{"id":49919,"date":"2021-03-31T16:57:14","date_gmt":"2021-03-31T20:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/?p=49919"},"modified":"2021-03-31T16:57:14","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T20:57:14","slug":"cortes-commons-is-ready-for-the-next-stage-of-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/en\/cortes-commons-is-ready-for-the-next-stage-of-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Cortes Commons is ready for the next stage of development"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Roy L Hales<\/p>\n

Thanks to a\u00a0donation from the Island Coastal Economic Trust<\/a>, or ICE T, the\u00a0Cortes Commons<\/a> is ready for the next stage of development.<\/p>\n

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\"Cortes<\/a>

Map showing location of Cortes Commons in downtown Mansons Landing - by Roy L Hales<\/p><\/div>\n

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This 2.6 acre property in the heart of\u00a0Mansons Landing<\/a>\u00a0was gifted to the organization now as\u00a0Cortes Community Economic Development Association<\/a>\u00a0or CCEDA, two and a half years ago.<\/p>\n

As\u00a0Colin Funk<\/a>, a Director of the new organization, explained, CCEDA holds the land in trust for the community and Cortes Commons could be used for any of a wide variety of purposes.<\/p>\n

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Looking towards the northeast border of Cortes Commons \u2013 Roy L Hales photo<\/p><\/div>

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Gathering public input about Cortes Commons<\/h2>\n

He described the next step as the gathering public input that will eventually be used for a business plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no shortage of ideas for what might exist on the Cortes Commons, but we are taking more of a plan-full approach. Doing some surveys; some public meetings to get some feedback. At the same time, doing the business planning that helps you figure out how do you fund this? Where do you garner immediate funds? Where do you look to the future? How\u00a0 do you create a sustainable plan?\u201d said Funk.<\/p>\n

ICE-T\u00a0<\/a>is funding the development of a business plan.<\/p>\n

CCEDA is about to hire a project manager and will start reaching out to the community in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n

The first step in gathering public input will probably be an online survey.<\/p>\n

This will probably lead to focus groups. While it is possible to meet over ZOOM, it is always preferable to meet in person. He raised the possibility of in person meetings, at the appropriate\u00a0 physically distances, in the Cortes Commons.<\/p>\n

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Aerial view of Cortes Commons \u2013 courtesy CCEDA<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The community resilience grant<\/h2>\n

CCEDA has also received a Community economic resilience grant, from the ministry of municipal affairs, to clean up the Cortes Commons.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt allows to clean up the property, to repair the property, set up some picnic tables, minimal trails, some porta potties, so people can use that land before we get into a more comprehensive plan,\u201d said Funk.<\/p>\n

He suspects that may take two or three years.<\/p>\n

While Funk is open to the possibility that what the community really wants is a downtown park, it was not the idea that immediately came to mind.<\/p>\n

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\"Looking

Looking toward the Southwest corner of the property \u2013 Roy L Hales photo<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

What could the Cortes Commons be used for?<\/h2>\n

Asked for an idea of what the Cortes Commons could be used for, Funk mentioned the\u00a0LEAP report<\/a>\u00a0that was prepared two and a half years ago.<\/p>\n

Some examples of things the property could be used for were:<\/p>\n