A much-anticipated report from the Downtown Revitalization Task Force is in its final stages, though it remains unclear when the findings will be shared.
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A much-anticipated report from the Downtown Revitalization Task Force is in its final stages, though it remains unclear when the findings will be shared.
“It’s done,” said task force co-chair Neil Malhotra of the report. “I’m waiting for the draft and it should be coming shortly.”
The task force, which was struck by Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi to address challenges in the downtown core, has spent the past year holding regular meetings and conducting surveys and consultations with the public.
The report is expected to detail the results of that work, including ideas and recommendations aimed at breathing life back into the downtown area. Among the topics examined are affordable, accessible housing; reinvigorating local businesses; sustainability and the environment; and inclusive community spaces that promote Indigenous reconciliation.
“The goal is to put a roadmap in place,” said Malhotra Friday. “The committee doesn’t have implementation tools at the end of the day, so we’re trying to put forward some ideas. The committee is representing the city, really trying to push some things forward.”
In January, Naqvi’s office told OBJ that the task force had set a tentative deadline to release the report by late spring 2023.
“It’s difficult to put an exact deadline on things, as the task force would like to ensure they have enough time to listen and engage with everyone who would like to provide their input before finalizing recommendations,” a spokesperson from Naqvi’s office said at that time. “That said, I think it is safe to say that the task force will publicly release its report before the end of spring.”
With that deadline passed, it’s unclear when the report will actually be released.
“Until you see the draft, you don’t really know,” Malhotra said. “I don’t have the exact timing of the process until we have it and can lay out a schedule.”
Once the review is complete, members of the task force expect to receive a presentation of the report.
“I’m looking forward to seeing it,” said Kevin McHale, executive director of Sparks Street BIA and a member of the task force. “It should have some good recommendations for the public sector and private sector, profit and non-profit, and everybody in between.”
He added that there have been bumps along the road that may explain why the work has fallen behind.
“I’m waiting, just like everybody else, but everyone’s got so much going on right now,” he said. “We had some pretty aggressive timelines on what we were hoping to get out of it and we had a couple of delays here and there. We want to make sure we’re producing something quality and not just haphazard.”
Christine Leadman, a task force member and executive director of the Bank Street BIA, said she expects the work to pick up again in the fall.
“It’s hard to corral everyone right now, so we’re a little more patient in that regard,” she said, adding that she’s eager to see the results.
“My constant refrain was always safe, clean and green,” she said. “Those are critical things because, to revitalize our core, we need to make this area a community where people feel they can walk the street and they’re comfortable.”
Naqvi’s office has not responded to multiple requests for comment from OBJ for an update on the report.
