A new management for downtown Sherbrooke

A commercial dynamization plan in downtown Sherbrooke was adopted on the municipal council on Wednesday. This 112 -page report aims to diagnose the heart of the city to better understand its challenges and weaknesses.

Before, we had different organizations to whom we delegated responsibility for economic development in these sectors. Now we really have both hands on the steering wheel. We can have the vision and set up the right tools in accordance with this visionsaid the mayor, Évelyne Beaudin, explaining that the file now returns to the administration of the city.

The project was qualified ambitious by several municipal councilors. It is a very clear, objective plan and with a lot of potential for realization because many times, we put the limit too strongdescribed the municipal councilor of the golf district, Marc Denault.

Yes, we are talking about energizing, but we talk about it as a living environmentwas delighted by the municipal councilor, Geneviève La Roche. His colleague from the Pin-Solitary district, Hélène Dauphinais, wondered how the plan followed.

There have been dynamization plans; It’s not new, but we never measure the impact of what we doshe deplored. In response, the director of the Economic Development Service at the City of Sherbrooke, Philippe Cadieux, assured that a account surrender would be made annually to the Council.

Six strategies to implement

The commercial dynamization committee, which has been working on this level since 2024, synthesized the objectives in six strategies.

Develop a commercial ecosystem

First step: tackling the rate of commercial vacuum, which is 22 % in the city center. The plan proposes to attract new shops, but also better cooperation between traders.

Animate a young city center

The demography of the city center reveals that 42 % of residents are young adults (aged 20 to 30). A program of activities and events adapted to this young population would help keep animation and dynamism in the city center.

Transform parking

The plan wishes cultivate vibrant and inclusive urban sociability. For example, the plan reveals that Almost 9 % of the city center area is occupied by parking. It is advisable to review these spaces so that it is more welcoming and that it adopts another role than that of hosting cars.

Lots of solo households

Since more than two thirds of the inhabitants in the city center live alone (69%), the objective is to develop more varied housing to attract residential mix essential for downtown cohesion . Affordability is also suggested in the plan since The median income per household ($ 49,114) is significantly lower than the municipal average ($ 92,291).

Value heritage

The project to redevelop the Winter prison in a tourist place is one of the ideas for the development of heritage. According to the report, the heritage buildings are often underused or vacant .

Offer services in all neighborhoods

The distribution of services: professionals, catering or community, is deemed uneven between the districts of the city center. Better distribution would offer within the districts A full living environmentplead the plan.