matters such Near Term as: pedestrian context maps; well designed street signage; and, clear signage orienting tourists to key destinations.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

Action Plans

7

C.7 – Create a Patio Management Strategy. [Immediately] Background: Patio refers to the concept of using outdoor public spaces for cultural or retail uses. The majority of this space includes sidewalks and the road, but also includes plaza spaces on public and private properties.

Management of these spaces require policies that encourage safe uses and discourage unsafe activities.

Patio type uses might include temporary seating for restaurants and cafes (in warmer months), selling of merchandise, soliciting, advertising, busking, or other small performances.

The patio management strategy should also consider temporary use of on-street parking spaces to expand the public realm in warmer months. Halifax does this successfully with its Sidewalk Cafe Policy whereby business owners may ‘rent’ sidewalk space in front of their stores (usually restaurants) to shift the pedestrian walkway away from the store, and instead using the sidewalk as summer patio space. In some cases, permission could be given to rent parking spaces to sell goods such as flowers, or place temporary landscaping.

1

Regina Downtown Business Improvement District encourages busking and street activity. The Downtown Patrol Ambassadors of the BID encourage panhandlers to busk as an alternative way to receive money while avoiding fines or having to confront Regina Police Services (RPS).

To reduce confusion and encourage busking, a panhandling bylaw should be created, such as that in Saskatoon (Bylaw No. 7850), which differentiates busking from panhandling. Regina Police Services should be knowledgeable in these two definitions to avoid wrongfully fining a busker.

Rationale: Patio uses refer to the use of outdoor public space for cultural or retail uses – an important part of active streets and a vibrant public realm. Management of these spaces require policies that encourage safe uses and discourage unsafe activities.

Action

Time Frame

Prepare a Patio Management Strategy to guide the use of outdoor public Immediately space for cultural or retail uses.

Responsibility City Centre Branch

2

Consider allowing the temporary use of on-street parking spaces to expand Immediately the public realm in warmer months.

City Centre Branch

3

Create a bylaw that differentiates busking from panhandling.

City Centre Branch

Immediately

Section 7.5: Culture Action Plans

233

REGINA downtown plan

C.8 - Civic Heart Revitalization Working Group (CHRWG). [Near Term]

•

promoting the existing activities and services in the Civic Heart;

Background: The Civic Heart presents an opportunity to embody a key principle of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan – a place for all of Regina. The Civic Heart includes City Hall, the Regina Public Library, Knox-Metropolitan Church, and Victoria Park - uses that currently function as disparate parts, but that together can create a critical mass of civic facilities that, linked by public realm improvements, will become an important Civic destination in the City of Regina.

•

improving the public realm through various capital improvements and partnership developments;

•

ensuring that all new development within the Civic Heart is in keeping with the Vision contained within this Plan; and

•

encouraging the enhancement of services in the Civic Heart.

Rationale The objective of the Civic Heart Revitalization working group will be to oversee and connect a series of initiatives in the Civic Heart in such a way as to work towards a larger vision of this area as an important Civic precinct. Additional objectives to be met, include, but are not limited to:

Ideally, the working group will be interdisciplinary in nature, as the skills and resources required to see the fulfilment of the Vision will range from promotional/marketing resources, planning, transit, and engineering.

1

Action

Establish a Civic Heart working group.

The role of the CHWG should encompass, but not be limited to, the following: 1. The Group should be managed and coordinated by the City Centre Branch.

2. Participants should include, but not be limited to, all key stakeholders with a vested interest in the development of the Civic Heart, including representatives from the City of Regina, Knox-Metropolitan United Church and the Regina Public Library.

234

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Time Frame Immediately

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

3. The Working Group should work cross-departmentally to create a programming strategy for promoting the Civic Heart.

4. Identify targets and goals related to transportation, business, and cultural components and public realm improvements of the Civic Heart, and monitor and evaluate progress annually.

Action Plans

7

7.6

Transportation

T.1 – Study the cost and impact of converting all one-way, eastwest streets to two-way vehicle movement both in Downtown and immediately south of Downtown.

[Immediate to Near Term] Background: Typically, one-way streets are implemented to move vehicles at higher volumes. The City of Regina’s Downtown was designed as a two-way street system, and was converted to one-way movement in the 1950’s as a means to moving vehicles through the Downtown more quickly. Not incidentally, this approach to transportation planning coincided with the onset of a larger movement towards suburban planning and the popularization of the automobile, moving people away from planning land uses that reinforced the Downtown as the heart of the City.

The manner in which vehicles move through urban environments is linked to pedestrian safety, retail vibrancy, and the uniqueness of the urban context. In Regina in particular, existing generous lane widths and a lack of substantive street trees already encourage drivers to move quickly through Downtown.

The objective of two-way streets is intended to begin to define Downtown as a multi-modal environment where cycling and walking are also desirable forms of movement.

