Phased approach orphans the monoliths and relegates them to out-of-sight, out-of-mind storage, where, in the past, supposedly valued artifacts seemingly disappeared.
A commentary by a former member of Victoria city council.
Victoria councillors Jeremy Caradonna and Matt Dell have provided an update on the future of Royal Athletic Park and Centennial Square.
The Centennial Square project is proposed to be phased, with $2.5 million from the original budget to be diverted to fund initiatives identified in the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.
The first phase focuses on the west side of the square and would see the removal of the Centennial Fountain and delay the proposed removal of the sequoia tree.
The non-phased plan would have seen the tree being removed and replaced with a reflecting pond that would feature the public art monoliths, gifted by the adjacent municipalities of Oak Bay, Saanich and Esquimalt.
The mosaic artwork represents youth, or growth, creation and mortality, or the struggle against evil. As stated by the councillors: “The artistic monoliths will be removed, carefully stored and revisited at phase two of the project.”
Clearly, this sets the scene for a future controversy that will pit the placement and retention of this important piece of public art against the desire to retain the sequoia tree.
Thousands of people have advocated for the retention of the fountain. Thousands of people have advocated for the retention of the sequoia.
While it would be most desirable to retain the fountain in situ, if this is not to be the case, the thoughtful retention and incorporation of the public art in the square is a must.
The phased approach orphans the monoliths and relegates them to out-of-sight, out-of-mind storage where, in the past, supposedly valued artifacts seemingly disappeared.
Their fate will also likely be determined by a future council — a council that may have different priorities for how to spend the remaining $2.5 million in the budget.
Projects that involve public space should inspire accolades and a sense of celebration and jubilation, as it did when Centennial Square was originally envisioned.
In this instance, a proposal that has seen little public support will result in creating even more community division.