A New Feel to Our Downtown Core
"Downtown gives a good impression of what Medicine Hat is like. It’s small, entrepreneurial, personable, and connected. Medicine Hat is about people supporting other people, and that’s the feeling you get from downtown. That’s what we try to do as a business.”
Jake Knodel, Station Coffee Co.
It’s August on the Prairies and a light breeze moves from the banks of the South Saskatchewan River. The early evening air is filled with boisterous conversation, live music, and the smell of delicious food – all emanating from patios up and down the busy city streets.
“There is a story to be told here about the history behind the buildings, and there is huge potential for it to become a lively hub that connects with the downtown”
Kirsten Spek, 505a and 545 North Railway Street landlord.
About 12 hours later, the streets are filled again as eager shoppers, professionals and residents enjoy the bright midday sun. These streets have a sense of life to them. A sense of community. A true vibrancy. Sounds amazing, right? But this is just another summer day in Medicine Hat’s downtown core.
“I want to send our sincere thanks for your assistance on our incentive project. I couldn’t think of anyone who could make this collaboration across industries more enjoyable and exciting!”
Katrina Borrows, Poolhouse Café and Roastery
Although such an occurrence is now commonplace, it would’ve been rare indeed, only 10 or 20 years ago. For years, the downtown core seemed to be on the decline as business after business shuttered its doors and the streets were often bereft of people – even on a beautiful summer evening, like the one described above. So how did we get here?
The changes to the downtown core – its enhanced vibrancy and usage, the proliferation of summer patios, new businesses opening and staying open – didn’t happen by accident. Rather, the gradual revitalization of our downtown streets and business community occurred as part of the City’s long-term plans. After years of hard work, in cooperation with the local business community, and through the development and execution of targeted incentives designed to encourage investment, we’re seeing the result: the rejuvenation of our City Centre.
“We encourage community interaction and want to positively contribute to the growing vibrancy in the place we call home [and] we are thankful the City provides these [grant and incentive] opportunities and invests in local business and infrastructure. It provides us with stability and helps maintain buildings for the long term.”
Adam Andrews, DOMAIN Crossfit
On the business side of the incentives, the grants were designed to help businesses investment in the properties for upgrades to the building's facade, the addition of patio spaces, renovating essential infrastructure and more. For some businesses, this resulted in a fresh exterior facade and/or signage to attract more customers, while others utilized the funds to install or update their utilities and other essential infrastructure.
For residential properties, the aim of these incentives was largely to spur the development of multi-family housing options in the following areas: the City Centre, Downtown, Riverside, Harlow, Herald, River Heights, Kensington, SE and SW Hill, South Flats, and River Flats. The advantage here is the grants looked to leverage existing spaces and infrastructure to develop high-density housing options, rather than greenfield opportunities.
“We have created these incentives to hopefully stimulate the multi-family dwelling, the building of multi-family dwellings to hopefully get more houses built quickly, but it is going to take time. There’s a process developers have to go through in order to get that done we’re hoping that this will hopefully incent those developers to build the type of housing that we need.”
Selena McLean-Moore, Medicine Hat Economic Development
In total, 133 businesses and residential projects took advantage of the incentives offered by the City from 2021-2024. With a building sense of momentum, community and vibrancy, there’s hope that the downtown core continues to grow, diversify and develop. And, with the budgets for 2025 and 2026, there’s a chance even more help is on the way for Medicine Hat’s downtown and business community. Overall, the City's aim is to improve the livability, vibrancy, economy and quality for Hatters in the downtown core. So far, its working.
Note: all businesses quoted were recent recipients of the aforementioned grants and incentives from 2021 to 2024. Statistics are accurate as of July 2024 based on available City data. All participation in this article, and the incentives/grants, was voluntary.
Business renovations shown: Custom Creations at 550 3rd Street and Botanicals at 505a North Railway Street.
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