Regina Downtown Plan

CITY OF REGINA
REGINA DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
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Acknowledgements
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was
shaped by the enthusiasm and dedication ofthe citizens
of Regina. This included the residents, students, business owners, land owners, developers, local media, City
Council members, the Project Team and the Steering
Committee who, at every moment of collaboration,

provided thoughtful input, effective support, strategic
guidance, and generous hospitality to the Consultant
Team. Quite frankly, not only did all of you make our
job easy, you made it enjoyable. We are deeply grateful
for your willingness to collaborate.
Regina's success moving forward will benefit from
unique collaborations and a culture of cooperation.
Mayor Pat Fiacco and Council, and the Regina

Downtown BID are especially thanked for their continued encouragement and committed participation in
forming the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.
Also, a special note of thanks to the hundreds of people

who participated in our public forums and workshops.
Not only was the diversity of the participation exceptional, but the commitment of these community
volunteers to come out again and again to comment
on the evolving Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was
essential to our understanding of your City, and your
hopes for its future. You helped create the Vision and
Principles in Forum One, you commented on all of

our proposed Actions in Forum Two, and you commented on the Draft Plan in Forum Three. Thank-you
also for sharing with us your personal memories of this
city which you love.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A successful Downtown is fundamental to the vitality
of any city. Downtowns are by nature environments
of complexity - a thriving Downtown contains
cultural activities, incubates creativity, stimulates
economic development, improves tourism opportuni-
ties, and provides housing and mobility options for

all. Not only is a successful Downtown central to the
content and direction. A "best practices on -site work-
shop" in Portland Oregon in October 2008, to see

first -hand the changes possible in Regina, was the first
of these events. Numerous internal workshops with

City staff, where components of the Plan were refined,
added depth and resilience to the ideas presented.
identity of a city, the availability of unique Downtown

amenities determines the extent to which all residents
feel welcome and at home in their Downtown.
In September 2007, Office for Urbanism in association with UMA, Goldsmith Borgal & Company
Architects, and urbanMetrics, was retained by the
City of Regina to consult the public, conduct analysis,
research, and to create a Downtown plan. The objective was to replace the existing Downtown Plan (Part
G of the Regina Development Plan Bylaw No. 7877)
What is the Regina Downtown

Neighbourhood Plan?
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan provides a comprehensive framework for decision -making
related to the growth and development of Downtown
for the next 20 years. It is both a Vision and an action
by generating a new Plan through a collaborative
strategy to make that Vision real. It is also a policy

framework designed to shape planning outcomes as
new projects come to fruition and as capital invest-
process involving a broad array of stakeholders.
ments are made.
The new Plan captures the spirit of optimism that exists
The Downtown is specified as the area within the

boundaries of 13th Avenue to the south, Osler St. to
the east, the CP Rail line to the north, and Angus St.
in the city today - it is a reflection of the many focus

group sessions, workshops, and interviews that were
held throughout the planning process. Three multi day public forums were held to generate and test ideas,
and to ensure that the refinement of the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan was in keeping with the overall
Vision for the future of Regina. In addition, a steering
committee and a core stakeholder group participated
in the process from the outset, shaping and directing
the project.
Events were also held with City staff, Council and key
stakeholder groups to ensure outcomes of the Plan are
feasible and specific to Regina's culture and context. It
was also imperative to ensure that those responsible for
the implementation of the Plan had ownership over its
to the west. It consists of roughly 40 city blocks, and

is situated adjacent to the other inner city neighbour-
hoods; connecting the Cathedral Neighbourhood,

Core Neighbourhood, Centre Square Neighbourhood,
North Central Neighbourhood, and the Warehouse

District by its shared streets.
The Plan sets the stage for great urban living by outlining the parameters necessary to build on existing
assets to create a complete Downtown neighbourhood.
By enhancing the role of Downtown as the heart of
Regina, and by creating a clear sense of place through
an emphasis on pedestrian- oriented urban design,

the Plan signals a shift towards urban planning and
"placemaking" as a key priority for the City.
ii
Regina is at an opportune moment in its history. An

unprecedented growth rate, an interest in re- investing
in cities by developers and governments alike, and the
increasing desirability of sustainable living, is resulting
in a heightened awareness of the merits of strategically
planning Downtown.
The Plan contains six significant parts:

1.
The Vision, Principles, and 8 Big Moves these outcomes of the public consultations set
the direction of the Plan's philosophy and rationale.
The continued strength of the existing employment

base is a key asset upon which the future of Downtown
needs to build. This strong employment base is central
to the attractiveness for new residential development
The Principles
to locate Downtown. By adding 5,000 new resi-
2. A Complete, Livable Community
dents in urban housing forms primarily along Broad,

Albert and Saskatchewan Drive over the next 15 years
3.
- including seniors, youth, students, artists, young

professionals and families - the Plan aims to create
an urban population that has the option of walking to
work. Residential development will, in the fullness of
time, provide the required consumer base to support a
desired niche retail strategy, and other amenities that
are reliant on a strong local residential base.
1.
4.
5.
For All Regina

Gorgeous
Connected
Dynamic
6. A Hub
7.
Walkable and Multi -modal
8.
9.
Safe
Healthy
10. Accessible, Inclusive and Diverse
11. Adaptive Re -use
The 8 Big Moves
What is the significance of the Regina

Downtown Neighbourhood Plan?
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan charts
a course of action to ensure the implementation of
the Vision in a transparent and timely manner. It is
a tool for measuring progress that assigns responsibility towards the implementation of key actions, while
also seeking to inspire and encourage private sector
investment. Tools to manage growth and development, while permitting creativity, inter -disciplinary
collaborations, and public -private partnerships, are
introduced. These tools provide both the development
community and the City of Regina with a higher level
of certainty and confidence with respect to expected
outcomes in Downtown. This is a new approach to
neighbourhood planning in Regina.
1. Walk to Work: A Downtown that is defined

and framed by residential neighbourhoods.
2. The City Square: Victoria Park is the jewel,

the organizing element of the city.
3. Pedestrians First: All streets designed for

walking.
4. A Green Zone: A well maintained urban

forest that adds seasonal ambience and urban
wildlife habitat.
5. A Cycling Culture: Cultivate and support

cycling as a viable means to move about.
6. Exceptional Public Transit: A downtown

that is best accessed by public transit.
7. Friendly Facades: Existing buildings, at

grade level, remediated to create a lively, animated pedestrian realm.
8. Festival Places: Create places for gathering,

to allow arts and culture to flourish and to be
celebrated.
iii
Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan
Executive Summary
2.
The Public Realm Framework - a general

framework for shaping the public realm, the
spaces that are experienced by the public at
3.
4.
large, such as public spaces, parks, and streets.
invest. A significantly improved public realm will

make Downtown a desirable place to live, work and
The Built Form Framework -a general framework for shaping the built form, the shape of
buildings and other structures that interact with
the public realm but define the overall shape
of the Downtown. This includes a bonusing
framework that allows for flexibility in the development of the built form and public realm.
play.
Heritage Guidelines - direction around the

public realm and built form treatments of spaces
around significant heritage properties or lands,
and those which enhance and respect the heritage value of Downtown in general.
5.
Action Plans - Divided into five categories

(Leadership, Neighbourhood, Business, Culture,
and Transportation), the Action Plans identify

key tasks to undertake to implement the Plan
and identify those responsible for undertaking
the action.
6.
by providing more certainty with respect to the character and quality of new development projects, and
will increase the desirability of Regina as a place to
Implementation Strategy - This section outlines the sequencing of actions to be undertaken, according to four time categories, as many
actions are dependent on the successful implementation of more foundational actions. Actions are to be initiated immediately (within 1
year), in the near term (within 2 -5 years), in the
medium term (within 5 -10 years), or the long
term (within 10 years).
How should we move forward?

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will
result in new and improved public spaces, a healthy
urban ecology, new community services, places to
shop, dine, and entertain, opportunities to cycle as a
form of transportation, increased transit accessibility into Downtown, and new public events. It will
enhance the quality of life for all residents of Regina
Once approved by Regina City Council, the Regina
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will be incorporated into the Regina Development Plan (Official
Community Plan). It will function as a guiding
framework for the newly created City Center Branch
and will inform amendments to the Zoning Bylaw

and Regina Development Plan. The objective is to
ensure that the integrity and direction of the Plan is
maintained throughout the organization, recognizing
that Downtown planning requires cross departmental collaboration given its interdisciplinary context.
Consideration will need to be given to the value of reprioritizing Downtown in all city policies, recognizing its
importance to the city as a cultural and economic hub.
aspects of the Regina Downtown

Neighbourhood Plan will require funds or the reallocation of funds, to implement. Many elements of the
Some
Plan will shape growth and development as a result of a

new policy framework. Other aspects of the Plan will
require investments from the private and the public

sectors, each bringing specific resources, interests, and
expertise to city building.
There is a role for all to play, often together, moving

forward. The Plan development process has resulted in
the formation of fruitful partnerships that demonstrate
the kinds of collaborations that will ensure successful
Plan implementation in the future. City of Regina
Council and staff, the Province of Saskatchewan, land
developers, land owners, special interest groups, the
arts community, the Regina Public Library Board,
the University of Regina, youth, seniors, families, students and entrepreneurs are all partners who share the
responsibility of transforming Downtown Regina into
a vibrant, complete, and sustainable neighbourhood.
The Downtown is a place for all Regina residents and
as such we all have a role to play in its transformation.
iv
CONTENTS
Executive Summary ...11
5.0
Built Form Framework

5.1
1.0
Introduction
1.0
1.1
1.2
2.0
5.2
5.3
5.4
Introduction ...3
Purpose & Objectives ...6
Study Process ...7
6.0
Introduction ...188
Heritage Objectives ...188
Approach ...189
Supporting Policy ...189
Heritage Guidelines for the Heritage
Conservation District ... 191
6.6 Heritage Guidelines for Downtown ...192
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
2.0
2.1
3.0
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.0
17
The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

3.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
7.0
The Importance of a Great Downtown ...29

Elements of a Successful Downtown
Regina ...30
Vision and Principles ...34
The 8 Big Moves ...38
Conceptual Neighbourhood Plan ...43
Public Realm Framework

4.1
Heritage Guidelines
6.1
Background
Background ...12
Study Area ...12
2.2 Planning and Policy Context
2.3 Conditions, Constraints &
Opportunities ...22
Introduction ...100
Urban Structure ...103
General Design Guidelines ...123
BuildingTypology Guidelines ...143

Creating a Successful Public Realm ...47
StreetscapeTypologies ...51
Open Spaces ...71
Visual Prominence ...89
Action Plans for Downtown Regina

7.0
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
8.0
Action Plans for Downtown Regina ...200

Leadership ...201
Neighbourhood ...202
Business ...217
Culture ...223
Transportation ...233
Implementation Strategy
8.0
8.1
8.2
8.3
Implementation Strategy ...246

Capital Improvements ...246
Studies to Undertake ...247
Sequencing ...249
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Introduction
1.0
Introduction
Today, the City of Regina finds itself on the cusp of

significant change. It has an unprecedented growth
rate that has toppled once stable housing prices; and,
an administration that understands the importance of
investing in urban infrastructure to ensure the improvement of quality of life for all residents of the city.
Regina is also being shaped by national and global

trends. As a society, we have become acutely aware
that our patterns of development are adversely affecting the settlements within which we live. Sprawling
auto -dependant communities are raising questions
about equity, sustainability, accessibility, social inclusivity, our health, and about the best places for people
to age gracefully. Across North America, walkable
Downtowns and main street communities are undergoing a revival as people seek solutions to these issues.
However, since the creation of the 1985 Downtown
Plan there has been minimal growth Downtown,

little investment in the public realm, and many historic buildings have been torn down to make way for
new parking lots. Indeed, a full 26 per cent of the
surface area Downtown is now reserved for parking.
While Downtown Regina has many of the critical elements required to create a thriving Downtown, it does
not yet have the critical mass of these activities that
is necessary for Downtown to thrive beyond regular
work hours. This, in turn, limits the viability of restaurants, galleries, services, cafs and niche retail.
Similarly, since public spaces are empty at night and
weekends, the streets do not feel safe. What is needed
is a direction for Downtown development that leads to
a critical mass of activity, increasing the viability of an
active and safe Downtown at all times.
And more than ever, citizens are aware of best practices elsewhere.
Downtown Regina has historically been the economic

engine of the city. Today, Downtown establishments
provide over 25,000 jobs. For a mid -sized Canadian
city, this concentration of employment is enviable. It
results in an urban vibrancy during daylight hours that
is challenging to find in similar sized Canadian cities
that do not have this critical mass of people coming
together five days a week. This significant clustering
of employment also secures Victoria Park as an im-
Walk to Work
Imagine Downtown Regina 20 years from now.
On a white winter morning, students, businessmen and businesswomen, shop owners, children
and seniors, emerge from their Downtown homes.
Some, who are in no real hurry, peer out the

window and watch others below bustle about in
subzero weather. People dash about the streets
for a few minutes at a time, briskly walking to
their next destination, then disappearing into
portant and beautiful place to lunch in the summer
another building or onto a bus. A woman walks
and is fundamental to the success of the Regina

Farmers Market (which rivals the scale of public
out of a building, bundled up from head to toe. She

scurries to a coffee shop for breakfast, only a block
away, before walking to work. Next door, a father
markets evolving in larger urban centres), enabling a

small but growing cluster of local, unique restaurants
and services. Downtown is also a place for gathering, as demonstrated annually at Regina's treasured
Folk Festival, and during impromptu moments such
as when the Roughriders won the 2007 Grey Cup. It
is a place for civic organization, for cultural activities
such as the events offered at the Globe Theatre and the
Central Public Library, and for entrepreneurship.
arrives to take his children to daycare, before

walking to his office. He passes a car parked in
front of a bakery where a man emerges to deliver
flowers to a lucky baker on her birthday. Another
day in Downtown Regina.
Section 1 .0: Introduction
Great places are not created by accident. They are the
the next 15 years, will effectively establish a Downtown
result of a vision, leadership, planning, unrelenting

tenacity on the part of city champions, and strategic,
neighbourhood. To attract new residents, the second

objective is to create a collection of quality amenities Downtown, of the types necessary to support a
thriving neighbourhood and community. Whereas
the reasons people choose to live in urban environments typically include proximities to arts, culture,
retail and restaurants, the most compelling reason to
live in Downtown Regina, in the short term, is the
opportunity to walk to work. If people are given the
opportunity to walk to work, their sustained presence
Downtown after working hours will soon begin to
have an impact on the other kinds of amenities that
are necessary to create a thriving Downtown - shops,
a grocery store, galleries, and niche retail all become
more viable as the population increases. In the longer
term, as the Downtown population base both increases and begins to stabilize, the urban environment will
become more complete and sustainable.
meaningful public investment. The Regina Downtown

Neighbourhood Plan has been created to provide such
direction for the next 20 years to come.
The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan celebrates

Downtown Regina as a place for people to thrive. It
refocuses Downtown Regina as a place of pedestrianism, heritage and culture, entrepreneurship, great
urban design, environmental sustainability and as an
ideal place to live. It does so by recognizing the existing employment base Downtown as the City's greatest
asset, and encourages future growth that further entrenches Downtown as the economic hub of Regina.
The primary goal of the Plan is to match the employment base with great new urban housing, so people can
choose to walk to work. Living and working in close
proximity has a number of corollaries and spin -offs.
People living Downtown will shop and eat Downtown,
supporting a vibrant retail and restaurant scene. People
will be on the streets at all hours, fostering a safer environment. New cultural destinations, entertainment
attractions and service providers will choose to locate
Downtown, where the people are. This new critical
mass will bring urban vitality to Regina.
To accomplish this vision, two objectives must be met,
both of which are inseparable as a strategy for growth.
The first objective is to attract 25% of the projected

residential growth for Regina to new Downtown accommodations. 5000 new residents, over the course of
Improved transit service is essential to a complete,

walkable Downtown. Many walking trips are made
to, and from, the bus. Improving transit service

Downtown will allow visitors to access Downtown,
and to enjoy it on foot, as well as allowing Downtown
residents to conveniently travel to the rest of the City.
It will be possible to live Downtown without owning
a car. As people begin to live in the Downtown, it will
become more and more viable for "car share" enterprises (such as AutoShare and Zip) to operate. This
in turn will give more people the option to forgo car
ownership, or to own one less car. Accommodating
population growth through Downtown infill will also
make it possible for the City of Regina to choose to
reduce sprawl.
Introduction
Making Downtown a great place to live requires investment: great tree -lined streets, an efficient transit
system, a variety of interesting parks, new cultural
destinations, neighbourhood shopping and amenities
to support new residential developments. It is a circle of
public and private sector investment that builds overall
value. The more attractive Downtown becomes, the

more people will want to live there. The more people
live there, the more businesses and government will
invest.
a city square around Victoria Park by accommodating

year -round public festivals and a variety of forms of
recreation. The expected completion of the first phase
of this project is in 2010.
This Downtown Neighbourhood Plan puts forth a

Vision for a bold and sustainable future for the City
of Regina. At the policy level, significant change
is required to shift the trajectory of Downtown

towards what it is seeking to become, while respect-
ing and maintaining the current concentration of

Accessible public spaces and shared amenities, in the
future, will be the draw to Downtown living. People
will choose to live with smaller ecological footprints
in exchange for cleaner air, a high quality of life, and
affordable movement options. Downtown will also
provide an opportunity for a diversity of people to live
in close proximity to one another.
To implement the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan,

Action Plans have been generated and categorized
under the themes "Neighbourhood ", "Business ",
"Culture ", "Transportation" and "Leadership ". These
specify actions that are necessary to undertake to

realize the Plan and are listed in order of priority.
employment.
The guidelines and recommendations in the Plan

refocus the Downtown as a priority area for capital
investment, for the benefit of all residents, and recommend a reallocation of resources. In addition, the Plan
assumes that more will be required from the private

sector than has been required in the past. A series
of players must come together to create a great urban
environment: City staff, Council, land owners, developers, community leaders and citizens. Leadership
and strategic public and private investment are now
needed.
Many actions are interdependent and should be implemented together, while others are part of a sequenced
or phased implementation strategy that is driven by

measurable benchmarks. A signature component of
the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan is the WOW
project, the objective of which is to revive the idea of
Section 1 .0: Introduction
1.1
Purpose & Objectives
purpose of the new Regina Downtown

Neighbourhood Plan is to effectively guide future
growth and strategic investment into infrastructure,
The
development, and urban design for the next 20 years.

It aims to set the stage for great urban living by creating a complete Downtown community; enhancing the
role of Downtown as the heart of Regina, the Capital
City of Saskatchewan; and, creating a clearer sense
of place through good urban design. To do so, the

continued strength of the existing employment base is
identified as a key asset upon which the future of the
Downtown needs to be built.
The Downtown Plan provides various strategies to

direct decision -making regarding investments related
to infrastructure, development, programming, policy,
and urban design that reflect the current Vision for
Downtown as developed through an extensive public
consultation process.
Specific objectives of the Plan are as follows:
To fulfil the mandate of By -law No.

7877 Regina Development Plan policies
on Downtown, including reinforcing
the function of Downtown as a unique
place with a one -of -a -kind retail area,
as a residential community, as an
economic centre, as an accessible place
and as a key element of city life.
To determine current and future potential

for development within Downtown.
To update and re- articulate the community
Vision for Downtown Regina.
To create a framework for development

and land use with associated actions and
policies for implementation, including
recommendations for infrastructure
enhancements and urban design.
To identify actions for a residential

strategy that takes into consideration
Downtown's relationship with existing
surrounding communities.
To create a 10 -year public realm and open
space strategy that adds to, and enhances, the
existing public realm and open space systems.
To celebrate the historical and heritage

aspects of Downtown Regina through the
articulation of policies for heritage protection.
To recommend alternative parking

management approaches and transit
realignments for better movement
and accessibility Downtown.
To create a hub /centre of cultural activity
that will inspire creativity and innovation.
These objectives will be met through the design guidelines for physical change articulated within the Public
Realm, Built Form, and Heritage Frameworks of the
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan will be

implemented through the Action Plans, divided into
five categories, which highlight the main objectives
and foci of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.
Introduction
1.2
Study Process
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan project

was initiated in September 2007, when the contract was
awarded to Office for Urbanism, in association with

UMA, Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects,
and urbanMetrics following a competitive bidding
process.
To date, development of the urban context has been

guided by a Downtown Plan created in 1985. It allows
a mix of uses and built form types, and prioritizes efficient parking and traffic management.
This study was organized into five phases that were

framed by a public engagement process, and designed
to generate a new Vision for the future of Downtown
Regina in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. Three forums were held as an opportunity
to both generate and test ideas, and to ensure that the
refinement of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan
was in keeping with the overall Vision. Collaboration
between the Consultant Team and City staff, through
weekly and bi- weekly conference calls, site visits, exchange of information and ideas, and strategies about
how to move forward with the process, were essential
to shaping its success.
Phase 1: Project Kick -Off and Background

Research
Phase 1 commenced with a project Kick-Off meeting
in September 2007 where the Consultant Team met
with City staff to establish roles and review the timeline of the study. A Steering Committee of senior City
staff was established, and meetings were held at strategic points throughout the process. A detailed walking
analysis was undertaken to gather visual information.
Policy information, past studies and base maps were
thoroughly reviewed and relevant Downtown policies
were extracted to inform the content development. An
opportunities and constraints analysis was completed.
Phase 2: Visioning + Concept Plan

Development
To begin the public engagement process, a media
kick -off event was held in October 2007 where the
Consultant Team introduced the project with the

assistance of the General Manager for Planning and
Development, Jason Carlston, and Mayor Pat Fiacco.
A presentation to Council was also made to encourage Council involvement moving forward. A series of
stakeholder focus group sessions were held to engage
key players in the process and to assess the needs and
goals of various groups. Those consulted included
Section 1 .2: Study Process
representatives from: heritage, arts and culture, adjacent neighbourhood representatives, resident's groups,
developers, land owners, various City departments,
special interest groups, transportation experts, and
members from the business community.
In December of 2007, "Forum 1: Downtown Planning
Symposium" was held at the Royal Canadian Legion
and was attended by over 200 people. The three -day
event included a walking tour and a "fresh eyes" analysis presentation on the first day, Visioning Workshops
on the second and third day, and a final Open House
on the evening of the third day. The key concepts
related to the Vision and Principles for the Downtown
Plan (see Chapter 3.0), as well as the 8 "Big Moves",
all emerged during this first Forum.
In the workshops, the Downtown was divided into

five `Demonstration Sites'. Each group of participants
explored, with pen and paper, a future development
scenario for one of the sites, in keeping with an overarching vision for the site. The "Big Moves" were then
used to inform the development of the Downtown

Concept Plan toward the end of this phase and, subsequently, the "Action Plans" (Phase 3). A newsletter
outlining the outcomes of the forum was distributed
broadly.
FORU
1 AT THE R
i
Phase 2 concluded with the January 2008 announcement of a $1 million initial implementation
project intended to visually signal change Downtown,
specifically for the public realm, in the 2008 operating
year. Branded the "WOW" project, it proposed redefining the function and edge of Victoria Park along
12th Avenue to recapture the historic idea of Victoria
Park Square. Forum 1 identified Victoria Park as
the heart of Downtown Regina, and as a key public
space where memorable civic events occur year- round.
Accordingly, the WOW project involves transforming
the portion of 12th Avenue along Victoria Park into
a beautiful year -round programmable space with a

strong pedestrian focus (see Chapter 3.2).
Phase 3: Development of Action Plans.

Following the establishment of the Vision and
Principles for the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan,
the Consultant Team worked towards creating the
Concept Plan and Draft Action Plans along with associated implementation strategies and tools. This began
to frame the recommendations and ideas generated

from the background research, technical analysis, and
public consultations into a plan and policy structure.
Introduction
In March 2008, the Consultant Team conducted a

workshop with the City Project Team specifically
to address transportation planning. Furthermore, a
Downtown Plan and draft Action Plans were tested

with 7 different stakeholder groups: developers, business associations, community groups, environment,
special meeting with representatives of the File Hills

Qu'Appelle Tribal Council was held in order to engage
this community to participate in the Downtown planning process, and to identify specific needs that ought
to be recognized in the Downtown Plan, giving precedence to future actions related to making Downtown
truly for all people. The project and Consultant Team
also met with a representative from GBLUR Centre
for Sexuality and Gender Diversity at the University of
Regina to better understand the needs of this group.
transportation, heritage, and arts & culture. The
In April of 2008, "Forum 2: The Downtown Plan" was

held at the Knox -Metropolitan Church in Downtown
Regina. The three -day forum began with a public
introduction of the draft Downtown Plan, which included a concept drawing and key design moves. The
public was given a variety of opportunities to question
and comment on the draft Downtown Plan through

a series of interactive panels, comment sheets, and
during a question and answer period.
On the second and third days of the Forum, focus

group sessions were held during which the draft
FORUM 2 REVIEWING DRAFT -AEONS
evolving draft Plan was also presented to City Council

during a working lunch.
A key outcome of Forum 2 was a list of risks, mitigating actions and critical success factors for successfully
implementing the Plan. A refined list of draft Actions,
and champions for each, was also generated. A second
newsletter outlining the outcomes of Forum 2 was

distributed broadly.
Phase 4: Presentation of Action Plans.

Forum 2 identified the need to conduct further
workshops to help create a Built Form Framework
for Downtown. Workshops were held on June 5,
2008 with City staff, and members of the development and heritage communities, to review and refine
draft recommendations. The Built Form Framework
comprises a significant component of the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan and should function as a tool to
guide future development to ensure that it is in keeping
with the original Vision, Principles, and overall intent
of the Downtown Plan.
FORUM 2 COMMENTING ON DRAFT ACTIONS
In June of 2008, "Forum 3: Actions and

Implementation" was held at the Knox -Metropolitan
Church. The Consultant Team presented the overall
implementation strategy which included the refined
Action Plans, as categorized under the five themes of
Live, Work, Play, Movement, and Leadership, to a
Phase 5: Final Downtown Plan
public audience of approximately 200 people. Feedback
key stakeholder groups, the Steering Committee, and

City staff. The process of refining the Plan included
a series of meetings held with land owners to assess
the viability and likely impacts of the proposed Built
Form Framework, that resulted in minor adjustments
being made.
was received during an interactive panel session and

Forum 3 provided an additional opportunity to present
the refined Downtown Plan to City Council, whose

enthusiasm had grown for the planning project. A
media event following this meeting gave the opportunity for City Councillors and the Mayor to speak to
the press about the Plan. From July 2008 to August
A first draft of the Downtown Plan was completed

in August of 2008. It was presented to the project
team and Steering Committee for consideration and
review. Subsequently, the Plan underwent a series of
refinements and revisions as per the involvement of
2008, the Consultant Team worked towards finalizing
the Downtown Plan and writing a draft report. A

third newsletter was also produced which outlined the
outcomes of Forum 3.
FORUM 3 PRESENTATION OF DRAFT ACT
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Acknowledgements
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was
shaped by the enthusiasm and dedication ofthe citizens
of Regina. This included the residents, students, business owners, land owners, developers, local media, City
Council members, the Project Team and the Steering
Committee who, at every moment of collaboration,

provided thoughtful input, effective support, strategic
guidance, and generous hospitality to the Consultant
Team. Quite frankly, not only did all of you make our
job easy, you made it enjoyable. We are deeply grateful
for your willingness to collaborate.
Regina's success moving forward will benefit from
unique collaborations and a culture of cooperation.
Also, a special note of thanks to the hundreds of people

who participated in our public forums and workshops.
Not only was the diversity of the participation exceptional, but the commitment of these community
volunteers to come out again and again to comment
on the evolving Downtown Neighbourhood Plan was
essential to our understanding of your city, and your
hopes for its future. You helped create the Vision and
Principles in Forum One, you commented on all of

our proposed Actions in Forum Two, and you commented on the Draft Plan in Forum Three. Thank-you
also for sharing with us your personal memories of this
city which you love.
Mayor Pat Fiacco and Council, and the Regina

Downtown BID are especially thanked for their continued encouragement and committed participation in
forming the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.
eofficeforurbanism
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A successful Downtown is fundamental to the vitality
of any city. Downtowns are by nature environments of
complexity - a thriving Downtown contains cultural
activities, incubates creativity, stimulates economic
development, improves tourism opportunities, concentrates commercial activity and provides housing
and mobility options for all. Not only is a successful
Downtown central to the identity of a city, the availability of unique Downtown amenities determines the
extent to which all residents feel welcome and at home
in their Downtown.
workshop" in Portland Oregon in October 2008, to see

first -hand the changes possible in Regina, was the first
In September 2007, Office for Urbanism in association with UMA, Goldsmith Borgal & Company
Architects, and urbanMetrics, was retained by the
vides a comprehensive framework for decision -making

related to the growth and development of Downtown
for the next 20 years. It is both a Vision and an action
City of Regina to consult the public, conduct analysis,

research, and to create a Downtown plan. The objective was to replace the existing Downtown Plan (Part
G of the Regina Development Plan Bylaw No. 7877)
strategy to make that Vision real. It is also a policy

framework designed to shape planning outcomes as
new projects come to fruition and as capital invest-
of these events. Numerous internal workshops with

City staff, where components of the Plan were refined,
added depth and resilience to the ideas presented.
What is the Regina Downtown

Neighbourhood Plan?
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan pro-
ments are made.
by generating a new Plan through a collaborative

process involving a broad array of stakeholders.
The new Plan captures the spirit of optimism that exists
in the city today - it is a reflection of the many focus

group sessions, workshops, and interviews that were
held throughout the planning process. Three multi day public forums were held to generate and test ideas,
and to ensure that the refinement of the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan was in keeping with the overall
Vision for the future of Regina. In addition, a steering
committee and a core stakeholder group participated
in the process from the outset, shaping and directing
the project.
Events were also held with City staff, Council and key
stakeholder groups to ensure outcomes of the Plan are
feasible and specific to Regina's culture and context.
It was also imperative to ensure that those responsible
for the implementation of the Plan had ownership over
its content and direction. A "best practices on -site
Itofficeforurbanism
The Downtown is specified as the area within the

boundaries of 13th Avenue to the south, Osler St. to
the east, the CP Rail line to the north, and Angus St.
to the west. It consists of roughly 40 city blocks, and
is situated adjacent to the other inner city neighbour-
hoods; connecting the Cathedral Neighbourhood,

Core Neighbourhood, Centre Square Neighbourhood,
North Central Neighbourhood, and the Warehouse

District by its shared streets.
The Plan sets the stage for great urban living by outlining the parameters necessary to build on existing
assets to create a complete Downtown neighbourhood.
By enhancing the role of Downtown as the heart of
Regina, and by creating a clear sense of place through
an emphasis on pedestrian- oriented urban design,

the Plan signals a shift towards urban planning and
"placemaking" as a key priority for the City.
Regina is at an opportune moment in its history. An

unprecedented growth rate, an interest in re- investing
in cities by developers and governments alike, and the
increasing desirability of sustainable living, is resulting
in a heightened awareness of the merits of strategically
planning Downtown.
The continued strength of the existing employment

base is a key asset upon which the future of Downtown
needs to build. This strong employment base is central
to the attractiveness for new residential development to
The Plan contains six significant parts:

1.
The Vision, Principles, and 8 Big Moves - these

outcomes of the public consultations set the direction of the Plan's philosophy and rationale.
The Principles
1.
For All Regina
2. A Complete, Livable Community
urban housing forms primarily along Broad, Albert and

Saskatchewan Drive over the next 15 years - including
Gorgeous
4. Connected
5. Dynamic
seniors, youth, students, artists, young professionals
6. A Hub
locate Downtown. By adding 5,000 new residents in
and families - the Plan aims to create an urban population that has the option of walking to work. Residential
development will, in the fullness of time, provide the
required consumer base to support a desired niche

retail strategy, and other amenities that are reliant on a
strong local residential base.
3.
7.
Walkable and Multi -modal
8.
9.
Safe
Healthy
10. Accessible, Inclusive and Diverse
11. Adaptive Re -use
12. The Best Place to Invest
The 8 Big Moves
What is the significance of the Regina

Downtown Neighbourhood Plan?
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan charts a
course of action to ensure the implementation of the
Vision in a transparent and timely manner. It is a
tool for measuring progress that assigns responsibility
towards the implementation of key actions, while also
seeking to inspire and encourage private sector investment. Tools to manage growth and development, while
permitting creativity, inter -disciplinary collaborations,
and public -private partnerships, are introduced. These
tools provide both the development community and
the City of Regina with a higher level of certainty

and confidence with respect to expected outcomes in
Downtown. This is a new approach to neighbourhood
planning in Regina.
1. Walk to Work: A Downtown that is defined

and framed by residential neighbourhoods.
2. The City Square: Victoria Park is the jewel,

the organizing element of the city.
3. Pedestrians First: All streets designed for

walking.
4. A Green Zone: A well maintained urban

forest that adds seasonal ambience and urban
wildlife habitat.
5. A Cycling Culture: Cultivate and support

cycling as a viable means to move about.
6. Exceptional Public Transit: A downtown

that is best accessed by public transit.
7. Friendly Facades: Existing buildings, at

grade level, remediated to create a lively, animated pedestrian realm.
8. Festival Places: Create places for gathering,

to allow arts and culture to flourish and to be
celebrated.
iii
Executive Summary
2.
The Public Realm Framework - a general

framework for shaping the public realm, the
spaces that are experienced by the public at
large, such as public spaces, parks, and streets.
3.
4.
The Built Form Framework -a general framework for shaping the built form, the shape of
buildings and other structures that interact with
the public realm but define the overall shape
of the Downtown. This includes a bonusing
framework that allows for flexibility in the development of the built form and public realm.
Heritage Guidelines - direction around the

public realm and built form treatments of spaces
around significant heritage properties or lands,
and those which enhance and respect the heritage value of Downtown in general.
5.
Action Plans - Divided into five categories

(Leadership, Neighbourhood, Business, Culture,
and Transportation), the Action Plans identify

key tasks to undertake to implement the Plan
and identify those responsible for undertaking
the action.
6.
Implementation Strategy - This section outlines the sequencing of actions to be undertaken, according to four time categories, as many
actions are dependent on the successful implementation of more foundational actions. Actions are to be initiated immediately (within 2
years), in the near term (within 2 -5 years), in
the medium term (within 5 -10 years), or the
long term (within 10 years).
How should we move forward?

The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will
result in new and improved public spaces, a healthy
urban ecology, new community services, places to
shop, dine, and entertain, opportunities to cycle as a
form of transportation, increased transit accessibility
into Downtown, new public events, and a reinforced
commercial base. It will enhance the quality of life
Itofficeforurbanism
for all residents of Regina by providing more certainty

with respect to the character and quality of new development projects, and will increase the desirability of
Regina as a place to invest. A significantly improved
public realm will make Downtown a desirable place to
live, work and play.
Once approved by Regina City Council, the Regina
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan will be incorporated into the Regina Development Plan (Official
Community Plan). It will function as a guiding
framework for the newly created City Center Branch
and will inform amendments to the Zoning Bylaw

and Regina Development Plan. The objective is to
ensure that the integrity and direction of the Plan is
maintained throughout the organization, recognizing
that Downtown planning requires cross departmental collaboration given its interdisciplinary context.
Consideration will need to be given to the value of reprioritizing Downtown in all city policies, recognizing its
importance to the city as a cultural and economic hub.
aspects of the Regina Downtown

Neighbourhood Plan will require funds or the reallocation of funds, to implement. Many elements of the
Some
Plan will shape growth and development as a result of a

new policy framework. Other aspects of the Plan will
require investments from the private and the public

sectors, each bringing specific resources, interests, and
expertise to city building.
There is a role for all to play, often together, moving

forward. The Plan development process has resulted in
the formation of fruitful partnerships that demonstrate
the kinds of collaborations that will ensure successful
Plan implementation in the future. City of Regina
Council and staff, the Province of Saskatchewan, land
developers, land owners, special interest groups, the
arts community, the Regina Public Library Board,
the University of Regina, youth, seniors, families, students and entrepreneurs are all partners who share the
responsibility of transforming Downtown Regina into
a vibrant, complete, and sustainable neighbourhood.
The Downtown is a place for all Regina residents and
as such we all have a role to play in its transformation.
F_.
-[
CONTENTS
Executive Summary ...ii
5.0

5.1
1.0
Introduction
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2.0
2.2
2.3
2.4
6.0
Background ...14
Study Area ...14
Planning and Policy Context
Conditions, Constraints &
Opportunities ...24
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
Heritage Guidelines
Introduction ...190
Heritage Objectives ...190
Approach ...191
Supporting Policy ...191
Heritage Guidelines for the Heritage
Conservation District ...193
6.6 Heritage Guidelines for Downtown ...194
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
19
7.0
The Importance of a Great Downtown ...31

Elements of a Successful Downtown
Regina ...32
Vision and Principles ...36
The 8 Big Moves ...40
Conceptual Neighbourhood Plan ...45

4.1
Introduction ...102
Urban Structure ...105
Bonusing Framework ...121
General Design Standards ...125
BuildingTypology Standards ...145
6.1

3.1
4.0
Introduction ...3
Beyond Costing the Plan ...6
Study Process ...9
Background
2.1
3.0
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5

Creating a Successful Public Realm ...49
StreetscapeTypologies ...53
Open Spaces ...73
Visual Prominence ...91

7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
8.0
Action Plans for Downtown Regina ...202

Leadership ...203
Neighbourhood ...205
Business ...219
Culture ...225
Transportation ...235
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
Implementation Strategy ...248

Capital Improvements ...248
Studies to Undertake ...249
Sequencing ...251
Appendix 1 - Urban Design Glossary
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Introduction
1.1
Introduction
Today, the City of Regina finds itself on the cusp of

significant change. It has an unprecedented growth
rate that has toppled once stable housing prices; and,
an administration that understands the importance of
investing in urban infrastructure to ensure the improvement of quality of life for all residents of the city.
Regina is also being shaped by national and global

trends. As a society, we have become acutely aware
that our patterns of development are adversely affecting the settlements within which we live. Sprawling
auto -dependant communities are raising questions
about equity, sustainability, accessibility, social inclusivity, our health, and about the best places for people
to age gracefully. Across North America, walkable
Downtowns and main street communities are undergoing a revival as people seek solutions to these issues.
And more than ever, citizens are aware of best practices elsewhere.
Downtown Regina has historically been the economic

engine of the city. Today, Downtown establishments
provide over 25,000 jobs. For a mid -sized Canadian
city, this concentration of employment is enviable. It
results in an urban vibrancy during daylight hours that
is challenging to find in similar sized Canadian cities
that do not have this critical mass of people coming
together five days a week. This significant clustering
of employment also secures Victoria Park as an im-
Some of the Downtown development that has occurred since the early 1990s includes the Hill Centre
Tower 2, FCC Tower and Canada Life Place. These
constitute nearly 10% of the downtown office stock.
As well, in the last few years several buildings have
been adapted for reuse such as the residential conversion of the TD Building and Renaissance Plaza, and
the Leader Building. Office conversions have also
taken place, including the transformation of former
retail spaces such as the Army & Navy and the Bay
Building to office uses.
In contrast, since the creation of the 1985 Downtown

Plan there has been minimal investment in the public
realm. In addition, more historic buildings have been
torn down to make way for new parking lots, than

have been adapted. Indeed, a full 26 per cent of the
surface area Downtown is now reserved for parking.
While Downtown Regina has many of the critical elements required to create a thriving Downtown, it does
not yet have the critical mass of these activities that
is necessary for Downtown to thrive beyond regular
work hours. This, in turn, limits the viability of restaurants, galleries, services, cafs and niche retail.
Similarly, since public spaces are empty at night and
weekends, the streets do not feel safe. What is needed
is a direction for Downtown development that leads to
a critical mass of activity, increasing the viability of an
active and safe Downtown at all times.
portant and beautiful place to lunch in the summer
and is fundamental to the success of the Regina

Farmers Market (which rivals the scale of public
markets evolving in larger urban centres), enabling a
small but growing cluster of local, unique restaurants
and services. Downtown is also a place for gathering, as demonstrated annually at Regina's treasured
Folk Festival, and during impromptu moments such
as when the Roughriders won the 2007 Grey Cup. It
is a place for civic organization, for cultural activities
such as the events offered at the Globe Theatre and the
Central Public Library, and for entrepreneurship.
Walk to Work
Imagine Downtown Regina 20 years from now.
On a white winter morning, students, businessmen and businesswomen, shop owners, children
and seniors, emerge from their Downtown homes.
Some, who are in no real hurry, peer out the

window and watch others below bustle about in
subzero weather. People dash about the streets
for a few minutes at a time, briskly walking to
Section 1 .1 : Introduction
officeforurbanism
their next destination, then disappearing into

another building or onto a bus. A woman walks
out of a building, bundled up from head to toe. She
scurries to a coffee shop for breakfast, only a block
away, before walking to work. Next door, a father
arrives to take his children to daycare, before

walking to his office. He passes a car parked in
front of a bakery where a man emerges to deliver
flowers to a lucky baker on her birthday. Another
day in Downtown Regina.
Great places are not created by accident. They are the
result of a vision, leadership, planning, unrelenting

tenacity on the part of city champions, and strategic,
meaningful public investment. The Regina Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan has been created to provide such
direction for the next 20 years to come.
The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan celebrates

Downtown Regina as a place for people to thrive. It
refocuses Downtown Regina as a place of pedestrianism, heritage and culture, entrepreneurship, great
urban design, environmental sustainability and as an
ideal place to live. It does so by recognizing the existing employment base Downtown as the City's greatest
asset, and encourages future growth that further entrenches Downtown as the economic hub of Regina.
The primary goal of the Plan is to match the employment base with great new urban housing, so people can
choose to walk to work. Living and working in close
proximity has a number of corollaries and spin -offs.
People living Downtown will shop and eat Downtown,

supporting a vibrant retail and restaurant scene. People
will be on the streets at all hours, fostering a safer en-
vironment. New cultural destinations, entertainment

attractions and service providers will choose to locate
Downtown, where the people are. This new critical
mass will bring urban vitality to Regina.
To accomplish this vision, two objectives must be met,
both of which are inseparable as a strategy for growth.
The first objective is to attract 25% of the projected

residential growth for Regina to new Downtown accommodations. 5000 new residents, over the course of
the next 15 years, will effectively establish a Downtown
neighbourhood. To attract new residents, the second

objective is to create a collection of quality amenities Downtown, of the types necessary to support a
thriving neighbourhood and community. Whereas
the reasons people choose to live in urban environments typically include proximities to arts, culture,
retail and restaurants, the most compelling reason to
live in Downtown Regina, in the short term, is the
opportunity to walk to work. If people are given the
opportunity to walk to work, their sustained presence
Downtown after working hours will soon begin to
have an impact on the other kinds of amenities that
are necessary to create a thriving Downtown - shops,
a grocery store, galleries, a community center and
niche retail all become more viable as the population increases. In the longer term, as the Downtown
population base both increases and begins to stabilize,
the urban environment will become more complete
and sustainable.
Introduction
Improved transit service is essential to a complete,

walkable Downtown. Many walking trips are made
to, and from, the bus. Improving transit service

Downtown will allow visitors to access Downtown,
and to enjoy it on foot, as well as allowing Downtown
residents to conveniently travel to the rest of the City.
It will be possible to live Downtown without owning
a car. As people begin to live in the Downtown, it will
become more and more viable for "car share" enterprises (such as AutoShare and Zip) to operate. This
in turn will give more people the option to forgo car
ownership, or to own one less car. Accommodating
population growth through Downtown infill will also
make it possible for the City of Regina to choose to
reduce sprawl.
Making Downtown a great place to live requires investment: great tree -lined streets, an efficient transit
system, a variety of interesting parks, new cultural
destinations, neighbourhood shopping and amenities
to support new residential developments. It is a circle of
public and private sector investment that builds overall
value. The more attractive Downtown becomes, the

more people will want to live there. The more people
live there, the more businesses and government will
To implement the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan,

Action Plans have been generated and categorized
under the themes "Neighbourhood ", "Business ",
"Culture ", "Transportation" and "Leadership ". These
specify actions that are necessary to undertake to

realize the Plan and are listed in order of priority.
Many actions are interdependent and should be implemented together, while others are part of a sequenced
or phased implementation strategy that is driven by

measurable benchmarks. A signature component of
the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan is the WOW
project, the objective of which is to revive the idea of
a city square around Victoria Park by accommodating
year -round public festivals and a variety of forms of
recreation. The expected completion of the first phase
of this project is in 2010.
This Downtown Neighbourhood Plan puts forth a

Vision for a bold and sustainable future for the City
of Regina. At the policy level, significant change is
required to shift the trajectory of Downtown towards
what it is seeking to become, while respecting and enhancing the current concentration of employment.
invest.
The guidelines, standards and recommendations in

the Plan refocus the Downtown as a priority area
Accessible public spaces and shared amenities, in the

future, will be the draw to Downtown living. People
will choose to live with smaller ecological footprints
in exchange for cleaner air, a high quality of life, and
affordable movement options. Downtown will also
provide an opportunity for a diversity of people to live
in close proximity to one another.
for capital investment, for the benefit of all residents,

and recommend a reallocation of resources. In addition, the Plan assumes that more will be required
from the private sector than has been required in the
past. A series of players must come together to create
a great urban environment: City staff, Council, land
owners, developers, community leaders and citizens.
Leadership and strategic public and private investment
are now needed.
Section 1 .1 : Introduction
officeforurbanism
1.2
Beyond Costing the Plan: Understanding the Plan as an

Economic Development Tool
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan (RDNP)

has three key functions relevant to understanding the
costs of implementation. Unlike a capital project,

where specific costs related to project implementation
are identifiable, the RDNP functions as a Vision, a

Policy Framework, and as a City Building Tool. In
each of these realms, the Plan has implications for
economic growth, which in turn has implications for
the fiscal health of the City.
In essence, the transformation of the Downtown is

an investment in the future of the City of Regina.
Some aspects of the RDNP will be implemented with
minimal expense to the municipality - adopting a new
policy framework, for example. Other actions in the
Plan entail attracting investors (public, private, and
institutional) who will act as catalysts for further investments. Investment in the Downtown will have an
impact on the economic development of the city as a
whole - it will attract private investment and tourism
dollars, it will increase property values and result in a
destination within the City for all Reginans.
1.2.1 As a Vision
The RDNP provides a rationale for decision making,

giving direction to the City and key stakeholders as it
reinforces the commercial character of the Downtown
and transforms it into a complete and walkable
neighbourhood. It functions as a key tool to leverage
investment from other sources, such as through the
Urban Development Agreement fund, and through
the Bonusing Framework (see Section 5.3). It will both
direct public sector investment, ensuring coordination
among departments as capital investments are made,
as well as attract outside investment by demonstrating
the character and quality of the future, and the commitment of the municipality to the Downtown as a
priority. The Vision provides certainty for City staff,
Council, the development industry, and residents with
respect to the future of the Downtown. Certainty,

combined with a commitment to quality, is critical to
attracting outside investment.
1.2.2 As a Policy Framework
The RDNP is also a Policy Framework that specifies

how Downtown should grow and develop over the
next 20 years. As a regulatory framework, it shapes
growth and investment by directing future decision
making and implementing higher design and quality
requirements. Studies that refine key ideas related to
the Vision are outlined as specific actions in the Plan;
they will be undertaken in sequence and according to
priority as funding becomes available. Many of these
studies lead to capital projects that will be assessed
during annual budget cycles.
1.2.3 As a City Building Tool
New capital investments in the Downtown, to be made
The RDNP positions Downtown Regina as a local
by both the private and public sectors, will generate

land value, which in turn will increase tax revenues.
As the Downtown grows as the hub of the City, with
animated streets and businesses all hours of the day
and regional destination, a draw to tourists and busi-
ness, a place to invest, and a healthy place to live.

