Wonderful Waterloo Archive

Planning for Main Street
Officials with the Downtown Cambridge Business Improvement Association are hosting a presentation April 8 on the future of Main Street.

Developer David Gibson and his architect Joe Bogdon will talk about their plans for the seven buildings owned by Gibcor Holdings in downtown Galt. The meeting takes place in the Toyota Room at Cambridge Centre for the Arts, starting at 6 p.m.

The BIA is encouraging all business owners and employees to attend the meeting and show their support for what it describes as a “very significant project”.

In January, Gibson laid out his plans for Main Street to Cambridge council. He said he intends to invest more than $3.2 million to revitalize the properties he purchased.

Gibcor Holdings and the City of Cambridge have put forward a request to the Southwestern Ontario Development Agency (SODA) for $750,000 in infrastructure funding to make streetscaping improvements on Main Street, between Water and Ainslie streets, to further improve the area’s curb appeal.

Meanwhile, a group of second year Conestoga College students have set up a display in the atrium at Cambridge City Hall, which ties in with Gibson’s presentation.

Students in the architectural management program have been studying how old buildings can be put to new uses. As a class exercise, they have been working with staff at the Fire Hall Museum and Education Centre on Dickson Street to explore possible new uses for the building.

Designs include converting the museum into a restaurant, a dance studio or upscale men’s clothing store. The concepts will be on display in the city hall atrium all this week.