County of Brant prepares for ‘The Downtown Dig’ in Paris

The Town of Paris will soon be bracing for The Downtown Dig.

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For about the next five years, the core of the community, where the Nith River meets the Grand, will be under phases of construction meant to prepare the growing town for the next century.

“We really see this as the chance to guide downtown Paris for at least a couple generations,” said Adam Crozier, the County of Brant’s director of corporate strategy.

First introduced in 2017’s Master Plan for Downtown Paris, the project includes replacement of underground infrastructure — water and sewer systems – some of it dating back 60 years or more, and upgrading of utilities, including phone, internet, gas and electrical.

The total cost of the project hasn’t yet been determined. Crozier said final designs, which will include cost estimates, will be completed within the next couple months. A tender for the project is expected to be called in the fall.

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To limit disruption, construction will be done over several years. Here’s the timeline:

• 2024-2025: West River Street (Mechanic Street to Broadway Street West)
• 2025: Grand River Street North between the Nith River Bridge and north of William Street.
• 2026: Mechanic Street (Grand River Street North to West River Street).
• 2027: Grand River Street South (Nith River Bridge to Dumfries intersection).
• Broadway Street West (date pending).
• William Street (date pending).
• Municipal parking lot behind the Brant County council chambers (date pending).

Mayor David Bailey said the upgrades are long overdue.

“It’s an old town that has been pieced together for 100 years,” he said. “When things were being upgraded, they were done in a piecemeal way. And there are things they didn’t think about in the past, including accessibility for people to get around in wheelchairs and walkers.”

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The centerpiece of the project is Grand River Street North, home to more than a block of gift stores, restaurants and other businesses that attract thousands of visitors, especially in the spring/summer and Christmas seasons.

Matt Cummings, chair of the Downtown Paris BIA and owner of two Grand River Street North restaurants – Stillwaters Plate and Pour and Cobblestone Public House — said construction is going to make 2025 a challenging year for downtown business owners, but he’s encouraging them to “zoom out” and keep their eye on the prize.

“Certainly, it will be disruptive,” Cummings said. “But in business you have to find a way to balance the now and the long term. As a business owner, I prepared for this (financially) but not everyone is able to do that, and it can be scary.”

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In the midst of the traffic and detours, county staff say safe pedestrian access will be maintained to downtown businesses and residences. Plans to mitigate the impact on businesses are in the works.

Once the underground work is complete on Grand River Street North, the county, in consultation with business owners and residents, will design a new streetscape, with a rebuilt road, new widened sidewalks, new lampposts, benches, trees, waste receptacles and flower containers and enhanced accessibility. Crozier said the street will be flattered and effort will be made to match the grade of the sidewalk to business entrances.

“It’s going to be incredibly beautiful,” Bailey said, adding the wider sidewalks will allow for restaurants to have outside patios.

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One of the most contentious changes could be the conversion of the downtown angled parking system to parallel parking, reducing the number of spaces by about half.

“Safety is a key factor,” said Crozier, adding that accidents can happen when backing out of angled spaces.

Crozier said there is ample parking off Grand River Street North, including 80 new spaces created after the razing of the old OPP station at Mechanic and Broadway streets several years ago.

Construction of Grand River Street North is expected to begin next March and continue until late 2025.

“I think it’s going to attract lots of private investment,” said Cummings. “It won’t be an overnight thing but in five years we’ll see the return. I really think this will be a positive thing for all of us in downtown Paris. We just need to get over this little bump in the road.”

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