Actions within the Plan are a blueprint for growth
and development Downtown such that the Plan, in its
entirety, functions as a tool that increases development
potential, generates momentum, directs attention to
Downtown activities, and focuses energy towards the
continued enhancement of Downtown.
The RDNP enhances Downtown liveability and

thereby strengthens Regina's strategic position in
relation to other Cities as it competes for businesses,
entrepreneurs, young professionals, and tourists, all of
whom are drawn to settle, invest, and visit based on
the breadth of quality of life opportunities that exist.
It is this same vibrancy and attractiveness that will

draw others to live in Regina, which will also drive
economic growth. To locate, businesses require a
stable critical mass of educated employees. To thrive,
businesses require a strong consumer base. Enhanced
livability and enhanced businesses opportunities are
fundamentally entwined.
and all days of the week, existing businesses will thrive
and new businesses will be inspired to locate in the

heart of the action.
Downtown development also has the potential to

maximize the use of municipal infrastructure. Utility
lines, roads, and lanes are already in place and may
only need minor upgrading when new developments
evolve on infill, greyfield and brownfield sites. There
are also potential operational efficiencies to be gained
in the long term. A more compact urban core minimizes operational costs for services and may lead to
the opportunity to offer higher levels of service in

areas such as public transit, solid waste management,
and snow clearance /sidewalk maintenance given the
advantages of providing these services at higher densities. Over time, as Downtown becomes increasingly
diversified and as new businesses establish, real estate
will become more competitive, and the downtown

business economy will continue to grow in its resilience to changing market conditions.
Section 1 .2: Beyond Costing the Plan: Understanding the Plan as an Economic Development Tool
officeforurbanism
1.3
purpose of the new Regina Downtown

Neighbourhood Plan is to effectively guide future
growth and strategic investment into infrastructure,
The
development, and urban design for the next 20 years.

It aims to set the stage for great urban living by creating a complete Downtown community; enhancing the
role of Downtown as the heart of Regina, the Capital
City of Saskatchewan; and, creating a clearer sense
of place through good urban design. To do so, the

continued strength of the existing employment base is
identified as a key asset upon which the future of the
Downtown needs to be built.
The Downtown Plan provides various strategies to

direct decision -making regarding investments related
to infrastructure, development, programming, policy,
and urban design that reflect the current Vision for
Downtown as developed through an extensive public
consultation process.
Specific objectives of the Plan are as follows:
To fulfil the mandate of By -law No.

7877 Regina Development Plan policies
on Downtown, including reinforcing
the function of Downtown as a unique
place with a one -of -a -kind retail area,
as a residential community, as an
economic centre, as an accessible place
and as a key element of city life.
To determine current and future potential

for development within Downtown.
To update and re- articulate the community
Vision for Downtown Regina.
To create a framework for development

and land use with associated actions and
policies for implementation, including
recommendations for infrastructure
enhancements and urban design.
To identify actions for a residential

strategy that takes into consideration
Downtown's relationship with existing
surrounding communities.
To create a 10 -year public realm and open
space strategy that adds to, and enhances, the
existing public realm and open space systems.
To celebrate the historical and heritage

aspects of Downtown Regina through the
articulation of policies for heritage protection.
To recommend alternative parking

management approaches and transit
realignments for better movement
and accessibility Downtown.
To create a hub /centre of cultural activity
that will inspire creativity and innovation.
These objectives will be met through the design standards for physical change articulated within the Public
Realm, Built Form, and Heritage Frameworks of the
Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan. The Plan will
be implemented through the Action Plans, divided into
five categories, which highlight the main objectives and
foci of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.
Introduction
Study Process
1.4
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan project

was initiated in September 2007, when the contract was
awarded to Office for Urbanism, in association with

UMA, Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects,
and urbanMetrics following a competitive bidding
process.
To date, development of the urban context has been

guided by a Downtown Plan created in 1985. It allows
a mix of uses and built form types, and prioritizes efficient parking and traffic management.
This study was organized into five phases that were

framed by a public engagement process, and designed
to generate a new Vision for the future of Downtown
Regina in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders. Three forums were held as an opportunity
to both generate and test ideas, and to ensure that the
refinement of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan
was in keeping with the overall Vision. Collaboration
between the Consultant Team and City staff, through
weekly and bi- weekly conference calls, site visits, exchange of information and ideas, and strategies about
how to move forward with the process, were essential
to shaping its success.
Phase 1: Project Kick -Off and Background

Research
Phase 1 commenced with a project Kick-Off meeting
in September 2007 where the Consultant Team met
with City staff to establish roles and review the timeline of the study. A Steering Committee of senior City
staff was established, and meetings were held at strategic points throughout the process. A detailed walking
analysis was undertaken to gather visual information.
Policy information, past studies and base maps were
thoroughly reviewed and relevant Downtown policies
were extracted to inform the content development. An
opportunities and constraints analysis was completed.
Phase 2: Visioning + Concept Plan

Development
To begin the public engagement process, a media
kick -off event was held in October 2007 where the
Consultant Team introduced the project with the

assistance of the General Manager for Planning and
Development, Jason Carlston, and Mayor Pat Fiacco.
A presentation to Council was also made to encourage Council involvement moving forward. A series of
stakeholder focus group sessions were held to engage
key players in the process and to assess the needs and
goals of various groups. Those consulted included
officeforurbanism
representatives from: heritage, arts and culture, adjacent neighbourhood representatives, resident's groups,
developers, land owners, various City departments,
special interest groups, transportation experts, and
members from the business community.
In December of 2007, "Forum 1: Downtown Planning
Symposium" was held at the Royal Canadian Legion
and was attended by over 200 people. The three -day
event included a walking tour and a "fresh eyes" analysis presentation on the first day, Visioning Workshops
on the second and third day, and a final Open House
on the evening of the third day. The key concepts
related to the Vision and Principles for the Downtown
Plan (see Chapter 3.0), as well as the 8 "Big Moves",
all emerged during this first Forum.
In the workshops, the Downtown was divided into

five `Demonstration Sites'. Each group of participants
explored, with pen and paper, a future development
scenario for one of the sites, in keeping with an overarching vision for the site. The "Big Moves" were then
used to inform the development of the Downtown

Concept Plan toward the end of this phase and, sub-
Phase 2 concluded with the January 2008 announcement of a $1 million initial implementation
project intended to visually signal change Downtown,
specifically for the public realm, in the 2008 operating
year. Branded the "WOW" project, it proposed redefining the function and edge of Victoria Park along
12th Avenue to recapture the historic idea of Victoria
Park Square. Forum 1 identified Victoria Park as
the heart of Downtown Regina, and as a key public
space where memorable civic events occur year- round.
Accordingly, the WOW project involves transforming
the portion of 12th Avenue along Victoria Park into
a beautiful year -round programmable space with a

strong pedestrian focus.
Phase 3: Development of Action Plans

Following the establishment of the Vision and
Principles for the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan,
the Consultant Team worked towards creating the
Concept Plan and Draft Action Plans along with associated implementation strategies and tools. This began
to frame the recommendations and ideas generated

from the background research, technical analysis, and
public consultations into a plan and policy structure.
sequently, the "Action Plans" (Phase 3). A newsletter

outlining the outcomes of the forum was distributed
broadly.
FORU
10
1 AT THE R
e.
AT THE KNOX METROPOLITAN CHURCH
Introduction
In March 2008, the Consultant Team conducted a

workshop with the City Project Team specifically
to address transportation planning. Furthermore, a
with 7 different stakeholder groups: developers, business associations, community groups, environment,
special meeting with representatives of the File Hills
evolving draft Plan was also presented to City Council

during a working lunch.
Qu'Appelle Tribal Council was held to identify specific
needs that ought to be recognized in the Downtown

Plan, giving precedence to future actions related to
making Downtown truly for all people. The project
and Consultant Team also met with a representative from GBLUR Centre for Sexuality and Gender
Diversity at the University of Regina to better understand the needs of this group.
In April of 2008, "Forum 2: The Downtown Plan" was
held at the Knox -Metropolitan Church in Downtown
Regina. The three -day forum began with a public
introduction of the draft Downtown Plan, which included a concept drawing and key design moves. The
public was given a variety of opportunities to question
and comment on the draft Downtown Plan through

a series of interactive panels, comment sheets, and
On the second and third days of the Forum, focus

group sessions were held during which the draft
Downtown Plan and draft Action Plans were tested
FORUM 2 REVIEWING DRAFT- Aff1ONS
transportation, heritage, and arts & culture. The
A key outcome of Forum 2 was a list of risks, mitigating actions and critical success factors for successfully
implementing the Plan. A refined list of draft Actions,
and champions for each, was also generated. A second
newsletter outlining the outcomes of Forum 2 was

distributed broadly.
Phase 4: Presentation of Action Plans.

Forum 2 identified the need to conduct further
workshops to help create a Built Form Framework
for Downtown. Workshops were held on June 5,
2008 with City staff, and members of the development and heritage communities, to review and refine
draft recommendations. The Built Form Framework
comprises a significant component of the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan and should function as a tool to
guide future development to ensure that it is in keeping
with the original Vision, Principles, and overall intent
of the Downtown Plan.
FORUM 2 COMMENTING ON DRAFT ACTIONS
officeforurbanism
11
In June of 2008, "Forum 3: Actions and

Implementation" was held at the Knox -Metropolitan
Church. The Consultant Team presented the overall
implementation strategy which included the refined
Action Plans, as categorized under the five themes of
Live, Work, Play, Movement, and Leadership, to a
Phase 5: Final Downtown Plan
public audience of approximately 200 people. Feedback
key stakeholder groups, the Steering Committee, and

City staff. The process of refining the Plan included
a series of meetings held with land owners to assess
the viability and likely impacts of the proposed Built
Form Framework, that resulted in minor adjustments
being made.
was received during an interactive panel session and

Forum 3 provided an additional opportunity to present
the refined Downtown Plan to City Council, whose

enthusiasm had grown for the planning project. A
media event following this meeting gave the opportunity for City Councillors and the Mayor to speak to
the press about the Plan. From July 2008 to August
2008, the Consultant Team worked towards finalizing
the Downtown Plan and writing a draft report. A

third newsletter was also produced which outlined the
outcomes of Forum 3.
FORUM 3 PRESENTATION OF DRAFT ACTIONS
12
A first draft of the Downtown Plan was completed

in August of 2008. It was presented to the project
team and Steering Committee for consideration and
review. Subsequently, the Plan underwent a series of
refinements and revisions as per the involvement of
2.0
Background
Or
ooo
A CITY
IS SHAPED NOT
WALTER H.A. HILL
1878 -1972
BY BRICKS AND MORTAR,
BUT BY THE SPIRIT
AND VISION OF
ITS PEOPLE.
DER J. MCPHA]L
883.1931-
PETER LAMONT
rrr -1941
2.1
Background
2.2
Study Area
The Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan clarifies
Downtown Regina is a completely urbanized area
the future form and function of Downtown Regina
located in the centre of the City of Regina (population

just below 200,000) and is surrounded by the neigh-
for 20 years to come and identifies the strategic actions

necessary to transform it into a dynamic urban centre.
It defines Downtown as the heart of the City of Regina
and as a valuable neighbour to its surrounding neighbourhoods. It recognizes that in order to create a great
Downtown, the value of the existing employment base
to the City must be leveraged; the distinct history and
cultural setting of Downtown must be highlighted;

civic pride must be strengthened; policies must be put
in place to encourage the necessary critical mass for a
mixed -use, live -work environment; and, both public
and private investment will be required.
The Plan considers a complex array of factors that

shape Downtown including, but not limited to the
planning and policy context, the urban fabric and built
form, street patterns and functions, transit and traffic
systems, walking and cycling networks, general land
uses, heritage, arts, culture and society, retail function,
residential population, and pedestrian behaviour.
bourhoods of the Warehouse District to the north,

Centre Square (formerly the Transitional Area) to
the south, Cathedral Area to the west, North Central
neighbourhood to the northwest, and the Core neigh-
bourhood to the east (Figures 1 and 2). Combined,

these neighbourhoods are within the Central Zone
according to the 2001 Neighbourhood Profiles report,
which is roughly the same area defined as the `Inner
City' in the 2006 Regina Development Plan.
The study area includes all parcels of land located inside
of the boundaries formed by the CPR rail line north of
Saskatchewan Drive, Osler Street, 13th Avenue, and

Angus Street. The area includes 40 city blocks created
by a rectilinear grid of streets (Figure 3). This area
is an historic part of the city, containing many of the
early elements that contributed to the identity of the
Township of Regina just prior to its incorporation

in 1882. Victoria Park, the rail station, and various
heritage buildings such as the Hotel Saskatchewan,
the Knox -Metropolitan United Church, and the
Saskatchewan Power building on Victoria Avenue, are
just some contributions from Regina's rich past that

shape its identity today.
14
Background
FIGURE 1 . Downtown Regina within its City -wide context.
Section 2.2: Study Area
officeforurbanism
15
FIGURE 2. City of Regina neighbourhood zones.
West Zone
North Zone
Land was reserved for the Regina townsite by Lt.

Gov. Dewdney on June 30, 1882, and was christened
"Regina" upon the arrival of the first train on August
23, 1882. Regina did not have any formal municipal
status until it was proclaimed (incorporated) as a town
on December 8, 1883. It was incorporated as a city on
June 19, 1903.
Early impressions of Regina were that it was a 'scattered town' or `splayed -out town', with destinations
and important buildings separated well beyond easy
walking distance from each other. Competing interests with regard to the location of the Township and
the location of its services meant that the rail station
and associated `tent' business communities - the North
Central Zone
West Mounted Police barracks (established prior to the
Township's incorporation), the Exhibition Grounds,
Source: 2001 Neighbourhood Profiles report
and the Legislative Building - were decentralized from

the centre of the Town as if each were trying to make its
own statement about where the heart of Regina should
be. Interestingly, although today a concentration of
government functions and services exist in the core, as
well as a strong employment base, cultural amenities

continue to be dispersed throughout the City.
Regina was rooted in societies, sports clubs, and political bodies that formed and conducted the rhythm
of daily life. Regina continued to diversify when
eastern European immigrants created sub -cultures
and communities, such as Germantown (in the Core
neighbourhood), resulting in language schools, religious locales, and business ventures that enriched the
quality of life for new -comers.
16
Background
Political activity increased in Regina as it underwent a

period of self -discovery. In 1905, Regina lobbied the
Province of Saskatchewan to become the Capital of

Saskatchewan and thereafter began a series of land annexations that stretched its boundaries radially around
Downtown. Downtown continued to function as the

main business district in Regina because of its adjacency to the train station.
Downtown Regina has a tremendous opportunity to

be renewed as a pedestrianized, active, and dynamic
Downtown. The walkable scale of the street grid, the
availability of developable land, the beauty of Victoria
Park, and the character created by numerous iconic

buildings are just a few of its great foundational elements upon which to build.
In 1913, Thomas Mawson offered to draft a comprehensive plan for the City, which was "virtually"
completed in the following year. However, the plan
was not formally accepted by the City until 1923. The
City created a town planning board in 1924, comprised of senior municipal officials and members of
the Regina Town Planning Association. The board
prepared a draft zoning bylaw (the City's first), which
was adopted by City Council in 1927.
Planned outward growth and suburban development

over the years, into the northwest and southeast areas
of the city, combined with a popularization of the auto-
mobile, drew residents out of Downtown - amenities

and services followed. Consequently, rather than
functioning as a once mixed -use neighbourhood with
a residential population, Downtown is now largely an
office /commercial area, used mainly by government
and including a few hundred small businesses, shops,
and restaurants. Today, Downtown employs roughly
25,000 professionals, and is home to just under 1,500
residents according to 2006 Census data. This is just
0.8% of the City of Regina's total population.
Section 2.2: Study Area
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Background
2.3
2.3.1
Planning and Policy Context

Provincial Acts
Municipal powers for the City of Regina are listed

under The Cities Act, which stipulates the form of
governance for Saskatchewan municipalities. Powers
related to the planning and development of municipalities, including the responsibility to create an official
plan, are listed under The Planning and Development
Act. Under The Planning and Development Act, the City
is required to have an Official Community Plan, and

the Regina Development Plan, Bylaw No. 7877 fulfils
this requirement.
2.3.2 Regina Official Community Plan Bylaw 7877 Regina Development
social and economic diversity through the provision of

a variety of housing types, public amenities, business
types, and modes of transportation Downtown.
The OCP also prioritizes the redevelopment and

infill development of the Inner City neighbourhoods
through the conversion of vacant land for inner

city residential uses. Development of housing and
niche -market commercial spaces on these lands are
also considered ideal land uses. The OCP further
emphasizes this point by directing compact development along major transit corridors. However, there
is strong direction given to suburban development in
the southeast, southwest, and northwest sectors of the
city. That is, the intent to create a vibrant Downtown
exists, but supporting policies are absent.
Plan
PART A: Official Community Plan (OCP)

Land use is directed by the Regina Official Community
Plan (Bylaw 7877, Regina Development Plan), including neighbourhood or sector plans found in the OCP.
The OCP provides a comprehensive policy framework
to guide the physical, environmental, social and cul-
tural development of the City or parts of the City.

Under section 40(1) of The Planning and Development
Act, the OCP is binding on Council and no development may be approved or carried out in the City that
is contrary to the OCP.
Neighbourhood Plans apply to areas considered to be
part of the `Inner City', whereas the northwest and

southeast, and southwest sector plans apply to areas
outside the Inner City in which new neighbourhoods
should form (Figure 4).
The principal policy objective of the OCP is to stimulate city development that will highlight Regina as the
Capital of Saskatchewan. The OCP strongly emphasizes
the importance of Downtown as the economic and cultural hub of Regina and emphasis is placed on achieving
OCP objectives are to be met by recognizing existing

clusters and /or directing the geographic clustering of
services within service corridors such as the "knowledge corridor ". Allusion is made towards the creation
of an "arts corridor," tied closely with the knowledge
corridor. Furthermore, the neighbourhood and sector
plans provide more detailed objectives and aim to

protect unique functions and characteristics of stable
Inner City neighbourhoods.
There are also provisions for environmental protection
of open spaces (natural and manicured), waste management, and energy conservation. The OCP provides
guidelines for the design and management of public

spaces (mainly roadways and arterial streets) to create and
enhance gateway views into the city and to Downtown.
PART G: Downtown Plan

Downtown is currently governed by Part G of the RDP.
The policy framework within this Regina Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan is intended to replace the existing Part G, providing the policies and objectives that
will govern and guide future development and investment Downtown over the next 20 years.
Section 2.3: Planning and Policy Context 19
Itofficeforurbanism
FIGURE 4. Growth strategy by neighbourhoods as defined in the Regina Development Plan directs 75% of growth towards the
northwest, southwest, and southeast sectors, and 25% towards infill development throughout the municipality.
\fro
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North
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24
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LEGEND
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Background
2.3.3 Downtown Zoning

Zoning for Downtown will be amended in the Zoning
2.3.5 Other Relevant Documents,

Policies, and Strategies
Bylaw No. 9250 to conform to the new Downtown
To date, there has not been a comprehensive neigh-
Plan.
In particular, zoning will be amended to
conform to the Public Realm Framework and Built
bourhood plan prepared for Downtown such as

the one presented in this document. A Downtown
Form Framework requirements of the amended OCP.
study prepared for the City of Regina and Regina's

Market Square (now the Regina Downtown Business
2.3.4 Other Relevant Bylaws

These are additional bylaws that operate within
ImprovementDistrict) provides a favourable Downtown

vision, much of it still echoed in this Plan, but focuses
only on land uses such as retail, office, residential, and
education without much consideration given to systems
of movement (transit, traffic, cycling, pedestrianism),
governance and leadership issues, urban design, and
arts and culture, all of which are also essential components of a comprehensive neighbourhood plan. Other
documents that have relevant policies, guidelines, and
recommendations for Downtown include:
Downtown.
Building Bylaw 2003 -7

The Building Bylaw regulates building construction
pursuant to The Uniform Building and Accessibility

Standards Act and The Cities Act. It applies to "the
design, construction and occupancy of new buildings
and the alteration, reconstruction, demolition, removal,
relocation and occupancy of existing buildings."
Maintenance Bylaw 2008 -48

Mandated in The Cities Act, the Maintenance Bylaw
aims to ensure safe and tidy neighbourhoods by setting
Heritage Design Guidelines, 2007

Open Space Management Strategy, 2006
Regina Urban Forest Management

Strategy, 2000
minimum maintenance standards of properties for

tenants and for property owners. Implementation and
management of the Bylaw occurs through community
reporting and City inspection.
Plan for the City of Regina's

Bikeway Network, 2002
Regina Road Network Plan, 2005
Municipal Heritage Holding Bylaw 8912

This bylaw is officially known as "A Bylaw of the
City of Regina to Deny a Permit for the Alteration
or Demolition of Properties that the Council of the
City of Regina May Wish to Designate as Municipal
Heritage Properties." Potential heritage properties are
protected from demolition under a 60 -day holding

period to allow the City to assess the heritage merits of
the property and to review alternatives to demolition.
Scarth Street Mall Enhancement Study, 1990

Regina Downtown Parking Study, 1983
Regina Street Enhancement, 2006
The Future of Housing in Regina Laying the Groundwork, 2000

Downtown Area Residential Development:
A Framework for Action, 1989
Itofficeforurbanism
Regina Knowledge Corridor

Strategic Plan, 2002
Wascana Centre Master Plan, 2006

13th Avenue Commercial Study, 1985
2.3.6 Relevant Existing Incentives

Affecting Development and Land
Inner City Housing Stimulation Strategy

(ICHSS)
(Applies to surrounding neighbourhoods)
Property tax exemptions over a 5 -year period for new

owner -occupied (non- rental) houses in the Inner City.
A recent discussion paper recommends the inclusion
of multi -unit rental projects (up to four units, with

one occupied by the owner) and affordable housing,
and the provision of tax exemptions on land as well
as on buildings, to increase the number of eligible
projects in areas that need the most stimulation.
Use
Municipal Incentive Policy for the

Preservation of Heritage Properties
This policy offers property tax exemption for up to 8
years for properties designated as Municipal Heritage
Property Downtown.
2.3.7 Other Programs for Community

Development
Civic Arts Funding Program
The Civic Arts Funding Program is designed to
Transit Pass Program
support Saskatchewan -based non -profit arts organizations serving Regina to "establish themselves, enhance
(Zoning Bylaw Ch.14 s.7.5) For a new or expanding

administrative or manufacturing building that requires
their services, and provide their programming to the

community." An application to the fund can be made
40 or more parking spaces and is within 76.2 metres of a

street served by Regina Transit, the minimum parking
requirement may be reduced by 2.5 parking spaces for
every five transit passes, reduced by at least 50 %, provided to employees in a proposed structure for a minimum
(ii) Community Arts, (iii) Special Projects, or (iv)

Contingency (emergencies, projects occurring after
annual deadline). Funds are awarded on the basis of
under one offour categories: (i) Ongoing Programming,
artistic merit and organizational capacity.
of five years, or duration of business establishment.
Festival Funding Program
Downtown Residential Tax Incentives

Program
(Applies to properties identedin Part GofRDP, orD zone)
Tax exemption for up to 5 years for residential condo

and rental projects. The exemption applies to land
and building assessment and commences January 1 of
the year following the approval of the application and
commencement of the development project.
22
The Festival Funding Program provides funds for cultural and /or artistic festivals /events that are open to
the general public and that promote an awareness and
appreciation for an arts or cultural theme. Applicants
must be a Saskatchewan -based non -profit organization and funding is based on organizational capacity.
Background
Community Capital Partnership Program

(formerly Self Help Program)
The Community Capital Partnership Program,
formerly called the Self -Help Program, assists community based non -profit organizations to initiate
capital projects that will improve the organizations'
stability and increase service delivery capacity in the
areas of arts, culture, heritage, recreation, and sports
for Regina residents.
Hosting Assistance Program

This program is designed to encourage organizations
to host amateur championship events in Regina, assisting non -profit community organizations with the
facility and equipment rental fees for championship
competitions held in the city.
Urban Aboriginal Community Grant

Program
The Urban Aboriginal Community Grant Program
assists non -profit community organizations in the
development and provision of sport, culture, and
recreation programs for aboriginal people living in
Regina, to improve physical fitness and to provide
learning opportunities.
Social Development Community

Investment Program
This program is designed to assist Regina -based
non -profit organizations to deliver social services for
individuals and families who are vulnerable and living
in Regina by providing funding to enable agencies to
develop and implement effective services that address
priority social issues and needs.
Itofficeforurbanism
2.4
Conditions, Constraints & Opportunities
The City of Regina has a dramatic presence in the

prairie landscape. The carefully laid -out inner city
neighbourhoods with their tree -lined streets are a
testament to an environment that is both deliberate
and relatively recent. Wascana Centre, with its varied
and breathtaking parks, further points to a history in
Regina of long -term visioning, planning, and place making.
2.4.1 Opportunities
Regina as the capital city - its role as a ceremonial and

gathering centre; the focus of government; a location
for regional corporate headquarters.
Concentration of government and ofice employment uses
Downtown - an extraordinary concentration for a

Downtown too has a dramatic presence. It has a well
developed skyline that has continued to evolve and
change over time, and a diverse assortment of modern
buildings. Unfortunately, certain aspects of change
have come at a cost. Whereas the Downtown of yesteryear was the heart of the city, with bustling sidewalks
and diverse businesses and institutions, today a significant amount of land is dedicated to parking cars.
An examination of existing conditions was conducted
using map analyses, photo interpretation, policy review,
background document reviews, traffic modelling,
and stakeholder interviews. The existing conditions
analysis revealed a set of constraints towards a thriving Downtown environment as well as a set of general
opportunities for improvement.
city of Regina's scale; provides a tremendous daytime

population.
Diverse historic neighbourhoods - adjacent neighbourhoods are planned on a grid, and have populations that
are loyal to the Downtown and that use Downtown

amenities.
Beautiful Wascana Centre- is a tremendous recreational
asset for all of Regina, but in particular for Downtown,
where people living at higher densities in the future

will benefit most from it.
The grid - a compact and walkable Downtown results

from an intact, well -connected, fine -grained street
network.
Victoria Park - a central oasis, just the right size for

Downtown; has the potential to evolve, adding people,
activity, and amenity to become the Regina's main

square.
Cultural activities - potential to develop cultural partnerships and programs given the interest of the arts
community in playing an active role in its future.
24
Background
Significant opportunity areas - Broad Street, Albert

Street, and Saskatchewan Drive are today underutilized; with imagination and commitment, they can
Under -investment in the public realm - there has been

little investment in the past 20 years; past investment
has been of an inconsistent character and quality.
transform to places of vitality and value.

Remaining heritage - needs to be protected and revitalized: these jewels exist only here. There is a significant
Car -oriented infrastructure - Downtown is designed

for cars: wide roads, wide lanes, one -way streets, an
stock of heritage properties that creates a distinct
abundance of surface and structured parking, few

pedestrian crosswalks or signals, and weak transit
character in Downtown.
infrastructure.
2.4.2 Constraints
Engrained social patterns - Downtown is no longer the
heart of the action - people do not expect to live, to

dine, or to be entertained Downtown; new development has not necessarily focused on quality; people
Car -oriented culture - despite Downtown Regina's

compact and walkable scale, a car -oriented culture
is evident in the travelling behaviour of those who
work Downtown and in Downtown's overall physical form. Parking structures and surface parking lots
dominate views, and negatively impact the pedestrian
experience.
expect to drive everywhere.
A limited residential population Downtown - while em-
Decentralized civic and cultural institutions - Regina has

not developed a critical mass of important arts, culture,
ployment uses remain strong, the limited residential

population, combined with the dispersal of arts and
cultural institutions throughout the city (as opposed
and retail facilities and activities in the Downtown;

rather, these amenities are scattered throughout the
to being clustered in the Downtown), results in a

Downtown that is underutilized on evenings and
city and currently best accessed by driving.
weekends. This constrains the viability of the restau-
The railway divide - crossings are limited and are

designed for vehicles; they make poor connections
city.
rants, services, and specialty retail which ought to

distinguish the Downtown from other parts of the
between Downtown and important areas to the north

(the Warehouse District and Mosaic Stadium) from
which pedestrian movement into the Downtown

should take place.
Section 2.4: Conditions, Constraints & Opportunities
officeforurbanism
25
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The centre of employment, entertainment, and shopping for the city.
People on the streets during the day and evening.

Few gaps. Clear connections between Downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Lower scale buildings created continuous defined streetscapes.
Landmark buildings on Victoria Park.
26
...and
now
The centre of employment only.
Downtown empties out after 5 p.m.
Gaps in the urban fabric for parking lots. Abrupt transitions to surrounding neighbourhoods.
Tall buildings without continuous streetscapes. Significant amounts of heritage demolished.
Mature skyline with more landmark buildings. Some tall buildings not of landmark quality.
Section 2.4: Conditions, Constraints & Opportunities
officeforurbanism
27
The Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan
.4
The Importance of a Great Downtown
3.1
"We shape our buildings, and afterwards our

buildings shape us ". - Winston Churchill
Great cities have great Downtowns.
A great
Downtown is memorable and dramatic; life is played
out on its streets. A great Downtown is the drum that
sets the rhythm of the city; there is a unique tune to
every place. A great Downtown draws people in; it
inspires, energizes, and tells the story of the people
who inhabit it - their dreams, aspirations, where they
have been, and who they are becoming.
Downtown, in a multitude of ways, is the heart of the
city. It is the preeminent civic, cultural, and com-
mercial district. Urbanists, architects, sociologists,

environmentalists, philosophers, and countless public
intellectuals alike have observed that an intelligently
designed Downtown fosters the development of the
most resilient and creative community in the city; one
characterized by elements acting individually and in
combination, that engender and sustain a high quality
In an era in which we are increasingly becoming aware

of the unsustainable nature of suburban, sprawling, automobile dependent environments, great Downtowns
offer both an ancient and a new hope: a place where we
can live in safe communities that allow us to undertake
all of the activities of daily life - work, school, leisure on a smaller geographical footprint and on foot.
Downtown Regina's opportunity is to become the
great destination of Regina. By developing a truly

pedestrian- oriented environment that is also unique
from the rest of the city, living life on foot becomes
a luxurious opportunity for all. The Downtown Plan
offers a Vision for an alternative lifestyle that is more
active and interactive; more entertaining and stimulating; more diverse and yet more identifiable as the
national and international icon of the City.
of life.
Thriving Downtown areas facilitate vibrant cultural

activities and commerce, attract tourists, incubate
local independent businesses, accommodate a variety
of lifestyle choices, make efficient use of existing municipal services and infrastructure, and offer a place for
all to be. These attributes are unique to well designed
Downtown areas because Downtowns have the necessary density of people, mix of uses, variety of activities,
pedestrian charm, built quality, and sense of place that
enables this vitality.
Section 3.1 : The Importance of a Great Downtown 31
Itofficeforurbanism
3.2
Elements of a Successful Downtown Regina
3.2.1 Embracing the Winter City

During Regina's cold winter months there seems to be a
propensity for people to hibernate - one leaves a heated
house, and goes into a heated car, to a parking garage,
then walks through a heated pedway and into a heated
building - all without ever having to wear a winter

jacket and taking one breath outside! Consequently,
the streets of Downtown Regina are bare.
It is possible to have active streets year -round in a

winter city. To do so it is necessary to embrace winter
weather. In winter cities where winter is respected and
celebrated, people prepare for winter by wearing proper
weather protection, and by designing uses, open space
systems, and forms of movement that acknowledge

the need for frequent moments of reprieve from the
weather.
The urban environment must comfortably accommodate people on the streets in all seasons. This can be
achieved though the effective and efficient maintenance of the streets such as removing snow from all
sidewalks and roads. It can also be addressed through
urban design measures that mitigate wind, snow and
cold, as well as through building designs and land use
planning decisions that explicitly seek to shelter people
from winter conditions.
32
For example, providing a continuous building frontage at the edge of a street, with awnings that shelter
a sidewalk, as well as multiple entrances, is a significantly different winter condition, with less negative
impacts, than walking through surface parking lots
(which provide no shelter and provide no opportunity
for reprieve). It is possible to plan to minimize these
negative experiences, thereby making the winter city
less harsh.
Providing spaces that can be used for winter celebration is essential to creating a culture that uses winter to
define its distinction. Flexible civic spaces that can be
programmed for festivals year -round exist elsewhere.
Great Canadian cities host outdoor winter festivals,
such as Winnipeg's Festival du Voyageur, Ottawa's
Winterlude, and the Quebec Winter Carnival. These
festivals are celebrations, important tourist attractions, and cultural rituals - and they usually take place
within the city's Downtown.
3.2.2 A Resilient and Diverse Residential

Population
Many cities across North America have recognized
the tremendous demand for Downtown living,

particularly by the increasing number of young professionals, empty nesters, and students who desire to
live in proximity to employment, unique shops, theatres, museums, bars, and restaurants. Most thriving
Downtowns are comprised of such a demographic.
A Downtown neighbourhood provides a stable critical mass of people who in turn provide a market for
retail districts, commercial office space, entertainment
venues, and recreational destinations. This critical
mass should be comprised of a diversity of people
characterized by a range of ages and socio- economic
groups, thereby making it feasible to establish a high
diversity of activities, niche -markets, and service
options Downtown.
To support a diverse residential neighbourhood, a

variety of housing types and employment opportunities are also necessary, as are neighbourhood amenities
such as public schools. The housing stock should allow
residents from all income levels to live Downtown at
any point in their life cycle. Diverse residential neighbourhoods in proximity to Downtown will benefit from
nearby shopping, entertainment, and dining options.

