Scramble Intersection

Kingston is getting its first ‘Scramble’ pedestrian crossing.

The crossing will be at Union and University Street in the heart of the busy Queen’s University campus.

Traffic will have to stop in all directions on a red light – no right turns will be allowed on a red light – but pedestrians will be able to cross in any direction they want.

The cost of changing the way it works will be $130,000.

Downtown Redevelopment

The preliminary designs look like a major improvement for the northwest corner of Princess and Wellington Streets.

The Springer Group wants to demolish the buildings to make way for a new Bank of Nova Scotia branch.

The property includes the former, Dovers, Tweed  and Hickory, Chumleigh’s and The Gallery of Fine Art.

The design calls for the restoration of the original fronts of the former stone buildings along Princess and Wellington Streets.

City planning staff will make their recommendations to city council next month.

Fires – Kitchen

Kingston Fire and Rescue is reminding you that cooking is the number 1 cause of fires following two fire calls on Tuesday.

A kitchen fire on Clearfield Crescent around six last night caused $20,000 damage and forced a family of five out of their home.  The family was alerted to the fire by their smoke detector and got out safely.  The fire started with a pot on the stove.  A man in the house was taken to hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

The fire on Clearfield Crescent came shortly after a call to an apartment on The Parkway.

Heavy smoke filled the fourth floor at 154 Parkway after a pot was left on a stove.

Firefighters cleared the smoke from the building.  Nobody was injured and there was no fire damage.

City Council Briefs

It was a busy Tuesday night at Kingston City Council

Councillors approved spending $4.7 million to improve Breakwater Park.  The city’s funding will be subject to Kingston getting a $1 million grants from the Canada 150 infrastructure program.

The Dawn House Women’s Shelter is getting $77,000 from the city to continue operating until September.  City council has asked staff to investigate ways to keep the shelter open after that.

Kingston’s Youth Employment Strategy will get 40 thousand dollars from the city’s working reserve fund.  The city will work with the United Way to develop the strategy.

Grade 12 students will get free bus passes to help them with summer employment.

Grade 9-11 students already get free bus passes as a way to encourage them to use transit.

The old Kingston East landfill site on the 4th Concession may become home to a new solar park.  City council has given the okay to staff to seek requests for proposals to use the site for a private company to erect solar panels.

Kegger!

Kingston Police are looking for two men who stole kegs of beer from the Jack Astors at the corner of King and Brock in downtown Kingston around 4am on Saturday, June 6th.

The two men stole the kegs by getting into the popular restaurant and bar through the alley behind the building.

Edmonton Officer – Funeral

Two Kingston Police officers are in Edmonton for the regimental funeral today for Constable Daniel Woodall.

The 35 year old officer was shot and killed hike serving an arrest warrant on a man at a home last Monday.  The funeral procession will begin at the Alberta legislature and travel three kilometres to the Shaw Conference Centre for a public service.