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Alberta Connections Magazine
Spring 2000
By Marylu Walters
Ventilator grills. Stucco. Curved glass block corners. These are some of the
hallmarks of the Art Moderne architectural style that was popular
during the post-world war II era, and Ponoka's downtown has them in
spades.
Ponoka's relatively modern building stock not only reflects the community's
post-war prosperity but also forms the core of a recently completed
project that promises to bring new prosperity to downtown.
Since it joined the Alberta Main Street Programme in May 1995, Ponoka has
made improvements to 25 downtown buildings, ranging from "full-blown
restorations to relatively modest makeovers," says Fraser Shaw, who
served as Ponoka's Main Street project coordinator during that time.
They include the Community Rest Room, built in 1929 of cast stone or
molded concrete blocks imitating sandstone, and the old Thirsk 5¢ to
$1 Store, built in 1949 of cast concrete with oversized louvered
vents, glass block door sidelights and recessed stucco bays. The
former served as a public washroom and waiting room where farm women
and children could socialize while farmers conducted their business
in town. It now houses the Ponoka Book Store and the Hair Loft. The
Thirsk store is now home to The Ponoka News and the Scotia Trading
Company.
Total cost of the project was approximately $750,000 including building
improvements, Shaw's salary, and office and operating expenses
related to all aspects of the project including economic development
and marketing. The Alberta Historical Resources Foundation
contributed $350,000 through the Main Street Programme. Building and
business owners put in $200,000 toward construction, and the Town of Ponoka contributed $180,000.
"The project has really transformed the appearance of downtown," Shaw
says. "It's really shocking to see all the new pedestrian appeal.
It's not only good for attracting businesses, but it will also
attract new residents. They'll say Ponoka looks successful. We want
to be part of it." Shaw says retail vacancy rates dropped from 20 per
cent in 1995 to 10 per cent by 1999.
He credits the Main Street project's success to the nine-member
volunteer Main Street Advisory Board—comprised of three local
merchants, a historical society member, the mayor, the town manager, two
councillors and a member at large - which made all the funding and
operating decisions within the Main Street Programme's guidelines.
Ponoka completed its project ahead of deadline, primarily due to community
enthusiasm, says Main Street Programme Chief Merinda Donley. "Ponoka
is an amazing community, a very strong community. They are
completely gung-ho. The architectural work that happened there over
the past three years was amazing."
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