Correspondingly, Downtown areas will benefit from
the supplementary influx of pedestrian traffic supplied

by adjacent neighbourhood inhabitants, and by transit
users who are attracted to the activities, shops, and

other amenities Downtown.
3.2.3 Inviting Public Spaces

Designed correctly, public spaces provide opportunities for improving the quality of life for those that
work, live, and visit Downtown. Public spaces inspire
people to walk and to linger Downtown. They offer
opportunities for reinvestment; serve as the primary
locations for civic assembly to celebrate, protest or
mourn; accommodate a variety of seasonal events including concerts, festivals and artisan displays; provide
a safe and inviting locale; and, offer ground floor

retail activity opportunities in adjacent surrounding
buildings.
3.2.4 A Clear Identity

A Downtown becomes memorable when it possesses
a clear visual identity; an identity that functions as a
symbol of place and of city.
Identity is a part of the distinction of a place, and

thereby attracts people to live, work, and play.
Protecting and enhancing the authentic, unique, and
memorable qualities that distinguish an area and
define its identity, such as heritage, natural features,
and architecture are a cornerstone of placemaking.
Section 3.2: Elements of a Successful Downtown Regina
officeforurbanism
33
Architectural landmarks not only contribute to creating

a sense of place and history through distinctive details,
materials and spaces, they also offer opportunities for
adaptive reuse and integration into the Downtown

They increase economic value for residential
tenants and business owners alike, and become tourist
attractions. The city's built form, as can be described
through the skyline, is a key part of its visual identity.
The unique mix of heritage buildings in a Downtown
setting tell the story of a place over time, a story that is
as specific and unique as the visible historic fabric.
fabric.
Identity can be heightened through a distinctive way finding and signage strategy that connects destinations
within Downtown and allows for convenient navigation between places.
3.2.5 Pedestrian -Oriented

Walking is the most affordable, equitable, and sustainable of all forms of transportation and is essential both
as a means of movement and as a form of recreation.
It should be supported by the built form of the urban
3.2.6 Appropriate Density

In order for a range of commercial, institutional, and
cultural amenities, as well as public transit, to be viable
Downtown, a critical mass of people are required. If

densities are too low, businesses will not survive. If
densities are too high, or inappropriately configured
throughout an urban landscape, infrastructure will be
insufficient and new development will detract from,
rather than contribute to, the urban fabric. More
specifically, if too much density is accommodated on
limited sites in the short -term, many other sites that
are currently "gaps" within the urban fabric will not
be developed in the near term. As such, appropriate
density needs to be accommodated in an appropriate
form in order to create vibrant streetscapes and inter-
environment, as well as with safe and comfortable

connections between Downtown destinations. This
esting public places.
will inspire people to walk.
When gaps in the urban fabric are filled, walking
Quality of life and community development is associated with, and directly affected by, pedestrian activity.
Pedestrian -oriented urban places are critical, as they
generate a lively streetscape and reason for people to interact with each other and contribute to the landscape
of civic life. Local businesses and restaurants located
in an urban setting rely on the walk-by pedestrian
34
customer for the success of their livelihood. By locating commercial amenities within walking distances, it
becomes possible to shape the built environment and
social infrastructure in a way that enhances pedestrian
movement, and ultimately reduces the dependence on
the automobile for short journeys.
becomes more desirable. There is interest, amenity,

and activity for the pedestrian. Distances seem shorter,
weather is easier to mitigate, and the likelihood of

interacting with others increases. Determining the appropriate density for any urban environment should be
linked to an assessment of the critical mass of people
required, anticipated growth rates, and the amount of
infill necessary to begin to create a continuous public
realm.
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Accessible Movement Options
3.2.7 A Creative Sector Anchor
3.2.8
Creative sectors include the industries related to the

visual arts, performing arts, knowledge -based sectors
(such as academia and technical professions), hospitality and tourism, and of course, the commercial sector.
An important consideration with regard to developing

a complete, walkable, dense, and vibrant Downtown is
the improvement of transit service to truly become supportive of a more active Downtown. Regular, reliable,
These symbiotic industries are recognized as a key
and convenient transit service will allow new resi-
driving force for economic development in urban environments. Further, the clustering - in which people,
dents to choose to live a car -free lifestyle Downtown,

and will enable visitors to come Downtown without
industries, employment opportunities and interests

locate in proximity to one another - of these professions is recognised to be essential to the economic
automobiles, to enjoy the character, amenities and

activities of Downtown on foot, and to support local
businesses.
health of cities, and their regions.
Creative clustering allows individuals to interact as

a community and to succeed both as individuals and
as a cluster. Private businesses, small entrepreneurial
initiatives, cultural organizations, non -profit organizations, and individuals involved in all stages of the
creative process, ranging from full time workers to
freelancers, all benefit from clustering Downtown,
due to shared interests and synergies. The existence
and close proximity of different kinds of contributors
A key impact of improved transit will be to reduce the

need for surface parking Downtown, allowing existing lots to be redeveloped. The reduction of surface
parking lots Downtown will fill gaps in the public

realm, and new development will contribute to the
further improvement of Downtown's character and
physical coherence, attracting new residents who in
turn will support enhanced amenity and create an increasingly vibrant environment.
in the creative sector produces a wide range of creative

and cultural goods and services, leading to innovation
and contributing to the Downtown identity.
Downtowns should strive to become an anchor for

the creative community which is recognized by many
to be the core force of growth in our future economy.
The synergies and benefits of becoming a creative

sector anchor are many. These include added value for
commerce and housing; job creation, retention and expansion in desirable sectors which in -turn propagate
a desirable built form and sense of place; and, establishing Downtown as a hub for talent and tremendous
economic development potential.
Section 3.2: Elements of a Successful Downtown Regina
officeforurbanism
35
Vision and Principles
3.3
The Vision statement establishes the rationale for the
Downtown Regina will also be a cultural hub,

a place where residents from across the city
and tourists alike come to meet one another, to
experience beauty in an urban setting, to visit
Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, to which

all Action Plans, directions, and recommendations
have been based. This is a statement espoused by the
public and reflects the desired outcome of this Plan.
Future developments Downtown will be reviewed for
consistency with the Vision and Principles that follow
(Section 3.3.1 and 3.3.2).
galleries, to attend events, to access services, to

shop at one -of -a -kind specialty retail stores and
to dine at one -of -a -kind restaurants. It will be a
place where entrepreneurship flourishes.
As a result of building standards that promote
Vision Statement
3.3.1
In 20 years, Downtown Regina will be a new

complete neighbourhood with a community of
people from all walks of life who thrive in an
active, accessible, green and historic urban
setting, and who, if they choose, are able to walk
to work.
environmental sustainability and a high - quality
living environment, as well as urban design

investments that seek to create an exceptional
public realm, the Downtown, as the central place
for all Reginans, will be a place of distinction and
beauty.
This neighbourhood will include families, students, older and young adults, empty nesters and
professionals, and will be sustained by a strong
employment, retail, and commercial base.
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3.3.2
Principles
actions and policies, and are also rooted in every one
Eleven Principles stem from the Vision for Downtown
Regina. These Principles are very much in keeping

with the necessary elements of a great Downtown,
but have been fundamentally informed by the public
consultation process. The Principles function as a
guiding framework to ensure that the Vision is clearly
of the Big Moves. More importantly, these Principles

must be taken as a whole. All of these Principles, in
equal measure, must be respected to fulfil the Vision.
The Principles are the most static part of the Plan and
should be used to guide decision -making over the long
term.
translated into the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan
For all Regina

Downtown should be integral and integrated with the
city and region, a welcome social gathering place for all of
Regina.
A Complete, Livable Community

Downtown should be a neighbourhood where people live,
work, meet, stroll, shop, congregate, observe, play, and worship.
Gorgeous
Downtown should be a source of civic pride, with a strong
identity.
Section 3.3: Vision and Principles
officeforurbanism
37
,
-----....
4
5
9
h.r
I i'
Connected
Downtown should connect to surrounding
neighbourhoods and to the activities within.
Dynamic
Downtown should be animated and vibrant 24 / 7 / 12.
Built form should encourage small enterprises, different scaled spaces and a mix of uses.
A Hub
,Rr!
A'c
/
Downtown should be a centre of arts, culture, creativity,

innovation and knowledge, and an incubator for artists
and entrepreneurs.
AR!
Walkable + Multi -modal

Downtown should offer a built form and open space
system that encourages people to walk and enables
transportation options.
8
38
Safe
Downtown should be an environment where people feel
safe and welcome, providing "eyes on the street ", animation and clear pedestrian environments.
Healthy
Downtown should foster healthy lifestyles and sustainable
environments.
Accessible, Inclusive and

Diverse
Downtown should be open to all, and should

foster a diversity of uses, people, activities, and
living choices.
11
Adaptive Re -use
Downtown should build upon its unique
identity and heritage: buildings, streets, and
landscapes.
The Best Place to Invest

Downtown Regina is, and should continue to
be, the best place to invest both private and
public sector dollars. New commercial development - office, retail, and services - are
welcome and will be supported.
Section 3.3: Vision and Principles
officeforurbanism
39
3.4
The 8 Big Moves
Downtown Regina's Big Moves are the driving ideas

for change that form the basis for the proposed Public
Realm Framework, the Built Form Framework, and
the subsequent Action Plans. They are tangible concepts that bring the Vision and Principles to life. The
Big Moves assimilate recurring comments and suggestions from the public and are the justification for future
actions and implementation strategies laid out in later
chapters of this Regina Downtown Neighbourhood
Plan.
40
Walk to Work
A Downtown that is defined and framed by
residential neighbourhoods.
Regina is an exceptional place - exceptional because it bucked the trend,
embraced sustainability and became one of the first medium -sized cities
in Canada to provide a big -city opportunity - the opportunity to own one
less car, to use active transportation as a primary way of moving about.
Stop and say hello to your neighbours, grab a coffee, get some exercise
and know that you are doing something to address climate change - all
as you walk to work. Downtown Regina should accommodate 25% of
the city's annual residential growth, creating the critical mass of people
neccessary for a vibrant lifestyle.
The City Square

Victoria Park is the jewel, the organizing
element of the City.
Victoria Park is the City Square, the community living room of

Downtown core, a place that is symbolic of "Regina the Queen City ",
beautiful, active, vibrant, connected, and inspirational. It is the starting
point in the city - every design move, every programmatic initiative,
builds on the geography of Victoria Park and emanates outwards. It is
embedded within an identifiable historic district that tells the story of
the city through buildings, furnishings, the character of the streets,

and public art.
Section 3.4: The 8 Big Moves 41
officeforurbanism
Pedestrians First
All streets designed for walking.
Streets for walking are streets with wide sidewalks; with pedestrian
amenities such as lighting and benches; and, with great buildings
that interest pedestrians, make them feel safe, and offer them opportunities to take shelter from the cold and to interact with the city.
4A Green Zone
A well maintained urban forest that adds
seasonal ambience and urban wildlife
habitat.
Every street is a warm and inviting public space lined with lush trees
that bring warmth and life back into Downtown, in all seasons.
Aside from creating beautiful views, the trees offer shaded places to
rest or walk under, they recharge the air, and provide friendly urban
wildlife habitat. Green roofs and community gardens add a level of
sustainability to the urban landscape and buildings are retrofitted for
energy efficiency.
A Cycling Culture
Cultivate and support cycling as a viable
means to move about.
Every street has been designed with the cyclist in mind. Broad
cycling paths provide a key clue: this is a great city in which to cycle.
Employers encourage cyclists by providing the amenities they need
such as safe bike storage and showers, and reward them with incentives. The City hosts an Annual Bike to Work Week, closing some
roads for cyclists and holding celebrations in the park.
42
6Exceptional Public Transit

A Downtown that is best accessed by public
transit.
Public transit is the best motorized way to get to work, school, or to
shop and play. Public transit is a tool that links the diverse destinations of the city through direct routes that are as efficient as other
modes of travel.
7Friendly Faades
Existing buildings, at grade level,
remediated to create a lively, animated
pedestrian realm.
Following the lead of the Atlantis Coffee site, existing buildings that
do not support the experience of the pedestrian will be transformed
to enhance it. The Cornwall Centre, on all sides, will be opened to
the street; existing parking structures will be transformed to have

active uses at grade; and, office buildings will have greater transparency at the street.
8Festival Places
Create places for gathering, to allow
arts and culture to flourish and to be
celebrated.
The transformed portion of 12th Avenue adjacent to Victoria Park
will act as the new festival and market street that includes the width
of the street and both sidewalks, from park edge to the building
faces, and will contribute to a renewed concept of the WOW Project.
Queen Elizabeth II Court will become a ceremonial space for formal
events and year -round civic celebrations, and together with the
WOW Project will clearly mark the festival centre and cultural heart
of Downtown.
Section 3.4: The 8 Big Moves 43
officeforurbanism
Map 1. Concept Plan
44
3.5
Conceptual Neighbourhood Plan
This Conceptual Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

demonstrates one possible outcome of the Vision and
Big Moves. It illustrates the inter -relationship between
streetscape improvements, a new public open space

strategy, defined new gateways and the full build -out
of currently vacant or under -built sites.
KEY DESIGN MOVES

1.
Victoria Park is the focaI point of Downtown and

is surrounded by active uses.
10. Broad sidewalks and double row of trees for

Saskatchewan Drive, Broad Street and Albert
Street.
2.
Plaza treatment extends the WOW Project and

roads can be closed to host additional festivals
and events.
3.
Unique streetscape in heritage core (Victoria

Park area) and in front of other historic
buildings.
4.
Pedestrian Linkage from Queen Elizabeth II

Court to Victoria Park.
5.
Queen Elizabeth II Court animated with active

edges including caf spill -out, engaging
summer and winter water features and a variety
of amenities.
11
Possible new high quality transit shelters along a

transit hub waiting area.
12. Create a train station park, in the location of

the historic park.
13. Near -term conversion to two -way east -west
streets.
14. Pedestrian crosswalks at all Downtown

intersections.
15. Bike lanes on key Downtown streets.
16. Special crosswalks at intersections along

Victoria Avenue.
6.
Friendly faade treatments throughout

Downtown, particularly on all public buildings.
7.
Gateway treatments into Downtown can include

public art.
17. Reinstate grand landscaping treatment for

Victoria Avenue.
8.
Pedestrian linkage to Taylor Field /Evraz Place

(Dewdney Avenue Corridor).
18. New or revitalized pocket parks (shown as

conceptual; locations to be determined).
9.
Possible small pocket parks, or building

features, at the termini of north -south streets.
Section 3.5: Conceptual Neighbourhood Plan
officeforurbanism
45
4.0
Public Realm
Framework
47
REGINA
downtown plan
4.1
The Public Realm Framework is the general plan that

defines and guides the implementation of the Regina
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan with respect to the
existing and potential elements of Downtown that are
primarily in public ownership. This includes public
uses, all public open spaces and streetscapes. The
Public Realm Framework shapes the most prominent
and visible aspects of the urban environment, and
therefore determines the character and the quality of
the experience of Downtown.
Consistent with the Vision for Downtown Regina,
the purpose of this Framework is to ensure that the
quality and character of the public realm will enhance
Downtowns livability, economic vitality, aesthetic
quality and pedestrian environment. The key objective of the Public Realm Framework is to develop a
legible, coherent, and appealing physical environment.
This is accomplished by identifying and coordinating
improvements to the public realm in keeping with the
Vision.
By articulating the objectives for the public realm that
are necessary for bringing the long-term Vision to fruition, this Framework serves as the primary guide for
informing and making decisions with respect to capital
improvements and strategies. The City of Regina must
lead by example, creating a splendid public realm that
exhibits the highest quality in design and materials.
Reginas leadership must extend beyond the physical
48
infrastructure to include regular maintenance and

upkeep (such as snow removal), programming of public
spaces, and monitoring and enforcement. Together,
these actions will set a high standard for public spaces
Downtown, providing public benefit and inspiring
private investment to follow suit.
The components that comprise the Public Realm
Framework are:

Creating a Successful Public Realm (Section

4.2)
Streetscape Typologies (Section 4.3)
Open Spaces (Section 4.4)
Visual Prominence (Section 4.5)
Each component is a strategy on its own and contains

detailed guidelines that make reference to specific
locations, streets and typologies.
4.2
Creating a Successful Public Realm
4.2.1 Safety
How the public realm is designed, programmed, and

interfaces with surrounding streets and land uses is
crucial to its capacity to attract and delight a broad
spectrum of users and to ensuring that it is a place
where people feel safe and comfortable. Accordingly,
principles that build on Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design (CPTED) are to be applied to
all public open spaces Downtown.
Include a variety of activities and a mix of

surrounding uses to facilitate constant public
use and/or surveillance of the space in all
hours and seasons.
Ensure clear views of surrounding areas of

streets and open spaces.
Incorporate adequate lighting to ensure all

areas of circulation, entrance, and connection
are lit.
Use legible signs and orienting devices such

as landmarks and pathways.
CPTED is a proactive crime prevention strategy utilized by planners, architects, police services, security
professionals and everyday users of space. It is a strategy used around the world and operates on common
sense. CPTED advocates the proper design and effective use of the built environment to lead to a reduction
in the incidence and fear of crime, and to the overall
improvement of quality of life.
Building upon CPTED, the following are key principles for all public realm design:

Provide active building frontages facing

public spaces, including entries and windows,
to ensure peoples eyes are on the space,
thus enhancing the sense of safety and
discouraging inappropriate behaviour.
Facilitate active uses within public spaces

including sidewalk patios, outdoor displays,
buskers, festivals, and the like.
Design the public realm to enable ease of

access and egress and avoid the creation of
entrapment spots that are not highly visible
or well-used.
Section 4.2: Creating a Successful Public Realm
49
REGINA
downtown plan
4.2.2 Wayfinding
Wayfinding orients all users of Downtown to ensure
they are able to move with ease and confidence. All
elements of the public realm and built environment
have the potential to contribute to this orientation.
Wayfinding tools include signs, graphic communications, spatial markers, streetscape elements, building
design, the street network and space planning. All
elements should work together to ensure that routes
are easily understood and navigated, and destinations
are clear. The public realm framework is designed to
contribute to clear wayfinding, such as designing for
visual prominence, and providing unique streetscape
treatments. These approaches are useful for both
residents and visitors.
Of particular assistance to visitors are graphic communications, including street signs, directional signage
and maps. Downtown Regina should establish a
continuity of signs throughout, with all key cultural
destinations identified by signage and maps. This may
require the co-ordination or redesign of signage for
transit.
FIGURE 5. Wayfinding tool for pedestrians
50
Refer to Downtown Regina Built Form

Framework (Section 5) for the design of
landmark buildings, building entrances,
corners, setbacks and other techniques for
ensuring built form reinforces a clearly
navigable environment.
Ensure street signs are easily legible for

pedestrians and vehicles. Ensure building
addressing is clearly seen from the street for
all buildings.
Design public spaces and landscapes to

maintain and reinforce views of landmark
buildings, public art, and open spaces.
4.2.3 Accessibility
Downtown Regina should promote barrier-free accessibility for all users throughout, particularly to improve
opportunities for employment and education. This includes careful attention to navigation: smooth grading
of surfaces, clear routes, and obvious wayfinding cues.

Ground surfaces should be stable, firm, and

slip-resistant, and have smooth transitions in
level.
Circulation routes and building entrances

should be barrier free and utilize contrasting
materials, textures and/or colours for visual
guidance. Locate trees, poles, benches, utilities
and other streetscape elements outside of
main circulation routes.
Provide flat areas at building entrances,

crosswalks, transit stops, and other waiting
areas.
Ensure all pedestrian spaces including

sidewalks, walkways, crosswalks, and open
spaces are linked in a continuous network and
provide connections to buildings, parking, and
transit, that are also wheel chair accessible.
All public spaces and all wayfinding signage

should be well lit at night.
Encourage universal design principles for new

developments and redevelopment projects.
Extensive snow clearing is required to

maintain surfaces for pedestrians, cyclists,
strollers and wheelchairs throughout winter
months.
FIGURE 6. Maps increase the accessibility of places by helping

pedestrians to navigate to them
Section 4.2: Creating a Successful Public Realm
51
REGINA
downtown plan
Saskatchewa
n Drive
Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
Victoria Avenue
13th Avenue
Grand Avenue
Primary Downtown Street
Secondary Downtown Street
Map 2. Streetscape Typologies

Grand Avenue
52
Primary Downtown Street
Secondary Downtown Street
4.3
Streetscape Typologies
4.3.1 Purpose & Objectives

The design of streetscapes is intended to enhance the
Downtown experience and nurture a culture of walking.
Streets are the primary component of the public realm
and supplement the open space network by providing
pedestrian and green amenities. Downtown streets
also function as access routes to key services for rural
Saskatchewan, and maintaining Downtown permeability through the conservation of street functions
is important in this regard. Streetscapes strengthen
precinct and heritage area identities and reinforce
visual and physical connections across Downtown
and to adjacent neighbourhoods. Buildings play an
important role in shaping the character of the street,
and the Public Realm Framework has been designed
to reinforce this relationship.
The use of space within the public right of way should
reflect the importance placed on its various users
and modes of movement. The Regina Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan seeks to shift the culture of vehicle
use Downtown to one focused on active transportation
- transit, walking and cycling. As a consequence, space
given to sidewalks and bike lanes must be generous and
consistent throughout Downtown, such that they create
a safe environment for active transportation, validate
these users, and signal the importance of these forms
of movement to drivers. To achieve this, space in the
public right-of-way should be reallocated. The Public
Realm Framework, as it relates to streetscapes, seeks to
rebalance the configuration of streets to provide for, and
emphasize, the primacy of the pedestrian.
As part of creating a great pedestrian realm, and creating a green Downtown, trees should line all streets. As
streets are renewed, sufficient space must be allocated
within right-of-ways to accommodate growing conditions, including rooting medium, irrigation, aeration,
space to grow and access to light. Urban trees undergo
high stress and tend to have shorter life spans, no matter
how extensive their supporting conditions. The City of
Regina should provide a high level of care and maintenance, and whenever necessary, replacement.
Streetscape elements and materials should be of high
quality, inclusive of paving, lighting, bollards, benches,
waste receptacles, utility boxes, paving materials, tree

grates, vending boxes, signage, wayfinding, transit
shelters, among others. These elements should be
coordinated along streets to create a well-designed,
cohesive and legible public realm consistent throughout Downtown. Streetscape elements should be used
sparingly, and consolidated wherever possible, in order
to reduce clutter and create a clean, legible streetscape
environment. Subtle variation in streetscape character
should occur for special circumstances, such as for the
heritage streetscape area (see Section 6.0).
A hierarchy of streetscapes are proposed that are distinguished by unique characteristics which reinforce
their intended urban design function with respect to
land uses; level of pedestrian, cycling and vehicular
use; and, their visual and physical connectivity to
features, landmarks and destinations. To realize the
desired character and function of Downtown streetscapes, it will be imperative to ensure that pedestrian
movement and the importance of cycling informs decisions about lane widths. Invariably, more urban lane
width standards will be required.
4.3.2 Streetscape Typologies

The Streetscape Typologies map (Map 2) organizes
streets by type based on their current or planned character and function. The diagrams and descriptions on
the following pages represent prototypical conceptual
design qualities for each streetscape type. They are not
meant to illustrate particular locations Downtown, but
rather, provide recommendations for the allocation of
space and the look and feel of each typology.
As examples, they demonstrate how the right-ofway could be allocated on various street types to be
in keeping with the Vision. It is expected that, in
the context of the development of alternative road
standards for Downtown, these street sections will be
refined. The following streetscapes will require revised
approaches to road maintenance and operational services. Particular consideration will need to be given to
transit needs, such as the integration of bus stops on
streets with bulb outs or with on-street parking.
Section 4.3: Streetscape Typologies
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4.3.3 Grand Avenues
30.5 m
sidewalk
1.75m
2.4m 2.7m
parallel
parking
bike lane
travel
lane (bus)
travel
lane
Turn
lane
travel
lane
3.65m 3.25m 3.0m 3.25m 3.65m
travel
lane (bus)
bike lane
sidewalk
2.7m 2.4m
parallel
parking
5.0m
new
building
setback /
build-to
1.75m
new
building
Albert Street, Saskatchewan Drive, Broad Street

These streets define three of the edges or thresholds
to Downtown (Figure 7). Currently dominated by fast
moving traffic within the right of way, as well as suburban character buildings and parking lots adjacent,
these streets are intended to transform into grand,
tree-lined avenues lined by high quality buildings.
Features of these streets should include:
5.0m
new
building
setback /
build-to
ROW
Broad sidewalks with a double row of street

trees on each side of the street. To help
accomplish this, a 5 metre build-to setback is
proposed for new buildings.
A palette of paving, lighting, banners, and

furnishing that is distinctive to Downtown.
In a few places, this will include distinctive
heritage streetscape treatment.
Crosswalks at all intersections, including

special crosswalks at the four gateway
intersections (see Section 4.5.1)
Permanent on-street parking. This helps

buffer pedestrians from traffic, as well as
creates activity.
Bump-outs of sidewalks at intersections,

creating more substantial pedestrian zones
and shorter road crossings.
Bike lanes of 1.75m width, slightly wider

than the minimum 1.5m, due to these streets
high vehicular volumes.
Bike boxes at all signalized intersections (see

Section 4.3.10), which requires no vehicular
right turns on red lights.
Where left turn lanes are not required, the

sidewalks on each side of the road should be
expanded.
new
building
existing
building
new
building
FIGURE 7. Section of Grand Avenues
54
4.3.4 Grand Avenues: Victoria Avenue
30.5 m
sidewalk
travel
lane
travel
lane
3.25m 3.25m 2.4m 3.25m

parallel
parking
6.2m
median
travel
lane
travel
lane
sidewalk
new
building
setback /
buid-to
3.25m 2.4m 3.25m 3.25m

parallel
parking
5.0m
Victoria Avenue is the great street of Regina, a

grand civic gesture through its centre uniting many
neighbourhoods, including Downtown (Figure 8).
Unfortunately, its character through Downtown has
eroded over time. Victoria Avenue should be restored
to its former splendour as a boulevard with a special
treatment through Downtown. Features of the boulevard should include:
5.0m
new
building
setback /
buid-to
ROW
new
building
Turn Lane
Where Required
A broad central island with a double row of

ornamental trees.
Broad sidewalks with a double row of street

trees on each side of the street. To help
accomplish this, a 5 metre build-to setback is
proposed for new buildings.

This will include a distinctive heritage
streetscape treatment through the Heritage
Heart.
Decorative crosswalks at all intersections

between Albert and Broad Streets, inclusive.
Permanent on-street parking. This helps buffer

pedestrians from traffic, as well as creates
activity.
Bump-outs of sidewalks at intersections,

creating more substantial pedestrian zones
and shorter road crossings.
Left turn lanes should be minimized where

feasible.
existing
building
new
building
FIGURE 8. Section of Victoria Avenue
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downtown plan
4.3.5 Primary Streets
20 m
ROW
4.05m
sidewalk
1.5m
bike lane
travel
lane
1.5m
3.25m 3.25m
travel
lane
2.4 m
bike lane
sidewalk
4.05m
parallel
parking
11th Avenue, 12th Avenue (Angus Street to Osler

Street), 13th Avenue
All east-west streets are recommended to be two-way
through Downtown (Figure 9). This creates better linkages to adjacent neighbourhoods as well as a more legible
environment to navigate. Further, two-way streets better
support retail vibrancy, and serve to minimize driving
distances within downtown environments - it is always
possible to take a direct route. Primary streets are active
for all modes of transport, but have less vehicular traffic
than the Avenues, so they are the most balanced streets
Downtown. Detailed analyses are required to determine
feasibility and phasing of such conversions.
A new Downtown transit hub is required and detailed
analysis will show the best location and configuration,
which may be on a primary downtown street. Bus stops
on each side of the street will service transit travelling
in opposite directions, and facilitate transfers across the
street. Travel lanes on 11th Avenue will generally need to
be 3.65m. Special streetscape treatments in this area are
proposed (see Section 4.3.9 Transit Mall).
12th Avenue adjacent to Victoria Park will become part
of the WOW Project, a special plaza treatment designed
to extend the perception and use of public space. It will
have a very high quality treatment designed primarily as a
FIGURE 9. Section of Primary Streets
56
pedestrian space, but through which vehicles will be able

to pass (see Section 4.4.2 The WOW Project).
Features of primary streets should include:

Wide sidewalks with a single row of street

trees on each side of the street.

Heart.

decorative crosswalks in pedestrian priority
areas.
Permanent on-street parking on one or both

sides of the street. This helps buffer traffic
and pedestrians, as well as creates activity.
Where transit facilities are required, on-street
parking should be accommodated only where
possible.
Bike lanes and bike boxes on 12th and 13th

Avenues.
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4.3.6 Secondary Streets

Angus Street, McIntyre Street, Smith Street, Lorne
Street, Cornwall Street, Scarth Street, Hamilton
Street, Rose Street, Osler Street
(20 m)
ROW
sidewalk
bike lane
5.2m
parallel
parking
travel
lane
2.4 m 3.25m 1.5m 2.4m

parallel
parking
sidewalk
5.25m
The north-south streets are envisioned to remain

one-way into the foreseeable future. Given that these
streets are not through streets, they have the greatest
potential to focus on active transportation and a high
quality pedestrian realm (Figure 10).
In the future, with increased intensity, particularly an
expanded street retail scene and significant infill of
currently vacant lots, these streets should be considered for conversion to two-way with parking in only
one direction.
Features of secondary streets should include:
FIGURE 10. Section of Secondary Streets
58
Wide sidewalks with a single row of street

trees on each side of the street.

Heart.

decorative crosswalks in pedestrian priority
areas and at Victoria Avenue between Albert
and Broad Streets.
Permanent on-street parking on one or

both sides of the street. This helps buffer
pedestrians from traffic, as well as creates
activity. Where transit facilities are required,
on-street parking should be accommodated
only where possible.
Bike lanes and bike boxes at all signalized

intersections.
4.3.7 Alternative Street Configurations

FIGURE 11. Section of Alternative Secondary Street
Secondary Streets (Blocks between Victoria Avenue

and 13th Avenue)
Existing Secondary Streets within the Centre Square
area have mature street trees located between the sidewalk and pavement (Figure 11). This is an appropriate
condition in this neighbourhood, particularly given the
desire to infill these streets with residential.
building
setback varies
2.0m
sidewalk
3.2m
sod
2.4m
parallel
parking
1.5m
bike lane
3.25m
travel
lane
2.4m
parallel
parking
3.2m
sod
sidewalk
building
setback varies
2.05m
(20 m)
ROW
Currently, Lorne and Scarth Streets have angle parking

beside Victoria Park. This condition is appropriate as it
provides plenty of short-term parking for the park and
the animated uses around its edge.
Optional Secondary Street
12th Avenue (Albert Street to Lorne Street)
bike lane
travel/
bus
lane
1.5m
2.4m
5.15m
sidewalk
parallel
parking
3.25m
parallel
parking
3.65m
bike lane
1.5m
travel
lane
2.4 m
sidewalk
FIGURE 12. Section of Alternative 12th Avenue
5.15m
Secondary Streets (Victoria Park: Lorne and Scarth

Streets)
12th Avenue has a wider right of way through the west

side of Downtown, at 25 metres (Figure 12). This additional width can be utilized in providing on-street
parking on both sides of the street and wider sidewalks. In front of the library (and where it is close to
the WOW Project) and/or along the City Hall block,
the additional width can be utilized for a generous
transit stop and waiting area.
25 m
ROW
Primary Streets 25m ROW Option
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downtown plan
4.3.8 Crosswalks
Crosswalks serve two functions: the clear demarcation of a safe route for a pedestrian to cross; and as a
traffic calming measure. Frequent crosswalks will help
promote slower traffic speeds and cautious driving. All
intersections Downtown should have crosswalks, with
the following design objectives.

When streets are renewed, surfaces such

as stamped coloured asphalt could be
incorporated as the new minimum crosswalk
standard. Crosswalks should be as wide as
the adjacent sidewalks or a minimum of 3.0
metres.
Materials will need to be explored that are

tolerant of snow plow equipment and extreme
cold. Some testing may be required to find
the most durable treatment.
60
Crosswalks at special locations should incorporate feature

paving.
The Grand Avenues should have sidewalk

bump-outs: widened sidewalk areas at
intersections in place of on-street parking.
This creates a more generous pedestrian
zone and shortens the road crossing for
pedestrians.
Bollards should be incorporated into the

design of bump-outs to delineate where the
curb ends (necessary during winter months).
Crosswalks at special locations should

incorporate higher quality treatments. These
locations include:
At the four primary gateways, which

should have a unique treatment and
wider crosswalk zone, a minimum of 6
metres.
Along Victoria Avenue between Albert

and Broad Streets, to enhance Victoria
Avenues civic presence.
Mid-block locations along the east and

west side of Victoria Park should include
crosswalks in their design.
Around the WOW Project including at

mid-block locations along the east and
west sides.
Crosswalks should provide smoothly graded

transitions including depressed curbs.
At all intersections near Downtown

transit mall.
Every intersection should have two ramps;

one for each corresponding direction, rather
than one ramp directed towards the center of
the intersection.
4.3.9 Transit Mall

The conversion of the east-west (primary) streets to
two way traffic enables consolidation of both directions of transit along one stretch of road, to facilitate
a more intuitive system, including for access and
transfers. Eleventh Avenue could become the primary
transit mall and exchange location, although further
analysis is required to ascertain the ideal location for
this activity (Map 3).
Transit infrastructure provides the opportunity to
emphasize the primacy of the pedestrian realm, since
all transit users are pedestrians at the beginning and
end of their trip. Access to, and the quality of, transit
infrastructure should take precedence over the private
automobile. Design objectives include:

High quality transit shelters, of generous

proportion (continuous canopy or multiple
individual shelters).
Locate shelters to maximize circulation space

for sidewalk users, while providing sufficient
space for embarking and disembarking
transit users. On 11th Avenue, for example,
since space is constrained, this may mean
innovative shelter design (cantilevered from
buildings, single pole, etc.).
Partner with adjacent buildings to create

highly visible, glass enclosed, heated indoor
transit waiting areas. They should be large
enough for seating, standing, circulation,
information display and ticket vending
(minimum 2.5m from glass to back wall).
Decorative crosswalks at all intersections to

facilitate pedestrian movement.
Highly visible bus lanes. Distinct paving,

painting and/or labelling for several years will
help establish the priority of transit and a
distinct identity.
A signage and wayfinding system that

identifies schedule and routing information
for each transit stop or platform. Signs should
be large enough to be visible within the
proposed transit mall.
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downtown plan
Saskatchewan Drive
Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
Victoria Avenue
13th Avenue
Key Potential Transit

Mall Locations
Transit Route
Map 3. Potential Public Transit Map
62
Key Transit Locations in

Downtown Core
Transit Route
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
Transit shelters are significant elements in the public

realm and an opportunity to help support Downtowns
unique identity. Design objectives (Figure 13) for
transit shelter areas include:

Creating paved, barrier-free access to the

shelter and transit vehicle.
Providing well-designed, durable transit

shelters of high-quality materials that
include:
An overhead canopy that provides

shelter from precipitation and sunlight;
Highly transparent sides. Advertising

should be permitted only on the side
facing away from the direction of
traffic;
Standing room for additional persons;
The name of the transit stop or adjacent

street;
A route map and information

on frequency and other service
information;
Heating;
Night lighting; and,
Adaptability to changing technologies

such as display of real-time service, plug
in or wireless network connections, and
other media.
A nearby cluster of newspaper boxes,

vending machines and waste receptacles.
Seating;
Transit shelters should be designed to maximize pedestrian

circulation and waiting space, particularly where sidewalks are
narrow.
Transit shelters with partial or full enclosures for pedestrian

comfort and safety should be highly transparent and have a
minimal footprint.
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downtown plan
Size of transit shelter concept to correspond to route popularity

and distance to heated or protected shelters.
Potential heated indoor transit

waiting area (if needed)
Landmark terminus
Potential indoor transit

waiting area
Special
Features
Crosswalks
Transit shelters
Future Building
Heritage Building
Laneway
Potential heated indoor transit

waiting area
Heritage Building
Figure 13. A transit mall should be accommodated Downtown. The above conceptual demonstration shows how the public realm could be
configured to accommodate a transit mall.
64
Bus lanes should

be highly visible,
through paint
and signage
treatments
BUS
LANE
1.4m 2.0m
Trash
Newspaper box
Bench
Ticket vending
Large transit shelter

provides a variety of
amenities. Centre
pole design maximizes
pedestrian circulation
space
Shelter
Bus
Potential indoor
transit waiting
area
Heritage
Building
Heritage Buildings
Bus only lane

Vehicle lane
Vehicle lane
Bus only lane
Potential heated indoor transit waiting

area, part of faade revitalization
Heritage Heart special

streetscaping
Laneway
Laneway
Heritage Building
65
4.05m
sidewalk
1.5m
travel
lane
bike lane
1.5m
3.25m 3.25m
travel
lane
2.4 m
bike lane
4.05m
sidewalk
downtown plan
parallel
parking
REGINA
20 m
bike lane
bike lane
Figure 14. Bike Box and lane

road design
ROW
bike lane
4.3.10 Bicycle Infrastructure
bike lane
bike box
Places that thrive because people chose to move around

on bikes, from Portland, Oregon to Copenhagen, do
so as a result of a concerted strategy designed to create
a cycling culture over time. Facilitating safe and convenient cycling as a form of transportation Downtown
is a key objective of the public realm framework. New
cycling infrastructure will need to be developed to
clearly articulate the importance cycling will play to
the future of the city.
bike lane
bike lane
Bike Lanes
Bike lanes are recommended for almost all Downtown
streets with the exception of roadways recommended
for transit lanes and Victoria Avenue, (because of its
intended ceremonial function). Bike lanes should be
highly visible including bright paint on the road surface
with clear lane markings, and overhead or street-side
signs. Lane widths should be generous, particularly
along the arterial roads, in order to create a sense of
security for cyclists. Bike boxes are recommended
at intersections (Figure 14). These are areas where
cyclists, at a red light, can advance ahead of stopped
vehicles while waiting for the light to turn green.
Cyclists are therefore more visible to vehicles and are
prioritized higher as a road user. In the fullness of
time, when streets are renewed, bike boxes should
become coloured asphalt.
Bike Parking
Additional bike parking facilities should be provided
throughout Downtown, in a variety of configurations.

Examples of highly visible bike boxes allowing cyclists to line up

ahead of vehicles.
66
Quantity of bike parking should vary based

on the importance of the destination.
Cornwall Centre and Victoria Park should
have significant available bike parking in close
proximity. Major office buildings should also
have lots of bike parking in proximity.
Bike parking should not be located in

pedestrian travel zones or gathering areas.
Along streets, bike racks should be located
at regular intervals in line with other street
furniture and street trees. Bike racks should
not be located in immediate proximity to
street corners and transit stops.
Individual bike racks are appropriate along

all streets, and should be provided along retail
frontages at a frequency similar to vehicle
parking.
Enclosed bike lockers should only be located

where there is sufficient space, generally in
plazas, forecourts and parking garages. They
should generally not be located along streets.
Ensure they are sited where they do not
obstruct sight lines, but where they are well
observed from surrounding streets and spaces.
All new parking garages should provide

dedicated bicycle parking at or near the main
entrance, preferably within sight of a parking
attendant (if present). Existing garages should
be encouraged to add bike parking.
Bicycle parking along streets.
New Development
Major new developments Downtown should provide
facilities for cyclists.

For residential buildings, secure bike parking

should be provided at a rate of one bike
parking space for every unit.
For employment uses, secure bike parking

should be provided at a rate of one bike
parking space to every 500 square metres of
floor space. Additionally, they should provide
showers and change facilities.
Bicycle parking in or adjacent to public spaces.
Bicycle storage in parking garages and new developments.
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downtown plan
68
4.3.11 Public Street/Building Interface
Typical Interface
There are a variety of typologies for the interface

of public streets with buildings that should occur
Downtown. They vary based on the desired character
of the right of way as well as the adjacent use.
Generally, a continuous sidewalk treatment should

extend from the curb to the building edge, and building access should be provided at-grade (Figure 15).
Buildings should be located to define a consistent edge
to the public realm. In most cases the building will be
located at the front property line, while in the case of
the Avenues, buildings will be set back to a build-to
line to create a wider pedestrian environment (Figure
16).
property
line
property
line
build-to
line
Figure 15. Typical interface along primary and secondary streets with continuous sidewalk to building edge at property line.
Figure 16. Typical interface along Avenues. Building is set back from edge of right of way creating a more spacious sidewalk and
public realm zone. In this example, the second row of street trees (in sod) is privately owned and maintained, but publicly accessible.
69
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downtown plan
Individual Residential Units
property
line
Individually accessed units are appropriate on most

Downtown streets. Buildings should have a modest
setback to accommodate a semi-private zone for steps,
front landscaping, and a stoop/entry (Figure 17). These
elements should be designed to have an urban character with durable materials.
Figure 17. Interface along Individual Residential Units. Individually accessed units face the street. Modest setback includes a small
grade change (steps up), portico treatment, and landscape treatment.
70
Institutional
Provide landscaping that reinforces

architectural features including bays in the
faade. Landscaping should emphasize
entrances and allow clear views of all
accessible areas.
Provide public amenities such as seating, a

gathering area, art, and/or street furniture.
property
line
Where there are existing institutional buildings set

back from the road (for example, churches), or where
significant new buildings are proposed (for example,
a major public art gallery), a forecourt treatment can
frame the building while providing a public amenity
(Figure 18). The forecourt design should reinforce the
street edge:
Figure 18. Interface along Institutional buildings. This library sets back a part of the building mass to create a seating/amenity area
and a fore court entry.
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72
4.4
Open Spaces
Downtown Regina is organized around its key

open space: Victoria Park. This is the focal point of
Downtown and the anchor of the public space network.
It is complemented by the F. W. Hill Mall, providing
a direct linkage between the Cornwall Centre and
Victoria Park, and a destination in its own right, and by
Queen Elizabeth II Court in front of City Hall. These
three spaces provide for a wide range of open space
needs and amenities for current and future users.
These new open spaces should be implemented strategically. They may be constructed up front as catalysts
or incentives to development, or in conjunction with
major new redevelopment projects.
Public parks can be complemented by privately owned
but publicly accessible open spaces, such as building
courtyards or fore courts.
It is imperative to note the proximity of Downtown

Regina to Wascana Centre, a key green space amenity
in the City of Regina that provides a diversity of parks
ranging from wetlands to active areas for sports, picnicking and entertainment. Only several blocks from
Downtown, it already serves as a key area for lunchtime
recreation. Wascana Centre will play an important role
in the future as a public backyard for residents living
in new urban residential neighbourhoods.
Downtown will benefit from the introduction of a
variety of new open space types to create a complete
open space network. High-quality pocket parks are
proposed to complement adjacent land uses, provide
foci for precincts, add amenity for an increasing
Downtown population living at higher densities, and
to serve as catalysts for Downtown revitalization. They
are complemented by a proposed new Train Station
Park in front of the old train station, now Casino
Regina, as well as a variety of other public amenities
such as mid-block linkages, and a public transit mall.
Section 4.4: Open Spaces
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downtown plan
Train Station Park
Sask
rive
D
wan
atche
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Cornwall Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
11th Avenue
12th Avenue
Victoria Park
Queen
Elizabeth II
Court
Victoria Avenue
Potential
Pocket
Park
13th Avenue
Parks
Plazas
Civic Heart
Potential Pocket Parks
Mid-block Connections
Avenue
Pocket Park
Desirability
Zone
Map 4. Open Space

This map shows the types
of open space recommended
for Downtown. The diagrams and descriptions on the following
Potential
Mid-block
Pocket Park
Parks
Avenue
Civic space
Heart
Plazasdesign qualities for each open
Pocket
pages represent
prototypical
conceptual
type. Some
are site specific
while
others
Connections
Desirability
Zone
Parks
are conceptual in nature. Grand Avenues are shown on this map as their broad sidewalks and double row of street
trees provide green linkages encircling Downtown.
74
4.4.1 Open Space Typologies
Plazas
Please refer to Map 4 for the following open space

typology descriptions.
Plazas are hard surface spaces often associated with civic

or commercial functions. They vary in size and shape
based on their location, adjacent uses and purpose. An
important component of plazas is often an open, flexible, hard surface area that can host a variety of public
activities including large gatherings, performances,
and outdoor cafes. Other amenities include seating,
landscaping, and public art. Plazas do not have to be
large spaces; they should be furnished with the highest
quality materials and elements. At-grade retail, or
civic/institutional uses are the primary uses adjacent
to plazas where buildings front directly onto them.
Plazas should be designed and programmed with a
greater emphasis on the daily activities appropriate to
their location, for example, lunchtime seating for surrounding offices. In Downtown Regina, key plazas
include, Queen Elizabeth II Court, F.W. Hill Mall,
and the WOW Project.
Civic Heart
This area has a concentration of civic uses and destinations. The public realm treatments of streetscapes and
open spaces in this area should be of high quality and
create a seamless pedestrian environment. Refer to
Map 1.
Pocket Park Desirability Zone and

Potential Pocket Parks
Downtown has been divided into four general quadrants, within which it is desirable to locate a pocket
park. The location of the park can be flexible and
should be negotiated in conjunction with a quadrants
gradual intensification. The specific locations shown
on the map are conceptual.
Pocket Parks north of Saskatchewan

Drive
The City of Regina should ensure that the termini of
the north-south streets are, whenever redevelopment
occurs, maintained in public ownership or easement, to
protect for the long-term reconnection of these streets
to the Warehouse District. These street end locations
would make excellent temporary pocket parks, serving
new residential buildings along Saskatchewan Drive.
A pocket park location along the Scarth Street axis
would also be beneficial, coinciding with this streets
important role and function in creating future linkages to the north.
Mid-Block Connections
Opportunities to increase the pedestrian permeability
of the downtown should be provided wherever possible through mid-block connections. Areas of highest
density, public activity, and traditionally long block
sizes (approximately 150 feet) are the most appropriate
locations for mid-block connections. Two key midblock connections have been identified which enhance
the connectivity between uses in the Civic Heart,
connecting Victoria Park to City Hall. Mid-block
connections should be designed with the same built
form relationship as streets and public spaces, with
active at-grade uses and transparency, facing onto
them. The design should ensure sightlines are clear
with no hidden or dead areas, with landscaping that
permits clear views, including signage for wayfinding.
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Victoria Park today: a green space

surrounded by roads
WOW Project: a unified space defined by

its building edges
Roads can be closed to allow activities

throughout the square
Artists concept of 12th Avenue - traffic can move slowly through the WOW Project space, defined by a consistent plaza treatment
and enhanced streetscaping around its edges.
Artists concept of 12th Avenue - during special events, the square will close to traffic and intense events can be held in the hard
surface plaza areas.
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4.4.2 The WOW Project

Today, Victoria Park functions well as a gentle urban
oasis, used on occasion for special events. It is a green
space surrounded by roads on four sides. The WOW
Project, however, is conceived in this Plan as a space
that extends to the building faces that surround it.
This implies that the roads go through the Square. It
also means the building edges and the activities they
contain are part of the Square. The goal is to transform
the perception and use of the space, Victoria Park, into
a public square (WOW Project).
In order to kick-start change Downtown and build
momentum for the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan,
a specific, identifiable and memorable project was
chosen to be undertaken immediately, even before the
Neighbourhood Plan was finished: the WOW Project
project. The project was chosen based on public consultation during Forum 1, when the notion of Victoria
Park as the heart of Downtown emerged. The WOW
Project project responds to Big Move #2: Victoria Park
is the Jewel, the organizing element of the city and Big
Move # 8: Festival Places, create spaces for gathering
to allow arts and culture to flourish.
The WOW Project involves transforming a portion of
12th Avenue adjacent to Victoria Park into an urban,
public square that includes the width of the street and
both sidewalks, from park edge to the building faces on
the north side, from Lorne Street to Scarth Street. A
new space for the programming of events and festivals

will be introduced Downtown. At specific times the
area will be closed to vehicle traffic since the square
will be alive with tents, artists and pedestrians. Local
talent and artists will be involved in the design of this
space, and in programming opportunities. The street
will be re-graded to enhance pedestrian activity, new
paving materials will be introduced, and the Square
will have its own identity - an identity that makes it
welcoming to all Reginans. Lighting elements, art
and new street furnishings may be integrated into the
design to create this uniqueness. The removal of buses
in this area and other traffic changes will also contribute to ensuring this area is designed for pedestrians
first.
The WOW Project, with hard surfaces on its edges,
will have the capacity to host an unlimited number of
events, particularly the high-impact events that have
been limited due to concerns over the health of the
grass and trees in the park.
Event programming (Fig. 19) will establish the WOW
Project as the place for artists, markets, festivals, fairs,
concerts, performances, buskers, and all sorts of formal
and informal gathering. This is part of an incremental strategy to animate Downtown. In the future, a
greater Downtown residential population will do this
naturally, particularly once the WOW Project is firmly
established as the heart of Downtown.
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The WOW Project should be designed to be flexible

and accommodate a range of programming. Depending
on the nature and formality of the event (organized or
spontaneous) and its size, it can take place in the park,
on the sidewalks, on a closed street (12th Avenue), on
all streets (closing Lorne, Scarth and 12th Avenue),
carry over into F.W. Hill Mall, and even into Queen
Elizabeth II Court. Thus, linkages to the WOW
Project are important. Most importantly this includes
the interface between the park and the broader square,
which must be visually and physically accessible.
presents a unique opportunity to create a clear connection between this urban space and a key public
destination.
Currently, the uses that front Victoria Park on the north
side of 12th Avenue do not provide for street-oriented
activities, such as restaurants with patios and uses that
are highly accessed by the public. Implementation
should involve collaboration with land owners and the
Regina Downtown Business Improvement District
to encourage the clustering of the kinds of uses that
will best celebrate the park edge and add to the public
amenity of the WOW Project. Facade improvements
to buildings that face the square should be supported
through city policy and incentives.
Great edges will promote the everyday use and animation of the heart of the city. Sidewalk patios, benches,
public art, and other attractions should be located
around the edges. The Regina Public Library is recognized as a key urban amenity - its redevelopment
nu
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ct
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ith
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4.4.3 The Civic Heart

