A downtown beautification program is generating much more interest this year after seeing meagre participation last year.
The City of St. Albert rolled out a grant program last July that pays downtown businesses half the cost of esthetic improvements like perpendicular signs, flower boxes and benches. The program expanded this year to include bike racks.
First announced in July of last year, the program generated only five participants. This year there have been orders for 72 barrels or hanging baskets and two bike racks, said Joan Barber, St. Albert’s tourism development co-ordinator.
“We still would really like to get additional buy-in for the perpendicular signs,” she said.
She expects the downtown to explode in colour when the plants grow and bloom.
“I think if you wait about three weeks … it’s going to look amazing,” she said.
La Crema CaffĂ© on St. Thomas Street is the program’s heaviest subscriber. Owner Robert Logue spent more than $5,000 creating what he called a European outdoor garden around his patio area, with umbrellas, an arbour and potted trees and plants.
Logue will qualify for the maximum $2,500 grant.
“I was very excited when Robert first shared his plans with me. To see it actually come to fruition is very exciting,” Barber said.
Logue said his improvements are generating lots of compliments and business.
“I know that patios are a big plus in the restaurant business but I wanted to go full bore and make a real attractive one,” he said. “Either you do it right or not at all.”
Mayor Nolan Crouse thinks more businesses will model what La Crema CaffĂ© has done. While he sees progress downtown, he’s not satisfied yet.
“I still see streets that are unswept. I still see dandelions growing where dandelions shouldn’t be growing,” he said. “On balance I see progress, but I don’t think we’ve stepped up enough yet.”
“It’s going to take two or three years of ongoing reinforcement,” he added.
The beautification program applies to businesses falling within the downtown as defined by the downtown area redevelopment plan. Just $8,000 of the original $70,000 was spent in the first year. The program will continue until the remaining money is gone, Barber said.
Joe Becigneul, who chairs the chamber of commerce’s committee for the Perron District (downtown), feels the plant pots really add to the area.
“I am satisfied compared to where it was last year. As we move forward I think you’ll just continue to see it grow,” he said.
The downtown beautification program is the city’s response to recommendations made by tourism development consultant Roger Brooks, who visited St. Albert in 2008 and 2009.