Rationale: There are significant, important opportunities for Downtown that arise from the conversion of one-way east-west streets to two-way, as can be seen in various cities across North America that have chosen to implement conversions (e.g. Hamilton, ON; Vancouver, BC; Atlanta, GA; Buffalo, NY). In Downtown Regina, one-way street right-of-ways are currently wide, and can therefore accommodate two-way traffic as well as cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. For north-south

streets, in the short term and due to their one-way operation, some of the existing pavement width should be converted for other uses, such as adding corner bulbs, cycling lanes and wider sidewalks. In the long term, as the critical mass of activity in Downtown continues to increase, consideration should be given to also converting these north-south streets to two-way operation.

The potential benefits of converting one-way to two-way operation are: 1. Routes become less circuitous. This increases accessibility into Downtown from the periphery (Broad and Albert Streets), and within Downtown to key destinations, as more route options are available for vehicles. Drivers will drive less within the Downtown if they are able to drive directly to their destination. This in turn will reduce the levels of emissions from vehicles within Downtown.

2. Potentially, vehicles will move more slowly within Downtown, thereby increasing the safety of pedestrians. As such, the Downtown will no longer be viewed as a through route, but rather as a destination. The perception of Downtown as a “place” will be further reinforced.

3. Allows for the implementation of cycling infrastructure.

All streets will have the capacity to support cycling infrastructure with a variety of route options for the cyclist. Streets will become better recognized as environments that support a variety of ways of moving from one place to the next, as opposed to places primarily for vehicular movement.

4. Increases the viability of Downtown businesses. A more permeable, walkable Downtown will draw more customers. Precedents demonstrate that it is difficult to create retail viability in small and midsized cities without two-way infrastructure.

Section 7.6: Transportation Action Plans

235

REGINA downtown plan

5. Supports transit needs and operational efficiency Downtown. Less circuitous routes for transit operations will make Downtown more accessible and serviceable for transit users.

7. Provides more route options for emergency vehicles.

6. Allows for streetscape designs that emphasize streets as part of the open space system. Since streets will be designed for pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and street trees, they will become a part of the amenity of Downtown that draws visitors and residents alike.

1

236

Action

Study the cost and impact of converting all one-way east-west roadways to two-way streets both in Downtown and immediately south of Downtown.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Time Frame

Immediate to Near Term

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

Action Plans

7

T.2 – Create alternative road standards.

[Near to Medium Term] Background: Streets play an important role in defining the character of an environment. Well-designed streets become places where people shop, linger, and stroll. In the past, the approach to streets in Downtown Regina has focused on higher levels of service for vehicular movements as opposed to provision of the necessary infrastructure to accommodate comfortable environment for the movement of people. The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan Vision recognizes Downtown as a place - a destination - as opposed to an environment to move quickly through. As such, a new approach to street design is needed that will focus on the movement of pedestrians as the key priority and will strike an appropriate balance between all modes of transportation including cycling, transit, and vehicular movement Action

Rationale: A Downtown transportation system that recognizes pedestrianism as an important form of movement has right-of-ways and public spaces that are supportive of pedestrian activity. The safety and convenience of the pedestrian is prioritized, as a minimum standard objective. Current road standards are suburban in nature, and are no longer in keeping with the priorities of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.

In order to bring road design into alignment with the Downtown Vision and its priorities, a new approach to designing and planning roads Downtown is required.

The new approach will need to consider a variety of forms of movement, including cyclists and pedestrians.

Streetscape design should clearly articulate the importance of the pedestrian experience as fundamental to a thriving Downtown.

Time Frame

Responsibility

1

Establish an interdisciplinary/interdepartmental team to create alternative Immediately road standards.

City Centre Branch

2

Focus additional resources on the care and maintenance of existing down- Immediately town trees (supported by action N.7).

Parks and Open Space

3

Embed alternative road design standards for Downtown into engineering Medium Term and planning policy.

City Centre Branch

Considerations: Alternative road standards for Downtown should take into consideration the following priority objectives, to ensure that they are able to meet the objectives of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan: 1. Minimize Environmental Impacts • Maintain tree health, maintenance, and amenity as a priority in Downtown cross sections.

• Winter sidewalk and road maintenance should be improved, including the enforcement of standards related to Downtown sidewalk

clearing. This must be a priority, as snow clearance is essential for an active streetscape in winter, and to enable the use of active modes of transportation year-round.

2. Increase Active Modes of Transportation • Prioritize safety of the cyclist and pedestrian in road design, and through the narrowing of existing lane widths, keeping in mind existing and planned transit operations.

• Locate appropriate signage to aid in wayfinding for pedestrians.

Section 7.6: Transportation Action Plans

237

REGINA downtown plan

•

Enhance active transportation linkages to key destinations when streets are redesigned (cycling lanes and sidewalk design).

3. Enhance the Public Realm • Locate street furniture, shelters, and landscaping amenities to be accessible and beautiful.

• Locate appropriately designed pedestrian-scaled lighting, particularly at pedestrian crossings.

4. Ensure Accessibility • At crosswalks, design curb cuts that direct pedestrians and wheelchairs into the marked

238

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

•

crosswalks, not the centre of the intersection.

Adjust stormwater drain placement so that pedestrian movement from the sidewalk to crossings is not impeded.