Demonstration sites provide an opportunity to consider, in a specific geographic area of the City, what
change might look like in the future if it is in keeping
with the Principles and Big Moves identified in the
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan. Both the City Hall
and Library site are key anchors in the Civic Heart,
and are public destinations that need improvement
in order to fit with the Vision for Downtown. As
such, this area was chosen for a key demonstration
site. The following comprehensive planning approach
takes advantage of their proximity to one another and
to Victoria Park to create a clear and distinct public
and civic focal point in the City. Together, these two
blocks could become a civic cluster with a unique local
identity.
Generally, the revitalization of these sites will create
new programmable spaces for festivals, performances,
and artistic displays, while increasing the animation
and vibrancy of the streets. It is also a tremendous opportunity to develop examples of sustainable building
technology and to practice good urban design.
City Hall block (bounded by 12th Avenue, McIntyre
Street, Victoria Avenue, and Smith Street) should
include a refreshed Queen Elizabeth II Court which
becomes a primary gathering space for all Reginans,
hosting official ceremonies, concerts, and new cultural
events. The mature trees should be maintained and
pruned to ensure visual and physical access to the
plaza, while providing visual interest and shade for
users.
The City Hall cafeteria should be moved to the front
of the building, such that it could be enhanced by an
adjacent outdoor terrace on the Plaza and outdoor
vending services that spills pedestrian activity back
onto the streets. The Plaza could also include a splash
pad for children, an all-season water feature, comfortable outdoor seating and shelter areas (such as a
gazebo), and permanent public art, which the public
can enjoy into the evening hours. These local neighbourhood scale amenities would ensure the plaza is
animated at all times, becoming a true civic focal point
in the heart of Downtown.
On the north half of the block, active at-grade uses

should face the street. To achieve this, a 3-4 storey
podium could be built to the street edge which would
add significant new space for a possible City Hall expansion (Queen Elizabeth II Court), new community
services, office space, or residential uses. The podium
should have a highly transparent faade appropriate to
a public building, with elements showcasing sustainable building technology such as moving sun shades
and green roofs. The east side of the podium could
also include an entrance that is designed and aligned
specifically to connect with the mid-block connection
through the Library Block.
The Library Block (bounded by Lorne Street, 12th
Avenue, Smith Street, and Victoria Park) could
respond to the popularity of the mid-block connection
from Smith Street to Lorne Street with a transparent and enclosed galleria that could also become the
primary entrance to the Central Library, Dunlop Art
Gallery, and a potential residential development.
In addition to being a redesigned entry point, the galleria could include other activities within that keep
the space animated during most hours of the day with
services such as small variety shops or other vendors
that might cater specifically to on-site residents. The
option to simply improve the landscaping treatment
of this mid-block connection, which emphasizes a
pedestrian priority area, is also desirable. A covered,
mid-block connection, however, would be an excellent
reprieve from the cold weather for pedestrians crossing
Downtown during winter months.
The Library Park could be maintained and enhanced
with a building face treatment that becomes a new and
animated entrance and seating/reading space. This
space should rotate from an indoor space in the winter
to a shaded outdoor space in the warmer months. This
space could also be a programmable space exclusively
to the Dunlop Art Gallery, adding interest and cultural vibrancy to this side of the block.
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Programming the Civic Heart

Currently, Downtown Regina is at its most successful
when its spaces are programmed, given the relatively
small residential population. Regular events in the
F.W. Hill Mall take advantage of Downtowns huge
daytime office population, packing this space with
people for a variety of performances and celebrations.
The Regina Farmers Market animates the east side of
Victoria Park and completely transforms Scarth Street.
Events like the Folk Festival and Taste of Regina are
city-wide magnets that draw residents Downtown to
Victoria Park.
Regular programming will continue to be an important approach to animating public spaces in the
short term. City staff and budget resources must be
allocated to ensure the spaces in the Civic Heart are
well programmed. In fact, regular programming is a
bigger priority than the final fit and finish of a space.
It is particularly important during the first five to ten
years of this Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.
It will establish these spaces as the cultural heart of
Downtown and will ensure they are animated, until
a significant residential population begins to do this
naturally. Partnering with volunteer groups, businesses, and arts organizations is an effective way to
extend resources and offer more and a greater variety
of programming. It will continue to be imperative to
draw upon existing resources that already play an essential role in Downtown programming, such as Knox
Metropolitan United Church, and the Central Library.
As the residential population Downtown increases,
the role of programming will become less important
as a strategy for public space animation.
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Scarth Street beside Victoria Park is transformed during

Farmers Market.
What Programming?
Imagine...Concerts, holiday celebrations, ice-skating, winter ice sculptures, Christmas displays and events
(parades), neighbourhood festivals, childrens events: story time - park rangers - urban camping, arts outreach
through the Dunlop & MacKenzie Art galleries, native and ethnic seasonal celebrations, part of Agribition
and Farm Progress, buskers, vendors, tai chi, day care, live theatre and dancing, seniors outings, historical
tours and reenactments, media coverage of news events, community forestry, community gardens, central
library programs, running club, tournaments - chess - video games - table tennis, sidewalk sales, RCMP day,
outdoor movies, Roughriders events, and of course all the existing events.
F.W.Hill Mall
11th Ave.
WOW Project
12th Ave.
Library
Park
Queen
Elizabeth II
Court
Victoria Park
Figure 19. Spaces for programming within the Civic Heart. A variety of spaces, and combinations of spaces, around the Civic
Heart can accommodate a wide range of programming.
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4.4.4 Queen Elizabeth II Court

Currently the plaza in front of City Hall is not as well
used as it could be, due in part to the lack of active
uses around it, and also as a result of the design of the
space which can be characterized as primarily a visual
landscape. This plaza should be transformed into an
active amenity that functions as the main formal civic
gathering space for the entire city, as well as a local
amenity for Downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods. Design principles for the plaza include:

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Transparency and interaction of active uses

at-grade, such as the cafeteria which can
have an outdoor patio on the plaza, and city
departments/programs where applicable.
Outdoor programming and vending, such as

hot dog stands, if viable.
The ability to host large gatherings for

speeches, ceremonies and performances open areas and decorative paving, space for a
temporary stage, infrastructure for electrical
connection, lighting, sound, etc.
Public art located prominently.
Winter interest and animation, such as a

convertible summer/winter water feature.
Maintaining the existing mature vegetation

wherever possible, but pruned to ensure clear
sightlines throughout the plaza.
A map of Downtown with amenities,

attractions and destinations.
Information posting for current events, public

meetings, message boards for community
notices, bills, etc.
Amenities for day-to-day use and local

amenity, such as:
splash pads or interactive water features;
a sheltered area such as a gazebo or

trellis; and,
seating.
Features in the square should be attractive and usable during

all seasons, as in this example, above and below.
The plaza should feature neighbourhood amenities, such as a

childrens splash pad, that creates multi-functional use of the
plaza and help animate it on a daily basis.
A highly transparent building faade for City Hall, opening up

onto a square, allowing interaction of interior uses.
Existing Condition
QUEEN ELIZABETH II COURT

An outdoor terrace to service the City Hall cafeteria
brings life back to the streets during the day. This
space is complimented by a permanent sculpture
and a transparent at-grade faade with at-grade
uses such as offices for community groups or retail.
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LIBRARY PARK
In the warmer months, Library Park becomes a
welcoming reading nook where Library patrons
will be well-sheltered by the shade of the existing
trees and accompanied by permanent and
dynamic art pieces of the Dunlop Art Gallery.
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Existing Condition
LIBRARY PARK
As a winter city, Reginans will enjoy the new
Library Park within the enclosed seating/reading
area that provides an open view to the outdoors,
a great opportunity to people watch and
contribute to life on the streets.
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4.4.5 F. W. Hill Mall

This space exhibits qualities of good public spaces
including pedestrian amenity, public art, active at
grade uses, and programming. Maintaining its current
character and function is important for Downtown
as other public realm enhancements are undertaken.
However, in the future, consideration should be given
to allowing vehicle traffic through this area, as a way
to add much needed vibrancy and accessibility. Also,
this area will benefit from its direct connection with
the WOW Project and Victoria Park by hosting part
of the same programming and events.
4.4.6 Pocket Parks

Pocket parks are intended to provide small, intimate,
yet high quality open spaces for an immediate neighbourhood or catchment area. They should generally be
smaller than 1,000 square metres. Their design and
amenities should vary based on surrounding uses and
their immediate built edges. As examples, they may
include:

A patio seating area, particularly if there is a

restaurant adjacent.
Childrens play structures, particularly in

a residential area, near a day-care, or near
institutional uses (e.g. near the YMCA).
Public art (e.g. near the Dunlop Art Gallery).
Seating, a shade structure, a short walking

path, decorative planting, a water feature,
and/or other amenities.
A healthy and abundant tree canopy.
Pocket parks should be small and serve their immediate

neighbourhood.
Facilities within the park should complement adjacent uses.

Surrounding buildings should address the park with a frontal
appearance.
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4.4.7 Train Station Park
The design of Train Station Park (historically named Stanley

Park) should help create a neighbourhood focus for the
Avenues, contribute to the primary gateway to Downtown, and
accommodate complex functional needs.
A public desire to reinstate the former open space in

front of the train station has emerged. Design possibilities for this park are numerous, and may include
references to the former open space in this location. A
partnership with Casino Regina will be required. The
park will need to accommodate programming needs of
the Casino including circulation, drop-off and access to
parking, among others. The park design should ensure
sight lines to the historic train station from Rose Street
are preserved. This park has the potential to create a
great gateway to Downtown at or near the corner of
Saskatchewan Drive and Broad Street, and to serve as
local destination amenity for local residents and employees. A new, pedestrian oriented frontage should be
created on Broad Street, through landscaping and/or
built form.
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4.4.8 Mid-block connections and

linkages
In general, pedestrians should be encouraged to walk
on public streets, where there are well-designed buildings, active at-grade uses, cyclists, vehicles, and most
importantly, other people. Pedestrian energy should
be directed to existing streets. Given the fine scale and
frequent spacing of Downtowns street grid, mid-block
connections are generally not warranted or desirable.
They should only be considered when to do so supports
the overall vision of this Plan, such as following significant population infill or intensity of use, or when
they add to the pedestrian environment by providing
better connectivity. Care needs to be taken to ensure
mid-block connections do not negatively impact the
viability of active streetscapes and retail by dispersing
pedestrians.
Linkages between Queen Elizabeth II Court and the WOW

Project can enhance the Civic Heart of Regina, expanding the
types of events and activities that can occur in these spaces.
Two mid-block connections are proposed within the

Civic Heart, between Victoria Park and City Hall.
These are to reinforce the key public spaces and uses
in the heart of Downtown. Both should be designed
such that they have uses other than as a mid-block pedestrian connection. In the case of the linkage north
of Knox Metropolitan Church, this is as a laneway.
In the case of the library site, it might be as a library/
gallery galleria and/or residential lobby entrance.
Mid-block connections should be designed with the
same built form relationships as all other public spaces,
including active at-grade uses and building transparency facing onto them. Design objectives include:
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Ensure sight lines are good, preferably with

the ability to see the entrance and exit of the
linkage at the same time. Avoid hidden or
dead areas and blank faades.
Landscaping should be high (trees) or low

(ground covers) to permit clear views.
Provide clear wayfinding and signage,

including highly visible building entrances.
Provide continuous and seamless connections

to surrounding streets and spaces.
Mid-block connections should have a design quality equal

to that of streets and public spaces and share similar design
principles, including multiple uses and animated buildings.
4.4.9 Improved Connections to the North

In the short term, connections between Downtown
and the north must be made by the Albert and Broad
Street railway underpasses. Currently, they are spaces
designed primarily for vehicles, and no consideration
appears to be given to the safety and comfort of pedestrians who wish to cross through the underpass. They
are also perceived as unsafe for cyclists. While the underpasses should remain functioning as a connection
for vehicle traffic, their physical and visual environments should be improved for increased pedestrian
comfort and safety.
Implementing improvements to both cycling lanes and

pedestrian paths should be a high priority.
Design objectives for the underpasses include:

Provide dedicated cycling lanes clearly

separated from vehicle lanes by painted
markings, and possibly a physical separation
(grade separation and/or barrier).
Provide wide, decoratively paved pedestrian
Potential long-term character of promenade beside the rail

tracks. In the short term, a simple but wide pedestrian walkway
with a double row of trees can make a strong visual and
physical linkage.
A wide promenade can be created along Saskatchewan Drive

because of its wide right of way.
A wide, well-lit sidewalk and high quality treatment encourage

walking underneath these underpasses, above and below.
Enhance with additional treatment or art, such as the art at the
Broad Street underpass.
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sidewalks, physically separated from the

roadway. Ensure they are well lit at night with
no hidden areas.

Provide a decorative or artistic treatment

to the walls, abutments and overpass,
coordinated as part of the gateway treatment
to Downtown. Artwork in the CPR rightof-way needs to be co-ordinated with the
CPR.
Ensure sidewalks leading to the underpasses

are landscaped consistently with Downtown
standards in order to create a continuous
pedestrian experience on both sides of the
underpasses.
Wide sidewalk and
continuous tree
planting on both sides
of the underpass
Albert Street
Promenade continues
along North Railway
St. or beside the rail
right of way
Link to Mosaic Stadium and Evraz Place

Saskatchewan Drive has a wide right of way west of
Albert Street, that can be utilized as a pedestrian promenade forming a Downtown connection to Mosaic
Stadium and Evraz Place. This route should include a
double-wide sidewalk under the Albert Street bridge,
and continue along North Railway Street or beside the
railway, as a pedestrian promenade (Figure 20). Design
characteristics should include a double or triple row of
trees, pedestrian crosswalks across all road and driveway crossings, and street furniture including lighting,
seating and directional signage.
Primary gateway
treatment to Downtown
includes wide crosswalks
and public art
CPR
track
ewan
atch
Sask
Drive
Figure 20. Conceptual conditions for an improved connection to the north overlain on top of existing street configuration.
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4.5
Visual Prominence
Sites that are visually prominent have a greater impact

on the image and character of Downtown. Enhanced
design should create memorable landmarks, orient
pedestrians and strengthen civic pride. The public
realm and built form at these locations has a greater
civic responsibility to provide the highest possible
design, materials and amenities (see Map 5). In particular, public realm and built form design should be
coordinated at these locations. Sites that are visually
prominent include:

Gateways: locations where a significant

number of people enter and exit Downtown.
Gateways occur at a variety of scales
including to Downtown as a whole, to
precincts, or to specific streets or open spaces.
Only primary and secondary gateways to
Downtown as a whole are shown on the
Visual Prominence map.
View termini: a feature that terminates

view corridors. Appropriate public realm
view termini include parks or public art.
Appropriate built form view termini are
buildings that respond with a deliberate,
enhanced design response, such as a tower,
portico, or the like.
Landmark frontages: locations which are

prominent because of their context, such as
adjacency to a public open space or important
street, or because of their content, such as
heritage resources or public art.
Further guidelines for public realm responses to visually prominent locations are on the pages following.
Built form responses to visually prominent locations
are in Section 5.4.9.
View corridors: the long, straight streets

Downtown and in the surrounding
neighbourhoods create views where they
are terminated. For example, Cornwall
Street provides views to Victoria Park, and
Smith Street provides a view south to the
Legislative Building. View corridors should
be maintained and enhanced.
Section 4.5: Visual Prominence
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Saskatchewan Drive
Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
Victoria Avenue
13th Avenue
Primary
Gateways
Public Realm
View Terminus
Secondary
Gateways
Built Form
View Terminus
Built Form/Public
Realm View
Terminus
Views
Landmark Frontages
Map 5. Visual Prominence

This map shows key gateways and important views Downtown. The diagrams and descriptions on the following pages represent
prototypical conceptual design qualities for each. Some are site specific while others are conceptual in nature.
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Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
4.5.1 Gateways
Clearly defining gateway areas helps to enhance orientation, lends to a sense of place and can generate
civic pride. These locations provide key opportunities
where coordinating the design of landscapes, signage,
public art and buildings can create a sense of entry and
orientation. The expression of a gateway can take on
many forms.
There are four primary gateways for Downtown,
located at the intersections of the Grand Avenues.
Their gateway character will result primarily from
coordinated streetscapes, public art, and built form.
These locations have good potential for new buildings
designed to create a gateway character. Principles for
gateway design of the public realm include:

Providing broad, distinctively paved

crosswalks across the road surface. This is
important not only visually, but to help
create safer and more comfortable pedestrian
crossings at these high traffic intersections.
Coordinating the colour and material palette

among all public realm elements (crosswalks,
sidewalks, benches, tree grates, lighting,
median design, etc.) and with the buildings
materials.
Providing distinctive vertical elements at or

near the intersection, such as unique lighting,
signage, columns, or unique tree planting.
This example exhibits gateway elements including

crosswalks, distinctive vertical elements (decorative lighting),
double row of street trees, and coordinated built form
massing (corner treatment).
Providing public art. This can include

freestanding sculpture, art treatments
integrated with building design (such as a
marquee or frieze), or alternative treatments
(such as lighting or installation pieces).
Providing a modestly larger public realm area

(50 m2 max.) at the intersection through
subtle building sculpting and/or setback.
The northern primary gateways can include an integrated treatment with the rail overpasses and Train
Station Park.
There are two secondary gateways to Downtown along
Victoria Avenue on either side of Victoria Park, at
Scarth and Lorne Streets. Buildings at these intersections are of landmark quality, though not in the same
style. These gateways should be enhanced through
a coordinated public realm. Treatments should have
similar design characteristics to primary gateways but
smaller in scale and extent.
Bonusing provisions allow for reductions in setback
requirements at primary gateways, in keeping with the
intent of the overall public realm vision (see Section
5.3 Bonusing Framework).
Artists concept of gateway treatment at Broad Street and

Victoria Avenue: buildings at corners at angle with main
entrances, public art, and crosswalks.
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4.5.2 Views and View Termini

Where Reginas street grid is interrupted, a terminus
view results that provides an opportunity to create visual
interest. Public realm and built form elements at these
locations are visible from longer distances, and must
be of high visual quality. Victoria Park is Downtowns
most important terminus, terminating the views north
and south along Cornwall Street. Future changes to
Victoria Park should enhance the terminus including
the view to the Cenotaph and the landscape treatment
in the park. Views out of Downtown include all streets
terminating at College Avenue. Some have landmark
buildings at the end, and others are terminated by
Wascana Park. These views should also be maintained
and enhanced (see Section 5.4.9)
An important strategy for Downtown will be to provide
termini for those same streets looking north. Many
of those streets end at Saskatchewan Drive, while a
few terminate at the Cornwall Centre. Where there
is potential for streets to reconnect to the Warehouse
District in the long term, it is recommended that no
buildings be constructed impeding this. The land at
the end of the streets, sufficient to continue the right
of ways, should be dedicated to the City at the time of
redevelopment, and used temporarily as public parks
until it is feasible to reconnect the streets at grade.
Public realm amenity at a view termini can include public art,

seating, and decorative streetscape furnishing.
Design objectives for view termini include:
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Create a sense of spatial enclosure through

shaping of built form and/or landscaping.
Provide a hard landscape element as a focal

point such as low wall or fence, column,
seating grouping, or public art.
Ensure landscaping reinforces the view along

the view corridor, including regular planting
of street trees.
Maintain views to existing landmarks.
4.5.3 Heritage Resources
Figure 21. Potential Heritage Streetscape Pattern
Public realm elements should bring attention to

and celebrate historic buildings and landscapes in
Downtown Regina. This includes a distinct public
realm treatment for the heritage heart, the area in the
central Downtown, centred around the WOW Project
and Victoria Avenue, where there are a significant
number of contiguous heritage buildings and landscapes (see Map 6).
A special streetscape treatment should be designed
for both the heritage heart as a distinct district, as
well as for stand-alone heritage buildings elsewhere
Downtown, where it can be applied to the sidewalk
immediately in front (Figure 21). Design objectives
include:

Contribute to the conversation of significant

heritage resources and to the heritage
character of the district.
Create a high quality and consistent image

for the heritage heart. This area corresponds
to the core of Downtown and the primary
tourist area.
Emphasize the visual prominence of heritage

buildings, for example by spacing street
trees further apart, or locating them to
emphasize special features such as entrances
or architectural elements.
Provide an enriched cultural environment

by communicating historical information
through interpretive signs and elements.
Use hard vertical landscape elements such as

bollards, lighting, and/or signage to define
spaces such as the edge of the sidewalk (in
place of street trees where desirable).
Demonstrating the potential Heritage Heart streetscape pattern:

wider tree spacing to permit views of heritage building faades
(as well as buildings that contribute to the districts character);
more frequent vertical elements in place of trees provide
potential for interpretive elements; and a unique, heritage
inspired sidewalk treatment.
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Sask
rive
D
wan
atche
Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
Victoria Avenue
13th Avenue
Heritage Heart
Streetscape Area
Complementary Heritage
Streetscape Character
Map 6. Heritage Heart
Heritage Heart
Streetscape Area
96
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
Emphasis should be placed on design

measures that are winter friendly (i.e. vertical
elements are experienced in all seasons).
Incorporate historical references into the

design of hard landscape elements, for
example the name of the building and its date
in the paving.
Incorporate subtle variation on Downtown

streetscape treatment, for example, by varying
paving, materials, hard landscape elements,
tree species, colour palette, and/or texture.
Unique paving and vertical streetscape elements in a Heritage

District.
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Examples of unique paving treatments and inserts (top) and vertical elements (bottom) that can enhance the sense of place and
interpretive experience of heritage resources. Special streetscape elements can be used throughout the heritage heart and/or at
gateways, corners, or other key locations.
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4.5.4 Public Art

Downtown Regina has excellent examples of public art
in a variety of contexts that enhance Downtown experiences. Public art provides an opportunity to celebrate
and showcase local arts and culture, establish a unique
identity for a precinct or development, and should
contribute to enhancing the quality of the public realm
in ways that conventional streetscape elements cannot.
Public art should be considered at a variety of scales
and in diverse contexts. This includes larger installations at visually strategic locations such as the terminus
of view corridors, at gateways, on prominent corners,
or in public open spaces. It also includes smaller or
more unexpected installations such as along sidewalks,
in interior courtyards, in association with buildings
(entrances, lobbies), and in alternative public spaces
such as parking lots and garages. All gateway locations
and public view terminus sites identified on the Visual
Prominence diagram (Map 5) are candidates for public
art. Public art should be incorporated in the design of
Victoria Avenue, particularly the central median.
Objectives for public art include:

Public art may include memorials, sculpture,

water features, murals, lighting, or individual
art installations, and may combine with
building and landscape design. It may also
include street furniture, utility boxes and
other elements not commonly displayed as art
in a gallery setting.
Because of their visibility, public art should

include pieces that serve as orienting devices
for moving about and wayfinding, or as focal
points in public open spaces.
The scale of a public art piece should

correspond to the visual prominence of its
site.
Public art can also contribute to the

animation of public spaces through its design
and use as street furniture, play areas and/or
other interactive uses.
Downtowns existing public art can be enhanced by new pieces

at highly visible locations.
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5.0
Built Form
Framework
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5.1
Introduction
Built form is the shape of buildings, not only individually, but as a collective. How buildings relate in terms
of height, scale and character determines the extent to
which they will define the public realm the outdoor
rooms that are the streets and gathering places of the
city. Buildings, through their individual beauty and
idiosyncrasies, collectively define a sense of place.
The Built Form Framework is intended to shape individual buildings, one by one, to create the collective
whole for Downtown Regina. It works together with
the Vision and Public Realm Framework to create a
cohesive environment for Downtown. It is primarily
concerned with creating a comfortable, safe and interesting pedestrian environment as perceived from
sidewalks and public spaces, by focussing on creating a
fine-grained, human-scaled building fabric.
The Built Form Framework responds to, and enhances,
the unique circumstances of Downtown Regina including the grid pattern of streets and blocks, Victoria
Park and its Heritage Conservation District, numerous
other historic buildings, and the role of Downtown in
Regina and of Regina in Saskatchewan.
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5.1.1 Purpose
Downtown Regina is a complex environment with a
significant obligation to create a lasting legacy of the
highest quality for its citizens. It is also the most organic
place in Regina, continually changing, renewing and
evolving. The Built Form Framework also includes
design standards that shape the qualitative aspects of
the built environment. Most importantly, it defines
a cohesive structure and pattern for Downtown as a
whole and places it in context with its surroundings.
The framework provides policies related to the scale,
character and design of new public and private developments. While it is primarily concerned with
buildings, it also influences how access, parking, and
privately owned outdoor spaces should be configured.
Goals of the framework include the following.

To shape new development to respond to the

unique existing and potential opportunities
Downtown.
To provide clarity and predictability in design

outcomes.
To provide flexibility in responding to

changing demographic and market forces
over time.
To provide a guide for changing planning

policies and regulations.
The framework is intended for all new buildings

Downtown, including infill of vacant sites or parking
lots, redevelopment of existing buildings, and additions to existing buildings, including heritage
buildings. The framework sets out the intended built
form outcome for all blocks Downtown. This includes,
for example, creating a consistent street wall through
a podium condition. There are many existing buildings Downtown that do not have a podium and will
never change. However, the framework sets out the
desired condition for all sites, because some buildings,
despite expectations, will change, and they must do so
in compliance with the broader Downtown Vision.
5.1.2 Components
The Built Form Framework is composed of the following sections.
Urban Structure: informing the shape of Downtown
as a whole, including its overall height and density,
street wall heights, setbacks/build-to lines, and
distinct functional and character areas. The urban
structure builds on existing and historic development
characteristics, and considers linkages and interfaces
with the surrounding context.
General Design Standards: informing the look and
feel of buildings in general with a focus on creating a
continuously connected network of pedestrian friendly
streetscapes. This section includes standards for building placement, orientation, faade design, and special
conditions Downtown.
Building Typology Standards: informing the general
shape, mass, and articulation of a variety of building
types, including low, mid and high-rise residential
and office buildings, civic buildings, and parking
structures. Different building types are appropriately
located in different areas of Downtown, as set out in
the urban structure.
Each component of the framework must be considered
in concert with the others, as well as the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan Vision and Public Realm
Framework.
Section 5.1: Introduction
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Precinct
Boundaries
Grand
Avenues
Map 7. Character Framework
104
Core/Cathedral
Neighbourhood Edge
Centre Square
Neighbourhood
Urban Core
5.2
Urban Structure
5.2.1 Character Framework
5.2.2 Precinct Character Areas
Downtown Regina has a simple structure: a central

core, surrounded by the Grand Avenues, with transitions to the edges (Map 7). The character of each area
responds to its unique conditions and opportunities.
Interface areas: Cathedral, Core, Centre

Square, Downtown Edge
The Character Framework diagram at left expresses

two related and overlapping ideas:
1. Precinct Character : The areas outlined in black are
precinct areas, each characterized by a distinct
combination of different uses, built forms and
landscape. For example, the Core Interface precinct is part of the City of Reginas Knowledge
Corridor, which encourages certain kinds of uses.
This precinct also contains three distinct built
form characters.
2. Built Form Character : The colour areas represent
specific built form characteristics responding to
particular streets or conditions. For example, the
Grand Avenues (on Map 7) built form character
lines both sides of Albert Street, Saskatchewan
Drive, Broad Street and Victoria Avenue.
The edges of Downtown today have abrupt transitions

to surrounding neighbourhoods, particularly to the
east, south and west. These edges are primarily characterized by parking lots and a lack of street trees. In
addition, a few tall buildings are located immediately
adjacent to the Cathedral and Core Neighbourhoods,
creating inappropriate juxtapositions against the lowrise building fabric.
These precincts are in need of greater continuity and
cohesion in the urban fabric. This includes the need to
introduce a more generous, appealing, and green public
realm: regular street tree planting, site landscaping,
and building setbacks to create forecourts or urban
front yard landscaping. New buildings should be built
in the parking lots, including a greater emphasis on
new residential. The transition shouldnt necessarily be
a smooth gradation between adjacent neighbourhoods
and Downtown, but rather an intermixing of the best
characteristics of each.
Cathedral Interface
This precinct may benefit from proximity to a neighbourhood that has become more desirable. A key goal
is the continuity of residential from this neighbourhood into Downtown. Public realm investments in
this precinct, particularly along Albert Street to help
create the Grand Avenue, may assist this transformation. Building typologies should include multiplex
house forms, low-rise, as well as mid-rise types.
Section 5.2: Urban Structure
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Core Interface
Downtown Edge Interface
Like the Cathedral interface, a key goal is the continuity of residential into Downtown from the Core
Neighbourhood. However, this area will be more
flexible in character, including a mix of institutional,
employment and other uses. This reflects the mixed
character of the Core Neighbourhood itself, as well
as better linkages in general with eastern Regina due
to continuous street connections. It also reflects Broad
Streets role as the spine of the knowledge corridor.
Broad Street also has an existing height peak at Victoria
Avenue. In this respect, this precinct is an ideal location for facilities such as a Downtown campus of the
University of Regina or student housing. Building
types will be mixed, from high (at Victoria Avenue),
to mid- and low-rise, further north and south.
This precinct is currently the edge to the CP rail line,

to the former Super Store site, and to the intermodal
yard. The only linkages to the north are at Albert and
Broad Streets. By necessity, this area will tend to orient
to the south, towards the existing Downtown. Higher
building forms of residential or commercial nature
are appropriate. In future, this precinct may become
a transition area to a new, urban development to its
north (when the existing CP inter-modal yard is relocated), and therefore should be designed to facilitate
linkages. The future development would itself create
appropriate transitions between the Warehouse District
and Downtown Edge precinct.
Centre Square Interface
Central Downtown is the heart of the City. It has a

mix of all uses and is the most urban condition, where
buildings are built out to the property line. It is the
focus of tall buildings, with a recognizable peak, and
the focus of continuous street edge retailing. Future
cultural/recreational destinations should also be concentrated here.
Centre Square complements Downtown with its mix

of lower and higher density residential, commercial/
office development, and small retail shops and businesses. The existing transition through Centre Square
works well: from lower house forms in the south, to
mid-rise, to higher forms near Victoria Avenue. Thus,
this precinct will benefit from infill of the parking
lots with mid-rise mixed residential/commercial. The
existing policy permissions for Centre Square are consistent with this.
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Central Downtown
5.2.3 Built Form Character Areas

Grand Avenues
The four arterial roads that define the edge of
Downtown are intended to transform into Grand
Avenues. They will be gateways into Downtown
defined by their generous public realm treatments
and mid-rise buildings. Buildings along the Grand
Avenues should be a little grander than most, in the
sense that they will have careful attention to their
quality and details. Victoria Avenue may have taller
buildings along it, as well as landmark buildings, reflecting its ceremonial character.
Cathedral/Core Neighbourhood Edge

The blocks along Angus Street and Osler Street
that face these neighbourhoods should have buildings of a scale compatible with the adjacent low-rise
neighbourhoods.
Centre Square Neighbourhood

The blocks south of Victoria Avenue (specifically, the
laneway behind the blocks facing Victoria Avenue),
east of Albert Street and west of Broad Street (and
that do not front onto these streets) are part of the
Centre Square neighbourhood. Buildings should be
designed consistent with the current policy direction
for this neighbourhood. Commercial buildings should
be low-rise in scale while residential buildings should
be mid to high-rise, forming a transition in height
between Downtown to the north, and the low to mid
-rise scale of Centre Square further south.
Urban Core
All of the blocks contained by the Grand Avenues
are the urban core. Buildings in this area will generally be located at the street edge and occupy 100% of
their frontages. New buildings will tend to be built
with side parti walls, particularly at the podium level,
in expectation of future change or infill. Buildings
within the urban core should be permitted the greatest
latitude with respect to individual design expression,
while creating a pedestrian scale, legible environment
consistent with this framework.
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Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
Victoria Avenue
13th Avenue
Required at-grade
retail frontage
Convertible retail
frontage
Priority active frontage
Map 8. Frontage Condition
Required at-grade retail frontage
108
Convertible retail frontage
Priority Active Frontage
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
5.2.4 Frontage Condition

Grade-related commercial uses are permitted and
encouraged on all streets Downtown. This includes a
wide range of uses such as stores, restaurants, galleries, and services such as doctors, lawyers, laundromats,
and day care centres. These street-facing commercial
uses are critical for creating a successful Downtown.
They animate streets, help provide a critical mass of
activities, provide neighbourhood convenience retailing
for Downtown residents, and fill the niche for one-ofa-kind retailers serving the city as a whole. All new
developments or significant redevelopment of buildings
Downtown are encouraged to provide commercial uses
at grade. The Frontage Condition map (Map 8) defines
where retail or active uses are required.
For the purposes of the following, retail uses are
defined as a component of commercial uses that exhibit
a greater degree of pedestrian activity and visual shop
front display. This includes stores and restaurants, but
not necessarily professional services such as doctors
and lawyers. The intent is to provide highly animated
retail frontages. Refer to the general design standards
for design of at-grade retail uses.
Required At-Grade Retail Frontage

These streets must provide retail uses at grade. A n y
non-retail use, such as building lobbies or entrances,
should preferably be located on a non-retail frontage street, or, if not feasible, have minimal frontage
along the retail street. The location of required retail
frontages corresponds to the traditional retail heart of
Downtown, and builds on the current zoning requirements for continuous retail frontages. Retail frontages
should extend along 11th Avenue towards the Core
Neighbourhood, and along 13th Avenue towards
the Cathedral Neighbourhood, in order to make
stronger linkages between these neighbourhoods and
Downtown.
The extent of required at-grade retail frontages is deliberately conservative in extent, in order to create a
critical mass of successful retailing, without spreading
it too thin: the objective is to create a core of continuous retail, both to support retail success and to support
pedestrian activity. In the future, as the street retail
scene flourishes, this area may be expanded.
Convertible Retail Frontage

If commercial uses are not feasible on these streets,
buildings facing them must be designed to be easily
convertible to retail uses in future, although in the
short-term they may be residential. In effect, they
should be designed to the same standard as retail uses,
including any requirements of the building code for
retail, but be permitted to have non-retail uses within
them.
Priority Active Frontage

Priority Active Frontages should either be retail or an
important publicly accessible destination. The WOW
Project, Victoria Avenue, and Queen Elizabeth II
Court, as the heart of Downtowns public realm
network, should have a dynamic edge with active uses.
While retail and restaurant uses are strongly preferred,
it is recognized that there are a number of existing
institutional uses, such as the library, the courthouse,
and Knox Metropolitan Church, which are not retail
in nature. This is an appropriate location for additional
institutional uses if they are public in nature and generate substantial pedestrian activity, such as a new
museum or gallery. Cornwall Street is also designated
as a Priority Active Frontage, linking the WOW
Project with the Cornwall Centre and transit mall,
creating a cohesive network of active street frontages
in the heart of Downtown.
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0m in this area due to wide

right of way of Saskatchewan
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Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
Victoria Avenue
13th Avenue
Build-to
Property Line
2-4m
Build-to Range
Map 9. Build-to Lines
110
2-6m Residential
Build-to Range
5m Build-to
Primary Gateways
eligible for setback
reduction on one side
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
5m this area to reflect

existing setbacks appropriate for
forecourt or sidewalk
depending on use
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
5.2.5 Build-to Lines

The placement of buildings relative to the front property
line contributes to the character of the street and sense
of place. Generally, Downtown is defined by buildings
placed to the front property line. This creates an immediate relationship with the sidewalk and consistent street
wall. Enhanced by a well-designed, active, and transparent at-grade condition, zero-setback buildings create a
comfortable and interesting pedestrian environment.
Some locations, however, are appropriate for setbacks,
primarily to reinforce existing neighbourhood character.
The following setbacks are considered build-to lines. The
front faade of new buildings must be sited at the buildto line (or within the range defined below) Greater or
lesser setbacks are not permitted. In some cases buildings may deviate from the build-to lines, if they provide
a public benefit. Examples of this may include:

At gateways or intersections, where a setback

can create a more generous public realm for
congregation, retail spill-out, or public art.
At main building entrances, to create a small

forecourt.
To define pocket parks or other public amenities.
In rare cases, for special or iconic buildings

such as churches, theatres, and the like, where
they provide public space or extraordinary
landscaping.
Bonusing provisions allow for reductions in

setback requirements at the gateways (Map
9), in keeping with the intent of the overall
public realm vision (see Section 5.3).
Build-to Property Line

Most of Downtown is appropriate for buildings that
are located at or near the front property line, at a zero
build-to. Most existing buildings Downtown have
this condition. Properties must have the minimum
amount of setback as is possible, given the unique site
particularities.
2-4m Build-to Range

At the edge of the Cathedral and Core Neighbourhoods,
along Angus Street and Osler Street respectively, a
modest setback helps provide a compatible interface.

It applies to all uses.
2-6m Residential Build-to Range

To reinforce the existing pattern of low-, mid- and highrise residential buildings in this neighbourhood, new
residential buildings must be set back from the street
edge. An example of this is the Frontenac apartments
on Lorne Street. This is to create a buffer between the
street edge and residential uses in transitional areas.
Non-residential uses must have a more urban condition
and have zero to 2m build-to.
2-4m Residential Build-to Range

As an exception to Map 9, residential uses specifically
along Secondary Streets (refer to Map 2) that feature
individually accessed units at grade must set back 2-4
metres from the street. This is to provide a small, urban
front yard landscaping zone. This setback is not appropriate for residential uses that are communal in nature, such
as lobbies, recreation rooms, fitness facilities, etc. This
setback is not appropriate along other Downtown street
types, where residential uses must have a zero build-to.
5m Build-to
This condition exists along the Grand Avenues. New
buildings must be built to a line 5 metres set back
from the current 30.5m (+/-) right of way. The 5 metre
wide privately-owned area between the buildings and
right-of-way must have an easement or other mechanism allowing public access. This is to facilitate a wide
public realm extending from the building face to curb
edge. In retail or convertible retail conditions, this
area should have a continuous sidewalk treatment.
In non-retail conditions, this area is appropriate for a
fore court treatment. In the case of the Regina Public
Library site (south-west corner of Lorne Street and
12th Avenue), the 5m build-to is desired, but will be
assessed in the context of its redevelopment.
In areas identified as Primary Gateways (see Map 5),
an exception to the 5m build-to requirement may be
considered on one or both of the Avenue frontages, as
reviewed on a case-by-case basis, in exchange for public
benefits and negotiated through the established bonusing
framework. In the case of exceptions granted on both
the Avenues, the 5m set-back will be split between the
two frontages in any combination that equals 5m.
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Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
Victoria Avenue
13th Avenue
7.5m
(2 residential storeys
2 commercial storeys)
10.25m-13.25m
(2-4 residential storeys

2-3 commercial storeys)
Map 10. Street Wall Height
112
13.25m
3 commercial storeys)
19.25m
4-5 commercial storeys)
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
5.2.6 Street Wall Height

The first three to four floors of buildings are the most
important in defining the character of the public realm,
particularly the articulation, fenestration, materials
and detailing of the faades and the uses within.
Above the defined street wall height, buildings are
subject to above-grade step backs. This ensures that
the street wall is formed by buildings of comfortable
pedestrian scale, while taller elements are set back.
Note that above grade step backs are generally measured from the street wall. For example, along the
Grand Avenues, the street wall itself has a required 5m
build-to from the right of way. The above grade step
back (refer to Section 5.5) for taller building elements
is in addition to this.
The minimum street wall height throughout most of
Downtown is 10.25m (3 storeys). Minimum street
wall height on Victoria Avenue is 13.25m (4 storeys).
Street wall heights around the WOW Project should
be 19.25m. All new buildings must provide a street
wall at these heights, when the building height is
taller than the street wall height (see Section 5.4.1.
for definition of street wall height and building
height). Exact dimensions will vary depending on
use. Residential storey heights are typically less than
office storey heights, for example. The ground level,
generally should have a minimum 4.25m height, in
all uses. However, frontages with required retail atgrade, required convertible retail-frontage and priority
active frontages must meet this minimum 4.25, street
wall height requirement. This will allow long-term
flexibility to the ground level uses.
7.5m Street Wall

At the edge of the Cathedral and Core
Neighbourhoods, along Angus Street and Osler Street
respectively, the maximum street wall height is 7.5m,
approximately 2 residential stories. This reinforces the
predominantly low-rise and house form character of
these neighbourhoods.
10.25m to 13.25m Street Wall

Street walls Downtown should be 3 to 4 storeys in
height, or between 10.25m and 13.25m. This corresponds approximately to a 4.25m grade level height,
and storey heights of 3m above that.
13.25m Street Wall

In order to provide a better spatial definition of Victoria
Avenue and Queen Elizabeth II Court, the mandatory
street wall height is 13.25m, or 4 residential stories, or
3 office storeys.
However, many existing heritage buildings (from a
variety of time periods) along Victoria Avenue have a
grand, monumental character, and yet make a positive
contribution to the streets character. These include the
Hotel Saskatchewan, and The Balfour Apartments.
For this reason new buildings may not be required
to adhere to above grade step back requirements, as
determined on a case-by-case basis. Buildings without
street walls should be held to the highest design
standards.
19.25m Street Wall

In order to provide a better spatial definition of the
WOW Project as well as ensure a critical mass of
people around it, the mandatory street wall height
is 19.25m, or approximately 6 residential stories or 5
office storeys.
Varying Street Wall Heights

Where different street wall height requirements meet
at corners (see Map 10), the taller street wall height
may prevail for a distance of 18 metres around the
corner.
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Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
Victoria Avenue
13th Avenue
No Visible Parking
Streets with Parking Standards
Map 11. Parking
No Visible Parking
114
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
5.2.7 Parking
Parking Standards
Parking should not be the dominant image of streets.

