The easiest decision council will ever make….
Your chamber works hard to deliver effective leadership all year long and recent weeks have been no exception.
Last week your chamber announced its support for Market Square as the preferred site for the School of Architecture. Laurentian University’s $1 million offer to purchase the Market Square site and an additional $2 million for the relocation/accommodation of the vendors to a new home was the tipping point that allowed the chamber’s board of directors to support the win/win/win deal.
It’s a win for the market to re-establish itself in a location that meets the needs of the vendors and perhaps even affords them an opportunity to run their show, their way. It’s a win for the university to have its preferred site supported by so many community leaders and groups and permits the site development and construction to get underway without delay. And, most importantly, it’s a huge win for the community to have a new school of architecture located in the downtown where it will have the greatest impact. At full operation the school will host 400 creative, inspired, eager students and 40 faculty and staff, who will study, work, live, purchase, and play in our downtown, helping to make it a more vibrant, safe and dynamic gathering place. All that remains is a decision by city council.
Recent media reports and social media excerpts have called into question Council’s leadership and whether or not there is the political will to support Laurentian’s offer. The decision, this week, will be a test of that leadership for what some are saying is the most creative and important development project in this city since Science North. Some will recall that the creation of Science North wasn’t without its controversy as well. Here’s hoping Council makes the right decision.
Until next time, all the best.
Debbi