Action Plans

7

T.3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Refocus transportation planning on pedestrians. [Immediately] Background: Streets Downtown are currently focussed on convenient and safe conditions for vehicles. While these conditions are important to maintain, they are not necessarily determinant of safe walking conditions for pedestrians. In order to make Downtown a place that is safe for walking, and to encourage walking to work, transportation planning should employ actions which prioritize the pedestrianization of streets. This can be accomplished while still maintaining safety for drivers, although a little convenience for the driver will be sacrificed for the added convenience of the pedestrian.

Rationale: To encourage walking, Downtown sidewalks should provide a high quality walking surface and new standards for design. Widened sidewalks are also needed to improve the walking conditions Downtown. Wider sidewalks will be important for instilling a pedestrianfriendly environment. In addition to level of service requirements for density of foot traffic, consideration should be given to building a sense of place for pedestrians. Priority for wider sidewalks should be along streets within the Heritage Conservation District; along Victoria Avenue, which currently has

1

Action

the narrowest sidewalks Downtown; other civic destinations; or, following the establishment of business clusters around these blocks. Visibility of crosswalks is also a factor in pedestrian safety and should be improved, as per a new city-wide standard of crosswalk visibility, as streets are renewed.

Corner bulbs are an excellent way of shortening the walking distance across roadways, placing a higher priority on the pedestrian network, delineating onstreet parking areas and slowing automobile traffic by visually narrowing the road. One of the key challenges with these treatments is the potential change to drainage patterns. Short medians at intersections can also be used for the same effect of breaking the street crossing distance and providing safe shelter for pedestrians especially at un-signalized crossings. Corner bulbs are most desirable on the widest roads, (i.e. the Avenues).

Arterial roadways are also currently a major barrier for pedestrians moving between Downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods. Adjustments to better accommodate pedestrians crossing these roadways is important, particularly in cold weather.

Set new standards for Downtown sidewalk materials and surfaces.

Time Frame Immediately

Responsibility

City Centre Branch

Considerations: The use of interlocking pavers needs to be reevaluated for itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s practicability and safe use. Maintaining this type of surface so that it is level for walking on is labour intensive, requires regular levelling and is costly. Textured concrete and precast sidewalk sections might be considered instead. The needs of visually impaired and disabled persons should be considered, and these groups should be consulted in the process of developing new standards.

2

Change relevant street maintenance policies to ensure that Downtown Near Term streets and sidewalks are maintained as the highest material and aesthetic standard in the city, and above and beyond the existing policies.

City Centre Branch

Section 7.6: Transportation Action Plans

239

REGINA downtown plan

3

Provide wider sidewalks.

Near Term

City Centre Branch

Considerations: The task of widening a sidewalk is fairly significant as it generally involves altering the roadway cross-section. This often results in drainage and parking challenges. As such, the provision of wider sidewalks should be staged as part of street renewal projects. This action is linked to T.2. and N.7.

4

Improve visibility of crosswalks.

Immediately

Considerations:

City Centre Branch

Visibility and safety for pedestrians could be improved through better definition of the crosswalks at both signalized and un-signalized locations. Textured crossings, coloured crossings, raised crosswalks and improved paint markings could be used to serve this purpose. These should be considered as street renewal projects are pursued.

5

Add corner bulbs to minimize street crossing distances.

Immediately

Considerations:

City Centre Branch

As part of the implementation of corner bulbs, the City should prepare a phasing strategy to prioritize the near-term improvement of street crossings at key locations, including at gateways and the Civic Heart.

6

Adjust signal timing on the main arterials to shorten the wait times for Immediately pedestrians.

Considerations:

City Centre Branch

Wait times to cross Albert Street could be in the order of a minute and a half. While shorter cycle times would improve the situation for pedestrians, the level of service would be heavily impacted for vehicular traffic. A potential solution is to lengthen the minimum walk times. Displaying longer walk times increases the likelihood that pedestrians will arrive at the intersection and be able to cross immediately. The installation of crosswalk countdown timers along the interior intersections would support safer crossing for pedestrians.

7

Improve underpass conditions.

Considerations:

Near Term

City Centre Branch

Improvements to the Broad Street and Albert Street underpasses should be considered to provide connectivity and the perception of safety. The level of lighting in the underpasses also should be reviewed. As a long term measure, a pedestrian link half-way between Broad Street and Albert Street could be planned to address the desired connection from Downtown to the Warehouse District (refer to Section 4.4.9).

240

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Action Plans

7

T.4 – Prioritize cycling within transportation planning. [Near Term to Medium Term] Background: In addition to the pedestrianization of streets, an equally important shift in the way people commute to and within downtown will involve increasing options for cycling. As a popular active mode of transportation, cycling within Downtown can be a year-round activity and choice for commuters. Particularly as the Downtown population increases, cycling could continue to dampen the need for Downtown parking and vehicle activity within Downtown.

Hundreds of cities around the world hold an annual Bike to Work Week, usually in the second or third week of May, to promote cycling as a reliable, healthy, and affordable mode of transportation. During this week, participants choose to use the bicycle as their mode of transportation to work, and often as their mode of transportation for all their daily activities. Some employees choose to turn the week into an internal event, challenging their employees to cycle to work and offering prize incentives. This event is also an opportunity for employers to engage in friendly competition with each other, as a team building event.