An important goal of the Regina Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan is to cultivate an image where
parking, while present, goes relatively unnoticed in
the streetscape (also see Section 5.4.10). Therefore, no
new surface parking lots will be permitted Downtown
which are not screened by active uses along the street.
The required number of parking stalls per unit or

square metre of development should be reduced over
time, both in coordination with and to encourage
increased active transportation and public transit use,
and lowered reliance on private vehicles.
Streets with no visible parking

The most important streets in the historic heart of
Downtown should be defined by great buildings. To
this end, new parking will not be permitted to front
onto these streets either at grade or above grade.
This means new surface parking lots, or above grade
parking structures, must be screened by active uses,
such as retail, residential or office.
Streets with parking standards

Parking fronting the remainder of streets Downtown
must conform to design standards that emphasize the
continuity of the streetscape edge. The Citys current
landscape requirements for surface parking lots are
appropriate. Parking structures are subject to faade
design or public art requirements as set out in the
Above Grade Parking Structure Typology Standards
(Section 5.5.10).
The current minimum standard of 1 parking stall

per 100m 2 of office space should be considered
the maximum desirable, Downtown. A residential
parking standard of between 1.0 and 1.2 stalls per unit
(for 2 bedrooms or less), including visitor parking, is
the desirable maximum limit. Units with 3 bedrooms
or more may have a higher standard of 1.5 stalls per
unit.
Parking performance standards should be flexible,
including allowing small car parking stalls, narrower
aisles, smaller parking spaces, shared parking spaces
and tandem parking, where appropriate.
New office and institutional uses should have bicycle
parking standards of 1 stall per 500m 2 of gross floor
area.
Small development projects may be exempt from
loading or servicing space requirements, at the discretion of the City.
Active Uses
Active Uses
Active Uses
Sidewalk
Streets with no visible parking: above grade structured parking
is completely screened by active uses
Active Uses
Sidewalk
Streets with parking standards: refer to building typology
standards for above grade structured parking facilities.
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55m
30m
Osler Street
13.25m
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Cornwall Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
11th Avenue
12th Avenue
30m
40m
55m
30m
0m
40m
0m
20m
55m
13.25m
Victoria Avenue
30m
40m
13.25m
13.25m
Angus Street
40m
30m
13th Avenue
13.25m
4 residential storeys
3 commercial storeys
20m
Map 12. Height

Permission
20m
13.25m
116
30m
30m
40m
40m
55m
55m
Area eligible
for height
bonus
Area eligble for

height bonus
5.2.8 Density and Height as Maximums
5.2.9 Building Height
The height and density frameworks have been

developed, and must be implemented, as complimentary components. These frameworks allow and
accommodate an appropriate amount of development
as-of-right.
The height of buildings must reflect the overall Vision

for Downtown, which includes the goals of the Public
Realm Framework, the Heritage Framework, and the
other goals of the Built Form Framework. Principles
governing building heights (see Map 12) Downtown
include the following.
Depending on the size and configuration of any given

site, development may first reach the maximum allowable density or it may first reach the maximum
allowable height. As such, development will be
constrained by either the Density Framework or the
Height Framework, depending on site specific considerations. A small site, for example, may reach its
density maximum first, and therefore be limited by
this maximum. Conversely, a large site could allocate
greater amounts of density to a high-rise form, and
may be constrained by the height framework, rather
than the density maximum.
In order to accommodate the potential for sites to be
assembled and/or developed in different ways, the
Plan allows for density bonusing that can sensitively
accommodate the unique circumstances of each development scenario. In specified areas (see Map 12,
Height Permission, Area eligible for height bonus),
height bonusing may be considered.
Both the height and density frameworks are considered maximums, and development should not exceed
one either (except through bonusing, where allowable).
The maximum allowable height and density, and the
bonusing process, are designed to ensure that more
consideration is required of developments that are
larger/taller, given that they will be correspondingly
more prominent and significant.
Height Ridge/Peak: new tall buildings should be

directed to where they already exist. Generally, this is
a ridge running from Cornwall Centre, through the
Central Business District, down Hamilton Street to
Victoria Avenue, and south to the intersection of Broad
Street and Victoria Avenue. Focusing tall buildings
in, and near, this area reinforces the existing, legible
height and intensity concentration. Most, but not all,
existing tall buildings in this area are of 55m or less.
Heritage Heart and Visible Landmarks: buildings in
the heritage area should generally not be tall, in order
to reinforce a lower and more human scale fabric. This
approach allows existing tall buildings in this area
(some of which are heritage buildings or have potential
to be) to maintain their distinct, landmark presence in
the Regina skyline. Of particular importance are City
Hall (the tower), Hotel Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan
Power, and The Hill towers.
The Grand Avenues: The scale of the buildings along
Albert Street, Broad Street, Saskatchewan Drive and
Victoria Avenue - collectively the four Grand Avenues
- is envisioned to be of a mid-rise scale (See Section
5.5.5 for examples of mid-rise). This corresponds to
the existing 30m height limit on the outside edges of
Albert and Broad Streets. However, the mid-rise scale
should be applied to both sides of the street. Victoria
Avenue, as a ceremonial street, should have a slightly
taller scale, at 40m. This corresponds to the shoulder
height of the Hotel Saskatchewan the height of the
wings, and is also the height permitted in the adjacent
Centre Square area, to the south.
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2.5
rive
Sask
D
wan
atche
5.5
2.5
Cornwall Street
11th Avenue
4.0
2.5
5.5
Victoria Avenue
4.0 residential
2.0 commercial
2.5
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
12th Avenue
5.5
2.5
13th Avenue
2.5
Map 13. Density
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4.0
4.0 residential
2.0 commercial
5.5
Gradual Transitions: in general throughout

Downtown, gradual transitions between building
heights should be provided, avoiding stark juxtapositions in scale, particularly at the Core and Cathedral
Neighbourhood edges. This implies a low-medium-tall
sequence both east to west and north to south from
Downtowns edge to its central peak.
Core/Cathedral Interfaces: In order to have a compatible interface with these primarily low-rise areas,
building heights immediately adjacent should be
limited to approximately 4 storeys.
Centre Square Interface: the existing policy framework for Centre Square is quite deliberate in setting
up a transition from north to south of high-rise, to
mid-rise, to low-rise. This creates an appropriate transition to Downtown.
Knox Metropolitan Church Block: the existing 20m
height limit for this block ensures the church continues to have a strong presence, and is not dwarfed by
large buildings immediately adjacent. Given this block
is over 150m in length, and given the potential for a
dramatic library transformation that contributes to the
public amenity of the city, a taller building height can
be permitted with a transition to the 20m height limit
around Knox Metropolitan Church.
5.2.10
Density
Current density permissions, generally 7.0 times,

are extraordinarily high for a city of Reginas scale.
Density permissions should be lowered. The primary
goal is to ensure that new development fills in under
used or vacant sites, rather than concentrating significant development on only a few sites.
Furthermore, development alternatives and incentives
become more viable in a more restrictive development
context where the City can gain public amenities in
exchange for bonuses on height and density.
Most of Downtown should be 4.0 times density (see
Map 13). A higher density of 5.5 times corresponds
to the height ridge. A lower density of 2.5 times
corresponds to the Core/Cathedral Neighbourhood
interfaces. A 2.0 times commercial density corresponds to the Centre Square interface, consistent with
that areas current policy framework, and 4.0 times
residential density, which seeks to encourage residential infill close to Downtown.
Bonuses: all sites Downtown are eligible for density
bonuses, per the Bonusing Framework. Refer to
Section 5.3 for the Bonusing Framework.
Minimum Height: all new buildings Downtown

must be a minimum of 7.25m (2 storeys). This encourages mixed uses.
Height Bonuses: the Height Permission Map identifies areas where additional height may be achieved
above and beyond the height permissions identified
through bonuses that have a public benefit. These areas
correspond to gateways, the Central Business District,
areas outside the Heritage Heart, areas away from existing neighbourhoods, and the existing height ridge.
Refer to Section 5.3 for the Bonusing Framework.
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5.3
Bonusing Framework
5.3.1 Introduction
The Built Form Framework assumes maximum asof-right heights and densities for development in
Downtown, and identifies areas where additional
development rights may be achieved as a bonus in exchange for public benefit, as per Map 12 and Map 13.
The Downtown Bonusing Framework is a system
designed to achieve specific public benefits above and
beyond those required in the RDNP, in exchange for
increased development rights. It should replace those
parts of Chapter 17 of the Zoning Bylaw that apply
to Downtown, and will require amendments to the
Zoning Bylaw.
As it is implemented, the Bonusing Framework will
contribute to an increasing residential population
Downtown, while also encouraging new development
to contribute to the desired character, livability, and
sustainability of the Downtown neighbourhood.
It must be noted that the value of public benefits
achieved through bonusing will vary with the peaks
and troughs of real estate development activity. Thus,
it is important to bear in mind that while bonusing
can be a valuable tool to encourage the contribution of
amenities Downtown, bonusing is not a substitute for
stable, predictable, and ongoing sources of funding to
support Downtown services, development, amenities,
and improvements to the public realm.
Bonusing may only be considered with respect to

the granting of additional height (refer to Section
5.2.9), additional density (refer to Section 5.2.6), and/
or setback easements at Primary Gateways (refer to
Section 5.2.4) to development proposals.
5.3.2 Bonusing Eligibility Criteria

5.3.2.1 Bonuses may only be granted for additional
height within the boundaries specified in Map 12,
additional density within the boundaries specified in
Map 13, or setback easements at Primary Gateways as
identified in Map 9.
5.3.2.2 Bonusing may only be applied to development applications for any land use type development
Downtown.
5.3.2.3 Development applications with proposed
bonusing must meet all the requirements in the
RDNP. In particular, both the development and the
contributed community amenity must be in keeping
with the objectives and design standards in the Public
Realm Framework and Built Form Framework of the
RDNP.
Section 5.3: Bonusing Framework
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5.3.3 Evaluation of Bonusable

Community Amenities
5.3.4 Downtown Office Development

Contribution Gradient
5.3.3.1 Bonusable Community Amenities must be

selected from the list of Community Amenities of
Section 5.3.5.
5.3.4.1 A contribution gradient for community amenities will apply to all office developments Downtown.
All office developments Downtown will be required to
pay four ($4) dollars per square foot of office space above
podium height, which will be earmarked for downtown
improvements and implemented by City Staff.
This list reflects the community amenities that are

currently considered desirable Downtown, as per
the objectives of the RDNP. The list should only be
considered relevant for the duration of the RDNP,
and should be updated in the next Downtown plan.
However, in the context of specific applications,
proposals may be made to add new amenities to the
contribution list.
in-kind and located Downtown.
Public benefits will only be accepted in-kind, and
on-site amenities should be prioritized, thus incrementally providing improved levels of amenity
Downtown that make progress toward creating a
complete community.
a) The required podium height is determined by location as specified on Map 10.

b) A development is considered an office development if a minimum of 25% of the gross square
footage for the entire development contains office
space and retains this ratio in perpetuity.
Above podium
$4 per square foot

enduring.
Buildings have a long life, and correspondingly, the
resulting contribution must have a long-term effect.
This means that the quality of the benefit, and the
consideration for its use in the long-term must be considered as a priority.
in keeping with the objectives and standards of the
RDNP.
Community amenities must be designed and purposed
to meet the objectives and standards of the RDNP, and
will be evaluated through the Urban Design Review
process of all downtown development applications.
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Below podium
$0 per square foot
Fig. 22. The contribution gradient is applied to all office

developments downtown as a required community amenity
contribution.
Map 14. Boundaries of the Central Business District

The Central Businesses District (CBD) was created to concentrate Class A office development within the core of Downtown. This
responds to the desire of prospective tenants to be within an identified CBD. It therefore creates a more desirable condition to
market Regina for Class A office, contributing to economic growth and development in Downtown Regina. Within the CBD, office
buildings are permitted unlimited height and density, provided that they contain, in perpetuity, a minimum of 25% gross square feet
of office space.
Section 5.3: Bonusing Framework
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5.3.4.2 Contributions can be either the dollar value,

according to the contribution gradient, or an amenity
from the amenity contribution list, that is of an equivalent dollar value.
5.3.4.3 Within the Central Business District (CBD,
Map 14), office developments (defined as any development with a minimum of 25% gross square footage of
office space, to be secured in perpetuity) are permitted
unlimited height and density. This provision is provided to reinforce the CBD by creating an incentive
for larger office development in the CBD, where it is
most desired.
5.3.5 List of Bonusable Community

Amenities
Creating a list of bonusable community amenities,
projects and initiatives which are eligible to be exchanged for bonusing is an important step in adding
transparency and predictability to the system. It is also
important in ensuring that the benefits of a bonusing
system are not diluted by amenity contributions that
produce little public benefit. The list of community
amenities which are eligible for bonusing should only
be considered relevant for the duration in which the
RDNP is in effect.
Public Realm
Public Art
Park/Parkette
Street furniture
Street trees
Sustainable landscaping measures (i.e.
permeable surfaces, native species plantings)
Use
Public Gallery
Space for Non-Profit services
Public Meeting Room
Child Care Centre
Public Patio
Built Form
Heritage preservation
Green Roof
Rain Garden (landscaped rainwater
catchment area)
Affordable Housing
Faade improvements (on or off-site)
Atrium on corner site (i.e for waiting)
Energy efficiency or innovation measures (i.e.
solar energy, geothermal)
LEED certification, non Class A office space
Construction
Waste minimization program for
construction (i.e. waste recycling, material
minimization)
Sustainable materials (e.g. use of locally
produced materials, products that are nontoxic)
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5.4
General Design Standards
The following general design standards are applicable

to all new buildings, regardless of use or scale. The goal
of these standards is to create a human scaled environment, a characteristic of all great Downtowns.
Applying these standards will have the greatest positive
impact on new development Downtown.
Design standards cannot anticipate every possible
contingency. The standards must be interpreted with
flexibility based on the merits of individual proposals
and their unique contexts and conditions. However, the
standards, collectively, establish a high expectation for
design. Wherever a proposed new development cannot
meet one or more specific standards, it should provide
exemplary compliance with other standards, not just
meeting minimum standards. Creative solutions that
meet the intent of Regina Downtown Neighbourhood
Plan Vision are welcome.
In general, when evaluating the merits of a new development, the following conditions must be met.

Makes a positive contribution to the city, to

Downtown, and to the streetscape.
Relates to, and builds upon, its existing

context.
Contributes to pedestrianism.
The faade is as interactive as possible

at ground level, through transparency
(windows), multiple entrances, and active
uses.
Has beauty and will stand the test of time

(well designed and quality materials).
Section 5.4: General Design Standards
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5.4.1 Street Wall

The street wall is a condition where buildings consistently line or front onto a street, defining its edge as
an outdoor public space. This is best achieved where
buildings have relatively consistent setbacks and
heights at the street edge.

The street wall should contribute to the

fine-grain character of the streetscape by
articulating the faade in a vertical rhythm
that is consistent with the prevailing
character of narrow buildings and storefronts
generally in intervals between 6 and 12
metres.
The street wall should generally be built to
occupy 100% of a propertys frontage along
streets. For properties that have less than 25
metres of street frontage, it is required (for
corner sites, 25m of each individual frontage).
The podium of the new building (centre) reinforces a consistent

street wall while taller elements are stepped back.
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Above the street wall, buildings are subject to

above-grade step backs (see Section 5.2.4).
All ground levels, including residential uses,

should have a prominent presence on the
street with a floor-to-ceiling height that is no
less than 4.25 metres (14 feet).
Street walls must be designed to have the

highest possible material quality and detail.
Street walls must have many windows and

doors to provide eyes on the street and a
sense of animation and engagement.
No blank at-grade street wall conditions, or

mechanical/utility functions are permitted on
any frontage anywhere Downtown.
5.4.2 Orientation and Placement

The orientation and placement of a building on a property creates a relationship with the adjacent context,
and helps define the quality and character of the public
realm.

All buildings must orient to and be placed at

the street edge with clearly defined primary
entry points that directly access the sidewalk.
Alternatively, buildings must be sited to
define the edges of public open spaces, for
example, plazas and promenades.
In most locations buildings should be built

to the edge of the public right of way of
streets to define their edges and create a direct
relationship to the adjacent sidewalk. In the
case of Avenues, buildings must be built to a
line 5 metres set back from the right of way
(See Section 5.2.5, Build-to Line, 5m Build-to,
regarding Primary Gateway exceptions). This
is to define a wider sidewalk and public realm
zone along these important streets.
No parking is permitted between any building

and the street edge anywhere Downtown.
Side-yard setbacks are generally not

permitted, except where required for mid
block pedestrian connections or vehicular
access.
Consistent setback & orientation to the street in a new

development
Buildings are located to define public spaces: streets and open

spaces
On corner sites, buildings should be oriented

towards the corner with an exceptional corner
treatment and contribution to the public
realm.
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ensure windows are close to or at the front

of the faade. Avoid deep columns or large
building projections that hide retail display
and signage from view.
5.4.3 Retail Frontages

Retail uses are most effective when located at-grade
and in areas of high visibility and pedestrian traffic.
Correspondingly, retail activity helps animate a street
when it is appropriately designed and focused.

All required retail frontages must have retail

uses at-grade with an average 70-90% glazing
to achieve maximum visual transparency
and animation. Weather protection for
pedestrians is encouraged through the use of
awnings and canopies.
Where retail uses are not viable in the shortterm, the grade-level condition should be
designed to easily accommodate adaptive reuse, and therefore should be convertible uses.
This condition is mandatory along Broad
Street, Albert Street, and Saskatchewan
Drive.
Minimize the transition zone between
retail and the public realm. Locate retail
immediately adjacent to the sidewalk and
Ensure retail entrances are located at or near

grade. Avoid split level, raised or sunken
retail entrances.
Commercial signage should add diversity

and interest to retail streets, but not be
overwhelming, and should generally be
limited to the ground level.
Backlit sign boxes, billboards, revolving signs,

roof signs, and third party signage is not
permitted (see Section 5.4.11).
In some instances, shallow (15ft) retail

faades should be considered in order to
ensure retail at grade which also allows for
larger floor plates (in behind).
Retail frontages should be highly transparent and located immediately adjacent to the sidewalk.
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5.4.4 Entrances
An entrance to a building is often the most recognizable and used part of its faade. It is what people look
for when they interact with the building. It must be
prominent, recognizable and accessible.

Emphasize entrances with architectural forms

such as height, massing, projection, shadow,
punctuation and/or change in roofline or
materials. Modest height, set back and/or step
backs are appropriate.
Ensure main common building entrances

(to residential or office lobbies, for example)
are covered with a canopy, awning, recess or
similar device to provide pedestrian weather
protection.
This library entrance is articulated by the change in massing,

prominent roof form, transparent materials, and lighting.
The main entrance is emphasized with change in materials,

taller massing, and roof profile.
A canopy that covers the doorway

and projects over the sidewalk
clearly emphasizes the entrance.
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5.4.5 Building Articulation

The articulation of a building is often what gives it a
human scale and a sense of quality, through the attention to detail. The articulation implies a 3-dimensional
faade, where windows and other elements have depth,
creating a dynamic play of light and shadows. Typically
the articulation will indicate the transition between
floors and interior spaces, giving a human scale to the
faade. This articulation can also include changes in
materials, or material treatments.

To encourage continuity in the streetscape

and to ensure horizontal breaks in the faade,
buildings must be designed to reinforce the
following key elements through the use of
setbacks, extrusions, textures, materials and/or
detailing:
Base Within the first three storeys,

a base must be clearly defined and
positively contribute to the quality of
the pedestrian environment through
animation, transparency, articulation and
material quality.
Middle The body of the building

above the base must contribute to the
physical and visual quality of the overall
streetscape.
Top - The roof condition must be

distinguished from the rest of the
building and designed to contribute to
the visual quality of the skyline.
Heritage buildings are often well articulated with a base,

middle and top.
New buildings can articulate a base, middle and top with

simple design articulation, as is demonstrated by a past
example in the Hotel Saskatchewan.
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Base, middle and top must be applied to

buildings of all heights, whether of 3 storeys
or 30 (Figure 23).
Buildings must seek to contribute to a mix

and variety of high quality architecture while
remaining respectful of Reginas context and
tradition.
To provide architectural variety and visual

interest, other opportunities to articulate the
massing should be encouraged, including
vertical and horizontal recesses or projections,
datum lines, and changes in material, texture
or colour.
Street facing faades must have the highest

design quality, however, all publicly viewed
faades at the side and rear should have a
consistent design expression.
Top
Middle
Base
Figure 22. Buildings must be designed with a distinct base, middle and top.
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5.4.6 Frontages of Other Uses

All uses must help create an animated street environment with doors, windows and pedestrian activity
fronting and accessing directly onto the public realm.

Non-commercial uses at-grade must animate

the street with frequent entries and windows.
Residential uses located at grade must

include individual units accessed from the
street, with appropriate front yard privacy
measures such as setbacks, landscaping, and
grade shifts (raised entrances such as steps,
stoops, porches). These conditions occur along
Secondary Streets and along 13th Avenue.
Building interiors must be organized to

present the most animated uses or functions
to the street edge through a transparent
faade, such as cafeterias, lobbies, common
gathering areas, etc.
Frontage conditions must also consider Map 8,

Frontage Condition.
These ground level units are articulated and accessed individually

from the street.
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5.4.7 Materials
The building materials help define the character and
quality of a building and how it relates with other
buildings or structures in its context. In an area
where brick is predominant, new buildings will define
themselves by the use, or lack of brick. Of much importance, as well, for the selection of materials is their
longevity and ability to age with grace. Materials such
as stone, brick and glass will endure well over time.

Building materials must be chosen for their

durability and their functional and aesthetic
quality and exterior finishes should exhibit
quality of workmanship, sustainability and
ease of maintenance.
Too varied a range of building materials is

discouraged in favour of achieving a unified
building image.
Materials used for the front faade must be

carried around the building where any faades
are exposed to public view at the side or rear.
Changes in material must generally not occur

at building corners, unless the corner is a
subordinate element (projection, bay, tower,
etc.) to the main massing.
Building materials recommended for new

construction include brick, stone, wood, glass,
in-situ concrete and precast concrete.
In general, the appearance of building

materials should be true to their nature and
should not mimic other materials.
Vinyl siding, plastic, plywood, concrete

block, darkly tinted and mirrored glass and
metal siding utilizing exposed fasteners are
discouraged.
High quality materials articulate a base, middle and top, as

well as changes in massing.
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5.4.8 Roof Line

Due to the high visibility of tall buildings in the
prairie landscape, the design of roof conditions must
be carefully considered, as they are viewed from many
locations Downtown and around the city, and have a
significant impact on the image of the built quality of
Downtown.
A tapered profile, use of peaked roofs and dormers, high quality
materials, and integrated mechanical equipment give this
building a distinct skyline profile.
Simple but dynamic roof profiles contribute to the skyline with

completely integrated and hidden mechanical equipment.
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Buildings above six storeys contribute more to

the skyline of individual precincts or even the
entire Downtown, and so their roof massing
and profile must be designed to contribute
to the image of the city, through sculpting,
towers, night lighting or unique features.
The expression of the building top and roof,

while clearly distinguished from the building
middle, should incorporate elements of the
middle and base such as pilasters, materials,
massing forms or datum lines in order to
create a cohesive building image.
Green roofs are encouraged.
All rooftop mechanical equipment must be

screened from view by integrating it into the
architectural design of the building and the
expression of the building top .
5.4.9 Visually Prominent Locations

Prominent sites are locations that are highly visible,
occupy an important symbolic location, or have an important public function. These include view termini,
sites adjacent to significant public open spaces, street
corners, and civic buildings. Since these sites help shape
the image and character of an area and Downtown, they
have greater civic obligations to ensure that the highest
possible standards in design and material quality are
met. To enhance the distinction and landmark quality
of new buildings in these locations, modest exceptions
to step backs (not to the setback) and height restrictions should be permitted to encourage massing and
designs that accentuate the visual prominence of the
site (see Map 5 for visually prominent sites).
Modest height, set

Modest height, set
back and/or step back back and/or step
back exception at view
exception at corner
terminus and main front
entrance
Modest set back

exception to
emphasize view to
existing landmark
View Termini
Buildings, structures, or sites that are visual termini
are at the end of a view, typically when looking along
at street. Given their prominence within the urban
context, they must enhance the level of design quality,
as well as promote their image.

Provide distinctive architectural treatments

such as spires, turrets, belvederes, porticos,
arcades, or archways.
Align design features to the view axis which,

in addition to tall elements, must include
aligned main entries or portico openings.
A taller building mass, including the main front entrance,

terminates this end view.
Corners
Corner buildings have a greater visual prominence
given that they terminate two street walls and that
they can be viewed from a greater open space, at the
street intersection. This special condition must be recognized through appropriate design responses.
A tower is located at the bend in the road.
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Designs must provide a change in the

building massing at the corner, in relation to
the street wall.
Consideration should be given to providing

distinctive architectural treatments such as
spires, turrets, belvederes, porticos, arcades, or
archways.
Employ consistency in the built form

characteristics of the building design and/or
massing on all four corners. While buildings
or building elements should not be the same,
they should have common references among
them, such as cornice line, tower elements,
setback, signage, etc.
Provide a frontal design to both street

frontages.
This building responds to the corner through taller massing, a

unique roof profile, and an entrance facing the corner
Gateways
Gateway buildings have the greatest visual prominence, as they are located at corners that are gateways
to Downtown. Gateway buildings must provide a
deliberate and significant response befitting their
role. New gateway buildings Downtown may provide
a massing set back from the street wall, in order to
appropriately address the intersection, provide a larger
pedestrian realm, and define new public space. All
other standards that apply to corner buildings also
apply to gateway buildings.
The building shown above is set farther back at the corner,

providing an expanded pedestrian realm. The streetscape
is animated by an entrance opening to the corner, a threeseason patio, and large windows that provide transparency
and enable a street view of the caf and retail uses inside.
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Existing Landmarks
Existing landmarks contribute to the cultural history
and distinct sense of place of Downtown Regina.
Examples include the church towers, the Federal
Building tower, the old post office, tall buildings such
as the Saskatchewan Power building, and the marquee
of the Plains Hotel. New buildings should ensure their
visual prominence is maintained and enhanced.

New buildings must align to consistently

create a view corridor to landmarks.
New buildings should provide setbacks,

step backs, jogs, and other massing voids to
maintain the view or create a new view to
landmarks.
Landmark Frontages
Landmark frontages are the building faces defining
the edges of Downtowns most important streets and
open spaces. New buildings should reinforce the edges
of these features and the linkages between them.

New buildings should utilize existing

distinct building design elements such as
materials, colours, or architectural features
(columns, towers, bays, etc.) in the design
of new buildings to create a consistent
expression along the frontage (See Map 5,
Visual Prominence, for location of Landmark
Frontages).
Landmark frontages can be achieved in a variety of ways.

These buildings have similar scale and materials to define a
consistent street edge.
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5.4.10 Vehicular Access, Circulation,

Parking, Loading, and Utilities
Service areas are a necessary part of buildings, but
often do not create a welcoming pedestrian environment. Care must be given to the design in order to
minimize their presence and impact on the public
experience by locating them to less visible parts of the
building and by integrating them within the building
mass (also see Section 5.2.7).
Buildings should define the public realm. All parking and

loading should be located at the side or rear of buildings and
accessed by laneways.
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Generally all parking access, loading areas and

utility zones must be located at the rear of
buildings and accessed from laneways.
Where necessary, ensure vehicular and

service access has a minimal impact on the
streetscape, through minimizing the width
of the frontage it occupies, and by designing
integrated access portals and garages.
No parking is permitted between any building

and the street edge.
No parking is permitted to front any street

edge.
Where access and service areas are visible

from or shared with public space, provide
high quality materials and features that
can include continuous paving treatments,
landscaping and well designed doors and
entries.
Locate loading, storage, utilities, areas for

delivery and trash pick up out of view from
public streets and spaces, and residential uses.
Coordinate and integrate utilities, mechanical

equipment and meters with the design of the
building, for example, using rooftop parapets
or internal utility rooms.
When any portion of a site is redeveloped,

existing surface parking must be redesigned
to conform to the requirements outlined
above.
Locate heating, venting and air conditioning

equipment and vents away from public
streets.
Refer to the Building Typology Standards for

design of parking structures.
Locate parking underground or internal

to the building (preferred), or to the rear
of buildings (moderate sized lots for the
handicapped, visitors).
New parking facilities, including structured

parking and surface lots, must not be
visible or provide vehicular access from the
pedestrian heart of Downtown.
No new surface parking is permitted, except

where it is located to the rear of a building
and sufficient screening is provided.
Reduce the amount of existing surface

parking in the Downtown, and improve the
aesthetic (buffers, materials, trees) of existing
surface lots.
Where existing surface parking lots are

exposed to streets, they should use hard (e.g.
columns, decorative fencing) and soft (e.g.
hedges) landscaping to reinforce the street
edge, and should be designed to include
internal landscaping on islands at the ends of
each parking aisle, clearly marked pedestrian
access and paths, lighting and concealed with
landscaped buffers and/or other mitigating
design measures.
Where necessary, vehicular access is through an access portal

integrated with building faade. The width of the frontage it
occupies is minimal.
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5.4.11 Signage
Signs play an important role in the overall image of
Downtown. Signs should contribute to the quality of
individual buildings and the public realm. They should
reflect the unique characteristic of their context. This
includes compatibility with heritage buildings and
districts, where appropriate. High quality, imaginative, and innovative signs are encouraged. Design
objectives for signs include:
Signs should be located within defined architectural spaces,
such as sign bands or windows (green, above). This also
includes areas that are defined by, or reinforce, datum lines or
proportional characteristics of the faade (red, above).
The position of these signs is consistent with the architectural

orders of the faade and the historic context.
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Integrate signs into the design of building

faades by placing them within architectural
bay, friezes or datum lines, including
coordinated proportion, materials and colour.
Signs must not obscure windows, cornices or

other architectural elements.
Sign scale must reinforce the pedestrian scale

of Downtown, through location at or near
grade level for viewing from sidewalks.
Large freestanding signs (such as pylons),

signs on top of rooftops, and large scale
advertising (such as billboards) are not
permitted.
Signs on heritage buildings must be

consistent with traditional sign placement
such as on a sign band, window lettering, or
within architectural orders, or as per Heritage
Conservation District requirements.
Street addressing must be clearly visible for

every building.
5.4.12 Lighting
Night image is an important aspect of Downtowns
urban character and form.

Reduce light pollution by directing light

directly to useful areas. Avoid spilled light
and eliminate upwardly pointing light (at the
sky). Encourage building owners to turn off
unnecessary interior lights.
Attractive landscape and architectural features

can be highlighted with spot-lighting or
general lighting placement.
Consider a variety of lighting opportunities

inclusive of street lighting, pedestrian lighting,
building up/down lighting, internal building
lighting, internal and external signage
illumination (including street addressing), and
decorative/display lighting.
Illuminate landmark buildings and elements,

such as towers or distinctive roof profiles.
Encourage subtle night-lighting of retail

display windows.
Ensure light does not spill onto adjacent lowrise residential areas.
Encourage the use of energy efficient lighting

and green power sources.
Street lights, and light standards affixed to

buildings that are within the streetscape,
should be scaled and designed for pedestrians.
Light outstanding architectural features.
Light landmark buildings and elements.
Light building entrances.

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5.4.13 Transition
Transitions between buildings help create continuity
and cohesiveness in the streetscape. They occur when
buildings that are beside each other, across the street
from each other, or are otherwise part of a building
grouping, have design elements that reference each
other. Transitions can be articulated through a wide
range of design elements, particularly those at a pedestrian scale, including:

Overall building height
Massing
Street wall height
Projections
Proportion

These buildings have appropriate transitions due to similar
setback, massing, street wall height and projections. These
characteristics of building form are more important than their
style and material dissimilarity.
Setback
Floor heights
Cornice line
While these buildings have different styles, massing, and

setbacks, they have appropriate transitions due to similar
materials, datum lines and window proportions.
Building base
Proportion
Colour
Pattern
Texture
Entry Treatment
Window Treatment
Placement
Proportion
Vertical divisions (rhythm)
Materials
Above grade step backs
Ground level setbacks: front, side, rear
Datum lines
Roof profile
Orientation
Architectural style/period
To create appropriate transitions, new buildings should

consider several of the above features of other, adjacent
buildings (usually beside each other), in their design.
142
Elements of transition between these buildings include typology

(same type), height, and setback. Regardless of the style,
materials, or colour, these basic massing similarities create
compatible relationships.
Elements of transition between these buildings include

materials, cornice heights and datum lines. Despite the
differences in massing between the new building and the two
heritage buildings, and their window size and proportion, these
buildings have appropriate transitions.
The new building (right) responds to the materials, design language and rhythm of the historic building (left), to create a consistent
transition. Note this would be appropriate along landmark frontages.
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144
5.5
Building Typology Standards
5.5.1 Introduction
The following building typology standards build upon
the general design standards by providing more specific design direction for various types of buildings.
The typologies included are:

Residential & Mixed Use Typologies:

Multiplex, Low, Mid and High-Rise
Office and Commercial Typologies: Low and

Mid to High-Rise
Civic Typology
Above Grade Parking Structure Typology
The typologies are not meant to be rigid. There are

other typologies that exist, as well as variations on
these typologies. The intent is to provide a broad spectrum of the most common building types and their
associated design intent. Some of this material repeats
the general design standards. For each typology, the
standards set out:
A general description of the typology

including organization, access, amenity space,
and uses.
General massing and height, including

specific massing control standards governing
above grade step backs, building sizes, and
separation distances.
Standards for articulating the faade.
Standards for parking and servicing.
Certain types of buildings are appropriate in certain

locations Downtown. For example, lower residential
forms, including multiplex or stacked townhouses,
are appropriate in the neighbourhood transition areas
around the edges of Downtown. Central Downtown
is more appropriate for mid- to high-rise types. The
typology location chart (Figure 25 and 26) provides
an overview.
Figure 24 provides a diagrammatic summary of definitions used in the typology descriptions.
Section 5.5: Building Typology Standards
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5.5.2 Definitions
Build-to Line
Step-back
This term denotes a specific distance from the property line to which the street wall of all new buildings
must be constructed. All new construction must
be built to the Build-to Line. The Build-to line is
measured at grade. Relaxation of the build-to lines
are achievable through bonusing where allowable
as shown on Map 9.
Where a building has taller elements above the

street wall, the step back is the distance from the
street wall to the nearest part of the taller building element or structure, measured perpendicular
to the street wall. It is measured above grade from
the street wall.
Setback
Property Line
Build-to Line
Street Wall
A set back typically denotes the minimum distance

(implying a building can be located further back)
from the property line at which a building must
be built. Recall that Section 5.2.5 states that the
setbacks are considered build-to lines (or ranges)
and greater or lesser setbacks are not permitted
Downtown.
Step Back
(from laneway)
Step Back
(from street
wall)
Setback
Construct to Build-to line
Sidewalk
Podium
The lower portion of a building or collection of

buildings that defines the street edge or public
realm, typically between 3-6 storeys in height.
The street wall refers to the faade portion of the
building.
The lower portion of a building that defines the

street edge or public realm, typically between 3-6
storeys in height. The podium refers to the overall
massing of this portion of the building.
Street Wall
Street Wall
Sidewalk
146
Podium
Sidewalk
Figure 24. Diagram of building design components
Lan
ew
ay
t
cen y
a
j
Ad pert
Pro
Ste
(fro p ba
pro m s ck
pe har
rty ed
lin
e)
Ste
(fro p ba
m ck
str
ee
t)
ack t)
p b stree
e
t
S m
(fro
Str
ee
y)
ck
ba newa
p
Ste m la
(fro
Podium
Bu
ild
-to
lin
e(
Bu
lin ild-to
e(
5m
)
0m
ee
Str
Str
ee
tW
all
all
tW
ee
Str
Step
Back
Podium
Street
Wall
Podium
Build-To
Line
147
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Figure 25. Appropriate locations for building typologies chart
Central
Downtown
Downtown
Edge
Multiplex
Residential
Lowrise
Mixed Use Row House

Stacked
Low Apartment
Mid-rise
Hi-rise
Commercial
Lowrise
Small/Mid Format
Large Format
Mid-rise
Hi-rise
Civic
Parking Structure
148
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Centre Square Interface

excluding
Victoria
Avenue
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Victoria
Avenue
P
P
P
P
Core
Interface
Cathedral
Interface
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Figure 26. Building typology renderings
Residential Buildings
Multiplex
Mixed Use Row House
Mixed Use Row House
Stacked Row House
Low Apartment
Low-rise
Mid-rise
High-rise
Retail/ Office Buildings
Low-rise
Civic Building
Mid-rise
High-rise
Parking Structure
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Residential Multiplex
Multiplexes have multiple units within a house form building. The street edge is animated with balconies, windows, and a porch.
Multiple units are contained within a house form building.

Several entrances are provided to animate the street edge.
150
Residential Multiplex
5.5.3 Multiplex Residential/Mixed Use
Description & Use

Three or more residential units within a large

house-form
May be individual entrances to each unit, or

a single vestibule entrance for all units (with
separate doors for each)
Private rear yard or patio for residents use
Small scale at grade retail is appropriate (e.g.

corner store, hair salon, etc.)
Corner unit should wrap both frontages

with continuous built form
Parking pads or
garages in rear
2-4m front yard

setback
0.6-2m side yard

setback
Massing
Height: 2-4 storeys

Ensure the multiplex is massed as a large manor
house, not a low-rise apartment
Articulate faades to express a base, middle

and top.
Provide building forms such as larger massing,

taller heights, entrances, and/or distinctive
architectural elements.
Generally, provide vertical design orientation

to faades, including bays, windows and doors.
Maximize the built frontage of the multiplex

on its lot facing public streets to help create a
consistent street wall.
Small front and side yard setbacks, typically:
2-4m front yard setback.
0.6-2m side yard setback.
Articulation
Parking & Servicing

All resident parking should be accessed from

a rear laneway, including garages, driveways or
small aggregate parking lots.
Design buildings to be varied and articulated

to provide visual interest to pedestrians.
On-street parking provides additional resident

and visitor parking.
Design the main building entrance to be

prominent in the faade using techniques
such as height, massing, overhang, shadow,
punctuation and/or change in roofline.
Garages are permitted only in the rear yard.
Locate all utility meters away from the front

faade, or integrate them with the design of
the faade or porch so they are not visible.
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Residential Low-Rise
These live-work row houses have a traditional main street character.
152
5.5.4 Low-Rise Residential/Mixed Use

Description & Use

Residential units attached to their

neighbours above, below and to the side,
within a single building.
Private open space provided in the form

of patios, decks, balconies or rooftops for
individual units.
Common open space such as a courtyard or

rooftop deck for residents, except for very
small projects.
Parking Pads or
garages in rear
Convertible retail
frontage at grade
Commercial uses on the ground floor of

buildings is desirable.
Mixed Use Row House

Units attached at sides, generally a single

ownership for each unit.
Ground level commercial uses can be owneroccupied, rented or sold.
Purely residential row houses are appropriate

in certain conditions:
along Angus Street and Osler Street.
part of a larger development site

including low apartment, mid- or highrise forms.
Amenity area on deck above

parking
Active or residential uses at

grade
Units overlooking laneway
Parking under deck,

accessed by laneway
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These stacked row houses emphasize entries and articulate the faade well given multiple entrances and stairs.
Base, middle and top are clearly defined for this low apartment. Change in plane and materials articulate a series of smaller masses.
154
Stacked Row House

Usually, one or more units stacked above one

or more units.
Appropriate in locations where individual

grade-accessed residential units are
permitted.
Individual units accessed
from street
Low Apartment Building Forms
2.5m minimum step

back facing streets
Units attached above, below and to the side.
Includes garden apartments, courtyard

apartments, and street wall apartments.
Parking at rear
screened by building
mass
No step back from
shared property lines
Podium street wall
Active or residential
uses face street
Massing
Height: 3-5 storeys

Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of

scale, height and configuration.
Provide a 3 or 4 storey street wall (podium) at

the street edge, with above grade step backs:
Parking at rear
screened by
building mass
Above podium, 2.5m minimum step

back from laneway.
no step back required from shared

property lines.
2-4m front yard setbacks for individual grade

accessed residential units.

back from streets.
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Articulation

Orient all primary building entrances to

directly access the public sidewalk.

Divide faades using horizontal tiers to

express a base, middle, and top.
Divide faades vertically to be consistent with

traditional bays and building widths.
Address both primary, publicly visible

faades of corner buildings with a frontal
appearance.
Address street corners using building

forms such as larger massing, taller heights,
entrances, and/or distinctive architectural
elements.
Articulate all faades facing public streets

using entrances, windows, architectural details
and/or signage to provide pedestrian interest.
All faades that are not built as parti walls

(to be shared with a future adjacent building)
must be articulated inclusive of windows.

to faades (bays), windows and doors.
Ensure materials have human scale and

interest, such as brick and masonry. Ensure
non-modular materials such as concrete are
articulated with design details, particularly at
grade.
Provide compatible materials to adjacent

buildings and hard landscapes, either as
primary material or accent.
All of these low apartments have transparent ground levels and articulate a base, middle and top. Downtown needs much more of
this type of building.
156
Parking & Servicing

Parking must not be visible from streets.

Where provided, parking must:
For mixed use row house forms, at

the rear of the building in driveways
or detached garages set back from the
street frontage.
For stacked row house forms, at the rear

of the building in driveways, integrated
garages or communal lots.
For low apartment forms, in communal

lots or an integrated structure.
Vehicular access to parking should generally

be from the laneway, to minimize the impact
on primary streetscapes and on pedestrians.
Locate loading, storage, and utilities out of

view from public streets.
Locate areas for deliveries and trash pick up

away from residential uses, and public streets
and spaces.
Screen parking, loading and storage areas

from public view using building mass,
freestanding walls and landscaping.
Screen large exterior trash receptacles from

public view using solid screens compatible
in materials and colour to the principal
structure.

faade, for example, using rooftop parapets or
utility rooms.

equipment away from public streets.
Laneways should provide the primary access for parking and servicing functions. Where appropriate, laneways should be
designed as high quality spaces where they can be overlooked by residences or active uses.
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Residential Mid-Rise
Mid-rise residences. Note well articulated roof profile integrating all mechanical penthouse equipment. Materials, windows, and
projections provide articulation and interest.
158
5.5.5 Mid-Rise Residential/Mixed Use

Description & Use

Homes attached to their neighbours above,

below and to the side, within a single
building.
Typically, street level units have separate

individual entrances. Other units enter from
one or more lobbies serving one or more
elevator and stair core.
Private open space provided in the form

of patios, decks, balconies or rooftops for
individual units.
Common open space such as a courtyard or

rooftop deck for residents.
Commercial uses on the ground floor

of buildings is encouraged, convertible
frontages are required.
Prominent main
entrance
Potential common
amenity area
Individual units
accessed from
street
Podium/ Street
wall
Underground
parking preferred
Configuration showing underground parking.
2.5m minimum step back from

shared property line
20m separation to
tall building
Ma
May include office uses on 2nd and 3rd floor.
x.
sla
2.5m minimum
step back from street
Prominent entrance
bl
en
gth
55
Potential amenity
space on deck
above parking
Parking at rear
screened by
building mass
Configuration showing potential above-grade parking

structure integrated and screened by building mass.
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Above grade step back creates balcony and terrace opportunities for upper units.
160
Massing
Height: 6-12 storeys


Break down the massing of large buildings

horizontally and vertically into a hierarchy of
volumes.


back from street wall.

back from laneway.

back from podium edge facing another
property.
The portion of the building taller than

16.25m (approximately 5 storeys) should
generally be separated by a minimum of 20m
from other tall buildings of 16.25m height (5
storeys) or greater (residential or office).
A mid-rise residential building with individually access units at

ground level. A modest setback from the right of way allows an
urban front yard landscape condition.
In existing conditions were a parti wall exists

and is built to a shared property line, the
podium of new development is required to
abut the existing parti wall.
A variance will be considered in the required

20m separation distance between tall
buildings in the condition where the existing
adjacent building is built to the property
line, or has a minimal setback, and addresses
privacy and aesthetic concerns.
On blocks fronting the south side of Victoria

Avenue, maximum slab building length is
55m for portions of building taller than
16.25m and less than 30m. Above 30m,
maximum floor plate size is 700m2.

accessed residential units required on primary
and secondary streets.
Maximum slab building length is 55m for

portions of building taller than 16.25m
(approximately 5 storeys).
Articulation


directly access the sidewalk.
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Mid-rise building addresses both street frontages with high quality articulation. Corner entrance is well lit and weather protected.
Faades have been divided vertically to be consistent with traditional bays and building widths.
These buildings have a podium design and sculpt their large

massing to create smaller forms.
162





appearance.

elements.
concrete are articulated with design details,

particularly at grade.


