Sault Ste. Marie’s Downtown Plaza officially opened last night, and coupled with the Downtown Association’s Midnight Magic street fest, Sault residents, out in droves, rejoiced.
The $11 million price tag for the plaza’s construction has its critics, but Thursday night’s proceedings were decidedly festive.
Speakers marking the occasion were Sault Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, Tom Vair, Deputy CAO, Community Development and Enterprise Services and DTA Chair Nicholas Rosset.Psychologist Pat McGarry’s office is but a few minutes from the plaza on Albert Street. McGarry said the plaza is a positive for city’s downtown core.
“The more positive things we have the less room there is for the negative,” said McGarry, with a laugh. “It was important to me to come down, and just kind of mark the event, join some friends and start the festivities for winter.”
Ward 1 Councillor Sonny Spina and his wife Lindsay were among the many leisurely strolling the plaza. Spina says he’s elated to see the plaza project come to fruition. “Happy to see how many people came out to support this project,” said Spina. “I know that (city) staff have worked absolutely tirelessly to add
programming to this space so it will be a destination for our community and visitors to our community, year round. I’m happy to be a small part of it.”
With the plaza officially opened, people flowed west to the courthouse for the 7 p.m. annual lighting of the Christmas Tree.
What a massive waste of money that was desperately needed elsewhere where there is not enough money to go around, and now the clueless mayor wants to adorn himself with another $7000.00 worth of taxpayer money in trinkets. Pay for it yourself, Mr. Moneybags.
Looks like a lot of palms got greased on this unwanted ‘scam the residents’ project.
It sure looks a whole lot short of $13,000,00,00 worth, with it’s lovely repainted sea cans and all.