The first proposal was to continue with the Main Street location used by the city last summer.
A report from Stephanie Chevalier, the city’s economic development coordinator was a matter of discussion during Monday evening’s council members standing committee meeting.
In her report, she outlined two proposed locations for the 2024 town square project in Whitehorse.The first proposal was to continue with the Main Street location used by the city last summer. Even though this option received very little support from adjacent businesses and market vendors during the engagement process in December 2023.
Chevalier said while a major artwork could be created on the street again to beautify the area like the previous year, the Main Street location will promote business participation and will reduce downtown parking spaces.
"Businesses on adjacent streets would still have the option to set up pop-up patios regulated by the Lease, Encroachment and Property Use Policy. As most activities would take place on the riverfront and wharf, little to no parking spaces would be affected by the town square in this location."
This will require significant work for municipal engineering and operations crews to close the area and review its traffic management plan, and would include solutions to compensate the loss of the traffic light between Main Street and Second Avenue, which generated traffic flow disruption last year, Chevalier said.
Moving on to the second proposed location, Chevalier proposed the riverfront, primarily located between the Yukon River and Front Street, from the Roundhouse building in the north to The Old Fire Hall building in the south.
According to Chevalier, this location was the preferred location among stakeholders participating in December 2023’s engagement process and is considered as the second-best option by residents, and the best option by businesses in the exit survey.This choice would require less work from municipal departments.
In the meeting, council member Michelle Friesen asked to know if this is to be a reconciliation project and further emphasized the importance of engaging the local First Nations governments on the issue, especially the riverfront locations, which is very important to the culture of the Indigenous peoples. She noted the need for the city to be mindful of what date it chooses to open the market, as June 21 is National Indigenous People’s Day.
In her response, Chevalier said she’s in regular consultation with the local First Nations.
In 2023, the Main Street Town Square was a pedestrian-oriented project in the heart of downtown Whitehorse. A portion of Main Street, between Front Street and Second Avenue was closed to non-emergency vehicle traffic from June 23 to September 5, 2023 to create a vibrant hub for people to eat, drink, socialize and shop.
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