RESOURCEFUL RENEWAL

Sudbury is a thriving mining city with anticipated growth in the coming decades due to the climate crisis. As we transition to denser and warmer conditions, Sudbury’s proximity to lakes, forests, wildlife, and the rural North will grow considerably in value. Our priority should be to prepare to host population growth effectively, as our city naturally becomes a desirable setting for many abroad.

We have pockets of efficient rectilinear urban city blocks physically isolated by irregular land use. These interstitial spaces have been predominantly formed by the Trans-Canada rail, bodies of water, and outcropping bedrock. With the coming urban investments, we have a significant opportunity to correct these dead-end circulatory issues using the library, convention centre, performing arts centre, and entertainment district together as an interconnected feature core. These boundaries can be crossed using high value developments bordering the edges as bridges, and rooftop amenity spaces can be joined into a fabric of public connectivity. The simpler rectilinear vacant land should be preserved for simpler developments and businesses as these will not be capable of linking disconnected communities together physically. Once the amenity spaces are stitched together, they will act as a catalyst and the adjacent land value on rectilinear grids will significantly rise further weaving together the urban fabric.

The rail yard is a valuable asset for a community with self-reliant mining roots however it can also serve the goal for connectivity in the city. A single rail line could be transformed into an electric-powered, public short-haul rail line and place residents of the greater downtown area within minutes of the waterfront. A raised, public network over the rail lines further regreens our industrial past and pressurizes the Elgin greenway with layered activity, building on our legacy of Sudbury as an iconic city for regreening.

Ultimately, by flanking the rail barriers tightly with unique architecture focused on a common goal of connectivity, the irregularity of Sudbury’s disconnected spaces can become an advantageous strategy and position the city as globally recognizable once again for environmental performance.