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Consultation has concluded
We are hosting this virtual house to present plans for construction and redesign of Baker Street between Quebec Street and Woolwich Street, and Chapel and Park Lanes.This includes replacing water and sewer mains and redesigning Baker Street in line with the Downtown Streetscape Manual for the future Baker District redevelopment.
Baker Street will change from being a one-way road between Chapel Lane and Woolwich Street to a full, two-way road. The intersection of Baker Street and Woolwich Street will be redesigned and include new traffic signals.
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2022 and take about eight months to complete. The construction will be phased to accommodate archaeological assessments, temporary and permanent utility relocations, and the redevelopment of the Baker Street parking lot.
Baker Street reconstruction area map
This is your opportunity to view project information, including the presentation and and detailed design drawings, and to ask questions about the project. You’re encouraged to provide comments, feedback and questions to City staff. To comment on the project click on the comment tab below and to ask a question click on the question tab. We will answer your questions within 3 business days.
We are hosting this virtual house to present plans for construction and redesign of Baker Street between Quebec Street and Woolwich Street, and Chapel and Park Lanes.This includes replacing water and sewer mains and redesigning Baker Street in line with the Downtown Streetscape Manual for the future Baker District redevelopment.
Baker Street will change from being a one-way road between Chapel Lane and Woolwich Street to a full, two-way road. The intersection of Baker Street and Woolwich Street will be redesigned and include new traffic signals.
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2022 and take about eight months to complete. The construction will be phased to accommodate archaeological assessments, temporary and permanent utility relocations, and the redevelopment of the Baker Street parking lot.
Baker Street reconstruction area map
This is your opportunity to view project information, including the presentation and and detailed design drawings, and to ask questions about the project. You’re encouraged to provide comments, feedback and questions to City staff. To comment on the project click on the comment tab below and to ask a question click on the question tab. We will answer your questions within 3 business days.
If you have a comment about the project please tell us here. If you have a question please make sure to ask us using the question tool. Thank you!
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
Really really hoping that this facade can open into St. Georges Square. If it faces onto Baker Street it will never reach its potential as a public building. Even if you can't do that now, plan for it by having two facades- back and front, so that you can change the entrance later. Long term adaptability is a must so that the site can be modified in the future. Such a shame that the parking for the Wellington bldg is still there. Surface parking doesn't fit with the whole concept. Anything that can still be done there?
Re: Design: Not a fan unless there is symbolic meaning for the roofline. If it's just there for effect, why? How about a treeline or waves (water) or something representative of Guelph (ie.crown, grain elevator, ag, rivers, etc.) Our public buildings should all incorporate something "Guelph" that is meaningful, even if its something as simple as limestone.
Re: Net Zero -- this entire development MUST be carbon neutral or the city will be seen as hypocrites. The Net zero by 2050 goal must start here.
Public art throughout the site, please. Also, please incorporate historical markers ie.Indigenous acknowledgement, pioneer cemetary plaque, map of Victoria rink, and who was Baker St named after?
Raine
3 months ago
The streetscape designs for the Baker Street project are incredibly disappointing. This is car oriented infrastructure applied to a place that is supposed to be friendly to active transportation and contribute to a vibrant pedestrian realm.
The biggest issue I have with the design are the wide suburban style curb radii, to allow fast turns and access for large trucks. The most egregious of these is the entrance off Baker Street to Baker Court - an area that is supposed to be a shared space with pedestrians. While the bollards likely have to stay where they are to allow truck access, the pavers and curb design should be tightened up to visually indicate a sharper, slower turn.
Turning right from Baker to Quebec is another corner worth noting with its wide radius which will be particularly unpleasant for pedestrians crossing Baker Street. I would like to see a no right on red considered here, as I expect conflict between traffic exiting the parking garage/Baker Street, and pedestrians.
All other corners suffer similar issues with wide curb radii to various degrees.
The large bulb out at the elbow of Chapel Lane is straight out of a suburban cul-de-sac. It appears that little thought has been spent on the design other than the need to allow large trucks to maneuver through this corner. Unfortunately the design here is again restricted by poor choices made in the urban design master plan. This space was sold as a shared space for pedestrians, but it is clear that Chapel Lane’s main purpose is servicing and parking access.
