Permanent washrooms, not pissoirs, the goal for downtown

The following article appeared in the December 3 edition of the Guelph Mercury:

They did what they were supposed to do, but pissoirs appear to have no future in downtown Guelph.

Instead the city is looking at providing permanent public washroom facilities at several locations, most notably the planned new transit hub and the skating and park facility planned for in front of City Hall.

“Will we see pissoirs as standalone facilities like we did last summer? No, I don’t think so,” said councillor Ian Findlay, the driving force behind a seven-week pilot project that saw pissoirs in two downtown locations.

That $8,400 project wrapped up in mid-October and an official report by city staff is expected in January.

The portable units proved extremely popular with the target group: young males exiting bars last on weekends who might normally use the sides of downtown buildings, lawns and alleys rather than seek out a washroom.

But the pissoirs were also limited in that they were really only accessible to able-bodied males.

Findlay and city operations director Derek McCaughan said the focus now is on getting new public washroom facilities downtown that are accessible to everyone.

“That was the main stumbling block: full access. That’s our one significant obstacle (when it comes to pissoirs),” Findlay said. “We have clearly identified the need for facilities. The concept and location are clearly understood.”

McCaughan echoed Finlay’s comments about the need and success of pissoirs from a usage standpoint.

“I can tell you without a doubt they were a success as far as being used,” McCaughan said, “and the community did not object too strongly to them. But going forward we have to address the accessibility issue.”

McCaughan said one of the issues to be dealt with when it comes to new permanent washroom facilities is availability. Pissoirs were available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Whether permanent washrooms could or would be available to that extent is “part of what needs to be addressed.”

Findlay said the new transit hub and the skating rink area in front of City Hall are the city projects closest to fruition where permanent public washrooms could be installed.

Other future facilities, such as a new downtown library and a parkade planned for Wilson Street, could also possibly house public washroom facilities.

Findlay said “the hope” is to have public washrooms available downtown by the summer of 2010, although nothing has been debated or approved by council at this point.