Chapleau's moving forward with plans to revitalize the downtown.
A release from the Township announces the conclusion of the "first phase" in the Downtown Revitalization Project: the completion of detailed designs and engineering required to redevelop Birch Street between Monk and Lansdowne Streets, including underground infrastructure and streetscaping.
The Township emphasizes that revitalizing the downtown is a "key component" of efforts to "attract new residents, businesses, and tourists to the community".
It thanks individuals and businesses who provided comments during the planning phase - or attended the open house - and notes the phase was funded by the Township with "generous contributions" from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and FedNor.
Plans are now to work with "upper tiers of government to leverage funding toward construction costs", in the hope the work will be done in a single construction season, to mitigate the negative impacts on local businesses and disruption to traffic and the public.