The six parking spaces in front of the North Towns would be much better replaced with street trees which are missing from both sides of the street in this area, and would greatly contribute to an improved public realm. Every effort should be made to keep parking for those North Towns to park lane or within the structured parking.
Unfortunately many of the streetscape decisions made are a product of the urban design master plan for Baker Street - a plan that is incredibly lacking when it comes to active transportation. It creates far too many opportunities for conflict between vehicles and pedestrians and encourages the car oriented design found here. I hope that the street can be softened and calmed a bit, to make it as friendly as possible to pedestrians under the circumstances.
kylej
4 months ago
The drawings appear to indicate that hydro is not going underground around the new construction. From a design standpoint this is frankly abominable.
bennett.bruce
4 months ago
1, I do not like the idea of 2 way traffic on Baker. 2. Another set of traffic lights at Baker and Woolwich will make traffic a maze of issues. Leave Baker as a one way as is. Traffic exiting can go to Quebec, turn left or right to get out..
Baker Street reconstruction area map
Really really hoping that this facade can open into St. Georges Square. If it faces onto Baker Street it will never reach its potential as a public building. Even if you can't do that now, plan for it by having two facades- back and front, so that you can change the entrance later. Long term adaptability is a must so that the site can be modified in the future. Such a shame that the parking for the Wellington bldg is still there. Surface parking doesn't fit with the whole concept. Anything that can still be done there?
Re: Design: Not a fan unless there is symbolic meaning for the roofline. If it's just there for effect, why? How about a treeline or waves (water) or something representative of Guelph (ie.crown, grain elevator, ag, rivers, etc.) Our public buildings should all incorporate something "Guelph" that is meaningful, even if its something as simple as limestone.
Re: Net Zero -- this entire development MUST be carbon neutral or the city will be seen as hypocrites. The Net zero by 2050 goal must start here.
Public art throughout the site, please. Also, please incorporate historical markers ie.Indigenous acknowledgement, pioneer cemetary plaque, map of Victoria rink, and who was Baker St named after?
The streetscape designs for the Baker Street project are incredibly disappointing. This is car oriented infrastructure applied to a place that is supposed to be friendly to active transportation and contribute to a vibrant pedestrian realm.
The biggest issue I have with the design are the wide suburban style curb radii, to allow fast turns and access for large trucks. The most egregious of these is the entrance off Baker Street to Baker Court - an area that is supposed to be a shared space with pedestrians. While the bollards likely have to stay where they are to allow truck access, the pavers and curb design should be tightened up to visually indicate a sharper, slower turn.
Turning right from Baker to Quebec is another corner worth noting with its wide radius which will be particularly unpleasant for pedestrians crossing Baker Street. I would like to see a no right on red considered here, as I expect conflict between traffic exiting the parking garage/Baker Street, and pedestrians.
All other corners suffer similar issues with wide curb radii to various degrees.
The large bulb out at the elbow of Chapel Lane is straight out of a suburban cul-de-sac. It appears that little thought has been spent on the design other than the need to allow large trucks to maneuver through this corner. Unfortunately the design here is again restricted by poor choices made in the urban design master plan. This space was sold as a shared space for pedestrians, but it is clear that Chapel Lane’s main purpose is servicing and parking access.
The six parking spaces in front of the North Towns would be much better replaced with street trees which are missing from both sides of the street in this area, and would greatly contribute to an improved public realm. Every effort should be made to keep parking for those North Towns to park lane or within the structured parking.
Unfortunately many of the streetscape decisions made are a product of the urban design master plan for Baker Street - a plan that is incredibly lacking when it comes to active transportation. It creates far too many opportunities for conflict between vehicles and pedestrians and encourages the car oriented design found here. I hope that the street can be softened and calmed a bit, to make it as friendly as possible to pedestrians under the circumstances.
The drawings appear to indicate that hydro is not going underground around the new construction. From a design standpoint this is frankly abominable.
1, I do not like the idea of 2 way traffic on Baker.
2. Another set of traffic lights at Baker and Woolwich will make traffic a maze of issues.
Leave Baker as a one way as is. Traffic exiting can go to Quebec, turn left or right to get out..