Imagine a Different Orillia...

As one of Ontario's largest promenades, it's a busy scene with boutiques, restaurants and a variety of housing — all in keeping with Orillia’s heritage charm.

It's somewhere to "be proud of," says Orillia resident Lenore Weaver.

"Sometimes we're ashamed of the condition of our city," Weaver said Friday, pointing out scrapyards and derelict buildings dotting the waterfront.

"Now, we could feel so much more pride," she said. "It gives the lake back to the people."

Weaver and her son, Brent, took part in Orillia's design charrette public consultation process, which ran this week at Branch 34 of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Orillia hired Urban Strategies to help develop a downtown/waterfront revitalization plan.

"It was an opportunity to have a say in all of the things I complain about," said Brent, who lives on Cedar Island Road near Centennial Park.

"I have to walk past the scrapyard and all the old abandoned houses and every time I walk past there, I'm like, 'Why don’t we do something with this? Why doesn't a developer buy these up and put something in here?'" he said.

After four days of generating ideas with Orillia residents, Urban Strategies unveiled a vision for the city Friday.

Orillian Sydney McMurter took part in the charrette process to help improve the waterfront and downtown.

She would like to see more housing along the waterfront "so there are people living around there to use the shops and really make use of the waterfront amenity," McMurter said.

Mayor Angelo Orsi said the focus is on a strong downtown, with more residents living in the core and driving the downtown economy.

"The genesis of the new Orillia starts with waterfront and downtown, because that's our strongest anchor, strongest resource," he said. "Today, we'll see the potential of what can we do."

A large model of Orillia set up in the legion was transformed Friday. New buildings, parks, trails, roadways and green spaces were added.

The model shows road access to the waterfront from Neywash, Coldwater, Mississaga, Colborne and Elgin streets and more.

The design incorporates Orillia's historic downtown character and adds more buildings, trails, points of interest and connectivity, Orsi said.

The former FLSmidth building has been transformed into a recreation facility and meanwhile, across the street at 255 West St. S., there is open green space, trails and sitting areas.

City hall has moved in beside Orillia Central School on Coldwater Street.

Meanwhile, city hall’s current home on Andrew Street has been filled with housing units.

"Those are all things we'll be looking at," Orsi said.

The mayor said getting Orillians involved in the process was important. That's what Weaver appreciated.

"I think it's the most exciting thing I've ever been part of in the history of my life in Orillia," she said, adding she's been here since 1975.

"It's the first time I've really felt like somebody wanted to know what I thought..."

Weaver applauded council for providing the forum.

"It's so promising," she said.

For more information please visit: downtowntomorrow.ca