At the Council meeting held April 19, 2022, Council asked Town staff to collaborate with the BIA to engage the public on the conceptual designs proposed for an archway to the Downtown/BIA. and report back to Council by end of May. It is important to Council that Collingwood residents have a say in the design of the project that will be a prominent feature of our downtown for years to come.
Learn more and take the survey
The first conceptual drawing of an entrance archway into the Downtown was discussed with the Downtown Collingwood BIA Board of Management (BIA) in June of 2016 and presented to the General Membership in the 2018 Annual Report. This was identified as a long-term priority based on the studies outlined below:
- Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan (2008)
Identifies the creation of a gateway or entry markers into the District at Hurontario Street, First Street and Huron Street as Objectives and Policies for Townscape Features. - Collingwood Downtown Wayfinding Signage Report (2017)
This Report indicates “the highway that runs through it (the town) is a liability. The vibrant retail area is not visible to someone driving Highway 26. It would be very easy for the traveler to stop at some of the businesses along First Street (a centre for big box and chain restaurants) and think they had seen the town.” The Core Strategies lists a Downtown Gateway at the north and south ends of the commercial area of Hurontario Street - “It is worth designing a celebration or announcement of some type”, adding “this may be an archway or building-mounted sign of some kind, large in size, and bold in appearance.”
The proposed design concept of using both sides of the sign also connect the visitor to the waterfront from the downtown. - Collingwood Tourism Strategy and Action Plan (part of the Economic Development Action Plan)
This report noted that the historic downtown is not easily found by visitors and should be highlighted as “the only downtown core recognized in Canada’s Registrar of Historic Places” and recommended the following Action Item in their report: Continue to work with the BIA to develop downtown gateways.
The archway project has been included in the BIA’s annual report / budget presentation to Council each year since 2019, as well as at the Annual General Meetings of the BIA each year.
$25,000 transferred from Reserve for the project was approved by Council in May 2021.
The BIA received federal grants to cover 100% of the costs with the potential to fund another gateway feature at the south end of the BIA.
Hard copies of the survey are also available at Town Hall, 97 Hurontario Street or you are welcome to send your feedback to clerk@collingwood.ca.
A report will be presented to Council with survey results by the end of May.
For more information, contact:
Sara Almas
Director, Legislative Services/Clerk
Town of Collingwood
705-445-1030 Ext. 3225
salmas@collingwood.ca
Sue Nicholson
General Manager, BIA
T. 705-445-5595
snicholson@collingwooddowntown.com
Christa Carter
Manager, Public Relations & Communications
Town of Collingwood
T. 705-445-1030 Ext. 3274
ccarter@collingwood.ca