Plans unveiled for future public square in Frontenac – La Tribune

The city presented these plans during the public plenary session of the Nations District Council on Tuesday evening. This public space was mentioned in budget studies last Friday, but the plans have not been publicly announced.

So two versions were presented to elected officials on Tuesday, the first version of the project and the new preferred version, which includes more green space. The cost of this second version is estimated to be just over $820,000, which is $200,000 less than the first project presented.

In essence, the two proposals are similar, except for the removal of certain concrete infrastructure in favor of embankments and trees in the second version, city planning project manager Benoît Lapointe and the head of the department told Sherbrooke Territorial elected officials André Corriveau.

Currently only the image plans of the first version are available. So in the picture below we can clearly distinguish the three different levels of the public square. Certain elements, such as the stands surrounding the agora, cannot be found in the second version and have instead been replaced by green spaces.

(Provided)

The path, which connects Wellington Nord and Grandes-Fourches Nord streets, will be accessible on foot or by bike. A universal accessibility system is also proposed so that people with reduced mobility can also access the public square.

The next shot shows the agora room. This is another image from the first version. We must therefore keep in mind that certain stands all around are not offered in the second version.

(Provided)

Finally, the next shot, still from the first version, reveals the perspective that a person will have entering the public square via Wellington Street North, i.e. through the “multi-purpose room” dedicated to the shows. The Grandes Fourches Bridge and the rivers it spans can be clearly seen.

(Provided)

Enthusiastic reception

The next step for this project, recalls André Corriveau, is to obtain the requested budget for the year 2024, which will be used to develop plans and specifications for the site. The requested amount is $100,000.

Elected officials will decide later this fall on the amounts to be set aside for this project in the five-year capital program that must be passed.

Nevertheless, despite a few questions, the city councilors present at the public plenary meeting of the Nations District were generally enthusiastic about the project.

“I think the prices are reasonable. I find that very reasonable. […] I like what I see, but I really liked the stands overlooking the river,” said district president and university advisor Paul Gingues, who wondered if planted stands like those around the Lake of Nations would be suitable for this public space could be considered.

Paul Gingues estimated that this was the first time the city had “attacked” a bank in the good sense of the word to allow citizens to reclaim it. (Simon Rancourt/Archives La Tribune)

For her part, Carrefour consultant Fernanda Luz welcomed the “good news” of reducing the project cost to $823,000. She expressed the wish to give visual art a more important place in a later phase of the site’s development.

For his part, golf consultant Marc Denault noted that “significant efforts” were made to reduce the amount of concrete between the first and second versions of the project. He asked the officials present how much it would cost annually to maintain the assets of this public square, a question that was not answered.

Lac-des-Nations and Ascot city councilors Raïs Kibonge and Geneviève La Roche also welcomed the plans. The latter mentioned that the view of the river from this location was great.

A malaise called Place des Moulins

The elected officials took advantage of the presentation of the plans for the public square on Rue Frontenac to address the situation of another public square adjacent to their property: Place des Moulins.

Place des Moulins is the square at the end of Wellington Street North, at the intersection with Frontenac Street. Seen here in the middle right of the picture. (Maxime Picard/Archives La Tribune)

“I like that there is more green [dans le deuxième projet de la place Frontenac], but I still wonder if that’s enough because right next door is the Place des Moulins. We know that this place is a concrete desert and a multi-purpose space that is currently underused,” argued Ms. La Roche.

With that in mind, she thought aloud and wondered if another one of those “multi-purpose rooms” like those proposed in Place Frontenac was relevant.

“When we look at Place des Moulins, we must understand that this area needs love,” added Marc Denault.

He also said he hoped the appeal of the new public square would bring some more traffic to the Place des Moulins.