A plaza in uptown New West is getting improvements to make it more pleasing to the public.
The City of New Westminster is partnering with Telus on improvements to the Telus Plaza at 611 Sixth St. A staff report states that the plaza will undergo changes aimed at transforming it from “an underutilized privately owned space” into a space that’s more usable an beneficial to area residents, businesses and special events on Sixth Street.
Once the city completes a licensing agreement with Telus, work will get underway to install seating and planting and to explore the potential for improved lighting. Telus will contribute $21,650, while the city will provide in-kind contributions of the same amount for administration, communications, design/project management and construction costs.
The plaza is located in front of the Telus building on Sixth Street and next to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 2.
Coun. Mary Trentadue said the city doesn’t want to promote smoking areas, but said it’s hard to deny it’s something that takes place in that space. She wants the city to be sensitive to the issue, as she doesn’t want a “turf war” to develop.
“I suspect people may continue to smoke there,” she said.
Erika Mashig, the city’s parks and open space planner, said staff has discussed the plan with Legion officials, who indicated this is a behaviour they are hoping to discourage and hoped this may help promote a healthier lifestyle. By offering a more diverse use of the space and more comfortable seating, she said it’s hoped the plan would encourage people to smoke less.
“Certainly, if we are asking people not to smoke in that space any longer, it will move to another location. It would not be able to happen right out in front of the Legion because we do have a bylaw -you have to be a certain distance from the front door,” Mashig said. “From our conversations, there wasn’t a concern where the smoking was going to go, but it was acknowledged it would likely move to another location.”
Mashig said Legion officials were “very supportive” of upgrades to this public space on Sixth Street.
“I don’t think the intent is to move people out – it’s to take a public space that is not very well used and is not very people-friendly in the neighbourhood and make it a much more attractive place for the community to be able to gather,” said Mayor Jonathan Cote. “I think it should be seen as a positive and welcoming place for everyone in the city to be able to use. I’m looking forward to us moving forward on the partnership on this space.”
