Downtown Revitalization
Two downtown opportunities. Practical plans for both — delivered through partnership and creative funding, not the property tax levy.
Big Ideas. Practical Plans.
Downtown Huntsville has enormous potential. The question is how we turn that potential into something real — with practical, inspiring ideas and a plan to make them happen.
That is how I approach downtown revitalization. One of my strengths is being able to look at an underused space, see what it could become, and then work through the practical steps needed to get there: the partnerships, the funding, the technical review, the public input and the execution.
Two opportunities stand out in downtown Huntsville: Brendale Square, where Canvas Brewing is located, and the Empire Lot at Centre & Main Sts.
- Brendale Square could become a vibrant downtown destination with public space, recreation, parking, housing and commercial activity working together.
- The Empire Lot could become a better temporary use of a highly visible vacant property while it awaits future development.
A Transformational Downtown Opportunity
Brendale Square is one of the greatest opportunities we have to transform downtown Huntsville.
Today, much of the area is asphalt. With the right plan, it could become a vibrant downtown destination where public gathering space, recreation, green space, parking, housing and commercial activity all work together.
ConceptImagine a splash pad in the summer, an outdoor rink in the winter, basketball, a farmers’ market plaza, trees, shade, seating and room for community events — surrounded by storefronts, services and housing that bring more life into the heart of town.
Where the pieces could goHuntsville needs more outdoor opportunities for families and young people. We have talked about a splash pad for years, need more basketball facilities, and continue to rely on a temporary River Mill Park rink that takes significant annual effort and damages the grass beneath it.
We can do better.
ConceptThe Brendale visuals are not a final design. They are meant to show what could be possible and invite residents into the planning process from the start.
Making It Happen Responsibly
A project like Brendale Square needs to be ambitious, but it also needs to be financially responsible.
My goal would be to bring the Town and private-sector partners together to assemble the properties needed for a comprehensive redevelopment. Private partners would focus on housing, commercial development and business space. The Town would focus on the public realm: parking, recreation, green space, walkability and community amenities.
I would aggressively pursue provincial and federal funding for infrastructure, recreation, housing and downtown revitalization, while also looking to community fundraising, sponsorships, donated materials, equipment, machine time and volunteer support. The goal is not to create an expensive municipal project and send taxpayers the bill. It is to leverage every available funding opportunity and make a transformational project financially achievable.
Any serious discussion about Brendale Square must also address flooding, stormwater and water levels. No redevelopment should move forward without proper technical review of drainage, flood risk, site grading and underground infrastructure. That work needs to be done openly and shared clearly with residents.
The cofferdam concept shown is one example of the kind of practical idea worth exploring as part of a broader flood-mitigation strategy. It is not a finished engineering plan, but it shows the kind of problem-solving we should be prepared to consider.
Draft concept
How it worksOn water levels and dam operations more broadly, many decisions rest with the Province and the agencies responsible for managing those systems. That does not mean the Town should be a bystander. I will continue pushing for Huntsville to have a stronger voice, clearer communication and more timely information for residents affected by changing water levels.
Turning an Eyesore Into an Asset
The vacant Empire Lot at Centre & Main is another highly visible downtown property that should not simply be accepted as-is.
This property has been an eyesore for far too long. It is privately owned, and the owner has the right to eventually develop it. But I do not believe prominent downtown properties should be left vacant and neglected indefinitely without the Town at least trying to find a better temporary solution.
The Town can use property standards and clean yards bylaws to require minimum standards, but those tools cannot force a private property owner to beautify their land or turn it into public space. That is why enforcement alone is not the solution I want to pursue.
My first choice would be to engage the property owner directly and negotiate an agreement that would allow the community to temporarily improve and use the property until the owner is ready to develop it.
The concept shown is one rough idea: green space, trees, shrubs, benches, pathways and some additional downtown parking. The final result may look different, and that is okay. Residents, neighbouring businesses, the property owner and the downtown community should help determine what makes the most sense.
Because this would be temporary use of privately owned land, I would be careful about how much municipal money is invested. Improvements should be affordable, temporary and reusable, so benches, trees, planters, stone and other materials could be relocated to municipal parks or other public spaces when the owner is ready to develop.
The goal is simple: make a highly visible part of downtown better without placing the burden on the property tax levy.
Bringing People Together to Get Results
These ideas are ambitious, but they are not fantasy.
Through the doctor recruitment program, we combined support from the local business community with Municipal Accommodation Tax funding and helped recruit nine new family doctors in two years, with a tenth close to signing — without placing that cost on Huntsville property taxpayers through the levy.
That is the approach I would bring to downtown revitalization: identify the opportunity, bring the right people together, pursue creative funding, and turn good ideas into practical results.
Brendale Square and the Empire Lot are serious starting points for a community conversation about what downtown Huntsville can become. I believe we can create something more useful, more welcoming, more beautiful and more reflective of the people who live here.
That is the kind of downtown revitalization I want to lead.
Scott Morrison
Tell Me What You Want Downtown to Be
These plans only work if Huntsville designs them together. Tell me what you want to see.