Public Engagement Process Launched for Proposed Parish Lane Development

Media Release
For Immediate Release

HAPPY CITY ST. JOHN’S AND HERITAGE NL LAUNCH PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR PROPOSED PARISH LANE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

St. John’s, NL, December 23, 2019: Happy City St. John’s and Heritage NL are collaborating on a community engagement process to generate feedback on the proposed Parish Lane residential development by soliciting opinions from the residents of St. John’s.

The engagement process will comprise three parts: 1) An online survey to which all interested residents of the City are asked to respond; 2) A focus group session with key stakeholders to explore various options for strengthening the proposal and; 3) A design charette in which participants will examine the proposal. The goal is to have this process wrapped up by the end of January 2020.

“Public engagement processes at an early stage in the planning of new downtown developments can ensure that proposals are in line with community values and that they maintain the special character of the historic core” said Jerry Dick, Executive Director of Heritage NL. “Good public participation ensures a higher level of public acceptance for development in the City which is good for everyone, including the developer.”

Jen Crowe, Chair of Happy City, adds: “community-informed development can enhance heritage areas and the downtown generally by contributing to smart density in core areas of our city, and by giving new life to older buildings and abandoned sites. We are hoping that this public engagement process for the Parish Lane proposal will highlight the need for public engagement and inform a model for future development projects in our city’s historic and vibrant neighbourhoods.”

Residents are invited to have their say on this development by visiting www.happycity.ca and completing a short survey by Friday, Jan. 10.

Happy City St. John’s is a non-profit organization that informs, encourages, and facilitates public dialogue around civic issues in the city of St. John’s.

Heritage NL, is a provincial crown agency with a mandate to support the protection and safeguarding of the province’s built heritage and it’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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For more information or to schedule interviews, contact:

Jen Crowe, Chair, Happy City St. John’s
chair@happycity.ca
709-764-6263

Jerry Dick, Executive Director, Heritage NL
jerry@heritagenl.ca
709-739-1892, ext. 1