GUYSBOROUGH — An atmosphere of cheerful industry permeated the Chedabucto Lifestyle Complex on Sept. 17 as a higher-than-expected number of residents gathered to participate in the first open house of the Shiretown/waterfront revitalization project.
More forum than meeting, the two-hour session hosted by Dartmouth-based urban planning consultant Fathom Studio – jointly selected in July by the Guysborough District Business Partnership (GDBP) and the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) to manage the project – heard from approximately 75 attendees dispersed around 12 tables.
“The session saw a strong turnout and both Fathom and I were thrilled with the quality of feedback,” GDBP Executive Director Ashley Cunningham Avery told The Journal in an email last week. “Each group discussed the future of the Shiretown area and waterfront, using maps, markers and sticky notes to share their ideas.”
The open house – considered a key part of the process to reimagine the space stretching from Guysborough Memorial Hospital to the Chedabucto Shopping Centre – was convened to help Fathom identify key priorities and goals in areas including: economic development; infrastructure improvements; historical and cultural preservation and enhancements; active transportation; and gathering spaces.
Avery noted that spokespeople from each table emphasized the need for improved gateway and trail signage, boat tours, greater representation of cultural groups and the relocation of civic assets – such as the sewage treatment plant – from prime waterfront property.
“Along with the continuation of sidewalks and the waterfront trail,” she added, “[participants] highlighted common themes, including the demand for space for additional small businesses to open, and for rental businesses for kayaks and e-bikes... [as well as] more accommodations and restaurants.”
Paul Long, MODG District 1 councillor and chair of the Guysborough Waterfront Development Society, told The Journal that having more things for people to do and more places for them to go is “a huge thing” for the downtown area.
“You get anybody anywhere once, but will they come back? Nova Scotia is a beautiful place wherever you go. But, how do we engage people to get them to want to stay here? If we don’t have things for them to do – the restaurants, the entertainment, whatever it might be – then other larger communities, like Antigonish or New Glasgow, will.”
Opening more restaurants, agreed downtown Guysborough resident and meeting participant Bill Innis, is a key. “I think that topped the list for everyone,” he told The Journal in an interview. “People are impressed with what’s going on at the waterfront and the things that are happening there, but they’re also very focused on what we need and want to build on it.”
Innis noted that Fathom handled the meeting professionally. “The purpose was to hear from us, because we are local residents, and what we feel needs to be concentrated on in order to move the community forward,” he said.
Fathom has also conducted additional interviews in the area and Avery confirmed the next step will be their final recommendations. “They will pull all of this material together and will work to have a completed report and presentation back to the community in January 2025.”
