NCC Patterson Creek Bistro updated

The NCC is finalizing the report in both official languages and hopes to distribute it within the next few days. We were told that they received approximately 500 responses, and about 60% were supportive of the project. The report will include the NCC’s responses to the comments it received as well as next steps. When the report lands in the GCA inbox, I will share it with you.

The NCC showed us a picture of the current design during the meeting. Some of the work is out for tender so we can’t share the details at this point. We can say, though, that some of the construction will address accessibility and life cycle issues with the current asphalt. Overall, the amount of asphalt at the site will be reduced; some of what is currently there will be replaced with stone dust surfacing. There will be no new lights at the site.

They are planning to begin construction in late May or early June. The bistro would open on Canada Day. They will be in touch if these timelines change. All of this is, of course, dependent on public health restrictions. The NCC will follow whatever restrictions are in place at the time.

The NCC will use the same process for all three bistro sites, and will work with the community associations. We emphasized the importance of finding some way to include traffic in their evaluation, even though it is the responsibility of the city. In general, there will be ongoing evaluation through the operation of the bistro (including daily checklists by operators and a weekly review/evaluation by NCC staff). There will also be comment cards at the bistro and the opportunity to comment online. I asked that they let me know where to direct comments for those that arrive in our GCA inbox. We discussed the involvement of community associations in the evaluation, and are considering a mid-summer site visit with NCC staff and the possibility of the GCA doing its own survey and providing those results to the NCC to be sure to hear from those who don’t go to the bistro (and therefore don’t have access to the comment cards).

Late May / early June – construction begins

July 1 – bistro opens

mid-August – possible midpoint site visit with GCA and NCC

Oct 15 – bistro closes for the season; tables, etc. removed; pavilion goes back to its function as the rink shack; stone dust surface remains

November-December – NCC internal review