Parking & Servicing

All residents parking and loading must

be located below grade, or in above-grade
parking structures, hidden from the street.
Locate vehicular access to parking generally

from the laneway to minimize its impact on
primary streetscapes and pedestrians.




and spaces.


Where individual residential uses are located

at grade, provide articulation of individual
units, including individual front entrances
and small front yards. They should have a
row house appearance.

structure.

utility rooms.

streets.
Ensure there are some elements of building

design that carry through both base
building and tall building, such as materials,
architectural orders (e.g. pilasters), or setback.
non-modular materials such as stucco and
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Residential High-Rise
High-rise residential with street edge podium.
164
5.5.6 High-Rise Residential/Mixed Use

Description & Use
Residential units attached to their neighbours above,
below and to the side, within a single building.
Only street level units have separate individual
entrances. All other units enter from one or more
lobbies serving one or more elevator and stair core.
Private open space provided in the form of patios,
decks, balconies or rooftops.
20m separation to
tall buildings
2.5m minimum
step back from
building face
above podium
Slabs: 55m max.

length & 14 storey
max. height
Floor plate
700m2 or
less for point
tower
Common
amenity area
Common open space such as a courtyard or rooftop

deck.
Some commercial uses on the ground floor of
buildings is required; significant ground floor
commercial is strongly encouraged.
May include office or hotel uses instead of, or in
addition to, residential.
Prominent
entrance
2.5m minimum step
back facing streets
Massing
Height: 13+ storeys
Roof: flat
Ensure adjacent buildings relate in terms of scale,
height and configuration.
Tall buildings contribute to the skyline and
therefore are important in shaping the image of the
city. Ensure the top of the building is articulated
through architectural detail, has a well-defined
three-dimensional form, and integrates mechanical
penthouse equipment into the building design.
volumes.
Street-edge massing should generally be 3-4 storeys
in height through a base or podium building, with
taller building elements stepped back.
Underground
parking preferred
Articulated tower form
Podium /
Street Wall
Prominent
entrance
High quality front faade
to parking integrated with
overall building design
Active or residential
use at grade
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downtown plan
Lower, grade-related building forms line the street with above grade step backs. The high-rise
is articulated vertically through a first-floor canopy/overhang, a mid-rise massing to the 7th
storey, and then a stepped-back tower.
166



back from street wall.

back from laneway.

back from podium edge facing another
property.

from other tall buildings of 16.25m height (5
storeys) or greater (residential or office).
The portion of the building taller than 40m
(approximately 13 storeys) should generally
be separated by a minimum of 25m from
other buildings of 13 storeys or greater
(residential or office).


accessed residential units (or as required on
Map 9).
Point Tower High Rise

Slender profile tower with small floor plates

typically less than 700m2.
Can be sited more freely than slab highrise because of their lesser bulk, including
at gateways, corners, terminus views and
landmark sites, however, they do have a
greater obligation towards high quality design
and materials given their visual prominence.
Place in areas adjacent to other tall buildings,

for context and transition.
Slab High Rise

Large tower with big floor plates typically

more than 700m2.
Maximum 43.25m (14 storeys) height.
Longer building mass requires careful

location and design. Should generally not be
located at highly visible locations unless of
landmark design quality.
Must be vertically and horizontally

articulated through changes in mass, plane,
material and treatment.

(approximately 5 storeys) up to 43.25m.
Above 43.25m, point tower floor plate
maximums apply.

16.25m and less than 30m. Above 30m, point
tower floor plate maximums apply (700m2).
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Four storey podium that steps back to a residential tower.
The visual impact of this parking lot is mitigated by landscaping, as well as by screening provided by a retained building faade.
168
Articulation






appearance.

elements.


should be articulated inclusive of windows.

Where individual residential uses are

permitted at grade, provide articulation of
individual units, including individual front
entrances and small front yards. They should
have a row house appearance.



grade.


Ensure high-rise components do not cause

undue impact on public areas through shadow
or wind.
With high-rise components consider their

presence in the skyline, and from view points
across the city.
Parking & Servicing

All residents parking and loading must

be located below grade, or in above-grade
parking structures, hidden from the street.

from laneways to minimize its impact on


and spaces.

from public view using building mass, low

structure.

utility rooms.

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Commercial Low-Rise
Small to Medium Format
Parking at rear
screened by building
mass
Prominent entrance
Individual entrances
wherever possible
5.5.7 Low-Rise Office or Retail

Description & Use

Retail at ground level retail and/or commercial/

employment offices attached to their
neighbours above, below and to the side, within
a single building
Individual entrances to retail units or offices, or

common entrance
Small to medium format office or retail

Large Format
Large format store above

Structured parking
screened by
building mass
Typical tenant sizes less than 1,400 m2
Large format office or retail

Typical tenant sizes greater than 1,400 m2
Massing
Height: 2-3 storeys

Large format retailer entry
Smaller format
retailers at grade
facing streets
Large format retailer located above smaller format retailers at

grade.
170
Floor to ceiling heights greater than residential,

typically 4.1-4.25m.
Articulation


directly access the sidewalk. Provide separate
entrances to each ground level tenant.
Design building entrances to be prominent

in the faade using techniques such as height,
massing, overhang, shadow, punctuation and/or
change in roofline.
Divide faades using horizontal tiers to express

a base, middle, and top.

Address both primary, publicly visible faades

of corner buildings with a frontal appearance.
Commercial Low-Rise


entrances, and distinct architectural elements.
and signs to provide interest. Grade level
should be highly transparent.

should be articulated inclusive of windows.
To contribute to an active streetscape and

pedestrian realm, where possible, locate small
format tenants at ground level and large
format tenants above. Where both large and
small format tenants must share the ground
level, the large format tenant should be
located behind the smaller tenants, so that
the entrances of smaller tenants can directly
access the sidewalk.


non-modular materials such as stucco and
concrete are articulated with design details,
particularly at grade.

Faades facing public streets or open spaces

must have 70-90% glazing with functioning
doorways located every 15m or less,
preferably accessing different units.
A minimum of two functioning storeys, with

active uses, must be built. A double-height
ground level volume is permitted only when
an additional functioning storey is located
above.
Floor plates greater than 1,400m2 must

provide an independent economic impact
assessment.
Parking & Servicing

All tenants parking and loading is at rear in

common surface lot or integrated structure, or
off-site (dispersed public parking).

from laneways to minimize its impact on


and spaces.

Screen waste bins from public view using

solid screens compatible in materials and
colour to the principal structure.

utility rooms.

Small format office/retail building is located at

the street edge with multiple entrances.
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Commercial Mid- and High-Rise
Mid-rise office incorporates heritage building as a street edge podium. Change in materials, plane, and upper level step backs
divide a large massing into smaller forms. The newer portion of the building was added many years later.
172
5.5.8 Mid- to High-Rise Office
Mid-Rise
Description & Use

Commercial/employment offices attached to

their neighbours above, below and to the side,
within a single building
One or more entrances to main floor lobby

serving one or more elevator and stair core
Private open space provided in the form of

patios, decks, balconies or rooftops
Significant ground floor commercial is

strongly encouraged for mid-rise. Some
commercial uses on the ground floor of highrise is required
May include hotel, residential and

institutional uses instead of, or in addition to,
office
Prominent Entrance
Podium / Street wall
Active use
High quality front faade to parking integrated

with overall building design
High-Rise
20m separation to
tall buildings*
55m max. slab length
2.5m minimum
step back from
shared property
lines
Podium/
Street wall
2.5m minimum
step back from
streets
Underground Parking
Preferred
* may be relaxed if separation is to another existing commercial

building and addresses privacy and aesthetic concerns.
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The Maritime Life building incorporates a heritage building as the podium, stepping back from the street wall to the new office
tower above.
174
Massing

16.25m and less than 30m in height. Above
30m, floor plate maximum is 700m2.

from other buildings of 16.25m (4 storeys) or
greater (residential or office).


Height: Mid-rise 4-9 storeys

High-rise 10+ storeys


Tall buildings contribute to the skyline and

therefore are important in shaping the image
of the city. Ensure the top of the building is
articulated through architectural detail, has
a well-defined three-dimensional form, and
integrates mechanical penthouse equipment
into the building design.

volumes, and articulate through changes in
plane, material and treatment.


back from streets.
Floor to ceiling heights greater than

residential, typically 4.1m.
No step back required from laneway.

back required from shared property lines
(side property line).
Floor plate size greater than residential,

typically 1,400-2,300m2+.
Some tenants require much larger floor plates

for certain functions (e.g. trading floors),
often accommodated in podium.
Larger building mass requires careful location

and design.
Locate adjacent tall buildings to existing

taller buildings to reinforce context and
principles of transition.


(approximately 4 storeys).
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Street edge podium has retail at grade with awnings over sidewalk. Main entry to tower is articulated.
176

Articulation




express a base, middle and top.


appearance.

elements.

Ensure high-rise components do not cause

undue impact on public areas through shadow
or wind (consistent with existing policy).
With high-rise components consider their

presence in the skyline, and from view points
across the city.
Parking & Servicing

All tenants parking and loading must be

located below grade, or in above-grade
parking structures hidden from the street, or
off-site (dispersed in public parking).
Locate vehicular access to parking to

minimize its impact on primary streetscapes
and pedestrians, generally from laneways.


and spaces.

Grade level must be highly transparent.





structure.

utility rooms.


grade.
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Civic
This police department building is well integrated in the streetscape. It is located at the street edge, has a prominent corner
entrance treatment, fenestration, and an articulated base, middle and top.
178
Civic
5.5.9 Civic, Public, Cultural and

Institutional Buildings
Description & Use

Buildings that provide public services and

amenities, and that contribute to the broader
sense of community Downtown and in
Regina as a whole, such as places of worship,
schools, museums, community centres,
libraries, hospitals, theatres, police stations,
and fire halls.
One or more lobbies serving one or more

elevator and stair core.
Public open space can be provided as a

forecourt, plaza, or courtyard, or, integrated
with the building in the form of patios,
decks, balconies or rooftops.
Commercial uses on the ground floor of

buildings is appropriate, particularly for
frontages that would otherwise not be
animated (for example, for theatres).
May be mixed with other uses including

residential and office.
Landmark building design
Public space/ forecourt

at entry
Pronounced public
entrances
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Civic
Massing
Height: 2 storeys+



volumes.
Massing and setback may vary significantly

based on program, however, buildings should
generally be located to define street edges and
public spaces.
If appropriate, provide a 3 or 4 storey street

wall (podium) at the street edge, with above
grade step backs.
Articulation


directly access sidewalks or public spaces.
Design the main building entrance to be a

significant architectural feature in the faade,
such as a marquee or part of a tower element.
Ensure the building name is highly visible.

Provide appropriate wayfinding and signage.

Unique, landmark building design that
enhances civic prominence is encouraged.
180
Provide large, well-proportioned public

spaces including forecourts, entrances
and lobbies.
Utilize vernacular building techniques or

details.
Incorporate public art as part of the

building design or freestanding pieces.
Good design principles are encouraged for all

public faades but may vary:

Divide faades vertically to be consistent

with traditional bays and building
widths.

faades of corner buildings with a
frontal appearance.

forms such as larger massing, taller
heights, entrances, and/or distinctive
architectural elements.
Articulate all faades facing public

streets using entrances, windows,
architectural details and/or signage to
provide pedestrian interest.
Generally, provide vertical design

orientation to faades (bays), windows
and doors.
Ensure there are some elements of

building design that carry through both
base building and tall building, such
as materials, architectural orders (e.g.
pilasters), or setback.
Civic

interest, such as brick and masonry.
Ensure non-modular materials such as
stucco and concrete are articulated with
design details, particularly at grade.

utility rooms.

streets.
Parking & Servicing

All parking must be located below grade, or

in above-grade parking structures hidden
from the street, or off-site (dispersed public
parking).

from the laneway to minimize its impact on


and spaces.


structure.
The Gardiner Museum (Toronto), shown above, provides

a public forecourt and landmark architecture; employs a
strongly articulated faade and clearly defined volumes; and,
is built to a scale and uses materials that are respectful of
adjacent and nearby heritage buildings.
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Parking Structures
5.5.10 Above-Grade Parking Structures

Parking structures are required to fulfil the objectives
of the Public Realm Framework, by contributing to
the creation of great streets and beautiful streetscapes.
Parking structures share the responsibility to add to
the aesthetic of the Downtown, and to the animation
of Downtown streets.
Two approaches to creating appropriately integrated

parking structures Downtown are: to integrate
the parking structure faade into the design of
the streetscape through the use of articulation,
fenestration, high quality materials, and the provision
of active uses along public streets; and, to wrap the
visible faade of the parking structure with public art.
This parking structures faade is completely integrated into the design of the streetscape. Parking is located behind the upper level
windows.
182
Parking Structures
Main vehicular entrances

from laneways wherever
possible
Description & Use

Multi-level structures designed for

communal parking, including internal ramps
or stairs, with one or more entrances/egresses
for both vehicles and pedestrians.
parapet condition
screens rooftop parking
Highly visible pedestrian

entrances/ stairs
access street and
articulate the massing retail at grade
Preferred Standard: Multi-storey parking

facilities should be integrated into new
development wherever possible, wrapped by
sleeves of active uses. Mandatory on certain
streets.
Active Uses
Active Uses
Active Uses
Sidewalk
A

B
Preferred standard for parking structure
Minimum Standard: Active ground level uses

(particularly retail uses) facing public streets
are required for 100% of street frontages,
except for any access locations
(e.g. pedestrian access and stairway).
Active Uses
Sidewalk
Minimum standard for parking structure
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Parking Structures
Articulation
Massing
Height: 2 storeys+
Roof: flat

Wherever possible, provide 4 storey street

wall (podium) design at the street edge, with
above grade step backs:
184
Above the street wall, habitable

portions of the building should step
back as required by these standards (i.e.
residential or office/retail standards).
Above the podium, additional parking

levels should step back 2m minimum
from the street wall.
No step back required from laneways.
Above podium, 2.5m minimum step back

from shared property lines (side property
line).
Locate pedestrian access to the facility from

street edges. Facilities on corners must have
a minimum of one pedestrian entrance on
each street frontage. Facilities longer than 50
metres should have a pedestrian access every
50 metres.
Pedestrian accesses must include stairs and/

or elevators to parking levels that are highly
visible and transparent from the street.
There are two possible approaches to

articulating the faade: as a streetscape
building, or as public art.
active uses at
grade
parking structure
residential uses
Parking Structures
Minimum acceptable standard for above grade parking integrated into faade. Vertical pillars and pilasters unify
garage faade with upper residential faade. Glass screens facing street disguise internal sloped garage. Banners
create pedestrian interest.
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Streetscape Building


Divide faades vertically to be consistent

with traditional bays and building widths.
The faade should appear to be a traditional
building in the streetscape, concealing the
parking levels.

elements.
Utilize high quality materials consistent with

other buildings.
Provide a cap treatment at the roof or cornice

line that conceals views of rooftop parking
and mechanical equipment.
Podium includes above grade parking structure. Well integrated

faade includes vertical pilasters, fenestration, articulation
of base, middle and top, high quality materials, lighting, a
pedestrian canopy, and active at grade uses.
186
Public Art

Provide a public art treatment to all faades

facing public streets or spaces; whatever
portion of the faade is not covered by public
art must be a part of the architectural form of
the building.
The art treatment should be the dominant

image of the faade, without needing to
conceal the parking.
Ensure all elements of the art treatment are

of high quality materials and construction,
with a maintenance life span similar to
architectural materials, as such, murals do not
qualify as public art for parking structures.
Engage Reginas arts community in the

planning, design, artist selection and/or
implementation process.
The public art treatment wraps the visible faade.
Parking & Servicing

Vehicle access to parking facilities should

generally be from laneways.
Ensure all interior and exterior spaces are

well lit, inclusive of parking areas, circulation,
ramps, pedestrian accesses and all entrances.
Maintain 24-hour access to publicly

accessible facilities.
Locate loading, storage, delivery areas, trash

pickup, and utilities out of view from public
streets; delivery areas and trash pickup must
also be located away from residential uses.
Locate heating, venting, and air conditioning

This parking garage has active at grade uses and a faade that incorporates public art for the entire faade facing the street.
187
6.0
Heritage
Guidelines
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downtown plan
6.1
Introduction
Reginas heritage resources are varied. They include

some outstanding assets such as the virtually intact
historic street and block structure, most of the original laneways, and the heart of Regina, Victoria Park.
Regina also has some excellent examples of modern
architecture, which are beginning to be recognized as
heritage buildings - as they should be. Unfortunately,
a significant number of heritage resources have been
lost, including Train Station Park in front of the old
train station, and a great number of buildings. Notable
among those lost buildings was The Hill building,
Reginas first skyscraper at the edge of Victoria Park.
The enactment of the Victoria Park Heritage
Conservation District in 1996 has protected some of
the most significant remaining buildings around the
park and along the F.W. Hill Mall. However, Regina
has continued to lose buildings of heritage value outside
of the district at an alarming rate. Today, Downtown
Reginas heritage resources are fragmented, scattered
throughout Downtown in a non-continuous environment that is interrupted by surface and structured
parking (see Map 1). Many new buildings are of questionable long-term value. There is a need to conserve
what remains, and to ensure that new development
evolves in a manner that is compatible with existing
heritage resources.
The following guidelines provide a framework for the
conservation of Downtowns heritage resources, and
provide guidance on managing change. Their purpose
is to ensure new development makes a positive contribution towards the conservation of valuable resources,
thereby leveraging these resources to achieve an increasingly successful Downtown.
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6.2
Heritage Objectives
Heritage landscapes including Victoria Park and

Victoria Avenue should be beautiful public spaces
that foster pedestrian activity and comfort. Heritage
buildings should be celebrated for their unique contributions to Downtown building stock. To do this,
heritage resources Downtown should be visually distinct. Public realm and built form interventions of,
and around heritage resources (renovations, additions,
improvements) should:

Contribute to the conservation of heritage

resources and to their heritage character.
Ensure good sight lines to heritage resources.
Provide information about them and/or

orientation to them, including wayfinding
cues.
Create a pedestrian-friendly environment in

the Heritage Heart of Downtown.
Heritage conservation is not only about saving old

buildings, rather it is fundamentally about enhancing
the meaning and quality of life in a specific place by
maintaining its uniqueness, and supporting the cultural and economic vitality that accompanies areas
with strong conservation.
Areas of a city that embrace heritage as part of contemporary urban life thrive, becoming cherished places for
residents to live and work, and are rewarding destinations for visitors. Regina will benefit from conservation
in many ways: by increasing the identity and character
of the City, by bringing the history of the city to life in
tangible ways that people can experience, as well as by
enhancing the distinction of Downtown.
Heritage Guidelines
6.3
Approach
The built form design standards are based on the following assumptions:
6.4
Supporting Policy
The actual process of heritage conservation, will also

be assisted by:
When cultural heritage value exists on the

property, or on adjacent properties, it has
been properly identified, and its cultural
heritage attributes described.
A Conservation Plan, which should be

prepared wherever significant cultural
heritage value is present and future change is
likely.
When the potential for cultural heritage

value needs to be identified, a Heritage
Impact Assessment will be undertaken to
determine what, if any, heritage attributes
require conservation.
Other policies and guidelines that may

apply including the Victoria Park Heritage
Conservation District and Reginas
Municipal Architectural Heritage Design
Guidelines.
Cultural heritage value may reside in

buildings, structures, properties, landscapes,
and/or whole districts. When the district is
of significance, the subject property will need
to be studied to determine if it is, or not, part
of the district.
When cultural heritage value exists on site,

adjacent to the site, or as part of the district,
heritage expertise will be retained to assist
with the process of conservation and to
manage the impacts of change, including:
alterations and additions to existing heritage
structures and landscapes, and new structures
and landscapes in proximity to cultural
heritage resources.
It is recommended that the City of Regina adopt the

federal Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of
Historic Places in Canada (Parks Canada). This document provides a foundation for conservation that is
useful for all contexts. Further, it is recommended that
the language of municipal heritage policy be consistent
with that of the federal standards. This can be accomplished incrementally, as specific heritage policies are
reviewed or added from time to time.
Section 6.4: Supporting Policy
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Sask
rive
D
wan
e
atch
11th Avenue
Cornwall Street
Osler Street
Broad Street
Rose Street
Hamilton Street
Scarth Street
Lorne Street
12th Avenue
Smith Street
McIntyre Street
Albert Street
Angus Street
Victoria Avenue
*
13th Avenue
Designated Heritage
Conservation District
Expanded Heritage
Conservation District
Designated Heritage
Buildings
Potential Heritage
Buildings
Designated Heritage
Landscapes
Map 15. Heritage Conservation District Expansion
192
Landmark Heritage
Buildings
Potential Heritage
Landscapes
Heritage Guidelines
6.5
Heritage Guidelines for the Heritage Conservation District
The existing Victoria Park Heritage Conservation

District was originally created with a focus on Victoria
Park and F.W. Hill Mall. Protecting the heritage resources within and surrounding these spaces, that give
these spaces their unique character, was an important
first step.
The existing heritage guidelines give authority to
the City of Reginas Development Officer within
the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District
with respect to change and new development. The
Development Officer (DCO) reviews all new proposals against the Guidelines contained in the Victoria
Park Heritage Conservation District Bylaw. The DCO
may refer any application for a Heritage Conservation
District (HCD) permit to the Municipal Advisory
Committee for its consideration and decision. The
Guidelines are a series of general principles to ensure
compatibility of new development with the character
of the District.
The existing Guidelines should be strongly enforced,
to ensure all new development is of the highest design
and material quality, and is compatible with the character of the District. As a fundamental starting point,
this means that no buildings of heritage value should
be demolished. Rather, their heritage characteristics
should be identified, maintained, and enhanced by
new construction.
Other heritage resources exist just outside of the
District boundaries that form part of a contiguous
heritage environment. For this reason, the district
boundaries ought to be studied to consider incorporating these areas. This would allow the City to manage
change within its Heritage Heart to ensure that all
new development shares a consistent level of quality
and compatibility. Upon expansion, new guidelines for
the district should be created with more explicit design
direction, to ensure they reflect the overall Vision for
Downtown. Prior to any expansion of District boundaries, however, the existing HCD should be brought
into conformity with the objectives stated in Section

6.2 of this Plan.
The proposed extensions include:
1. Along Victoria Avenue to the edges of
Downtown, including all properties with
frontage along it.
2. North along Cornwall Street to include 1840
Cornwall Street, the Royal Canadian Legion
Memorial Hall, the Suma building, the Darke
Block, Merchants Bank, and the Canada Life
Assurance building.
3. Westward to include the Saskatchewan
Revenue building, St. Pauls Anglican
Cathedral, City Hall and Queen Elizabeth
II Court (public plaza), and the Regina
Courthouse.
4. Southward to include the Frontenac
apartments and Blessed Sacrament Church
(and the properties directly across the street,
to ensure compatibility).
The heritage guidelines that follow (Section 6.6) serve
two purposes. First, to provide a framework for future
guidelines for the expanded Heritage Conservation
District. Second, to provide additional direction or
clarification for the existing Guidelines (as defined
by the zoning by-law) for the Victoria Park Heritage
Conservation District. For example, they contain
guidelines for street wall buildings that might be useful
in establishing a consistent built perimeter to the park.
However, it should be reiterated that the Development
Officer should interpret the existing Guidelines as is
seen to be fit in order to achieve the highest quality
development within the District, consistent with the
heritage objectives.
Section 6.5: Heritage Guidelines for the Heritage Conservation District
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6.6
Heritage Guidelines for Downtown
While only one, larger Heritage Conservation District

is proposed, all interventions should recognize that
Downtown is a district in itself, and therefore should
contribute to the overall heritage character, through
consistency with the public realm and built form
guidelines.
The primary intent of new development outside of
the Heritage Conservation District is to contribute
to the conservation of significant heritage attributes,
where they exist. This is accomplished by addressing
buildings, structures, and landscapes as they are seen
from the public realm (i.e. from the street, from parks,
plazas and open spaces, or from any other place where
significant views exist). These guidelines presume
that the integration and adjacency to other heritage
resources will also be governed by both the findings of
a cultural heritage evaluation (e.g. a Heritage Impact
Assessment) and/or other heritage policies (e.g. a
Heritage Conservation District Plan).
The heritage value of a building includes its 3-dimensional character: width, depth and height. The
entire building envelope should be conserved, and the
transition of new construction to, and from, heritage
194
buildings should respect all three dimensions. Any

alterations to a designated heritage building would
require review by the appropriate authority, in the
case of a municipally listed building, by the Municipal
Heritage Advisory Committee; in the case of a provincially designated building, by the Provincial Heritage
Branch. In conditions where the building height is not
part of the heritage value, and when no significant heritage elements are included in the top portions of the
building (e.g. rooftop or roofline), new construction
may be added: 1) to the upper levels, that is in keeping
with the overall heritage character of the district; and
2) to adjacent sites, when a transition is articulated to
the overall character of the district.
The Public Realm Framework provides guidelines for
streetscapes within the Heritage Heart.
Heritage Guidelines
6.6.1 General guidelines for new

buildings in a heritage context
6.6.2 Street Wall and Building Envelope
Key to these guidelines is conserving the structures

and landscapes that have significant heritage value,
and, managing the introduction of new structures and
landscapes in such a way that they contribute to, and
enhance, existing heritage resources.
Street Wall Heights
As part of the citys evolution, new architecture will

invariably be constructed within, and be adjacent to,
heritage resources, including: buildings on vacant
sites, replacement buildings for non-heritage existing
structures or severely deteriorated buildings.
As a principle of heritage conservation, new additions,
exterior alterations, or new construction should not
destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize a property. The new work
should be differentiated from the old and should be
compatible with the historic materials, features, size,
scale, height, proportion and massing to protect the integrity of the heritage property and its environment.
It is not necessary, or desired, to mimic a specific
historical era. New buildings should vary in style
and should reflect their time. Style should not be a
determinant of compatibility, rather material quality,
massing and urban design considerations should be
given prominence. Elements of new building design
and faade articulation should respond to specific heritage elements with new interpretations.
In general, new development should create a consistent

street wall height. Throughout most of Downtown,
this is a 3-4 storey street wall (refer to the Built Form
Framework). Additions to heritage buildings should be
consistent with the prevailing street wall, as follows.
Where an existing heritage building is 1 or 2 storeys
tall, a building addition above it should create a street
wall at the appropriate height per the Built Form
Framework (in this illustration, a 3 storey street wall).
The street wall portion of the building addition should
step back 1.5m above the heritage building. Above the
street wall height, additional floors are subject to step
backs as per the Built Form Framework. Step back
distances above the street wall height are considered
to be accumulative - including, not in addition to,
the 1.5m step back from the heritage building. For
example, a 1.5m heritage step back, plus a 1m step back
above the street wall, would be considered to be a total step
back of 2.5m from the street edge.
Where an existing heritage building is 3 storeys or
more, the heritage building itself should form the street
wall. Above the street wall height (above the existing
heritage building), additional floors are subject to step
backs as per the Built Form Framework.
A new building beside a heritage building should
reflect the required street wall height, no matter what
height the heritage building is (Figure 27).
Section 6.6: Heritage Guidelines for Downtown
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Setback
New buildings beside heritage buildings should ensure
the heritage building has visual distinctness. This can
be accomplished in a variety of ways (Figure 28) , 3 of
which are illustrated here:

A physical separation of 2m or more.
Where joined, a distinct massing change

allowing for a strong shadow line, 3m wide
and 2m deep.
Where joined, a distinct material change

through use of transparent glass providing
visual separation of the heritage building
from the new building.
2m
Separation
Figure 26. This building in Old Montreal (above) and the
Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (below) exemplifies
an appropriate setback and height articulation to a heritage
building.
3m
2m
Shadow Line
New Building
Heritage Building
1m
Transparency
Figure 27. Appropriate setback to heritage properties.
196
Heritage Guidelines
New Building
Heritage Building
New Building
Street Wall
1.5m
step back
1.5m
step back
Heritage Building
Figure 28. The diagrams above illustrate: for heritage buildings of one or two storeys, the requirements for a 1.5m heritage step
back, as well as an additional step back from the street edge as per the Built Form Framework; for heritage buildings of three
storeys or more, the requirement for a step back from the street edge for additional floors above the existing heritage building, as
per the step back requirements of the Built Form Framework.
Heritage Building
New Building
Ground Level Height and Articulation

The ground level of a building has the greatest presence on the street. Over time a building may change
use, and with that, will change the requirements of
the ground level. Buildings with a generous ground
level height, and with detailed articulation, will have
the greatest flexibility and prominence over time.
Principles for ground level design of new buildings
adjacent to heritage buildings are:
Figure 29. Maintain ground level height and articulation.
Maintain the same or similar height.
Maintain other heights and proportions,

including:
Sign band height and proportion.
Window height, size and proportion,

including transoms.
Door height, position and set back.

Section 6.6: Heritage Guidelines for Downtown
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Rhythm
Rhythm of a buildings faade or along the street wall
refers to the recurrence at regular intervals of design
elements that help structure their visual character and
definition. For example, a vertical line dividing buildings every 6 to12 metres, will create a rhythm for the
street that supports a pedestrian scale and intimate
character. Principles for rhythm of new buildings adjacent to heritage buildings are:
Maintain vertical and horizontal rhythms.
198
Maintain the rhythm of the heritage building,

typically at a fine scale and in a vertical
proportion.
For larger or longer buildings, clearly

articulate vertical divisions or bays in the
faade at this rhythm.
Where appropriate for consistency, provide

retail bays or frontages at the same rhythm.
The horizontal rhythm and visual transitions

between floors must be articulated in faade
designs.
New buildings should respect the significant

design features and the horizontal rhythm of
adjacent buildings.
Heritage Guidelines
6.6.3 Building Mass and Architecture

New buildings will fall into two categories: first, replica
or reconstructed buildings; and second, contemporary
buildings.
Replica / reconstructed buildings

On some sites the opportunity may exist to replicate a
formerly existing structure with a new building or as
a part of a larger building proposal. This approach is
possible where good documentary evidence exists. The
replication of a historic building should proceed in a
similar manner to the restoration of an existing but
altered or deteriorated structure.
Design of the building should be based upon documentary evidence including photographs, maps,
surveys and historic design/construction drawings.
Replica designs should be prepared by practitioners
skilled in historic research and historic construction
design and detailing.
The interior space and basic structure of a replica
building is not required to, but may also, use historic
materials or details as long as the exterior presentation
replicates the original structure.
Contemporary buildings in a heritage

context
Entirely new buildings may be proposed where no previous buildings existed or where original buildings are
missing or where non-historic buildings are removed.
The intention in creating designs for new buildings
should not be to create a false or fake historic building, instead the objective must be to create a sensitive
well-designed new structure of its time that fits and
is compatible with the character of the district and/or
its immediate context.
The design of new buildings should carefully consider
requirements elsewhere in this document for density,
scale, height, setbacks, coverage, landscape open space,
view corridors, angular planes and shadowing.
Design considerations include the following attributes:
contemporary design, material palette, proportions of
parts, solidity versus transparency and detailing.
Contemporary design
New work should be neighbourly and should respectfully fit its heritage context while at the same time
representing current design philosophy. Quoting
the past can be appropriate, however, it should avoid
blurring the line between real historic buildings and
structures.
Section 6.6: Heritage Guidelines
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Contemporary as a design statement does not simply

mean current. Current designs with borrowed detailing inappropriately, inconsistently, or incorrectly
used, such as pseudo-Victorian detailing, should be
avoided.
Material palette
Whereas there is a very broad range of materials in
todays design palette, materials proposed for new
buildings in the district should include those drawn
from ones historically in use. The use and placement
of these materials in a contemporary composition and
their incorporation with other modern materials is
critical to the success of the fit of the proposed building in its context. The proportional use of materials,
drawing lines out of the surrounding context, careful
consideration of colour and texture all add to the
success of a composition.
Proportions of parts
Architectural composition has always had at its root
the study of proportion. In various styles, rules of
proportion have varied from the complex formulas of
the classical orders to a more liberal study of key proportions in buildings of the modern movement.
In the design of new buildings in a heritage context,
work should take into account the proportions of buildings in the immediate context and consider a design
with proportional relationships that make a good fit.
An example of this might be windows. Nineteenth
century buildings without fail used a vertical proportion system in the design and layout of windows
including both overall windows singly or in built up
groups and the layout of individual panes.
200
Solidity vs. Transparency

Similar to proportion, it is a characteristic of historic
buildings of the 19th century to have more solid walls
with punched windows. This relationship of solid to
void makes these buildings less transparent. It was a
characteristic that was based upon technology (ability
to make large windows and to heat space), societal
standards for privacy, and architectural tradition.
Buildings of many 20th century styles in contrast use
large areas of glass and transparency as part of the
design philosophy.
The relationship of solidity to transparency is a characteristic of new buildings that should be carefully
considered. It is an element of fit. The level of transparency in the new work should be set at a level that
provides a good fit on street frontages with existing
buildings that define the character of the street in a
positive way.
Detailing
For new buildings, detailing should refer to the heritage attributes of the immediate context. Detailing can
be more contemporary yet with a deference to scale,
repetition, lines and levels, beam and column, solid and
transparent that relates to the immediate context.
In past styles, structure was often unseen hidden behind
a veneer of other surfaces and detailing was largely
provided by the use of coloured, shaped, patterned or
carved masonry and /or added traditional ornament,
moldings, finials, cresting and so on. In contemporary
buildings every element of a building can potentially
add to the artistic composition architectural, structural, mechanical even electrical systems.
7.0
Action Plans
for Downtown Regina
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7.1
The Action Plans contain a set of actions divided into

five categories, which highlight the main objectives
and foci of the Regina Downtown Neighbourhood
Plan. Each action is derived from the initial observations of opportunities and constraints, is influenced
by the extensive public consultation process that took
place during the development of this Plan, and seeks to
fulfil the Public Realm and Built Form Frameworks.
Each action should be recognized as imperative to
realizing the Plans Vision. The five action categories
are:
1. Leadership: Actions relating to leadership roles
necessary to begin the implementation process.
2. Neighbourhood: Actions relating to creating a
Downtown neighbourhood.
3. Business: Actions relating to Downtown business, commercial and retail activity.
4. Culture: Actions relating to improving cultural
programming, public art, heritage, and the marketing of Downtown lifestyle.
5. Transportation: Actions relating to automobiles,
pedestrians, cycling, transit and parking.
202
Implementation Categories
The objective of the implementation categories is to

specify the timeframe within which the Action Plans
should be initiated, and does not necessarily imply a
timeframe from within which it should be completed.
It is expected that the implementation of the Action
Plans will inevitably lead to further sub-actions or new
actions over time.
Immediately (initiate within 2 years)
Near-Term
(initiate within 2-5 years)
Medium-Term (initiate within 5-10 years)
Long-Term (initiate within 10 years)
Some of the actions herein do not require significant
capital investment. Rather, some objectives of the
Plan will be achieved through policy changes, incentives and partnerships. However, in instances where
significant investments in infrastructure are required,
it is imperative to also consider ongoing new operating
capital that may be required.
The City of Reginas City Centre Branch (CCB) of the
Planning and Sustainability Department will manage
and oversee the implementation of the Action Plans
that follow. Certain actions will be undertaken directly
by the CCB, and where the responsibility for an action
is shared with other Divisions and Departments, the
implementation of those actions will be coordinated
through the CCB. Some Action Plans and items
may be initiated by stakeholder groups, in collaboration with the CCB, as opportunities arise whereby
resources can be shared.
Action Plans
7.2
Leadership
L.1 Establish a City Centre Branch and

Manager. [Immediately]
Background/Rationale:
The implementation of the Downtown Neighbourhood
Plan will require focused leadership charged with the
task of evaluating and expediting quality development.
The interdisciplinary nature of the Plan requires significant collaboration between various departments and/or
organizations to ensure that as the Downtown evolves,
various considerations (engineering, forestry, community and protective services) are taken into account.
Further, in the context of the consultation process
for the creation of the Downtown Neighbourhood
Plan, a need was identified for a coordinating body,
or advocate who would lead the revitalization of the
Downtown. In particular, given the wide diversity of
interests related to Downtown, stakeholders requested
more clarity and a streamlined approach to interfacing
with the City with respect to Downtown issues
whether related to new development, arts and culture,
safety or public space improvements.
In response to these needs, a new branch within the

Planning and Sustainability Department - the City
Centre Branch - should be created to work across
departments, from engineering, finance, recreation,
transit, parks, and planning, to coordinate the implementation of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan
and to advocate for the Downtown Vision. The City
Centre Branch will oversee all initiatives related to
the Downtown from planning through to implementation; collaborating in the design and management
of capital works projects; facilitating development
(including management of Urban Design Review for
Downtown development projects); as well as coordinating the Citys activities in the pre-1946 area of
the city which includes Downtown and surrounding
neighbourhoods.
The City Centre Branch should be managed by a City
Centre Manager, whose role will be to advocate for
the interests of the Downtown, as per the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan, and to manage the implementation strategy through collaboration with other
departments. This role will involve administration,
planning and design, project management, public relations, as well as research and policy writing.
Section 7.2: Leadership Action Plans
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downtown plan
The City Centre Branch will:

advocate for the Vision and Principles of the

Plan across departments, making implications
of various departmental decisions apparent, and
working to ensure decisions are in keeping with
the overall Vision;
facilitate the implementation of the Action

Plans, primarily by collaborating with other
key stakeholders and City staff and hiring the
required expertise, where necessary;
set the terms of reference for, and chair, various

working groups related to Downtown projects,
such as the Residential Pilot Project working
group and the Civic Heart Revitalization
working group; and,
204
Action
Establish a City Centre Branch and a City Centre Manager.
work towards increasing efficiency, cooperation

and coordination between stakeholder groups
and the City, as well as within the bureaucracy,
throughout implementation, by serving as a key
point of contact.
Time Frame
Immediately
Responsibility
Planning and
Sustainability
Department
Action Plans
7.3
Neighbourhood
N.1 - Secure a residential pilot project

Downtown. [Immediately]
Background:
A critical success factor for the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan is securing a residential pilot
project, preferably along the blocks between Victoria
Avenue and 13th Avenue as is directed in the existing
policy context. The grand avenues of Saskatchewan
Drive, Broad Street, and Albert Street are also ideal
locations for seeding the development of residential uses along the main avenues. Just as the WOW
Project signals a commitment to arts and culture in
Downtown, a residential pilot project will signal
investment into making this new Downtown neighbourhood a reality.
As an example of a Downtown development that is in
keeping with the Downtown Vision, the project will
simultaneously stimulate the initiation of several other
actions in Downtown. Not only would this provide
opportunities for employees to walk to work, it would
increase the viability of transit, support a soft policing
approach to neighbourhood safety (more people on the
streets creates passive surveillance of the streets) and
help create the critical mass of people needed to make
other public amenities and residential services (such as
variety stores, retail shops or medical centres) viable.
A critical component of implementing this action
will be the adoption of a comprehensive development approach. Partnerships made between the
City, developers and the Regina Downtown Business
Improvement District are necessary to ensure that the
development is in keeping with the Downtown Plan
and that benefits are accrued for the City, the developer, local businesses and residents.
1
2
Action
There are already a number of Downtown residential

developments in the planning stages and it would be
beneficial to examine how these might work in cohesion
to realize housing goals in Downtown. In particular,
one of these developments, or a specific cluster of developments, may be identified as the first development
to realize the new Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.
Further to this would be to couple this action with
the introduction of student housing for the University
of Regina in Downtown and Saskatchewan Institute
of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST). In this
case, the ideal location would be along Broad Street,
where it best connects with the Knowledge Corridor
between Downtown and the University of Regina and
SIAST.
Whatever the first project is, it must be consistent with
the Vision in terms of supporting animated streets and
being of high aesthetic quality.
Rationale:
Although general growth management has directed
growth towards the northwest, southeast and recently
the southwest sectors of the city, Downtown has
been experiencing increased residential development
in the form of office space conversions to residential
units. Roughly 400 units have been added to the
Downtown in this form since 1990 due mostly to the
existing Downtown Residential Incentives Policy.
This trend is valuable towards the development of a
Downtown residential community. A residential pilot
project will further seed the growth of residential uses
Downtown, making a new Downtown neighbourhood
a reality, and demonstrating the implementation of
the Downtown Vision.
Time Frame
Select a residential pilot project. In the event that interest abounds, consideration Immediately
should be given to selecting more than one pilot project.
Create a working group to liaise and coordinate with development interests to Immediately
ensure the pilot project embodies the Downtown Vision and Principles it must
support animated streets, and be of a high aesthetic quality. Further, this working
group could continue into the future to work with development interests and identify other opportunities for partnerships in other residential projects.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
City Centre
Branch
Section 7.3: Neighbourhood Action Plans
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N.2 - Create a Downtown Housing

Strategy. [Immediately]
The Built Form Framework establishes density and
height permissions that seek to ensure new development, particularly residential, gradually but consistently
fills in the gaps that currently exist Downtown in the
urban fabric, such as surface parking lots and under
built sites. There are some 60 to 70 such sites today.
Assuming that two thirds of these sites with new residential buildings during the next 15 years, they can be
expected to generate between 3,000 and 4,500 units,
or 3,600 to 6,800 people, depending on the market
conditions. This population growth will achieve a
critical mass of people in Downtown necessary to
create a complete neighbourhood that can support
local amenities such as a school, a grocery store, and
a day care.
Action
Develop a Downtown Housing Strategy to guide new residential development Downtown.
The following considerations should be made for creating a Downtown Housing Strategy for a Downtown
Neighbourhood:
1. Aim towards a residential population growth
goal of 5000 persons in the next 15 years. This is
approximately 25% of population growth in the city
projected for the next 15 years.
2. Aim towards a residential community of mixed
tenures, housing forms, and housing options,
including affordable housing, market housing
(including high-end), sustainable buildings,
rental, ownership, co-ops, student housing, hotel
accommodation and emergency shelters. Downtown
should provide affordable family housing (including
access to supporting services such as schools).
It should be noted that the term family refers
also to couples, new parents or small families.
The policies contained within the Downtown
206
In order to support the Downtown Housing Strategy