Regina has already participated in the nation-wide Commuter Challenge. This promotes active modes of transportation including cycling, transit, and walking.

The Comprehensive Planning Branch, in partnership with Saskatchewan in Motion, have organized and coordinated this event in Regina for the past two years with success, indicating that there is an interest by the public to seriously begin shifting the car-oriented culture towards alternative modes of transportation.

Rationale: The Comprehensive Planning Branch has conducted an online survey of people’s modes of transportation to work, and results indicated that there is a favouring towards cycling to work. The surveys indicated the following needs and concerns: •

The cycling network plan is in need of updating and individual neighbourhoods such as the Cathedral area are being surveyed for input on appropriate cycling routes. Such input is valuable, but may miss the broader context a cycling network should provide as a preferred mode of travel.

•

Although all roadways are, in effect, available for cycling, many people do not have the skill or comfort level to cycle on every roadway.

Specific roadways within Downtown need to be designated as part of the cycling network with cycling facilities designed and implemented for safety.

•

Increased bicycle parking should be provided Downtown. Many cities have minimum bicycle parking standards they promote through their bylaws. It is clear there is a latent demand for cycling. Respondents to cycling surveys often cite inadequate trip-end facilities (showers, parking) or even just lack of adequate cycling facilities as reasons for not cycling to work.

Section 7.6: Transportation Action Plans

241

REGINA downtown plan

1

Action

Establish a bike to work week.

Time Frame Near Term

Considerations:

Responsibility

Comprehensive Planning

Shifting a car-oriented culture to a cycling or walking culture is by no means a quick process and must occur in a phased manner to allow the public to learn that alternative modes are also viable as a means of transport. What a Bike to Work Week can do, which the Commuter Challenge cannot, is quickly generate huge momentum towards the goals of the Commuter Challenge in reducing the number of cars on the streets. By focusing on cycling alone, this shift would begin to happen in a phased manner as well as place Regina on the international map of this global movement.

Establishing a Bike to Work Week involves minimal administration and organization. Promotion, registration, and selection of dates, as well as presenting any follow up promotion of the event might require three or four months of organization as participants are expected to self-organize their participation after registering online. Over time, the momentum generated through Bike to Work Week should build towards a full cycling awareness campaign.

2

Provide a high level of access to Downtown for commuter cyclists.

Near Term

Considerations:

Comprehensive Planning

Commuter cyclists prefer direct A to B routes with minimal stops or delays. In most cases this means providing a separate on-road cycling lane (1.5m wide with an additional offset from traffic on high volume roads). Appropriate overhead signing and paint markings help designate the bicycle lane. Lorne Street and Smith Street are good examples of this. A higher profile can also be added by the use of bike boxes at intersections (i.e. a staging area at intersections where bicycles are given priority) and cyclist-actuated signals at key locations (e.g. Ottawa uses 3 dots on the road where a waiting bike will trigger the traffic signal). Improving cycling conditions in the underpasses as Broad and Albert need special consideration. Refer to Section 4.3.9.

3

Update the cycling network plan and integrate it into the city-wide trans- Near Term portation plan.

Considerations:

Comprehensive Planning

The cycling network needs to be a series of interconnected facilities that access key employment, residential, institutional and educational facilities on a city-wide basis. When complete, the updated cycling network plan should connect work, home, shopping, school, and institutional destinations in a comprehensive manner.

242

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Action Plans

7

4

Promote and develop identifiable roadways for cycling.

Near Term

Considerations:

Comprehensive Planning

North-south cycling lanes are currently provided by the one-way cycling couplet of Lorne Street and Smith Street.

These north-south lanes provide access to nearby destinations such as City Hall and Victoria Park. With the conversion of east-west roadways to two-way travel in Downtown, cycling lanes should be considered on 12th Avenue and 15th Avenue. These are long, continuous streets that are used by surrounding neighbourhoods to access the heart of Downtown (Victoria Park) and the transitional area immediately south.

5

Provide readily available secure bike parking, lockers, and shower facilities

Considerations:

Medium Term

Comprehensive Planning

Through awareness, encouragement and definition of a proper cycling network, companies should consider adding showers and lockers as part of their employee recruitment and retention programs. The City may want to work with companies that provide free parking stands. The stands are maintained by companies in exchange for allowing advertising tab signs on the bike rack. In addition, the City should require that all new major developments include bike facilities, or encourage it through the Bonusing Framework.

Bike to Work Week Vancouver 2008 (Photo credit: Rob on flickr.com)

Section 7.6: Transportation Action Plans

243

REGINA downtown plan

T.5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Prioritize and enable the efficient operation of public transit. [Near Term] Background/Rationale:

Reduced and more reliable transit times will be beneficial and will encourage more people to use this mode to visit, shop and work Downtown. Increased customer convenience, safety and comfort and transit operational efficiency can be gained by identifying an off-street bus-to-bus customer transfer or transit exchange location. The Downtown transit hub would be a well-defined and centrally located

244

Action

place for customers to catch the bus and transfers between buses. The aspect of defining the place is best addressed through the full transit review once route recommendations are better known.

