A tale of two developments
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Updated: November 04, 2009 12:21 AM
In late 2007, School District 89 brought a proposal to council for the development of the old JL Jackson site. Because of the site’s potential impact on the downtown, many people expressed their concern about the proposal, which could have resulted solely in commercial development with little or no green space or housing. At the end of the public hearing, the SA City Council turned the proposal down.
About a year later, in October 2008, SmartCentres, “Canada’s largest developer and operator of unenclosed shopping centres,” brought a proposal to council for a 370,000 square foot mall to be built on environmentally sensitive land three kilometers from town. After extensive discussion and five nights of hearings, the council also turned down this proposal.
This is the end of any similarity between the two proposals.
Though no doubt disappointed by the decision on the Jackson site, the school district took the setback as an opportunity to reflect on how the land could be best used, not only for the benefit of the district, but of the community as a whole.
Over a period of two years, they met to consider various options, examined housing possibilities, and completely redesigned their proposal. What they have brought forward soon is a proposal that incorporates green space, housing and commercial development in a manner that enhances the downtown core and enriches the entire community. It will almost certainly enjoy wide support and will serve to bring the community together.
SmartCentres took a very different route. Instead of meeting with individuals and organizations opposed to their original proposal, they helped set up a “pro-development” group (everyone is pro-development; it’s just that some of us are against bad development) led by individuals with a vested interest in seeing the project go forward. They then brought back a new proposal fundamentally the same as the first. Knowing novelty sells, they sent out a glossy open house announcement asking simply “Want a new shopping centre in SA?” (skipping the second part: “no matter what the environmental, economic or social cost?”).
Two unsuccessful proposals. Two very different responses. One designed to empower, work toward consensus and create an outcome in everyone’s interest. The other designed to ignore legitimate concerns, bypass real consultation and further divide the community.
Don Sawyer
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