- and possibly as part of the Strategy - the City
should develop and implement incentives to encourage the development of a mix of tenures and housing
types Downtown, suitable to support a range of ages,
incomes and household sizes.
Time Frame
Near Term
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch,
Comprehensive
Planning Branch
Residential Incentives Policy should continue. As

the development demand for residential units in the
Downtown increases, it is likely that uptake of this
incentive will accelerate accordingly.
3. Prioritize residential development along the avenues
(Broad Street, Albert Street, Saskatchewan Drive,
and Victoria Avenue). The Public Realm and Built
Form Frameworks provide further detail in terms of
their physical design and character.
4. The Future of Housing in Regina document provides
relevant recommendations and actions, including
the recommendation in the long term to establish a
Regina Housing Commission and a volunteer-based
Student Housing Alliance (or Co-op), who could
collaborate with the City of Regina on reaching
established residential goals. This document should
be reviewed and information be updated as a starting
point in the discussions.
Action Plans
N.3 - Rezone the Downtown as a Direct

Control District. [Immediately]
Background:
The Downtown zone currently contains general
built form guidelines and establishes retail frontage
areas. However, in order to fully realize the Regina
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan vision for a well
designed urban condition that accommodates
development while achieving high standards of
building material quality, architectural detail and
articulation, a Direct Control District (DCD) is
required for the Downtown. A DCD will also
afford the opportunity to identify, and to strengthen,
character areas with specific clusters of uses. The
Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan provides
a framework in which the unique character of areas
or precincts is to be acknowledged, enhanced and
leveraged. DCD Zoning should used to encourage
specific clusters of uses, as well as to prescribe written
and graphic guidelines for the built form in those
character areas.
Action
Rezone the Downtown as a Direct Control District
Rationale:
Direct Control Districts are intended to identify
areas of the City where sensitive control of the use,
development, and location of buildings is necessary in
order to establish, preserve or enhance; (a) a unique
character; (b) a special environmental concern; or (c)
a special historic, cultural, archaeological, natural,
scientific or aesthetic site identified in any municipal,
provincial or federal legislation. This provides a
necessary tool to accomplish, through time, the vision
and urban design objectives of the Plan.
Time Frame
Immediately
Responsibility
City Centre Branch,

Comprehensive Planning
Branch
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downtown plan
N.4 - Include an urban design review

step in the development permitting
review process. [Immediately]
Background:
To ensure that development respects and compliments
existing built conditions, produces a high quality public
realm, achieves excellence in architecture and urban
design, and contributes to the implementation of the
Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, Downtown
development proposals should be subject to an urban
design review process.
A design review process will not only include an evaluation of the aesthetics of a development in relation
to context and land-use, but should also review the
functioning of the site in terms of pedestrian experience and the overall benefit to the quality of life of
Downtown. The outcomes of a design review process
will be advisory in nature, informing the regulatory
approval process, but not replacing it.
Rationale:
To ensure that development compliments existing
built conditions; respects the unique character of
Downtown; and, contributes positively to the public
realm and to the overall quality of life Downtown.
Action
Establish an Urban Design Review Team to develop and implement an

urban design review step in the development permitting process, giving
consideration to the following proposed process:
a. Encourage applicants to meet with urban

design review team at early stages, prior to
developing a concept for their property or site.
For larger or more important sites, this step
may even entail a workshop.
b. Encourage a pre-submission to the urban
design review team, prior to the formal
regulatory application process, illustrating a
concept and demonstrating how the concept
meets the requirements and spirit of the Regina
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.
2. Urban design review should become a required step
in the regulatory approval process for all develop-
208
Immediately
Responsibility
Development
Review Branch
ment Downtown. The urban design review team will

consider the following key documents and design
issues in conducting their reviews:
The Urban Design Review process shall include the following components:
1. Prior to the formal regulatory process:
Time Frame
Consistency with the Downtown Neighbourhood

Plan;
Effect on adjacent buildings and streets;
Conformity to design standards established;
Ground floor uses and articulation;
Contribution to the public realm; and,
Magnitude and quality of public amenities proposed.
To this end, the urban design review team should
be included in the circulation of all drawings and
reports provided with the regulatory approval application, including detailed drawings and descriptions of the proposed development and impact on
surrounding context. The submission to the urban
Action Plans
design review team should include, at minimum, and

without limitation:

Aerial photograph of site;

Site analysis and concept;
Zoning Bylaw;
Plans drawn to scale with metric dimensions;
Building elevations;
Intended density of development and number of
units;
Horizontal and vertical distribution of uses;
Photographs of existing conditions;
Rendering of proposed development;
Description of use and form;
Description of how the development meets the
Downtown Vision;
List of materials used, as a response to the existing
context;
List of public amenities proposed;
Proponent contact information; and,
Other information that might be received by the
Urban Design team to complete the evaluation.
3. Should the development proposal be of significant

magnitude and consequence to the Downtown, a
request to meet with the proponent may be made
whereby the consultant and City staff meets with
the proponent to discuss any questions/concerns
regarding the proposed development. A site visit
may be included.
4. A response will be prepared by the urban design

review team, and will be provided in writing and/
or illustrative form to the City of Regina and the
Proponent. The response will outline the conclusions
of the review and will provide recommendations
for moving forward these recommendations
will be advisory in nature, intended to inform the
final outcome of the regulatory approval process.
Outcomes of the review process may include, but are
not limited to:
a. An evaluation of the merits and shortcomings
of the submission relative to the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan;
b. Recommended changes as deemed necessary;
c. Request for further information; and,
d. Recommendation and conditions for approval.
5. Should changes be made to an application, a further
iteration of the review process will be required
before the urban design review team arrives at a final
response.
6. The final report produced by the urban design review team will be based on a standardized template,
and submitted in an electronic format to the City of
Regina to inform the final decision of the regulatory
approval process.
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downtown plan
N.5 Reflect Downtown as a complete

community in City policy.
[Immediately]
Background:
In City policy, Downtown Regina has been considered
primarily as a destination for retail and office-based
services, rather than as a neighbourhood. The Vision
articulated in the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan,
however, is of a Downtown that is a neighbourhood
and a complete community that supports and is supported by a vibrant mix of uses, services, amenities
and a stable residential population.
Where it impacts Downtown, City policy should be
updated to reflect Downtown as a neighbourhood and
as a complete community. It should also recognize
Downtown as a key destination within Regina with
amenities appropriate to support a local residential
population, as well as visitors and tourists. In particular, where there are policies related to maintenance
and upkeep, the Downtown should be recognized as
special in those policies and plans. Downtown should
receive the highest possible level of service in every
service area: snow clearing Downtown should be
210
Action
delivered with the highest level of thoroughness and

efficiency; the Downtown Library should be the best
facility in the library system; Downtown parks should
be class-A parks.
Rationale:
Successful downtowns are complete neighbourhoods.
They contain a residential population that supports
a range of businesses, and a mix of uses that creates
activity at all hours. The vibrancy created by a mix of
residents, employers, businesses, services and amenities, ensures Downtown as a safe, active and viable
environment for niche retail, entrepreneurship, as well
as social and cultural gathering.
For the Downtown Vision to be realized, City policies must reflect Downtown as being something more
than just a location for conventional retail and offices.
Policies must support the creation of the mix of uses
and amenities necessary to create a thriving, vibrant
and complete community Downtown. Similarly, policies should be consistent with the status of Downtown
as Reginas preeminent destination, and as the heart of
Saskatchewans Capital City.
Time Frame
Update City policies to reflect and support Downtown as a complete Near Term
community.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
Action Plans
N.6 - Encourage community gardens

Downtown as part of new
residential projects. [Medium Term]
Background:
Community gardens serve a variety of purposes within
a community. In many urban contexts, community
gardens have been successful at providing an alternative and affordable amenity, place of recreation and
gathering, and visual interest in a streetscape. More
importantly, community gardens contribute towards
building more sustainable communities. There are a
variety of types of community gardens, both in terms
of form and function, but primarily they are located in
between buildings and on vacant corner lots or other
small and underutilized spaces, with multiple users
renting plots of various sizes and managed by a central
volunteer-based administration.
Action
In considering the size and location of the first permanent community garden, the Public Realm Framework
and Built Form Framework should be used as a guide.
Following implementation of a Downtown Housing
Strategy, a re-established community will provide the
right conditions and opportunity for a community
garden to be successfully maintained.
Rationale:
Community gardens can provide affordable amenity,
places of recreation and gathering, and visual interest
Downtown. These attributes will become increasingly
valuable as the residential population Downtown increases. Community Gardens can also contribute to
the sustainability of the Downtown Neighbourhood,
greening Downtown and providing a local food
source. Initial investment or incentives from the City
of Regina may be required.
Time Frame
Community gardens should be encouraged as part of new residential Medium Term

projects.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch,
Community and
Protective Services Division
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downtown plan
N.7 - Create a Downtown Urban Forest

Strategy. [Medium Term]
Background:
Planting trees in Downtown has been identified as a
Big Move in this Plan. Public consultations indicated
that it is an urban element desired by residents and
visitors alike.
Victoria Avenue and streets surrounding the historic
and civic blocks of Downtown were once lined with
the same trees that are found in adjacent neighbourhoods. However, these trees were removed over time
to make way for accommodating improved traffic
flow through Downtown. Aerial photographs clearly
show the impact that this action has had on the urban
forest. At the ground level, there is a lower aesthetic
quality than is otherwise present in the adjacent
neighbourhoods, and the Downtown is deprived of a
certain warmth, ambience, and visual link to adjacent
neighbourhoods.
The most obvious impact of planting trees Downtown
would be the visual connection between adjacent
neighbourhoods and Downtown. A particularly
obvious link is Victoria Avenue, which was designed
to be lined with trees, but now feels and behaves more
like a highway. Victoria Avenue should be the first of
the Downtown streets to be replanted reinstating its
cultural importance in Regina and Downtown. This
would also follow with the development of residential
uses along Victoria Avenue.
212
Continuous street trees can have a significant ameliorating impact on wind conditions. Street trees can also
play a role in traffic calming by effectively narrowing
the visual corridor of roadways, leading to reduced
traffic speeds and more attentive drivers.
A Downtown Urban Forest Strategy should consider
introducing a variety of tree species and ornamental
plants to highlight important streets and introduce
new colours and shapes into the urban environment.
The size, shape, seasonal colour, growing conditions
and other characteristics can delineate certain clusters of uses, or districts , within Downtown, such as
the heritage heart and the streetscape hierarchy (the
Avenues, Secondary Streets, etc.). Street trees can also
be used to decorate the Downtown Gateways (refer to
the Public Realm Framework). Tree selection should
be carefully considered to determine which varieties
will be suitable in Reginas context. This initiative
may be integrated with the creation of pocket parks
described in the Public Realm Framework.
The strategy should include a maintenance plan for
Downtown trees, based on an exploration of best practices with respect to urban forestry.
Rationale:
Renewing the urban forest Downtown will enhance
the comfort and aesthetic appeal of the public realm;
will advance the sustainability agenda; and, will reestablish a visual connection between Downtown and
adjacent neighbourhoods.
Action Plans
1
2
Action
Time Frame
Responsibility
Develop and implement a Downtown Urban Forest Strategy, Medium Term

giving careful consideration to the selection of appropriate varieties suitable to Regina and to the Downtown.
City Centre Branch,

Parks and Open Space, Public
Works
Integrate replanting with the creation of pocket parks and side- Medium Term
walk replacement.
City Centre Branch,

Works
Explore best practices with regard to maintenance of Downtown Medium Term

trees, as well as new technologies to support the growth of urban
trees; Prepare a maintenance plan to accompany the Downtown
Urban Forest Strategy.
City Centre Branch,

Works
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downtown plan
N.8 - Encourage the location of unique

community services and offices of
non-profit organizations. [Near Term]
Background:
All Downtown developments should consider accommodating space for additional community facilities
or services for Downtown residents. In particular,
creating office space for non-profit organizations that
serve special interest groups for the entire city, such
that Downtown becomes the central location with the
most diverse services, is a priority of the Plan.
Tourists, youth, First Nations, Mtis, gay and lesbian
groups, seniors, recreationers, and artists are some
of the groups that should be serviced in Downtown.
Locating these services in close proximity to one
another facilitates programming and resource sharing,
two critical synergies for these organizations.
214
By way of example, the proposed redevelopment of the

Queen Elizabeth II Court would be the ideal location
for services such as a tourist information centre (or
relocating Tourism Regina with an expanded service
base). It would be both within the historic heart of the
city, and the civic heart as well. As any traveller would
expect, downtown is always the primary destination for
information about a city. However, in Regina the only
site at which to obtain tourist information is Tourism
Regina, located outside the city centre. Furthermore,
Tourism Regina does not have the capacity to become
a complete tourism information centre where consistent service may be available. Tourism Reginas main
role is to promote and market its members exclusively
(which includes over 500 organizations within the
city), and the organization does not have a year-round
staffed information kiosk, booth, or centre that is
easily accessible. Other organizations would similarly
benefit from a Downtown location.
Action Plans
Two key considerations are:

1. Reduce cost.
Often the cost of a permit to use public space for
campaigning, soliciting, or conducting an event in a
public space is burdensome for non-profit organizations. Simply reducing or waiving fees for permits
required by non-profit organizations wishing to campaign, solicit, or conduct an event would encourage
non-profit activity in Downtown.
2. Provide spaces.
Another obstacle for the activities of non-profit organizations is the lack of affordable temporary spaces. The
availability Downtown of meeting rooms, recreation
rooms, or other rooms for programming, is limited.
Often, options for office space are also limited without
undertaking expensive renovations to make spaces
Action
suitable for specific uses. Encouraging development

that provides flexible spaces, where a variety of uses can
be accommodated and where changing occupations
could occur with ease, will increase the possibilities
for a diverse range of needed programs and services.
The specifications of such spaces would have to be
defined by the needs of the service groups existing
within Regina.
Rationale:
Encouraging non-profit organizations to locate
Downtown will provide necessary social and community infrastructure for Downtown residents, as well as
services that support the Downtown role as a commercial and tourist centre. Eventually, a successful push to
locate and re-locate non-profits Downtown may result
in the development of a non-profit cluster, able to
provide an enhanced range of services and programming by leveraging the synergies of a location that
allows effective sharing of facilities and resources.
Time Frame
Consult service groups to determine the specifications of flexible spaces Near Term
that would be required to support their programming, to be used in conjunction with the bonusing framework.
Reduce or waive fees for permits required by non-profit organizations Near Term
wishing to campaign, solicit or conduct an event, to encourage non-profit
activity in Downtown.
For
City Centre Branch,

Community and
Protective Services
Division
City Centre Branch,

Community and
Protective Services
Division
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REGINA
downtown plan
N.9 - Co-ordinate existing and developing

initiatives for Downtown safety and
security. [Medium Term]
creation of crime prevention services such

as seminars, security audits, and training
sessions; and
Background:
Safety is a concern for Downtown residents and visitors
that will best be transformed by adding a critical mass
of people living, walking and working downtown. In
the short term, and as redevelopment begins to take
shape, a soft approach to policing is to increase the
number of people intentionally watching the streets.
public communication strategies and events

that promote Downtown safety initiatives
and volunteer opportunities.
Currently, the Regina Downtown Business

Improvement District manages a Downtown Patrol
Ambassador Program, which was formed to provide
a level of passive street surveillance. Essentially, volunteer members of the public are asked to perform
certain duties or actions to increase safety in the
neighbourhood. This may include leaving on the front
door lights at night, reporting crimes, or making their
home available to people seeking safety. The RDBID
is also involved in preliminary discussions with Regina
Police Services on the following initiatives:
A coordinated communication system for all

security personnel downtown;
creation of a Crime and Safety steering

committee;
Action
This initiative is highly complimentary to a watch

service already provided by transit service. Transit
drivers are present in the Downtown from 6 a.m. to
midnight and all buses are equipped with radios that
are directly connected to police and fire.
The objective of this Action Plan would be to co-ordinate the existing services and potential initiatives to
increase Downtown safety and security over the short
and long term.
Rationale:
Self-surveillance by volunteers provides passive surveillance and is known to be effective at reducing
incidences of petty crimes, but more importantly in
reducing the perception of an unsafe environment. In
addition, this volunteers can orient tourists, assist the
elderly, and identify broader issues to be addressed.
Time Frame
Responsibility
Work with the RDBID Downtown Ambassador Program, Medium Term City Centre Branch,
Community and ProtecRegina Police Services, and other interested groups to co-orditive Services, Regina
nate initiatives relating to Downtown safety and security.
Police Services, Regina
Downtown BID
216
Action Plans
N.10 - Devise a Downtown Waste

Management Strategy. [Long Term]
Background:
An increasing residential population in Downtown
will increase the amount of waste generated in this
area. Aside from the creation of more waste, the composition of residential waste will differ from waste
generated from a commercial or office activities.
Public consultations indicated that waste management
was already an issue for people who live and work in
Downtown. Recycling is not at par with surrounding neighbourhoods and there is concern that without
implementing new procedures and requirements for
solid waste management specifically appropriate for
a mixed-use Downtown, waste management issues
will escalate as the residential population increases.
Further, a sustainability plan would urge source separation including waste, recyclables and organics.
Rationale:
A Downtown waste management strategy will be
necessary to manage the increased volume of waste generated by a growing residential population Downtown,
and to effectively accommodate the challenges posed
by waste collection in a mixed-use environment.
The City of Regina should review and revise the recent

solid waste management strategy with the objective of
devising a specific Downtown strategy. A mix of uses
in Downtown will create a waste collection challenge.
Front curbs for pick-up may not always be available,
large trucks need to access back-alleys, and frequency
of pick-up may need to accommodate the new rates at
which certain types of wastes are generated.
1
2
3
Action
Time Frame
Review and revise the solid waste management strategy so as to create a Long Term
specific Downtown strategy.
Update the Downtown waste management strategy at regular intervals, Long Term
so that it continues to respond effectively to the changing Downtown
environment.
A capacity analysis should be completed through a larger more comprehen- Medium Term
sive servicing analysis study which should assess the capacity of developing
soft sites given the projected 5000 new residents.
Responsibility
Comprehensive
Planning &
Public Works
Comprehensive
Planning &
Public Works
Comprehensive
Planning &
Public Works
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downtown plan
N.11 - Revise the Winter Maintenance

Policy to prioritize the Downtown.
[Immediately]
N.12 - Conduct a servicing review for

storm and wastewater capacity for
Downtown. [Near Term]
Snow plowing on Downtown streets and sidewalks
should be improved, thereby improving the
accessibility and safety of pedestrians, cyclists,
and travellers using assisted forms of movement
(wheelchairs and walkers).
Should 5000 new residents be attracted Downtown,
the servicing capacity for wastewater (sewage) will
have to be increased. In order to determine the
amount of additional capacity that will be required, a
detailed servicing review of wastewater will have to be
conducted for the Downtown.
A review of current snow clearing policy as it applies to

the Downtown should occur with the objective being
to ensure that the downtown receives the highest
priority for snow clearing. This review will require
an assessment of current snow clearing capacity and
allocation of resources required to deliver a higher
standard of snow clearing.
1
218
Action
Time Frame
Review the Winter Immediately

Maintenance
Policy to identify
opportunities to
prioritize service
Downtown
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
The Downtown servicing review may be conducted

as part of a larger servicing review for storm and
wastewater capacity in the Inner Cities, or for all
of Regina. If undertaken as part of a larger review,
however, the review outcomes should include a report
and analysis specific to the servicing capacity of
Downtown, an assessment of the need for additional
capacity required to accommodate Downtown
residential population objectives, and recommended
actions to address any need for additional capacity.
1
Action
Conduct a servicing review for

storm and wastewater capacity for
Downtown.
Time Frame
Near Term
Responsibility
Comprehensive
Planning and
Public Works
7.4
Business
B.1 Identify clusters or blocks of uses.

[Near Term]
photo studios), and/or performance spaces and

studios.
Background:
A successful downtown is organized. An organized
downtown allows people to visually orient themselves,
and to find their destinations quickly. Destinations
that are clustered within a block or two create sub-districts with distinctive characteristics and experiences,
improving the organizational structure and legibility
of Downtown. Clustering uses also facilitates the
sharing of resources among organizations, or in the
case of businesses, sharing of customers as a cluster of
uses concentrates pedestrian activity in that particular
destination. Clustered uses become self-sustaining
districts that evolve their specific identity, distinctive
from others, depending on their ability to partner and
respond to each other. For example, a business located
within a fashion cluster may choose to hold a sidewalk
sale event, or in an arts & design block organizations
and businesses may hold an annual art fair or open
house. Clustering uses makes great business sense.
A Fashion block includes clusters of fashion retail

of low to high end fashion markets, and textile
stores.
Since Downtown Regina is small in scope and includes

just 40 blocks, it is appropriate to think of loosely clustering uses as blocks (as opposed to larger districts).
Recommended blocks include:
An Arts & Design block includes University of
Regina arts department presence, art galleries,
retail for arts and crafts, studio spaces, office spaces
for creative industries (magazines, newspapers,
1
2
3
A Cooks block includes food markets, speciality

food stores, restaurants, cafs and/or bars. This
should be bordered by 12th Avenue and near the
Regina Farmers Market.
A Civic block includes Queen Elizabeth II Court,
the library block and Victoria Park, bound together
as the civic heart of Downtown and Regina.
A Childrens block includes recreational, cultural
and open space amenities geared to families and
children.
New clusters of uses may evolve. Flexibility should be
given to the location and emergence of new clusters as
time unfolds.
Rationale:
The identification and encouragement of clusters will
enhance the legibility of Downtown through the creation of identifiable districts. Clustered businesses and
organizations Downtown will be able to benefit from
access to shared supporting services, and to develop
strategies to extend their market presence and attract
a shared customer base.
Action
Time Frame
Responsibility
Develop policies to reinforce cluster identity by encouraging and supporting

the identified uses, including encouraging small businesses to locate/relocate
downtown.
Near Term
City Centre
Branch, Regina
Downtown BID
Urban Planning, the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, and Near Term
developers in partnership should identify suitable blocks to be identified as
clusters.
Develop a flexible framework that provides a mechanism for the identification

and appropriate recognition of additional clusters as they emerge.
City Centre
Branch, Regina
Downtown BID
Near Term Medium Term
City Centre
Branch
Section 7.4: Business Action Plans
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downtown plan
B.2 - Establish a permanent Farmers

Market venue Downtown. [Near
Term]
Background:
Reginas Farmers Market is limited by the absence
of a permanent venue. Consultation with Reginas
Farmers Market determined that a permanent venue
that provides areas for storage, an electrical source, but
more importantly a licensed kitchen for food preparation, would allow a larger diversity of vendors and
therefore greater variety in foods and services for seven
days a week.
Establishing a permanent venue in Downtown will
support the current location of the market on Scarth
Street, and facilitate possible extension on to 12th
Avenue, once the WOW Project is completed (see
Action
Rationale:
The facilities available in a permanent venue would
allow the market to host a larger diversity of vendors,
providing a greater variety of foods and services, seven
days a week. A permanent venue will also allow the
market to remain open in colder weather, providing year-round amenity and service to the growing
Downtown residential community.
Ensure that a permanent location for the public market is secured.
Regina Farmers Market
220
Public Realm Framework). This would also allow the

market to remain in Downtown during winter months
or colder weather, establishing Downtown as the
permanent year-round destination for market goods.
Discussions on the ideal location for the market are
underway and the city should ensure that a location is
secured in the near term.
Time Frame
Near Term
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
Action Plans
B.3 - Conduct annual surveys directed at

measuring changes in employment
composition, market composition,
and vacant properties. [Immediately]
Background:
Downtown is a dynamic environment where many
new policies will continually be required to manage
outcomes. Information is required to assess whether
certain planning approaches are achieving established
planning goals. Gathering information on employment, market composition, and vacant properties
assist in determining where and how certain employment uses should be located and managed, observe
general trends in employment types and demands, and
identify what mix of uses are successful and why (for
example, whether the planned clusters of uses is effective at achieving the types and diversity of businesses
and uses).
For example, the City of Toronto and the City of
Mississauga conduct annual Employment Surveys.
These surveys gather information on business type
(i.e. auto body shop, bakery, restaurant, retail shop)
and number of employees for each business within
the study area boundaries. The information is geographically referenced to address, and metadata on the
address is collected for other planning purposes (such
as the number of storeys of the building, the type of
building, and vacancy status).
Action
By comparing annual data, geographic trends and

significant changes in employment composition and
business types can be identified and can be used to
inform future planning decisions. Planners might also
compare built form type to business type and employment turnover.
A baseline study should be conducted to determine
the scope of research, and the administrative and
operative costs of conducting such a survey. Both in
Toronto and Mississauga, summer students are hired
to conduct the survey each summer, which reduces
employment costs. Geographic analysis is typically
conducted by planning staff and results are published
as public information. Published information may also
inform property owners, developers, and businesses.
Rationale:
Downtown is a dynamic environment in which many
new policies will be utilized. In this context, annual
surveys will provide important input necessary to
ensuring that the Downtown planning approach appropriately adapts and responds to demographic and
market changes. In tandem with other performance
measures, an annual survey will also help the City
assess progress toward achieving Downtown planning
goals, and to identify which policies are succeeding,
which are not, and why.
Time Frame
Conduct a study to determine the scope of research and specific data to be Immediately
collected in annual surveys, the methodology to be employed, and the cost
of and approach to administering an annual undertaking of this nature.
Based on the study outcomes, implement a baseline survey followed by Immediately
annual surveys to collect data related to employment, market compositions,
and vacant properties Downtown.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch,
Comprehensive
Planning Branch
City Centre
Branch,
Comprehensive
Planning Branch
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downtown plan
B.4 - Foster a symbiotic partnership

between businesses and artists.
[Immediately]
Background:
In urban centres across Europe and North America,
information-based and knowledge-driven industries
have grown to constitute an increasingly important
component of local economies. Within this trend,
there is a growing recognition that creative industries
can be a key driver of wealth and job creation. The
creative economy broadly includes a range of interlocking industry sectors - both innovative companies
and cultural organizations. This can include businesses
involved in activities such as advertising, architecture,
design, software and electronic publishing, music,
fashion, television, radio, and the performing arts.
Fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between
Downtown businesses and the local creative community can play an important role in supporting
the growth and success of the creative economy in
Downtown Regina. Take, for example, the small
businesses Downtown who have already established
relationships with local artists: the artists benefit from
access to gallery space or other resources, the businesses enhance their reputation in the community,
and the image of the Downtown as a vibrant cultural
destination is reinforced.
222
There is a close relationship between the objectives of

this action, and those of action C.1 (Create a City of
Regina Cultural Plan). Strategies to foster partnerships
should be coordinated with the eventual development
of a City of Regina Cultural Plan.
Rationale:
Supporting the creative economy Downtown by fostering partnerships between businesses and artists can
have a range of positive impacts, including:

Improving opportunities for Regina to retain

youth and talented individuals;
Contributing to the cultural wealth of a city, and

supporting the objective of establishing Downtown
as the cultural heart of the city;
Diversifying the Downtown employment base;
Enhancing the profile of Downtown as a desirable

attraction for visitors and tourists; and
Nurturing the local creative economy and attracting innovative industries to Downtown, including
potential future growth industries.
Action Plans
Action
Time Frame
Host a charrette where developers, businesses and artists can explore strate- Immediately
gies to foster relationships and engage in the mutually beneficial exchange
of services.
Develop policies and incentives to encourage developers to create multi-use Immediately

and live-work spaces specifically intended for artists. This should be coordinated with the preparation of the Cultural Plan (see Action C.1)
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch,
Community and
Protective Services
Division
City Centre
Branch,
Community and
Protective Services
Division
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downtown plan
B.5 Create a faade renewal and

improvement incentives program.
[Near Term]
Background:
Plenty of opportunities for faade renewal and improvement exist in Downtown. An incentives program
would encourage property owners to reface blank walls
on their buildings or parking garages to either improve
aesthetics, and/or create active at-grade uses, for temporary or permanent period of time.
No ideal formula for calculating the amount of the
bonus or benefits exists that can be applied to all cases
and applications. Each development and rehabilitation project must be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The amount of the incentive might be determined by
the type of renewal and improvement proposed as well
as its permanency. For example, a proposal for permanent active at-grade uses would receive maximum
benefits whereas a proposal for a temporary aesthetic
improvement would receive minimum benefits.
224
Action
An example of a temporary improvement or active use

of a blank wall might be to install a temporary outdoor
cinema (simply an image projection on a white blank
wall, with space for seating, and a permit for this
type of use). In partnership with Regina Downtown
Business Improvement District and the Regina Arts
Commission (or other such cultural groups, the Regina
Public Library, or the University of Regina), property
owners may be offered a tax break in exchange for offering their property for this cultural use.
Permanent faade improvement is exemplified by the
Atlantis Coffee site, demonstrating that great urban
design sense is good business sense as well. Different
incentives could be granted, such as density bonuses
or a tax abatements for developments on this or other
sites.
Rationale:
Faade improvements will reinforce Downtown character, enhance the public realm, activate frontages at
grade, and improve the overall retail quality and vibrancy of Downtown.
Time Frame
Develop an incentives program to encourage property owners to improve Near Term

building faades and add high quality landscaping to existing surface
parking lots. A range of incentives should be offered, providing the City
with the flexibility to consider each development on a case-by-case basis,
with the value of the incentive varying in relation to the scale and permanence of the improvement.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
7.5
Culture
C.1. Create a City of Regina Cultural

Plan. [Near Term]
Background:
The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan advocates that
Downtown must be the best cultural destination in
the city. This means that the best cultural services and
programs must be located in Downtown, particularly
within the historic and civic heart around Victoria
Park, the Central Library, and City Hall blocks.
role in placemaking, and will constitute an important

part of a diverse activity base. A Cultural Plan will
be an important direction-setting tool that will guide
the development of Downtowns cultural role and
infrastructure.
The Cultural Plan should be a direction setting tool

as well as an economic strategy for Downtown as its
impacts will go far beyond the cultural sector. This
Action is in keeping with the direction of Part A
Policy Plan of the Regina Development Plan on Arts,
Culture and Entertainment, and of Policy 8.5 Tourism
Development and Cultural Appreciation.
Rationale:
The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan directs that
Downtown should function as the citys cultural centre,
and as such, that Reginas primary cultural facilities,
services, and programs should be located Downtown.
Cultural facilities and services Downtown will play a
Action
Time Frame
Develop a Cultural Plan in consultation with the Regina Arts Commission Near Term
and a cultural planning consultant.
Considerations for development of the Cultural Plan:

1. Define the term arts and culture (currently, arts
policy only considers some types of arts).

Arts and culture are two inseparable ideas; arts

are the manifestations of culture as well as the
inspiration for cultural change. Arts and culture
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch,
Community
and Protective
Services
includes the visual arts, but also the activities,

amenities, and educational services that connect
art to society. This needs to be recognized in the
Cultural Plan. The Regina Arts Policy, 1993,
recognizes the importance of art in the city. Clear
definition of art is stated and the policy gives good
direction for how to manage and fund arts in the
city. However, it explicitly states that the policy is
Section 7.5: Culture Action Plans
225
REGINA
downtown plan
not intended for cultural development. A Cultural

Plan, on the other hand, would encompass the
Municipal Arts Policy (and all related incentives and
programs) and link arts to culture through policies
for programming of events and establishment of
valuable institutions for cultivating arts and culture.
2. A communications and accountability strategy.

One department or body should be the point

of contact for festivals, special events, public art
installations and film location shooting. A single
accessible source of information for cultural
advocates and artists will provide as much support
as City funds and grants. The Regina Arts
Commission (RAC), initiated in 1987, renamed the
Arts Advisory Council in January 2009, is mandated
under The Cities Act, 2002 to:
a. advise and make recommendations regarding
arts related issues, policy development and
programming;
City will own the plan, it is important to use the

experience of the RAC with significant input from
the public on its role and impact.
4. A Downtown Public Art Strategy.

Great pieces of public art exist in Downtown. Some

are not well maintained or protected and have faced
un-repaired damage and vandalism over the years.
Downtown in particular, as primarily a public space,

should be used as an open art gallery, a place where
people can be inspired and interact with one another
through the mediums of art, including contributions
by large and small scale commissioned art by local
artists, amateurs, and renowned professionals, with a
range of temporal and permanent works.
The public art strategy should review the

acquirement process and management structure
of public art as per the current Municipal Arts
Strategy, particularly for the Downtown context.
The Public Realm Framework identifies general
guidelines for the location and placement of
public art (view termini and gateways), which the
Municipal Arts Policy and a Downtown Public Art
Strategy should acknowledge as part of the public
art strategy.
It may also include a program for the facilitation

of community art projects. For example, on nearly
every block of Downtown, there are exposed green
or grey electrical boxes. In some cities, these are
used as the canvas for community art. Youth are
invited and organized to paint the electrical boxes
with their own designs, which transforms the area
into an open gallery, adding unique visual interest to
the urban environment, and giving a sense of place
and civic ownership to participants of the program.
b. advise and make recommendations regarding

incorporating contemporary art practices into
city planning and development;
c. advise and make recommendations regarding
communication and outreach to community
regarding art;
d. advise and make recommendations on proposed
artwork gifts, bequests and donations to the
City; and
e. make recommendations on disbursement of the
Arts and Culture Grants Fund.

This group may provide assistance and support to

such a body or individual who would be responsible
for liaising with the public on behalf of the City.
3. Governance and administration structure of the

Cultural Plan.

226
A Cultural Plan should be developed in consultation

with the Regina Arts Commission, the administration and a cultural planning consultant. While the
5. Assessment tools for monitoring implementation of

the Master Plan.

The Cultural Plan should establish goals and targets

for arts and culture that measure achievements
towards the goals and intent of the Plan. This might
include measurements of the number of cultural
Action Plans
events, with comparisons made between the whole

city and Downtown; physical condition of public
art; number of public art pieces in Downtown;
state and activity of the Regina Civic Arts Funding
Program or other grant programs; and, other
consistent reviews of policy. Monitoring and
assessment results should inform any recommended
changes to policies.
7. Securing the establishment of key cultural institutions in Downtown.

This is an extremely important goal. Cultural attractions in Downtown are anchors attracting both
retail and a residential population. As a capital city,
without a civic cultural plan to guide decision making, cultural institutions in Regina have generally
gravitated to sites and partnerships that presented
themselves. For example, the Symphony plays
in Conexus Arts Centre in Wascana Centre; the
RCMP Heritage Centre, is located on RCMP/government of Canada land on the edge of the city; the
Canada Saskatchewan Sound Stage, Saskatchewan
Science Centre, CBC building and MacKenzie Art
Gallery all located within Wascana Centre. Artists
should not be expected, as a matter of public policy,
to provide services under fair market value. Cultural
institutions require sustainable capital investments,
and they require civic partners.
Securing elite and private cultural institutions is

as important as securing local and not-for-profit
cultural institutions such that the attractiveness of
Downtown for cultural services casts a wide net on
the citizens of Regina. Specialty schools (such as
for the culinary arts, or musical institutions) as well
as prominent institutions that showcase a variety of
arts (such as museums and galleries) would provide
a strong and immediate draw for people to spend
time in Downtown.
These institutions and schools could also provide

lessons, activities and services for other community
groups, age groups, or special interest groups, that
add diversity of cultural experience and heightens
the quality of life for Downtown residents. In the
long term, establishing major cultural developments
in Downtown provides the opportunity to develop
an Arts Block essentially an arts and culture district that becomes a major tourist destination.
6. Financing strategies.

The Civic Arts Funding Program, while providing a

valuable source of funding with which locals arts organizations use to produce art programming, is not
sufficient enough to allow groups much opportunity
to explore or experiment with new practices, activities, or events. Increasing civic arts funding and
making the funding accountable to specific goals
found in the new Cultural Plan for Regina, (e.g.
arts groups eligible for additional civic arts funds if
they are located downtown or a certain percentage
of their programming occurs downtown) combined
with cultural programming infrastructure enhancements of the WOW Project and favourable development policies to encourage the arts block/creative
industries cluster concept will result in more arts
activity in the downtown.
Arts organizations often realize minimal municipal
increases to their grants, while inflationary pressures
and increased fees charged by the City to use festival
sites are growing, negating any grant increase. Special civic funds in addition to the Civic Arts Fund
could be targeted towards events held in Downtown.
Consideration needs to be given to guiding the
establishment of partnerships between private
donors, property owners or businesses who support
arts and cultural activities on their properties,
such as the University of Regina, and other city
departments which might hold auxiliary funds
for cultural events (for example a community arts
project might be partially funded by integrating it
with an I love Regina event).
227
REGINA
downtown plan
C.2 Complete the WOW Project. [Near

Term]
Background:
This planning process benefits from an initial implementation project in the heart of Downtown that
signals the beginning of a series of investments into
Downtown. It also signals commitment to the Plan
and in particular towards creating new places for arts
and culture, one of the most salient needs identified
throughout the public consultation process.
publicly announced during the process of generating the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan, the timely
completion of the project is imperative to maintaining the credibility of the Plan and the trust of all
stakeholders.
Rationale:
The initial project signals a commitment to the
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan and the beginning
of a series of investments into Downtown, and is imperative to maintaining the credibility of the Plan.
City staff are already engaging in the implementation process for this project. As this project was
228
Action
Complete implementation of the WOW Project in a timely manner.
Time Frame
Immediately
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
C.3 The WOW Project Programming

Strategy. [Near Term]
Background:
The WOW Project is comprised of two parts. While
the construction planning of the space is underway,
the programming of the space is a fundamental consideration that ought to be considered hand-in-hand
with the site design.
Two approaches are recommended with regard to the
WOW Project programming from now until the unveiling of the completed project.
Mid-Project Events: This is a series of events that are
held at strategic points in the process prior to construction completion, primarily to maintain awareness
and enlighten the public on possible future uses of the
newly designed space. This might be categorized into
(a) Day Events, and (b) Short-term Events.
1
Action
Develop a WOW Project Programming Strategy.
Floating Events: These are ongoing programs of public

involvement at a fun level to get people thinking about
how the space could be used in the future. They might
be in the form of friendly competitions, or surveys
which would also function as a form of preemptive
public consultation for future programming events.
Rationale:
The objectives of this programming strategy are:

To maintain awareness of the WOW Project.
To increase excitement for the WOW Project.
To build the right foundations for facilitating programming after construction.
To continue to gather public support for the

WOW Project.
Time Frame
Near Term
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
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downtown plan
C.4 Revise the approach to heritage

management. [Near Term]
Background:
Heritage buildings and landscapes located in
Downtown are an important visual reminder and link
to Reginas history, and in telling the story of its people.
Heritage elements are also a significant foundation
upon which to construct a quality urban environment,
for residents and visitors alike.
Downtown Regina has lost many valuable heritage
buildings and landscapes simply by allowance of existing policies. Often it becomes more viable to keep
a heritage building vacant until it deteriorates to an
unstable condition. More protection and guidance is
needed to reflect the current sentiments of heritage in
Downtown Regina and to encourage, support, and
maintain in good condition heritage buildings and
landscapes, and to encourage complimentary development that highlights their heritage character.
230
Action
The Heritage Framework (refer to Section 5.6) presented in this Downtown Neighbourhood Plan
contains two main components. The first is a rationale and recommendation to expand the existing
Heritage Conservation District, and the second is a
set of general and specific built form guidelines for
new buildings within a heritage context. Included are
recommendations for policy changes to support the
Framework intent.
Rationale:
The effective management of heritage buildings and
landscapes Downtown is important from the standpoint of maintaining a tangible link to the citys history,
and of establishing and strengthening a distinct character and identifiable sense of place Downtown.
Time Frame
Update the heritage inventory to include modern architectural forms and Near Term
heritage landscapes. This will require a complete assessment of existing
Heritage Stock and buildings listed in the Heritage Holding By-law.
To foster a culture of preservation, create an inventory of heritage features Immediately

worth retaining in each building on the Heritage Holding By-law. This
list should be maintained by the City Centre Branch and be available to
the public and developers seeking to make changes to Designated Heritage
Buildings and buildings on the Heritage Holding By-law.
Raise awareness and understanding of current heritage management poli- Near Term
cies, guidelines, and incentive programs.
Assemble a compiled heritage management strategy, presented in a form Near Term

that is easily accessible to the public.
Amend the tax structure that currently encourages and provides an incen- Near Term
tive for landowners to remove heritage buildings and build parking lots.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch,
Development
Review Branch
City Centre
Branch,
Comprehensive
Planning Branch
City Centre
Branch,
Development
Review Branch
City Centre
Branch,
Development
Review Branch
City Centre
Branch,
Development
Review Branch
Action Plans
Through the authority of the City Development Officer, demand the highest Near Term
standards of design and compatibility of all new development in a heritage
context. Explore the possibility of amending The Heritage Property Act to
delegate authority from City Council to City Development Officer to deny
applications to demolish heritage resources.
City Centre
Branch,
Development
Review Branch
Formally adopt the Federal Standards and Guidelines for heritage, and align Near Term
heritage policy language with those Standards.
City Centre
Branch,
Development
Review Branch
Develop a specific policy that makes the connection between heritage policy Near Term
and the fulfilment of other Downtown goals such as attracting tourists,
faade improvement, and the objectives of the Culture Plan.
C.5 Establish a University of Regina

presence Downtown. [Immediately]
Background:
Throughout the public consultation process, the
importance of stronger links between the University
of Regina and Downtown were discussed. Potential
opportunities for building stronger links include the
development of student housing Downtown, or the
establishment of a Downtown off-campus location for
a new undergraduate program. The Regina Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan encourages partnerships between
the University of Regina, the City of Regina and the
Regina Downtown Business Improvement District.
Rationale:
There are several potential benefits to bringing a
university student population Downtown.
Students would activate Downtown streets. Students
live a lifestyle that does not necessarily conform
Action
City Centre
Branch,
Development
Review Branch
to the typical 9-5 work day. Classes are scheduled

throughout the day and into evenings, and students
generate a range of social, academic and recreational
activity on and around campus outside of classroom
hours. A student presence creates a different rhythm
of activity Downtown, shifting demand for many
activities and services so that they remain open at
later hours, resulting in streets that are active for more
hours of the day.
Students are employees. Often willing to work in parttime or temporary positions, a student population
would facilitate the establishment of small retail,
commercial and creative industries which benefit from
such a flexible and educated employee base.
Students would support Downtown businesses. Students
are consumers of a range of services. A student
population Downtown would provide an important
market for independent businesses, one-of-a-kind
retail and creative industries.
Time Frame
Form a working relationship with the University of Regina to establish a Immediately

terms of reference and strategy for establishing a Downtown campus.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
231
REGINA
downtown plan
C.6 Create a Signage and Wayfinding

Strategy. [Near Term]
Background:
An accessible downtown is one that is legible. This
relates to the organization of uses (Action B.1) as well
as built-in wayfinding tools (signage, maps, symbols,
and landmarks) that help visitors navigate efficiently
and safely through the Downtown.
Creating a signage and wayfinding strategy is essentially creating a navigation system for pedestrians. This
involves strategically placed maps, carefully designed
to highlight key tourist locations, public art, or other
landmarks. It involves well designed street signage
that clearly mark streets, and possibly directions to
landmarks. And it also involves street lights that
might be designed to label or brand the Downtown
by presenting a consistent logo or icon, and strategically located to safely lead pedestrians to particular
destinations.
and graphic guidelines for retail signage that provide

more parameters or recommendations for achieving
effective and appealing storefront signage.
Rationale:
Downtown must be legible in order to be accessible
to visitors and residents. The organization of uses and
wayfinding tools Downtown are a key aspect of creating an attractive pedestrian realm that allows people
to navigate efficiently and safely to their destinations.
The objective of the strategy should be to clearly direct

