North Block Redevelopment Strategy
Update: On Aug. 4, 2009, a report on the North Block District Community and Business Enhancement Opportunities [PDF: 7.4MB] was approved by Council. The North Block District Community & Business Enhancement Opportunities Final Recommendations Report, available at right is referenced in the Report to Council.
This report articulates a Concept Plan and a series of development recommendations for the North Block in Downtown Kingston. The Concept Plan identifies the best and highest use of the City of Kingston owned properties in the context of achieving a series of other important municipal objectives and public benefits. This report also considers development opportunities for privately owned properties, considers sustainable practices and serves as a guide to better understand development opportunities that will maximize the public benefits.
It is anticipated that the City and Council will use this report as a guideline to consider the appropriate disposition of City-owned properties and to make recommendations and to implement any necessary changes
At a two-day public workshop in June of 2008, stakeholders in the North Block area provided input for what consultants later developed as five design-element concepts for the area. A recommended concept was put forward early in 2009.
Next Steps
North Block
City staff is now reviewing parking strategies and traffic impact, hydro and other servicing strategies, parkland dedication strategies, non profit housing requirements as well as heritage, archaeology and site remediation requirements.
A schedule has been developed for the complete process and the team is developing an Request for Proposal (RFP) for the consulting services required to develop the required reports and studies needed to be included in the RFP to the potential developers. The team will go to Council in February or March 2012 for approval to proceed with consulting services.
Once the various studies and reports have been reviewed and approved by staff and council the two stage RFP will be issued to potential developers.