This Action Plan is being addressed through a city-wide transit service review that was recently initiated through Regina Transit. The study will consider such aspects as route length and frequencies, hours and coverage of service, fleet size and type, transit priority measures, express routes, etc. as potential methods to influence transit times.

Time Frame

1

Improve total transit times to Downtown and through Downtown, con- Near Term necting key sectors of the city (e.g. Post-secondary schools, large shopping/ commercial areas, and key city facilities such as hospitals and tourist sites).

2

Study the feasibility of a central location for an off-street bus-to-bus trans- Near Term fer location in the short term and a transit exchange in Downtown in the medium to longer term.

3

Consider locating a transit hub Downtown.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Near Term

Responsibility

City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services City Centre Branch, Community and Protective Services

Action Plans

T.6 – Minimize, mitigate and control surface parking Downtown.

[Immediately] Background/Rationale A large part of creating an urbanized and sustainable downtown is by discouraging the use of space/land for surface parking. Surface parking is an incredibly inefficient use of space, from a holistic city building and development perspective. It also detracts from the pedestrian experience, attracting vehicle activity into Downtown spaces which should be safe and quiet, creating undesirable and unattractive walking conditions at street-level, and creating ‘gaps’ within the urban fabric.

the demand for parking Downtown was sustained.

Surface parking became a more economically viable option for Downtown land owners in the near to long term.

In moving forward, no new surface parking should be allowed. A full review of parking in Downtown is required. This will provide the City with the information necessary to implement proactive parking management initiatives and to strategically address any future parking issues. A key objective of the study should be to identify strategies for the City to eliminate surface parking over time, while disallowing the creation of addition surface parking to the existing stock.

The proliferation of surface parking Downtown has been the result of decreasing demand for Downtown as a residential neighbourhood or entertainment district over time, as development as recently moved outwards. As the employment basis was maintained,

1

Action

Conduct a comprehensive parking study in Downtown.

Time Frame Immediately

Responsibility City Centre Branch

Key items to be covered in the study include: • Gather a full inventory of public and private supply, demand, parking accumulation, duration of stay, parking pricing, etc.

• Improve marketing, operation and directional signing to parking facilities.

• A detailed review of bylaws regulating Downtown parking.

• Identify parking needs for the delivery of goods to businesses.

• Determine the optimum balance between public parking and private parking.

• A detailed examination of parking demand management strategies for carpool/ vanpool and incentives for transit users and for employers to provide bicycle facilities.

• Identify opportunities for shared parking.

2

Reserve a portion of parking revenues.

Considerations:

Immediately

City Centre Branch

A portion of the revenue generated from parking meters and enforcement (some cities use a figure of 50 percent) should be reserved to fund parking studies and initiatives, streetscape improvements in Downtown, and transit initiatives. This has been done in the past to fund the Cornwall Centre Parkade.

Section 7.6: Transportation Action Plans

245

REGINA downtown plan

7

3

Amend parking requirements in Zoning Bylaw.

Immediately

Considerations:

City Centre Branch

In addition to the existing minimum parking requirements, implement a maximum allowable parking requirement for new developments. Also, consider implementing mandatory cash in lieu of parking for all developments. The in-lieu money would be reserved to provide additional parking facilities while providing the City with a measure of control over where and when additional parking facilities are provided.

4

In the future, and as demand warrants, consideration should be given to the Immediately viability and value of implementing a parking authority.

Considerations:

City Centre Branch

The long-term goal should be to create a Downtown Parking Authority. In the interim, the City Centre Branch should be responsible for managing parking issues. In particular, the CCB would manage parking strategies, parking policy, revenues, enforcement, money received in-lieu of providing parking, and marketing. A key objective would be to develop cooperative relationships with private companies that operate parking facilities in Downtown and at other major centres such as the University of Regina and the Regina Airport Authority. As well , it will be imperative to encourage shared parking arrangements in Downtown as a means to reducing overall parking spaces available while maintaining access to parking for various user groups.

246

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

8.0

Implementation Strategy

247

REGINA downtown plan

8.1

Implementation Strategy

The Implementation Strategy is a time frame for implementing the actions in the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan. In order to begin implementation, certain cultural, political, and financial foundations should be set. These foundations are inherently related to a set of critical success factors, which identify priority actions. It is important that the stage be properly set for the orchestration of implementing the recommendations in a sequenced manner. In turn, once the implementation process is underway, it must be monitored with measures of success as determined for each implementation action.

8.2

Table of Recommended Capital Improvements

Action Description N6 B2 B5 C2 T3

• • •

Capital Improvements

Through the completion of the additional studies outlined in Section 8.2 further capital projects will be identified. These projects and their budgets will be approved in the context of these specific planning studies. Therefore the following is a partial list of the key capital projects to be undertaken in the near to medium term. In particular, major infrastructure investments will be required to improve the public realm (see Action T3 and T4).

However, in the context of more detailed analyses related to each of the items listed below, wherein specific details are articulated, a specific capital budget should be identified. At the current time, no budget allocation is associated with these capital projects.