Downtown visitors to key destinations (tourist locations, key landmarks, entrances and exits) whichever
tools are used will be determined by the availability of
resources and time.
Furthermore the strategy might also include provisions
for retail signage. While the intention appears to be to
encourage visually interesting and unique signage from
one retail store to the next, the policy is ambiguous. A
signage and wayfinding strategy might include written
232
Action
Time Frame
Create a Signage and Wayfinding Strategy that will address matters such Near Term
as: pedestrian context maps; well designed street signage; and, clear signage
orienting tourists to key destinations.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
Action Plans
C.7 Create a Patio Management

Strategy. [Immediately]
Background:
Patio refers to the concept of using outdoor public
spaces for cultural or retail uses. The majority of this
space includes sidewalks and the road, but also includes plaza spaces on public and private properties.
Management of these spaces require policies that encourage safe uses and discourage unsafe activities.
Patio type uses might include temporary seating for
restaurants and cafes (in warmer months), selling of
merchandise, soliciting, advertising, busking, or other
small performances.
The patio management strategy should also consider
temporary use of on-street parking spaces to expand
the public realm in warmer months. Halifax does this
successfully with its Sidewalk Cafe Policy whereby
business owners may rent sidewalk space in front of
their stores (usually restaurants) to shift the pedestrian
walkway away from the store, and instead using the
sidewalk as summer patio space. In some cases, permission could be given to rent parking spaces to sell goods
such as flowers, or place temporary landscaping.
Regina Downtown Business Improvement District encourages busking and street activity. The Downtown
Patrol Ambassadors of the BID encourage panhandlers to busk as an alternative way to receive money
while avoiding fines or having to confront Regina
Police Services (RPS).
To reduce confusion and encourage busking, a panhandling bylaw should be created, such as that in
Saskatoon (Bylaw No. 7850), which differentiates
busking from panhandling. Regina Police Services
should be knowledgeable in these two definitions to
avoid wrongfully fining a busker.
Rationale:
Patio uses refer to the use of outdoor public space for
cultural or retail uses an important part of active
streets and a vibrant public realm. Management of
these spaces require policies that encourage safe uses
and discourage unsafe activities.
Action
Time Frame
Prepare a Patio Management Strategy to guide the use of outdoor public Immediately
space for cultural or retail uses.
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
Consider allowing the temporary use of on-street parking spaces to expand Immediately
the public realm in warmer months.
City Centre
Branch
Create a bylaw that differentiates busking from panhandling.
City Centre
Branch
Immediately
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C.8 - Civic Heart Revitalization Working

Group (CHRWG). [Near Term]
promoting the existing activities and services in

the Civic Heart;
Background:
The Civic Heart presents an opportunity to embody a
key principle of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan
a place for all of Regina. The Civic Heart includes City
Hall, the Regina Public Library, Knox-Metropolitan
Church, and Victoria Park - uses that currently function as disparate parts, but that together can create a
critical mass of civic facilities that, linked by public
realm improvements, will become an important Civic
destination in the City of Regina.
improving the public realm through various capital

improvements and partnership developments;
ensuring that all new development within the

Civic Heart is in keeping with the Vision contained within this Plan; and
encouraging the enhancement of services in the

Civic Heart.
Rationale
The objective of the Civic Heart Revitalization
working group will be to oversee and connect a series
of initiatives in the Civic Heart in such a way as to
work towards a larger vision of this area as an important Civic precinct. Additional objectives to be met,
include, but are not limited to:
Ideally, the working group will be interdisciplinary

in nature, as the skills and resources required to see
the fulfilment of the Vision will range from promotional/marketing resources, planning, transit, and
engineering.
Action
Establish a Civic Heart working group.
The role of the CHWG should encompass, but not be

limited to, the following:
1. The Group should be managed and coordinated by
the City Centre Branch.
2. Participants should include, but not be limited to,
all key stakeholders with a vested interest in the
development of the Civic Heart, including representatives from the City of Regina, Knox-Metropolitan
United Church and the Regina Public Library.
234
Time Frame
Immediately
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
3. The Working Group should work cross-departmentally to create a programming strategy for promoting the Civic Heart.
4. Identify targets and goals related to transportation,
business, and cultural components and public realm
improvements of the Civic Heart, and monitor and
evaluate progress annually.
Action Plans
7.6
Transportation
T.1 Study the cost and impact of

converting all one-way, eastwest streets to two-way vehicle
movement both in Downtown and
immediately south of Downtown.
[Immediate to Near Term]
Background:
Typically, one-way streets are implemented to move
vehicles at higher volumes. The City of Reginas
Downtown was designed as a two-way street system,
and was converted to one-way movement in the 1950s
as a means to moving vehicles through the Downtown
more quickly. Not incidentally, this approach to transportation planning coincided with the onset of a larger
movement towards suburban planning and the popularization of the automobile, moving people away from
planning land uses that reinforced the Downtown as
the heart of the City.
The manner in which vehicles move through urban
environments is linked to pedestrian safety, retail vibrancy, and the uniqueness of the urban context. In
Regina in particular, existing generous lane widths
and a lack of substantive street trees already encourage drivers to move quickly through Downtown.
The objective of two-way streets is intended to begin
to define Downtown as a multi-modal environment
where cycling and walking are also desirable forms of
movement.
Rationale:
There are significant, important opportunities for
Downtown that arise from the conversion of one-way
east-west streets to two-way, as can be seen in various
cities across North America that have chosen to implement conversions (e.g. Hamilton, ON; Vancouver, BC;
Atlanta, GA; Buffalo, NY). In Downtown Regina,
one-way street right-of-ways are currently wide, and
can therefore accommodate two-way traffic as well as
cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. For north-south
streets, in the short term and due to their one-way operation, some of the existing pavement width should
be converted for other uses, such as adding corner
bulbs, cycling lanes and wider sidewalks. In the long
term, as the critical mass of activity in Downtown
continues to increase, consideration should be given to
also converting these north-south streets to two-way
operation.
The potential benefits of converting one-way to
two-way operation are:
1. Routes become less circuitous. This increases accessibility into Downtown from the periphery (Broad
and Albert Streets), and within Downtown to key
destinations, as more route options are available
for vehicles. Drivers will drive less within the
Downtown if they are able to drive directly to their
destination. This in turn will reduce the levels of
emissions from vehicles within Downtown.
2. Potentially, vehicles will move more slowly within
Downtown, thereby increasing the safety of pedestrians. As such, the Downtown will no longer be
viewed as a through route, but rather as a destination. The perception of Downtown as a place
will be further reinforced.
3. Allows for the implementation of cycling infrastructure.
All streets will have the capacity to support cycling
infrastructure with a variety of route options for
the cyclist. Streets will become better recognized
as environments that support a variety of ways of
moving from one place to the next, as opposed to
places primarily for vehicular movement.
4. Increases the viability of Downtown businesses. A
more permeable, walkable Downtown will draw
more customers. Precedents demonstrate that it is
difficult to create retail viability in small and midsized cities without two-way infrastructure.
Section 7.6: Transportation Action Plans
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5. Supports transit needs and operational efficiency

Downtown. Less circuitous routes for transit
operations will make Downtown more accessible
and serviceable for transit users.
7. Provides more route options for emergency vehicles.
6. Allows for streetscape designs that emphasize streets

as part of the open space system. Since streets will
be designed for pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles, and
street trees, they will become a part of the amenity
of Downtown that draws visitors and residents
alike.
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Action
Study the cost and impact of converting all one-way east-west roadways to
two-way streets both in Downtown and immediately south of Downtown.
Time Frame
Immediate to
Near Term
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
Action Plans
T.2 Create alternative road standards.

[Near to Medium Term]
Background:
Streets play an important role in defining the character of an environment. Well-designed streets become
places where people shop, linger, and stroll. In the
past, the approach to streets in Downtown Regina
has focused on higher levels of service for vehicular
movements as opposed to provision of the necessary
infrastructure to accommodate comfortable environment for the movement of people. The Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan Vision recognizes Downtown as
a place - a destination - as opposed to an environment
to move quickly through. As such, a new approach to
street design is needed that will focus on the movement
of pedestrians as the key priority and will strike an appropriate balance between all modes of transportation
including cycling, transit, and vehicular movement
Action
Rationale:
A Downtown transportation system that recognizes
pedestrianism as an important form of movement has
right-of-ways and public spaces that are supportive
of pedestrian activity. The safety and convenience of
the pedestrian is prioritized, as a minimum standard
objective. Current road standards are suburban in
nature, and are no longer in keeping with the priorities
of the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan.
In order to bring road design into alignment with the
Downtown Vision and its priorities, a new approach to
designing and planning roads Downtown is required.
The new approach will need to consider a variety of
forms of movement, including cyclists and pedestrians.
Streetscape design should clearly articulate the importance of the pedestrian experience as fundamental to a
thriving Downtown.
Time Frame
Responsibility
Establish an interdisciplinary/interdepartmental team to create alternative Immediately

road standards.
City Centre
Branch
Focus additional resources on the care and maintenance of existing down- Immediately
town trees (supported by action N.7).
Parks and Open

Space
Embed alternative road design standards for Downtown into engineering Medium Term
and planning policy.
City Centre
Branch
Considerations:
Alternative road standards for Downtown should take
into consideration the following priority objectives, to
ensure that they are able to meet the objectives of the
Downtown Neighbourhood Plan:
1. Minimize Environmental Impacts
Maintain tree health, maintenance, and amenity
as a priority in Downtown cross sections.
Winter sidewalk and road maintenance should
be improved, including the enforcement of
standards related to Downtown sidewalk
clearing. This must be a priority, as snow

clearance is essential for an active streetscape in
winter, and to enable the use of active modes of
transportation year-round.
2. Increase Active Modes of Transportation
Prioritize safety of the cyclist and pedestrian
in road design, and through the narrowing of
existing lane widths, keeping in mind existing
and planned transit operations.
Locate appropriate signage to aid in wayfinding
for pedestrians.
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Enhance active transportation linkages to key

destinations when streets are redesigned (cycling lanes and sidewalk design).
3. Enhance the Public Realm

Locate street furniture, shelters, and landscaping amenities to be accessible and beautiful.
Locate appropriately designed pedestrian-scaled
lighting, particularly at pedestrian crossings.
4. Ensure Accessibility
At crosswalks, design curb cuts that direct
pedestrians and wheelchairs into the marked
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crosswalks, not the centre of the intersection.

Adjust stormwater drain placement so that
pedestrian movement from the sidewalk to
crossings is not impeded.
Action Plans
T.3 Refocus transportation planning on

pedestrians. [Immediately]
Background:
Streets Downtown are currently focussed on convenient and safe conditions for vehicles. While these
conditions are important to maintain, they are not
necessarily determinant of safe walking conditions for
pedestrians. In order to make Downtown a place that
is safe for walking, and to encourage walking to work,
transportation planning should employ actions which
prioritize the pedestrianization of streets. This can be
accomplished while still maintaining safety for drivers,
although a little convenience for the driver will be sacrificed for the added convenience of the pedestrian.
Rationale:
To encourage walking, Downtown sidewalks should
provide a high quality walking surface and new standards for design. Widened sidewalks are also needed to
improve the walking conditions Downtown. Wider
sidewalks will be important for instilling a pedestrianfriendly environment. In addition to level of service
requirements for density of foot traffic, consideration should be given to building a sense of place for
pedestrians. Priority for wider sidewalks should
be along streets within the Heritage Conservation
District; along Victoria Avenue, which currently has
Action
the narrowest sidewalks Downtown; other civic destinations; or, following the establishment of business
clusters around these blocks. Visibility of crosswalks
is also a factor in pedestrian safety and should be improved, as per a new city-wide standard of crosswalk
visibility, as streets are renewed.
Corner bulbs are an excellent way of shortening the
walking distance across roadways, placing a higher
priority on the pedestrian network, delineating onstreet parking areas and slowing automobile traffic by
visually narrowing the road. One of the key challenges
with these treatments is the potential change to drainage patterns. Short medians at intersections can also
be used for the same effect of breaking the street crossing distance and providing safe shelter for pedestrians
especially at un-signalized crossings. Corner bulbs are
most desirable on the widest roads, (i.e. the Avenues).
Arterial roadways are also currently a major barrier
for pedestrians moving between Downtown and
surrounding neighbourhoods. Adjustments to better
accommodate pedestrians crossing these roadways is
important, particularly in cold weather.
Set new standards for Downtown sidewalk materials and surfaces.
Time Frame
Immediately
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
Considerations:
The use of interlocking pavers needs to be reevaluated for its practicability and safe use. Maintaining this type of surface
so that it is level for walking on is labour intensive, requires regular levelling and is costly. Textured concrete and precast
sidewalk sections might be considered instead. The needs of visually impaired and disabled persons should be considered,
and these groups should be consulted in the process of developing new standards.
2
Change relevant street maintenance policies to ensure that Downtown Near Term
streets and sidewalks are maintained as the highest material and aesthetic
standard in the city, and above and beyond the existing policies.
City Centre
Branch
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Provide wider sidewalks.
Near Term
City Centre
Branch
Considerations:
The task of widening a sidewalk is fairly significant as it generally involves altering the roadway cross-section. This often
results in drainage and parking challenges. As such, the provision of wider sidewalks should be staged as part of street
renewal projects. This action is linked to T.2. and N.7.
4
Improve visibility of crosswalks.
Immediately
Considerations:
City Centre
Branch
Visibility and safety for pedestrians could be improved through better definition of the crosswalks at both
signalized and un-signalized locations. Textured crossings, coloured crossings, raised crosswalks and improved
paint markings could be used to serve this purpose. These should be considered as street renewal projects are
pursued.
5
Add corner bulbs to minimize street crossing distances.
Immediately
Considerations:
City Centre
Branch
As part of the implementation of corner bulbs, the City should prepare a phasing strategy to prioritize the near-term
improvement of street crossings at key locations, including at gateways and the Civic Heart.
6
Adjust signal timing on the main arterials to shorten the wait times for Immediately
pedestrians.
Considerations:
City Centre
Branch
Wait times to cross Albert Street could be in the order of a minute and a half. While shorter cycle times would improve
the situation for pedestrians, the level of service would be heavily impacted for vehicular traffic. A potential solution is
to lengthen the minimum walk times. Displaying longer walk times increases the likelihood that pedestrians will arrive
at the intersection and be able to cross immediately. The installation of crosswalk countdown timers along the interior
intersections would support safer crossing for pedestrians.
7
Improve underpass conditions.
Considerations:
Near Term
City Centre
Branch
Improvements to the Broad Street and Albert Street underpasses should be considered to provide connectivity and the
perception of safety. The level of lighting in the underpasses also should be reviewed. As a long term measure, a pedestrian link half-way between Broad Street and Albert Street could be planned to address the desired connection from
Downtown to the Warehouse District (refer to Section 4.4.9).
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Action Plans
T.4 Prioritize cycling within

transportation planning. [Near Term
to Medium Term]
Background:
In addition to the pedestrianization of streets, an
equally important shift in the way people commute to
and within downtown will involve increasing options
for cycling. As a popular active mode of transportation, cycling within Downtown can be a year-round
activity and choice for commuters. Particularly as the
Downtown population increases, cycling could continue to dampen the need for Downtown parking and
vehicle activity within Downtown.
Hundreds of cities around the world hold an annual
Bike to Work Week, usually in the second or third week
of May, to promote cycling as a reliable, healthy, and
affordable mode of transportation. During this week,
participants choose to use the bicycle as their mode
of transportation to work, and often as their mode of
transportation for all their daily activities. Some employees choose to turn the week into an internal event,
challenging their employees to cycle to work and offering prize incentives. This event is also an opportunity
for employers to engage in friendly competition with
each other, as a team building event.
Regina has already participated in the nation-wide
Commuter Challenge. This promotes active modes of
transportation including cycling, transit, and walking.
The Comprehensive Planning Branch, in partnership
with Saskatchewan in Motion, have organized and
coordinated this event in Regina for the past two years
with success, indicating that there is an interest by
the public to seriously begin shifting the car-oriented
culture towards alternative modes of transportation.
Rationale:
The Comprehensive Planning Branch has conducted
an online survey of peoples modes of transportation
to work, and results indicated that there is a favouring
towards cycling to work. The surveys indicated the
following needs and concerns:

The cycling network plan is in need of

updating and individual neighbourhoods such
as the Cathedral area are being surveyed for
input on appropriate cycling routes. Such
input is valuable, but may miss the broader
context a cycling network should provide as a
preferred mode of travel.
Although all roadways are, in effect, available

for cycling, many people do not have the skill
or comfort level to cycle on every roadway.
Specific roadways within Downtown need
to be designated as part of the cycling
network with cycling facilities designed and
implemented for safety.
Increased bicycle parking should be provided

Downtown. Many cities have minimum
bicycle parking standards they promote
through their bylaws. It is clear there is a
latent demand for cycling. Respondents to
cycling surveys often cite inadequate trip-end
facilities (showers, parking) or even just lack
of adequate cycling facilities as reasons for
not cycling to work.
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Action
Establish a bike to work week.
Time Frame
Near Term
Considerations:
Responsibility
Comprehensive
Planning
Shifting a car-oriented culture to a cycling or walking culture is by no means a quick process and must occur
in a phased manner to allow the public to learn that alternative modes are also viable as a means of transport. What a Bike to Work Week can do, which the Commuter Challenge cannot, is quickly generate huge
momentum towards the goals of the Commuter Challenge in reducing the number of cars on the streets. By
focusing on cycling alone, this shift would begin to happen in a phased manner as well as place Regina on the
international map of this global movement.
Establishing a Bike to Work Week involves minimal administration and organization. Promotion, registration, and
selection of dates, as well as presenting any follow up promotion of the event might require three or four months of
organization as participants are expected to self-organize their participation after registering online. Over time, the
momentum generated through Bike to Work Week should build towards a full cycling awareness campaign.
2
Provide a high level of access to Downtown for commuter cyclists.
Near Term
Considerations:
Comprehensive
Planning
Commuter cyclists prefer direct A to B routes with minimal stops or delays. In most cases this means providing a separate
on-road cycling lane (1.5m wide with an additional offset from traffic on high volume roads). Appropriate overhead
signing and paint markings help designate the bicycle lane. Lorne Street and Smith Street are good examples of this. A
higher profile can also be added by the use of bike boxes at intersections (i.e. a staging area at intersections where bicycles
are given priority) and cyclist-actuated signals at key locations (e.g. Ottawa uses 3 dots on the road where a waiting
bike will trigger the traffic signal). Improving cycling conditions in the underpasses as Broad and Albert need special
consideration. Refer to Section 4.3.9.
3
Update the cycling network plan and integrate it into the city-wide trans- Near Term
portation plan.
Considerations:
Comprehensive
Planning
The cycling network needs to be a series of interconnected facilities that access key employment, residential, institutional
and educational facilities on a city-wide basis. When complete, the updated cycling network plan should connect work,
home, shopping, school, and institutional destinations in a comprehensive manner.
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Action Plans
Promote and develop identifiable roadways for cycling.
Near Term
Considerations:
Comprehensive
Planning
North-south cycling lanes are currently provided by the one-way cycling couplet of Lorne Street and Smith Street.
These north-south lanes provide access to nearby destinations such as City Hall and Victoria Park. With the conversion
of east-west roadways to two-way travel in Downtown, cycling lanes should be considered on 12th Avenue and 15th
Avenue. These are long, continuous streets that are used by surrounding neighbourhoods to access the heart of Downtown
(Victoria Park) and the transitional area immediately south.
5
Provide readily available secure bike parking, lockers, and shower facilities
Considerations:
Medium Term
Comprehensive
Planning
Through awareness, encouragement and definition of a proper cycling network, companies should consider
adding showers and lockers as part of their employee recruitment and retention programs. The City may want
to work with companies that provide free parking stands. The stands are maintained by companies in exchange
for allowing advertising tab signs on the bike rack. In addition, the City should require that all new major
developments include bike facilities, or encourage it through the Bonusing Framework.
Bike to Work Week Vancouver 2008 (Photo credit: Rob on flickr.com)
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T.5 Prioritize and enable the efficient

operation of public transit. [Near
Term]
Reduced and more reliable transit times will be beneficial

and will encourage more people to use this mode to visit,
shop and work Downtown. Increased customer convenience, safety and comfort and transit operational efficiency
can be gained by identifying an off-street bus-to-bus customer transfer or transit exchange location. The Downtown
transit hub would be a well-defined and centrally located
244
Action
place for customers to catch the bus and transfers between

buses. The aspect of defining the place is best addressed
through the full transit review once route recommendations
are better known.
This Action Plan is being addressed through a city-wide
transit service review that was recently initiated through
Regina Transit. The study will consider such aspects as
route length and frequencies, hours and coverage of service,
fleet size and type, transit priority measures, express routes,
etc. as potential methods to influence transit times.
Time Frame
Improve total transit times to Downtown and through Downtown, con- Near Term
necting key sectors of the city (e.g. Post-secondary schools, large shopping/
commercial areas, and key city facilities such as hospitals and tourist sites).
Study the feasibility of a central location for an off-street bus-to-bus trans- Near Term
fer location in the short term and a transit exchange in Downtown in the
medium to longer term.
Consider locating a transit hub Downtown.
Near Term
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch,
Community
and Protective
Services
City Centre
Branch,
Community
and Protective
Services
City Centre
Branch,
Community
and Protective
Services
Action Plans
T.6 Minimize, mitigate and control

surface parking Downtown.
[Immediately]
Background/Rationale
A large part of creating an urbanized and sustainable
downtown is by discouraging the use of space/land
for surface parking. Surface parking is an incredibly
inefficient use of space, from a holistic city building
and development perspective. It also detracts from
the pedestrian experience, attracting vehicle activity into Downtown spaces which should be safe and
quiet, creating undesirable and unattractive walking
conditions at street-level, and creating gaps within
the urban fabric.
the demand for parking Downtown was sustained.

Surface parking became a more economically viable
option for Downtown land owners in the near to long
term.
In moving forward, no new surface parking should be
allowed. A full review of parking in Downtown is required. This will provide the City with the information
necessary to implement proactive parking management initiatives and to strategically address any future
parking issues. A key objective of the study should be
to identify strategies for the City to eliminate surface
parking over time, while disallowing the creation of
addition surface parking to the existing stock.
The proliferation of surface parking Downtown has

been the result of decreasing demand for Downtown
as a residential neighbourhood or entertainment district over time, as development as recently moved
outwards. As the employment basis was maintained,
Action
Conduct a comprehensive parking study in Downtown.
Time Frame
Immediately
Responsibility
City Centre
Branch
Key items to be covered in the study include:

Gather a full inventory of public and private supply, demand, parking accumulation, duration of stay, parking
pricing, etc.
Improve marketing, operation and directional signing to parking facilities.
A detailed review of bylaws regulating Downtown parking.
Identify parking needs for the delivery of goods to businesses.
Determine the optimum balance between public parking and private parking.
A detailed examination of parking demand management strategies for carpool/ vanpool and incentives for transit
users and for employers to provide bicycle facilities.
Identify opportunities for shared parking.
2
Reserve a portion of parking revenues.
Considerations:
Immediately
City Centre
Branch
A portion of the revenue generated from parking meters and enforcement (some cities use a figure of 50 percent) should
be reserved to fund parking studies and initiatives, streetscape improvements in Downtown, and transit initiatives. This
has been done in the past to fund the Cornwall Centre Parkade.
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Amend parking requirements in Zoning Bylaw.
Immediately
Considerations:
City Centre
Branch
In addition to the existing minimum parking requirements, implement a maximum allowable parking requirement for
new developments. Also, consider implementing mandatory cash in lieu of parking for all developments. The in-lieu
money would be reserved to provide additional parking facilities while providing the City with a measure of control over
where and when additional parking facilities are provided.
4
In the future, and as demand warrants, consideration should be given to the Immediately
viability and value of implementing a parking authority.
Considerations:
City Centre
Branch
The long-term goal should be to create a Downtown Parking Authority. In the interim, the City Centre Branch should
be responsible for managing parking issues. In particular, the CCB would manage parking strategies, parking policy,
revenues, enforcement, money received in-lieu of providing parking, and marketing. A key objective would be to develop
cooperative relationships with private companies that operate parking facilities in Downtown and at other major centres
such as the University of Regina and the Regina Airport Authority. As well , it will be imperative to encourage shared
parking arrangements in Downtown as a means to reducing overall parking spaces available while maintaining access to
parking for various user groups.
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8.0
Implementation
Strategy
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8.1
The Implementation Strategy is a time frame for

implementing the actions in the Regina Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan. In order to begin implementation, certain cultural, political, and financial
foundations should be set. These foundations are inherently related to a set of critical success factors, which
identify priority actions. It is important that the stage
be properly set for the orchestration of implementing
the recommendations in a sequenced manner. In turn,
once the implementation process is underway, it must
be monitored with measures of success as determined
for each implementation action.
8.2
Table of Recommended Capital Improvements
Action Description
N6
B2
B5
C2
T3
Capital Improvements
Through the completion of the additional studies

outlined in Section 8.2 further capital projects will be
identified. These projects and their budgets will be
approved in the context of these specific planning
studies. Therefore the following is a partial list of the
key capital projects to be undertaken in the near to
medium term. In particular, major infrastructure investments will be required to improve the public realm
(see Action T3 and T4).
However, in the context of more detailed analyses
related to each of the items listed below, wherein specific details are articulated, a specific capital budget
should be identified. At the current time, no budget
allocation is associated with these capital projects.
Encourage community gardens

Downtown as part of new residential
projects.
Establish a permanent Farmers Market
venue Downtown.
Create a facade renewal and improvement incentives program.
Complete the WOW Project.
Refocus transportation planning on
pedestrians.

T4
Prioritize cycling within transportation

planning.

T6
Create cycling lanes

Provide bike parking, lockers,
and shower facilities
Minimize, mitigate and control surface
parking Downtown.

248
Provide wider sidewalks

Improve visibility of crosswalks
Add corner bulbs to minimize
street crossing distances
Improve underpass conditions
Improving facades of existing

parking structures
enhancing landscapingo n
existing surface parking lots
8.3
Studies and Strategies to

Undertake
This Downtown Neighbourhood Plan has identified

several studies to undertake that are critical to its
implementation.
Table of Recommended Studies to Undertake
Action Description
N2
N4
N7
N8
N10
N12
B3
B5
C1
C3
C6
C7
T1
T2
Create a Downtown Housing Strategy

Include an urban design review step
in the development permitting review
process.
Create a Downtown Urban Forest
Strategy.
Encourage the location of unique community services and offices of non-profit
organizations.
Devise a Downtown Waste Management
Strategy.
Conducting a servicing review for storm
and wastewater capacity for Downtown.
Conduct annual surveys directed at
measuring changes in employment composition, market composition, and vacant
properties.
Create a facade renewal and improvement
incentives program.
Create a City of Regina Cultural Plan.
The WOW Project programming
strategy.
Create a Signage and Wayfinding
Strategy.
Create a Patio Management Strategy.
Study the cost and impact of converting all one-way east-west roadways to
two-way streets both in Downtown and
immediately south of Downtown
Create alternative road standards.
Section 8.3: Capital Improvements
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8.4
Sequencing
Successful implementation will depend on a variety of

initiatives unfolding simultaneously. Certain actions are
mutually supportive, or only possible when completed
in a sequenced manner (as certain contexts and foundations need to be created to successfully complete the
next action). The following sequencing chart outlines a
recommended course of action for implementation that
should result in timely completion of the actions while
allowing for some flexibility as the development context
evolves.
How to read the chart:
Each of the Actions in Section 7.0 have been categorized as either primary actions or secondary actions
and sequenced or non-sequenced.
Primary actions are outlined with a bold/thickly bordered box. These actions are either critical success
factors, or key capital projects pivotal to the overall
success of the plan. Primary actions will typically
require a significant level of attention, resources and
commitment from throughout the entire organization.
It is imperative that these are completed successfully,
and on time, to gain sufficient headway for the remaining actions.
Secondary actions are outlined with a thinly bordered
box. These actions are typically stand-alone actions
that act in parallel to primary actions but that may not
necessarily involve the entire organization, or are not
as critical to the overall success of the plan. These may
be supportive of other sequenced or non-sequenced
actions and may lead to the generation of further subactions as implementation progresses.
Actions that are sequenced are linked by a bold black

bar. Sequenced means that there exists a prior action
to be completed successfully for the next action to
commence.
The chart on the following pages is designed to be
suitable for reproduction and use as a work plan. As
implementation progresses, it is possible to slot in
new actions or sub-actions as they develop. In this
manner, the implementation status of the Downtown
Neighbourhood Plan can be easily monitored. The
chart may also be adapted for more detailed breakdowns of each time frame category, sequence, or
action.
Primary Action
Secondary Action
Sequenced
Action
Section 8.4: Sequencing
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Sequencing of Action Plans
IMMEDIATE (initiate within 2 years)
NEAR (initiate within 2-5 years)
L.1 Establish a City Centre Branch and Manager
N.1 Secure a residential pilot project Downtown.

N.2 Create a Downtown Housing Strategy.
N.3 Rezone the Downtown as a Direct Control
District
N.4 Include an urban design review step in the
development permitting review process.
N.8 Encourage the location of unique community services

and offices of non-profit organizations.
N.5 Reflect Downtown as a Complete Community in City

Policy
N.12 Conduct a servicing review for storm and

wastewater capacity for Downtown.
N.11 Revise the Winter Maintenance Policy to prioritize

the Downtown.
B.4 Foster a symbiotic partnership between businesses
and artists.
B.1 Identify clusters or blocks of uses.
B.3 Conduct annual surveys directed at measuring

changes in employment composition, market
composition, and vacant properties.
B.2 Establish a permanent public market venue

Downtown.
C.5 Establish a University of Regina presence Downtown.
C.1 Create a City of Regina Cultural Plan.
C.7 Create a Patio Management Strategy.
C.2 Complete the WOW Project.
B.5 Create a faade renewal and improvement incentives

program.
C.3 The WOW Project Programming Strategy.

C.4 Revise the approach to heritage management.
C.6 Create a signage and wayfinding strategy.
C.8 Civic Heart Revitalization Working Group.
T.1 Study the cost and impact of converting all one-way
east-west roadways to two-way streets both in
Downtown and immediately south of Downtown.
252
T.3 Refocus transportation planning on pedestrians.
T.4 Prioritize cycling within transportation planning.
T.6 Minimize, mitigate and control surface parking

Downtown.
T.5 Prioritize and enable the efficient operation of public

transit.
Primary Action
MEDIUM (initiate within 5-10 years)
N.9 Co-ordinate existing and developing initiatives for

Downtown safety and security.
Secondary Action
Sequenced Action
LONG (initiate within 10 years)
N.10 Devise a Downtown waste management strategy.
N.6 Encourage community gardens Downtown as part of

new residential projects.
N.7 Create a Downtown Urban Forest Strategy.

T.4 Prioritize cycling within transportation planning.
253
Appendix 1
Urban Design Glossary
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Urban Design Glossary
Above Grade Parking
Bollards
Vehicle parking that is above ground level, usually in a

structured facility.
Vertical columns used to physically block or visually

guide vehicular traffic in an area.
Adaptability
Building Articulation
The capacity of a building or space to be changed so

as to respond to changing social, technological and
economic conditions.
Detailing of building mass, location or orientation of

fenestration, and design of building elements.
Amenity
Aesthetic or other features of a development that increase its marketability or usability to the public.
Atrium
A fully enclosed or semi-enclosed rectangular court
surrounded by a single building or between buildings
that is open air.
Bay
A part of a building marked off by vertical elements,
such as columns or pilasters.
Back Lot Parking

Parking that is contained behind buildings, in the
middle of a block, linked yet hidden from the pedestrians experience of a street.
Below Grade Parking

Vehicular parking that is below ground level.
Bike Box
Delineated areas where cyclists, at a red light, can
advance ahead of stopped vehicles while waiting for
the light to turn green. Cyclists are therefore more
visible to vehicles and are prioritized higher as road
users.
Building Typology
The general shape, mass, and articulation of a building, categorized by type.
Building Articulation- Base

Generally within the first three storeys of a building, a
base should be clearly defined and positively contribute
to the quality of the pedestrian environment through
animation, transparency, articulation, and material
quality.
Building Articulation- Middle

The body of the building above the base, this should
contribute to the physical and visual quality of the
overall streetscape.
Building Articulation- Top

Generally includes the entire top portion(s) of a building involving the roof and one floor below.
Build Form
The shape of developments including buildings, and
other structures, not only individually, but as a collective. How buildings relate in terms of height, scale,
and character determines the extent to which they will
define the public realm.
Build-to-Line
The required placement of the front of a building relative to the street right-of-way, to ensure an appropriate
street or open space enclosure. The objective of a builtto-line is to maintain a consistent street wall along the
edge of a street.
Bump-Outs
Enclosure
Widened sidewalk areas at intersections, often in place

of on-street parking, thereby narrowing the pedestrian
crossing distance over a right-of-way.
The use of buildings to create a sense of defined

space.
Civic Heart
An open space that has a concentration of civic uses
and destinations.
Compatibility
Gateways
Locations where a significant number of people enter
and exit Downtown. They occur at a variety of scales,
including to Downtown as a whole, to precincts, or to
specific streets or open spaces.
The size, form, and character of a building element

relative to other elements around it. This may be determined by the size and proportion of windows in a
building faade are usually related to one another, the
spaces between them, and the scale of surrounding
buildings.
Gateway Treatment
Convertible Retail Frontage
Grand Avenues
Residential ground floor units designed so that they

can be converted for retail uses, and should be designed to the standards of retail uses (i.e. building code
requirements), but be authorized to have non-retail
uses within them.
Gateways into the Downtown defined by their generous public realm treatments and mid-rise buildings.
Buildings along these should be a little grander than
most, in the sense that they will have careful attention
to the building quality and articulation.
Corner Treatment
Ground Level Condition
A unique built feature on a corner building that acknowledges its prominence on the street in terms of
views and architectural presence. Can be achieved by
adding to building articulation with elements such as
a turret, or by subtracting from the building volume
resulting in conditions such as recessed entries.
The way that a building is experienced at-grade.

Active uses (e.g. retail, public spaces); with an open
and public presence (i.e. windows and doors) provide
engaging ground level conditions. Blank facades result
in inactive ground level conditions.
Datum Lines
The horizontal or base line, from which the heights of
points are reckoned or measured.
A design feature intended to signify entrance to a

distinct area, usually a place where a new character
or sense of identity should be recognized. Achieved
through details of the built form, or through landscaping and signage.
Height Transition
The tapering of building heights as a way of achieving
compatibility of built forms and mitigating impacts
(views, sunlight etc) of shifts from areas of one character (i.e. low-rise) to another (i.e. high rise).
Density
The floorspace of a building, or buildings, in relation
to a given area of land.
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downtown plan
Heritage Conservation
Massing
Refers both to saving significant buildings, retaining

parts or places that are valued for their heritage contribution, and to enhancing the meaning and quality of
life in a specific place by maintaining its uniqueness,
and supporting the cultural and economic vitality that
accompanies areas with strong conservation.
The combined effect of the height, bulk, and silhouette

of a building or group of buildings.
Human Scale
The impression of a building when seen in relation to
its surroundings, or the size and proportion of parts of
a building or its details, that relates in a positive way to
the visual and physical experience of a pedestrian.
In-Fill Development
The development of vacant parcels in urbanized or
suburbanized areas, typically bringing the density of
the area closer to that allowed by the existing zoning
regulations.
Landmark
A building or structure that stands out from its background by virtue of height, size or some other aspect
of design.
Landmark Frontages
Locations which are prominent because of their
context, such as adjacency to a public open space or
important street, or because of their content, such
as heritage resources or public art. These are closely
related to gateways.
LEED Certification
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A
system of measurement which rates new buildings (or
their plans) on their level of energy use and environmental consideration. It is meant to encourage new
developments to become more energy efficient and
environmentally sensitive.
Mid-Block Connections
Linkages between two streets in the middle of larger
blocks. They should be designed to have uses other
than as mid-block pedestrian links (i.e. laneway or
library/gallery galleria).
Mixed Use
A mix of uses within a building, or a site, or within a
particular area, possibly including employment, residential, commercial, live/work, or retail.
Mixed Use Row House

Units attached at sides, generally a single ownership for
each unit. Can have ground level commercial uses or
in some cases can be purely residential.
Modal Split
How the total number of journeys in an area or to a
destination is split between different means of transport, such as train, bus, car, walking and cycling.
Multiplex
Multiple residential units within a house form
building.
Node
A place where activity and routes are concentrated,
often used synonymously with junction.
Pedestrian Orientation
The characteristics of an area where the location and
access to buildings, types of uses permitted on the
street level, and storefront design are based on the
needs of persons on foot.
Permeability
Rhythm
The degree to which an area has a variety of pleasant,

convenient and safe routes through it.
The recurrence at regular intervals of design elements

that help structure their visual character and definition.
For example, a vertical line dividing buildings every 6
to 12 metres, will create a rhythm for the street that
supports a pedestrian scale and intimate character.
Pocket Park
Small outdoor areas intended to provide intimate, yet
high quality open spaces for an immediate neighborhood or catchment area. Generally are no larger than
1,000 square metres.
Point Tower High Rise

High rise buildings with a slender profile tower and
small floor plates, typically less than 700m. Often
placed in areas adjacent to other tall buildings, for
context and transition.
Podium
The lower portion of a building that defines the street
edge or public realm, typically between 3-6 storeys in
height. The podium refers to the overall massing of
this portion of the building, and can be considered as
the base of a building.
Public/Private Interface
The point at which public areas and buildings meet
private ones.
Primary Streets
Active for all modes of transport, but have less vehicular
traffic than do avenues, so they are the most balanced
streets downtown. Used to move people within the
downtown.
Right-of-Way: (ROW)
A strip of land, including the space above and below
the surface, that is platted, dedicated, condemned,
established by prescription or otherwise legally established for the use of pedestrians, vehicles, or utilities.
Secondary Street
Streets used to access destinations within Downtown,
rather than to access Downtown itself.
Setback
The minimum distance from the property line at which
a building must be built.
Slab High Rise

Lower tower with big floor plates, typically more than
700m. Require careful location and design due to
their longer building mass.
Stacked Row House

One or more residential units stacked above one or
more residential units.
Step Back
A recess of taller elements of a building in order to
ensure an appropriate built form presence on the street
edge. Usually articulated at the top of the building
base.
Street Side Parking (on-street parking)

Parking that lines the side of a street, usually parallel
or angled.
Street Wall
A condition where buildings consistently line or front
onto the edge of a street. Best achieved where buildings have consistent setbacks built out to the sidewalk.
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downtown plan
Street Wall Elements
Urban Grain
The components that, taken together, give a street wall

its unique character, such as recessed entries or bay
windows or signage treatments or canopies.
The pattern of the arrangement and size of buildings

and uses and their plots in an area, usually along a
street. Fine urban grain refers to a pattern of street
blocks and building sites that is small and frequent,
thereby creating a dynamic and animated urban environment for the pedestrian.
Subtle Night Lighting

After dark lighting for a place of business (i.e. retail
display windows) that is not necessarily designed to
illuminate a pedestrian path directly, but that which
illuminates a building feature.
Surface Parking (ground-level parking)

Parking which is at ground level.
Transparency
The degree of visibility through a building faade.
Transition
Occurs between buildings to help create continuity
and cohesiveness in a streetscape, with buildings that
are beside each other, across the street from each other,
or are otherwise part of a building grouping which has
design elements that reference one another. Can be
articulated through a wide range of design elements
(i.e. overall building height, massing, setback, materials etc.)
Third Party Signage

A sign that promotes for a business, but is not situated
on that business property.
Tower
Upper portion of a building that is exceptionally high
in proportion to the width and length of the base.
Urban Structure
The shape of Downtown as a whole, including its overall
height and density, street wall heights, setbacks/buildto lines, and distinct functional and character areas. It
builds on existing and historic development characteristics, and considers linkages and interfaces with the
surrounding context.
View Corridors
The long, straight streets Downtown and in the surrounding neighborhoods with direct views.
Visual Terminus
The end point of a view corridor. Often accentuated
through design elements public art, adding/subtracting from the building mass, or landscaping.
Walkable
A condition of a system of routes which are barrier
free, interesting, safe, well-lit, comfortable and inviting to pedestrian travel.
Wayfinding
Tools which orient users of an area to ensure the ability
to navigate through an area. Tools include signs,
graphic communications, spatial markets, streetscape
elements, building design, and the street network.
in association with: UMA | Goldsmith Borgal & Company Architects |
urbanMetrics

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CITY OF REGINA

REGINA DOWNTOWN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Committee who, at every moment of collaboration,

Mayor Pat Fiacco and Council, and the Regina

Also, a special note of thanks to the hundreds of people

Principles in Forum One, you commented on all of

ties, and provides housing and mobility options for

content and direction. A "best practices on -site work-

shop" in Portland Oregon in October 2008, to see

of these events. Numerous internal workshops with

identity of a city, the availability of unique Downtown

What is the Regina Downtown

by generating a new Plan through a collaborative

strategy to make that Vision real. It is also a policy

process involving a broad array of stakeholders.

ments are made.

The new Plan captures the spirit of optimism that exists

The Downtown is specified as the area within the

in the city today - it is a reflection of the many focus

to the west. It consists of roughly 40 city blocks, and

hoods; connecting the Cathedral Neighbourhood,

North Central Neighbourhood, and the Warehouse

an emphasis on pedestrian- oriented urban design,

Regina is at an opportune moment in its history. An

The Plan contains six significant parts:

The continued strength of the existing employment

to locate Downtown. By adding 5,000 new resi-

2. A Complete, Livable Community

dents in urban housing forms primarily along Broad,

- including seniors, youth, students, artists, young

For All Regina

Walkable and Multi -modal

What is the significance of the Regina

1. Walk to Work: A Downtown that is defined

2. The City Square: Victoria Park is the jewel,

3. Pedestrians First: All streets designed for

4. A Green Zone: A well maintained urban

5. A Cycling Culture: Cultivate and support

6. Exceptional Public Transit: A downtown

7. Friendly Facades: Existing buildings, at

8. Festival Places: Create places for gathering,

Regina Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

The Public Realm Framework - a general

large, such as public spaces, parks, and streets.

invest. A significantly improved public realm will

Heritage Guidelines - direction around the

Action Plans - Divided into five categories

and Transportation), the Action Plans identify

How should we move forward?

Once approved by Regina City Council, the Regina

and will inform amendments to the Zoning Bylaw

aspects of the Regina Downtown

Plan will shape growth and development as a result of a

require investments from the private and the public

There is a role for all to play, often together, moving

Built Form Framework

The Downtown Neighbourhood Plan

The Importance of a Great Downtown ...29

Public Realm Framework

Purpose & Objectives ...46

Action Plans for Downtown Regina

Action Plans for Downtown Regina ...200

Implementation Strategy ...246