City plans to build 'pop up park' near controversial Club Seventy-Seven

It's not what people living in the areaare looking for, but Coun. Jason Farr hopes it'll do for now. The city plans to builda "pop up park" near Club Seventy-Seven this spring to temporarily satisfy resident outcry.

People living in the John/Rebecca area want a planned permanent park to happen right away. Design work is scheduled to start in 2018, but recent violence at the club including last year's shooting death of doorman Vince Lofaro has renewed their cries.

"One of these timelines is going to continue: the violence or the park," Dale Mugford, chair of the nearby Film Work Lofts condo building, told councillors in September. "Which one is up to you."

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At the Ward 2 councillor's urging, the city will partner with the Beasley Neighbourhood Association to apply for funding to the McNallyFoundation for the project. Eighteenparking spaces will be used asa seasonal park in the city parking lot there. The temporary park will not include any permanent structures.

It won't cost much just the staff resources to do the work, Farr said. And if the city loses revenue from the loss of 18 spots, his Ward 2 area rating fund will cover it.

Mugford likes the idea, although"I'm not sure how well it will be received.

"I don't want to celebrate a fake, small and temporary 'park'where thousands in the community have been fighting for the last decade to see John/Rebecca built," he said.

"That said, any opportunity to bring the community together is a good thing. I'm sure Beasley neighbours will come out and have fun. We invite everyone to visit that day and show the City that 18 parking spaces is not nearly big enough."

The city will look at buying or expropriating the Club Seventy-Seven property as part of its 2018 park project.

The park plan impacts the block bounded by John Rebecca, King William and Catharine streets.

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC