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City Council Endorses Updated Downtown Master Plan

During last night’s City Council meeting, Council endorsed the updates to the City’s Downtown Master Plan (DMP), which will guide future planning, investment and revitalization efforts in the downtown core. These updates come following the completion of several long-term projects identified in the 2012 version of the Downtown Master Plan, including Place des Arts and the McEwen School of Architecture.

The updated DMP brings a new vision statement that serves as the guiding principle for the plan asserting that “Downtown Sudbury is the vibrant heartbeat of northern Ontario with a welcoming spirit, bustling economy and interconnected urban environment”.

In addition to this new vision statement, the City has also identified a fourth strategic objective, “Livability and Well-being”. This new objective reflects the demand felt throughout the community to establish a safer and more welcoming downtown for residents and visitors.

“This updated Downtown Master Plan reflects what we heard from residents, businesses and community partners about building a more welcoming and vibrant downtown,” said Mayor Paul Lefebvre. “With the Transformation Project underway and excitement building across the core, having our updated masterplan in place is an important step towards creating a downtown that brings people together.”

The DMP includes several ongoing projects, including the Event Centre and Cultural Hub, which are cornerstones of the Transformation Project, as well as shorter-term initiatives such as Phase 2 of the Elgin Greenway and the revitalization of Memorial Park. The updated Downtown Master Plan also lays the groundwork for a future Expression of Interest process for the redevelopment of City-owned lands surrounding the Event Centre. A new Parking Strategy was completed as part of this update as well, which considers the short, medium and long-term impacts of the Transformation Project on downtown parking. Together, these initiatives are supporting the revitalization of our downtown, enabling us to continue to grow as a thriving and inviting city with a robust local economy.

“Downtown Sudbury is building significant momentum. The investments underway mark a true watershed moment for our community, making this the ideal time to establish a renewed vision and plan for the future of our downtown,” added Kris Longston, General Manager of Planning and Growth.

As directed by council, staff will return later this year with a 10-year implementation plan aligned with the updated DMP strategic objectives as part of the 2027 budget process.

Details on the updated Downtown Master Plan are available online: www.greatersudbury.ca/downtown-master-plan