Encourage community gardens Downtown as part of new residential projects.

Establish a permanent Farmers Market venue Downtown.

Create a facade renewal and improvement incentives program.

Complete the WOW Project.

Refocus transportation planning on pedestrians.

• T4

Prioritize cycling within transportation planning.

• •

T6

Create cycling lanes Provide bike parking, lockers, and shower facilities Minimize, mitigate and control surface parking Downtown.

• •

248

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Provide wider sidewalks Improve visibility of crosswalks Add corner bulbs to minimize street crossing distances Improve underpass conditions

Improving facades of existing parking structures enhancing landscapingo n existing surface parking lots

Implementation Strategy

8

8.3

Studies and Strategies to Undertake

This Downtown Neighbourhood Plan has identified several studies to undertake that are critical to its implementation.

Table of Recommended Studies to Undertake

Action Description N2 N4 N7 N8 N10 N12 B3

B5 C1 C3 C6 C7 T1

T2

Create a Downtown Housing Strategy Include an urban design review step in the development permitting review process.

Create a Downtown Urban Forest Strategy.

Encourage the location of unique community services and offices of non-profit organizations.

Devise a Downtown Waste Management Strategy.

Conducting a servicing review for storm and wastewater capacity for Downtown.

Conduct annual surveys directed at measuring changes in employment composition, market composition, and vacant properties.

Create a facade renewal and improvement incentives program.

Create a City of Regina Cultural Plan.

The WOW Project programming strategy.

Create a Signage and Wayfinding Strategy.

Create a Patio Management Strategy.

Study the cost and impact of converting all one-way east-west roadways to two-way streets both in Downtown and immediately south of Downtown Create alternative road standards.

Section 8.3: Capital Improvements

249

REGINA downtown plan

250

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Implementation Strategy

8

8.4

Sequencing

Successful implementation will depend on a variety of initiatives unfolding simultaneously. Certain actions are mutually supportive, or only possible when completed in a sequenced manner (as certain contexts and foundations need to be created to successfully complete the next action). The following sequencing chart outlines a recommended course of action for implementation that should result in timely completion of the actions while allowing for some flexibility as the development context evolves.

How to read the chart:

Each of the Actions in Section 7.0 have been categorized as either primary actions or secondary actions and sequenced or non-sequenced.

Primary actions are outlined with a bold/thickly bordered box. These actions are either critical success factors, or key capital projects pivotal to the overall success of the plan. Primary actions will typically require a significant level of attention, resources and commitment from throughout the entire organization.

It is imperative that these are completed successfully, and on time, to gain sufficient headway for the remaining actions.

Secondary actions are outlined with a thinly bordered box. These actions are typically stand-alone actions that act in parallel to primary actions but that may not necessarily involve the entire organization, or are not as critical to the overall success of the plan. These may be supportive of other sequenced or non-sequenced actions and may lead to the generation of further subactions as implementation progresses.

Actions that are sequenced are linked by a bold black bar. Sequenced means that there exists a prior action to be completed successfully for the next action to commence.

The chart on the following pages is designed to be suitable for reproduction and use as a work plan. As implementation progresses, it is possible to slot in new actions or sub-actions as they develop. In this manner, the implementation status of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan can be easily monitored. The chart may also be adapted for more detailed breakdowns of each time frame category, sequence, or action.

Primary Action Secondary Action Sequenced Action

Section 8.4: Sequencing

251

REGINA downtown plan

Sequencing of Action Plans

IMMEDIATE (initiate within 2 years)

NEAR (initiate within 2-5 years)

L.1 Establish a City Centre Branch and Manager

N.1 Secure a residential pilot project Downtown.

N.2 Create a Downtown Housing Strategy.

N.3 Rezone the Downtown as a Direct Control District N.4 Include an urban design review step in the development permitting review process.

N.8 Encourage the location of unique community services and offices of non-profit organizations.

N.5 Reflect Downtown as a Complete Community in City Policy

N.12 Conduct a servicing review for storm and wastewater capacity for Downtown.

N.11 Revise the Winter Maintenance Policy to prioritize the Downtown.

B.4 Foster a symbiotic partnership between businesses and artists.

B.1 Identify ‘clusters’ or ‘blocks’ of uses.

B.3 Conduct annual surveys directed at measuring changes in employment composition, market composition, and vacant properties.

B.2 Establish a permanent public market venue Downtown.

C.5 Establish a University of Regina presence Downtown.

C.1 Create a City of Regina Cultural Plan.

C.7 Create a Patio Management Strategy.

C.2 Complete the WOW Project.

B.5 Create a façade renewal and improvement incentives program.

C.3 The WOW Project Programming Strategy.

C.4 Revise the approach to heritage management.

C.6 Create a signage and wayfinding strategy.

C.8 Civic Heart Revitalization Working Group.

T.1 Study the cost and impact of converting all one-way east-west roadways to two-way streets both in Downtown and immediately south of Downtown.

252

T.2 Create alternative road standards.

T.3 Refocus transportation planning on pedestrians.

T.4 Prioritize cycling within transportation planning.

T.6 Minimize, mitigate and control surface parking Downtown.

