 REVEALING THE NEXT WAVE: The combined efforts of PLANT Architect Inc., Shore Tilbe Irwin & Partners, Peter Lindsay Schaudt Landscape Architecture, Inc. and Adrian Blackwell.
The proposed project includes $17.8 million coming from private sector sponsorship.
“To me managing public spaces is an important part of city building,” said Mayor David Miller to a gathering of 70 people at the Innovative Approaches to Managing Public Places on Feb. 26. “Nathan Phillips Square is a premium public gathering place where more than 175 events are held in the square annually attracting 1.5 million visitors.
“We must properly govern, program and fund public spaces.”
It is a priority for the mayor that Nathan Phillips Square stay a communal spot, he said a day after the forum.
“I think you have to start from the first principles that public places have to remain public,” he said. “They have to be publicly-owned and completely … accessible.”
He drew a contrast with shopping malls that some consider public yet people can be charged with trespassing for protesting on mall property.
“Nathan Phillips Square is the most important public place in the city where people come to protest and have fun,” he said. “We have to make sure that spirit is honoured.”
A design for the new facelift for the 43-year-old landmark was chosen last year. The first visible changes will be noticeable this fall.
Dan Biederman, a guest speaker at Innovative Approaches, spoke about his experience on the revitalization of Bryant Park in New York City and other American projects.
He spoke of many ways to attract people including, permanent table and chairs, free theatre, cafes, restaurants and shops on the perimetre of the square.
He also stressed the importance of corporate sponsorship to keep events free and lower rent charged to businesses using the square, saving more for improvements. In order to ensure people feel safe using the space, security is a must, Biederman added.
“We eliminated crime in Bryant Park by flooding it with people and having security police the park,” he said, adding if people — especially women — don’t feel safe, they won’t use public spaces.
After his speech, Biederman told the Town Crier there are important steps city hall should employ when partnering with the private sector to manage or fund public places.
“In the documents that turn over an asset partially or fully to private interests the city can put restrictions on private action,” he said. “Second thing is to have a long public debate so people feel they have been heard.”
“The other thing is to put public sector members on the board.”
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