Not just a stadium but a redevelopment of downtown Regina: Mayor Pat Fiacco

REGINA -- Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco wants "people to think bigger than just a stadium" when looking at report findings released Monday about the feasibility of a multipurpose entertainment facility.

"This is about a whole redevelopment of our inner city," he told reporters after the findings were released. They indicate building a stadium on the CP Rail site just south of Dewdney Avenue is technically feasible, but leave it to political leaders to determine how the facility would be built and operated.

The report's urban design elements were produced by Office for Urbanism, the Toronto-based consultant that developed the city's downtown plan released last year.

The new document calls for Dewdney Avenue to be changed to focus on pedestrians instead of automobiles, and lined with trees, shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. New high-quality public spaces would be developed around the entertainment facility. The area would link to the downtown via three new pedestrian connections, including one bridge that could become a destination itself.

The intention is that the area would be busy every day, not just event days. The report notes opportunities for mixed residential and commercial development near the facility.

Parking is targeted to existing facilities and side streets. The report indicates it would cost $9 million for underground parking at the stadium, although such parking is not included in the $386-million estimate base price.

"This has so much spin-off for other redevelopment," Fiacco said, noting the site on which Mosaic Stadium currently sits presents an opportunity, too.

Other cities have put stadiums at the outskirts, which increases urban sprawl and takes away from the vitality of the inner city, he noted, adding the report's ideas put Regina on another path.

"The big opportunity here is about creating an urban fabric that weaves together all that good stuff that's happening in the Warehouse District with all the good stuff that's happening in the downtown," said Jennifer Keesmaat of Office for Urbanism, noting, "all of sudden, it will be a seven-minute walk from Bushwakker's to O'Hanlon's."

She noted creating a "really urban" environment in the centre of the city is important to keeping young residents. A entertainment-facility-related redevelopment would "fix a gap" that exists, she added.

Keesmaat said the chance "to leverage (stadium) investment to meet a whole series of other city-building objectives" is rare, noting not doing so would be an "enormous missed opportunity."

Michael Huber of the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District said "the economic spin-off that could happen coming out of this is a big deal."

David Froh of the Regina Warehouse Business Improvement District board said his group is "cautiously optimistic," noting it is positive the report addressed concerns like respect for built history.

Larry Hiles of the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission said "it certainly whets the appetite about what the potential of it is."

Huber, Froh and Hiles all noted a need for more details around financing for the project. Hiles said that is the "fundamental" question.

Mark Allan of Evraz Place noted the report speaks to potential synergies between a new stadium and other facilities.

"The key to success of both entities is making sure we're complementary, rather than competing," he said.

Former mayoral candidate Jim Elliott said he was hoping for more details on how the project would be paid for. He noted someone has to take the lead.

Fiacco pointed to the connection between spending and revitalization.

"People want us to focus on the inner city, which we are. But on the other hand, they don't want us to, by not spending money. We can't do one without the other."

He also reacted, in terms of inner city renewal, to a noncommittal response from the federal government.

"There's no question the federal government has contributed to these urban revitalization projects throughout the country and we would hope that they wouldn't turn their backs on Regina."

© 2010 Regina Leader-Post