T.5 Prioritize and enable the efficient operation of public transit.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Primary Action

MEDIUM (initiate within 5-10 years)

N.9 Co-ordinate existing and developing initiatives for Downtown safety and security.

Secondary Action

Sequenced Action

LONG (initiate within 10 years)

N.10 Devise a Downtown waste management strategy.

N.6 Encourage community gardens Downtown as part of new residential projects.

N.7 Create a Downtown Urban Forest Strategy.

T.2 Create alternative road standards.

T.4 Prioritize cycling within transportation planning.

253

Appendix 1

Urban Design Glossary

REGINA downtown plan

Urban Design Glossary

Above Grade Parking

Bollards

Vehicle parking that is above ground level, usually in a structured facility.

Vertical columns used to physically block or visually guide vehicular traffic in an area.

Adaptability

Building Articulation

The capacity of a building or space to be changed so as to respond to changing social, technological and economic conditions.

Detailing of building mass, location or orientation of fenestration, and design of building elements.

Amenity Aesthetic or other features of a development that increase its marketability or usability to the public.

Atrium A fully enclosed or semi-enclosed rectangular court surrounded by a single building or between buildings that is open air.

Bay A part of a building marked off by vertical elements, such as columns or pilasters.

Back Lot Parking Parking that is contained behind buildings, in the middle of a block, linked yet hidden from the pedestrianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience of a street.

Below Grade Parking Vehicular parking that is below ground level.

Bike Box Delineated areas where cyclists, at a red light, can advance ahead of stopped vehicles while waiting for the light to turn green. Cyclists are therefore more visible to vehicles and are prioritized higher as road users.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Building Typology The general shape, mass, and articulation of a building, categorized by type.

Building Articulation- Base Generally within the first three storeys of a building, a base should be clearly defined and positively contribute to the quality of the pedestrian environment through animation, transparency, articulation, and material quality.

Building Articulation- Middle The body of the building above the base, this should contribute to the physical and visual quality of the overall streetscape.

Building Articulation- Top Generally includes the entire top portion(s) of a building involving the roof and one floor below.

Build Form The shape of developments including buildings, and other structures, not only individually, but as a collective. How buildings relate in terms of height, scale, and character determines the extent to which they will define the public realm.

Build-to-Line The required placement of the front of a building relative to the street right-of-way, to ensure an appropriate street or open space enclosure. The objective of a builtto-line is to maintain a consistent street wall along the edge of a street.

Bump-Outs

Enclosure

Widened sidewalk areas at intersections, often in place of on-street parking, thereby narrowing the pedestrian crossing distance over a right-of-way.

The use of buildings to create a sense of defined space.

Civic Heart An open space that has a concentration of civic uses and destinations.

Compatibility

Gateways Locations where a significant number of people enter and exit Downtown. They occur at a variety of scales, including to Downtown as a whole, to precincts, or to specific streets or open spaces.

The size, form, and character of a building element relative to other elements around it. This may be determined by the size and proportion of windows in a building façade are usually related to one another, the spaces between them, and the scale of surrounding buildings.

Gateway Treatment

Convertible Retail Frontage

Grand Avenues

Residential ground floor units designed so that they can be converted for retail uses, and should be designed to the standards of retail uses (i.e. building code requirements), but be authorized to have non-retail uses within them.

Gateways into the Downtown defined by their generous public realm treatments and mid-rise buildings.

Buildings along these should be a little â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;granderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; than most, in the sense that they will have careful attention to the building quality and articulation.

Corner Treatment

Ground Level Condition

A unique built feature on a corner building that acknowledges its prominence on the street in terms of views and architectural presence. Can be achieved by adding to building articulation with elements such as a turret, or by subtracting from the building volume resulting in conditions such as recessed entries.

The way that a building is experienced at-grade.

Active uses (e.g. retail, public spaces); with an open and public presence (i.e. windows and doors) provide engaging ground level conditions. Blank facades result in inactive ground level conditions.

Datum Lines The horizontal or base line, from which the heights of points are reckoned or measured.

A design feature intended to signify entrance to a distinct area, usually a place where a new character or sense of identity should be recognized. Achieved through details of the built form, or through landscaping and signage.

Height Transition The tapering of building heights as a way of achieving compatibility of built forms and mitigating impacts (views, sunlight etc) of shifts from areas of one character (i.e. low-rise) to another (i.e. high rise).

Density The floorspace of a building, or buildings, in relation to a given area of land.

3

REGINA downtown plan

Heritage Conservation

Massing

Refers both to saving significant buildings, retaining parts or places that are valued for their heritage contribution, and to enhancing the meaning and quality of life in a specific place by maintaining its uniqueness, and supporting the cultural and economic vitality that accompanies areas with strong conservation.

The combined effect of the height, bulk, and silhouette of a building or group of buildings.

Human Scale The impression of a building when seen in relation to its surroundings, or the size and proportion of parts of a building or its details, that relates in a positive way to the visual and physical experience of a pedestrian.

In-Fill Development The development of vacant parcels in urbanized or suburbanized areas, typically bringing the density of the area closer to that allowed by the existing zoning regulations.

