Downtown living: Sudbury's downtown revitalization enters new chapter.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: SUDBURY

It's been 10 years since Susan Thompson and the Downtown Village Development Corp. (DVDC) embarked on an ambitious plan to revitalize Sudbury's downtown core with new business and resident activity. Things are finally starting to pay off following the completion of the city's master plan and the looming opening of the Laurentian School of Architecture.

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After the success of its streetscape improvement pilot project, which included the installation of new street lights, benches and bicycle racks, the DVDC has focused on developing relationships with property owners and developers interested in transforming underutilized space, Thompson said.

The upper floors of older buildings are particularly attractive for repurposing as residences or office space, but they come with their own set of challenges. About four or five projects are ready to go, but Thompson said developers are "gun shy" about moving forward.

"There are reasons why it hasn't happened," she said. "People want to do the projects, but they're very costly to do."

Older buildings typically need extensive updating to meet current Ontario Building Code standards, which hikes the cost to redevelop properties. Add to that a lack of parking space, and developers are reticent to move forward because they aren't seeing a feasible return on their investment, Thompson said.

The DVDC is actively working to develop financial incentive programs, which Thompson believes could provide the impetus needed to get some projects going. She points to other cities, such as North Bay or London, that have been successful with redevelopment because of initiatives like upgrading loans or per-unit cash grants.

Naysayers criticize the use of taxpayers' money to develop private-sector projects, but Thompson said studies show the money is paid back in about seven years, in the form of increased property assessments.

"We're focused on reaching a point where the investors who are interested in doing the projects get out of the gate with them and helping them through all these hurdles, and hopefully help to facilitate the right climate for these investors," she said.

Introduced by city council in January, the Downtown Master Plan and Action Strategy proposes 61 actions that can improve the downtown core. Included is a plan for an "innotech park," which would house a...