The sea cans, an identfying feature of Towne Square, could be removed if city council approves a staff recommendation. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

CITY HALL

Medicine Hat residents asked to give input on downtown sea cans

Oct 29, 2024 | 10:37 AM

The fate of Medicine Hat’s downtown sea cans will, at least in part, include input from residents.

The City of Medicine Hat has launched a Reddit-like feedback opportunity for Hatters to up or down-vote ideas for what to do with the sea cans.

The most popular ideas will be shared with city council at its Nov. 18 regular public meeting.

It will be at that meeting when council will consider a staff proposal to remove the sea cans from Towne Square.

The square project created a space across from city hall that includes a large canopy, a small parking lot and, for now, several sea cans intended to be used by vendors in a market-like setup.

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But the “pods”, as the city calls them, have built a reputation for something else.

“We are finding that some folks are using Town Square to sleep at night, and that can be quite unsafe,” Nelson told CHAT News earlier this month

Sightlines were created by the sea cans that lead to what some have dubbed “tin-can alley”. Some of Medicine Hat’s most vulnerable individuals have used the spaces between the pods to sleep.

The pods are also not popular for their intended use.

“The market pods are suboptimal for what we’re trying to do with them,” Nelson said, adding that vendors were only in the pods for 80 hours this year.

People passing the sea cans are unable to see inside unless they are passing right in front of the door, making it difficult for people to see if there is a vendor using them.

The pods aren’t regulated well for temperature, Nelson said.

“They’re incredibly hot on a hot day. They really only work on days that are maybe above 15 degrees because there’s no aid pack or heating.”

City hall has tried to promote use of the sea cans. In 2022, the price for renting the pods was reduced from $70 per day to $50 per week.

A report in November 2023 revealed that Town Square was used less for events that year than the year prior.

The city has spent over $20,000 on cleaning the site and it will cost the city about $20,000 to move the pods out of the square should council grant approval in November.

However, Nelson insists the square has generally been a success.

The parking lot has made nearly $30,000 this year, numbers only tampered by downtown construction.

“If anybody remembers what this place looked like, say, six years ago, it was a very different place,” Nelson said.

“Now we have this excellent, safe, well-lit parking area. The sunshade is amazing and you’ll see many people having lunch and spending time under here during the summer,” he added.

“Town Square is very successful for what it is.”