Landmark A building or structure that stands out from its background by virtue of height, size or some other aspect of design.

Landmark Frontages Locations which are prominent because of their context, such as adjacency to a public open space or important street, or because of their content, such as heritage resources or public art. These are closely related to gateways.

LEED Certification Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A system of measurement which rates new buildings (or their plans) on their level of energy use and environmental consideration. It is meant to encourage new developments to become more energy efficient and environmentally sensitive.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Mid-Block Connections Linkages between two streets in the middle of larger blocks. They should be designed to have uses other than as mid-block pedestrian links (i.e. laneway or library/gallery galleria).

Mixed Use A mix of uses within a building, or a site, or within a particular area, possibly including employment, residential, commercial, live/work, or retail.

Mixed Use Row House Units attached at sides, generally a single ownership for each unit. Can have ground level commercial uses or in some cases can be purely residential.

Modal Split How the total number of journeys in an area or to a destination is split between different means of transport, such as train, bus, car, walking and cycling.

Multiplex Multiple residential units within a house form building.

Node A place where activity and routes are concentrated, often used synonymously with junction.

Pedestrian Orientation The characteristics of an area where the location and access to buildings, types of uses permitted on the street level, and storefront design are based on the needs of persons on foot.

Permeability

Rhythm

The degree to which an area has a variety of pleasant, convenient and safe routes through it.

The recurrence at regular intervals of design elements that help structure their visual character and definition.

For example, a vertical line dividing buildings every 6 to 12 metres, will create a rhythm for the street that supports a pedestrian scale and intimate character.

Pocket Park Small outdoor areas intended to provide intimate, yet high quality open spaces for an immediate neighborhood or catchment area. Generally are no larger than 1,000 square metres.

Point Tower High Rise High rise buildings with a slender profile tower and small floor plates, typically less than 700m². Often placed in areas adjacent to other tall buildings, for context and transition.

Podium The lower portion of a building that defines the street edge or public realm, typically between 3-6 storeys in height. The podium refers to the overall massing of this portion of the building, and can be considered as the base of a building.

Public/Private Interface The point at which public areas and buildings meet private ones.

Primary Streets Active for all modes of transport, but have less vehicular traffic than do avenues, so they are the most balanced streets downtown. Used to move people within the downtown.

Right-of-Way: (ROW) A strip of land, including the space above and below the surface, that is platted, dedicated, condemned, established by prescription or otherwise legally established for the use of pedestrians, vehicles, or utilities.

Secondary Street Streets used to access destinations within Downtown, rather than to access Downtown itself.

Setback The minimum distance from the property line at which a building must be built.

Slab High Rise Lower tower with big floor plates, typically more than 700m². Require careful location and design due to their longer building mass.

Stacked Row House One or more residential units stacked above one or more residential units.

Step Back A recess of taller elements of a building in order to ensure an appropriate built form presence on the street edge. Usually articulated at the top of the building base.

Street Side Parking (on-street parking) Parking that lines the side of a street, usually parallel or angled.

Street Wall A condition where buildings consistently line or front onto the edge of a street. Best achieved where buildings have consistent setbacks built out to the sidewalk.

5

REGINA downtown plan

Street Wall Elements

Urban Grain

The components that, taken together, give a street wall its unique character, such as recessed entries or bay windows or signage treatments or canopies.

The pattern of the arrangement and size of buildings and uses and their plots in an area, usually along a street. Fine urban grain refers to a pattern of street blocks and building sites that is small and frequent, thereby creating a dynamic and animated urban environment for the pedestrian.

Subtle Night Lighting After dark lighting for a place of business (i.e. retail display windows) that is not necessarily designed to illuminate a pedestrian path directly, but that which illuminates a building feature.

Surface Parking (ground-level parking) Parking which is at ground level.

Transparency The degree of visibility through a building façade.

Transition Occurs between buildings to help create continuity and cohesiveness in a streetscape, with buildings that are beside each other, across the street from each other, or are otherwise part of a building grouping which has design elements that reference one another. Can be articulated through a wide range of design elements (i.e. overall building height, massing, setback, materials etc.)

Third Party Signage A sign that promotes for a business, but is not situated on that businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; property.

Tower Upper portion of a building that is exceptionally high in proportion to the width and length of the base.

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

Urban Structure The shape of Downtown as a whole, including its overall height and density, street wall heights, setbacks/buildto lines, and distinct functional and character areas. It builds on existing and historic development characteristics, and considers linkages and interfaces with the surrounding context.

View Corridors The long, straight streets Downtown and in the surrounding neighborhoods with direct views.

Visual Terminus The end point of a view corridor. Often accentuated through design elements â&#x20AC;&#x201C; public art, adding/subtracting from the building mass, or landscaping.

Walkable A condition of a system of routes which are barrier free, interesting, safe, well-lit, comfortable and inviting to pedestrian travel.

Wayfinding Tools which orient users of an area to ensure the ability to navigate through an area. Tools include signs, graphic communications, spatial markets, streetscape elements, building design, and the street network.

in association with: UMA | Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects |

urbanMetrics