Design by Allan Avis Architect.
Bullet News GODERICH – An element of artistic design could be incorporated into construction of public washrooms as part of the rebuild in Goderich’s downtown park, local artist and gallery owner Elizabeth Profit told Goderich Town Council last night.
“We can create something that represents the spirit of our county. We can create buildings that have more than one purpose; that are talked about and a destination,” she said, showing nine photos of creative public washrooms designs, including one from England that is a massive sculpture of Hercules’ head lying on the ground with a door based on the design of 10 Downing Street.
Earlier, Tom Fincher of the BIA presented a proposal for new public washrooms in the Court House Park at a cost of $99,000 to $139,000. The 24-hour accessible washrooms are proposed to be built in the western quadrant of the park, facing the OPP office. The nearly 400-square-foot building would include an accessible unisex washroom, single-toilet men’s room, single-toilet women’s room and a town operated utility room for storage and electrical. The BIA is offering a maximum contribution of $50,000 to help build the washrooms, which would be owned and maintained by the town.
Council approved in principle the public washrooms development and agreed to set up a joint committee of council members, staff and BIA representatives to move the project along. The operating costs are referred to budget.
Profit and co-presenter Dean Whelan represent The Goderich Public Art Project, a group of local people who are interested in developing more public art in Goderich. They want the redesign of the Court House Park to include local artists’ work in some of the buildings or forms.
The GPAP recently won $1,000 in an on-line contest run by the United Communities Credit Union. It has also received commitments of funds to build a prototype for any building it intends to incorporate art into. Council supported its plan.
Existing public art includes the Dutch fountain outside the tourist office, the cenotaph in the Court House Park, the memorial tree at Lions Harbour Park and tree sculptures throughout the town.
These ideas for public washrooms were discussed at the Goderich Rebuild Oversight Steering Committee meeting Oct. 16.
ROSCO MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Just over a dozen members of the public joined committee members as the committee continued its discussion on Phase One of the 
Rebuild Project, according to a press release issued on behalf of the committee.
Phase One, as explained by chair John Grace deals only with Courthouse Park. Additional phasing and what those phases will include has not yet been decided by council.
It is anticipated that ROSCO, as part of its work will make recommendations to council closer to budget time as to the specifics of the next phase(s) of the downtown rebuild.
Grace anticipates an announcement regarding a federal grant application, which will help council move ahead with financial confidence and to justify the further phased redevelopment of the downtown core.
From the public
There were 14 members of the public at the meeting. Many raised concerns, offered ideas etc.
Issues raised were as follows:
- lack of parking and the need for a parking plan;
- businesses happy that those who work in the courthouse are parking off The Square. Would like to see that continue;
- a reminder that the public most wants the Courthouse Park to be greenspace and a place for families to just be involved in an activity-enhance spot;
- some business owners came on behalf of their customers to share with the committee the feedback they’ve been getting from their patrons;
- a reminder not to forget the heritage considerations and aspects as we move to designs;
- question re: when business owners will be able to see the plans and scale models of both Courthouse Park and the rest of the rebuild (Phase Two);
- concern raised about local purchasing of trees…or not; and
- a reminder of the number of private business investments being undertaken to help redevelop the downtown core.
Update since last ROSCO meeting
Grace provided a construction and trees update:
- Water mains and sewers installed;
- Sidewalks gone;
Photo courtesy of Martin Quinn.
- Electrical outlets installed;
- New curb being poured this week (that is the reason for a increased narrowing of the roadway – to protect that cement when it is poured);
- New street lights have arrived; and
- Trees on schedule – planting mid to late November or early December. It’s all weather dependent. Chip Wilson, Martin Quinn and Michael Ormston-Holloway, arborist from The Planning Partnership, hand-picked large trees last week. More to follow in the weeks ahead.
Bob Davis re: west quadrant gazebo;
- Want something unique and distinctive;
- Protective covering and possible spot for display panels;
- -Material, cost, size and shape of the structure was discussed;
- Prefer to keep the artisans who design and construct the structure local; and
- Suggested approaching Jim Wallace to do drawings and create a design
Tom Jasper and Larraine Baechler re: water feature:
- A model was considered and illustrated for a water feature as opposed to a traditional fountain. An illustration in the form of a one-page sheet was distributed;
- Preference for something natural like a rockscape with water flowing over rocks, or a work of art?;
- The rock and water feature looks like ice sculpture when frozen. Makes it a four-season feature;
- Discussion around maintenance, safety, size and exact location;
- Some sense of urgency on this decision so engineers can accommodate infrastructure for what’s wanted; and
- A reminder that the over-arching vision for the Courthouse Square is to have four distinct and different quadrants that do not necessarily have to tie in together.
Chris Spaleta re: stage/bandstand structure:
- Using the footprint from the old gazebo; and
- Covering of stage area discussed. Nothing suitable yet, but more researching for something unique & durable that adds overhead protection from the elements.
The next scheduled ROSCO meeting will be on Wednesday Nov. 7 in the Emergency Planning Room, at Town Hall at 7 p.m. These are public meetings to which any and all are welcome to attend.
For more information on ROSCO and the Goderich Rebuild, please contact committee chair John Grace at [email protected] or call 524-0779.
