FOR RELEASE     #06-222
November 15, 2006

WHITEHORSE - Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor announced that the final report on the public consultation on a proposed Arts and Heritage Village on the Whitehorse waterfront is now available to the public.

Nearly 1,000 people took part in the 30-day public consultation held in June and July, lead by the team of Kobayashi & Zedda Architects Ltd. The team will present details of the report in a public meeting Nov. 28 at the Westmark Whitehorse from 5:30 - 7 p.m.
 
"On behalf of the Yukon government, I thank all those individuals, groups and organizations who participated in the consultation process," Taylor said, noting that many Yukoners either visited the tent across from MacBride Museum, stopped in during the Longest Day Street Fair or met with the consultants on Canada Day at Rotary Peace Park. In addition, more than 200 written comments were received.

The team also met with retail businesses and not-for-profit groups during individual meetings and gathered information through telephone interviews and written emails. 

The public consultation followed the release of a development plan in 2005 for an Arts and Heritage Village on the Whitehorse waterfront, as proposed by the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and Artspace North.

Taylor noted that any waterfront village development along the Yukon River would be a complex undertaking requiring prudent fiscal management and planning, as well as further opportunities for community input.

"The Yukon government will continue to work with stakeholders and the citizens of Whitehorse to ensure that the conceptual ideas outlined in the 2006 report are thoroughly reviewed and assessed before proceeding with development on Yukon government land on the waterfront," Taylor said.

The 2006 report identified strong support to create multi-use public spaces with a public library and theatre/performance space as the most favoured priorities.

Other comments that came out of the consultation process were:

• Maintain open or green spaces along the Yukon River.

• Do not permit proposed buildings to block the view of river, especially at cross streets.

• Provide greater mix of uses: 21 per cent retail/commercial, 28.8 per cent community/culture, 42.4 per cent green space, 7.8 per cent residential.

• Utilize existing heritage buildings before accommodating public/commercial uses in new structures.

• Encourage waterfront heritage interpretation/display in existing or new buildings.

• Relocate waterfront trolley to First Avenue (or elsewhere).

Copies of the report are available from the Department of Tourism and Culture at 100 Hanson Street or the main Yukon government administration building on Second Avenue.
An electronic copy of the report can be downloaded from the Yukon government web site, Programs and Services, Publications at www.gov.yk.ca.

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