The opening of the parkette with Governor General Michelle Jean

Second Parkette opened as part of the Downtown St. John’s Open Spaces Revitalization Project

First Parkette opened as part of the Downtown St. John’s Open Spaces Revitalization Project

Open Spaces Revitalization Project

Over the years the DDC has been involved in a number of projects that are applicable to our mandate. We often partner with the city and other organizations, and will continue to invest in projects that benefit the downtown area and our members.

1999

George Street from Adelaide Street to Queen Street, both sides; installation of new concrete bands of paving stones, underground electrical conduit, and decorative lights poles.

Solomon’s Lane upgraded with new steps and walkway, decorative lighting, paving stones and decorative railing.

Water Street from Prescott Street east to War Memorial, north side; new concrete, paving stones, underground conduit and decorative light poles.

1998

Water Street from Queen Street east to Prescott Street, both sides; installation of fifty new decorative lamp poles, traffic poles at intersections.

1997

City Council and the DDC agree to defer scheduled work to minimize disruption during the 1997 Cabot Celebrations. The DDC invest approximately $28,000.00 in new street furniture for Water Street. City Council agrees to direct $14,000.00 in surplus from 1996 toward this purchase. Over $40,000.00 of new decorative garbage containers, benches and outdoor flower planters are purchased for placement throughout the downtown.

1996

Water Street from Solomon’s Lane east to Prescott Street; Water Street from Waldegrave Street east to Adelaide Street, south side; upgraded new concrete, bands of paving stones and installation of underground electrical conduit.

Duckworth Street from Cochrane Street east to Cavendish Square, north side, upgraded new concrete and bands of paving stones.

1995

Water Street from Beck’s Cove east to Prescott Street, south side; Water Street from Beck’s Cove east to Solomon’s Lane, north side; upgraded with new concrete, bands of paving stones and installation of underground electrical conduit.

1994

Duckworth Street from Prescott Street east to Cochrane Street, north and south sides redone with new concrete, bands of paving stones, installation of trees, planters and decorative garbage receptacles.

Downtown Sidewalk Snow Clearing and Ice Control Project

Each winter the downtown area struggles to keep sidewalks passable, especially in areas where vacant properties exist and at major intersections. The program was designed and initiated to keep these vacant areas clear and intersections open to allow pedestrian traffic to flow easily in all areas.

Its goal was to also help ease the load (but not remove the responsibility of property/business owners) of snow clearing on the sidewalk prior to the start of business. The City of St. John’s is still responsible for the overall removal of the snow from the sidewalks and streets to include the windfall and curb areas once it reached impassable amounts.

Businesses and property owners are still expected to have their sidewalks cleared within 12 hours of a major snowfall and, where possible, before 7:00 am on business days this includes the corner and crosswalk if you are a property or business owner on corner lot abutting a City street, intersection or crosswalk.

The area covered by program does not include the entire boundary of the BIA as budgetary contraints do not allow all sidewalks in the area to be cleared. The program clears snow from sidewalks on Water Street, both sides, from Cochrane Street to Waldergrave Street. Duckworth Street, both sides, from Cavendish Square to New Gower Street.

For more information on the Downtown Sidewalk Snow Clearing Bylaw: http://www.stjohns.ca/ByLaws.nsf/wByLawNum/1098

Special Events

Annual Downtown Christmas Parade

Annual Downtown Busker Festival

Reel Downtown – Movie Monday Outdoor Movie Screenings

Programs

Award winning Website

Pocket Guide to Downtown Visitors Information Map

Christmas Lights

Decorative Pole Banners

Cruise Ship Welcome Program and Tourism Ambassadors

Poster Removal

Beautification Initiatives – flowers, park benches, trash cans, cigarette butt recepticles, sidewalk sweeping, graffiti removal